The Rules: Changes, edits, additions

[Yoda]

Periodically as time passes, the rules will need "adjusting". As that happens, a post of the changes will appear in this thread (as well as the main "Rules" page will change appropriately).

[Yoda]

Added 01/26/2017 09:20PM (Eastern Time): To help conform to ProBoards' Terms of Service and Community Guidelines, ALL content that is copied from an online source will require a link to that source be included in the post. The link should either say "Source" or otherwise be obvious that it is a link to the source. Posts without such a link will be deleted (Moderators MAY give a warning before deleting, to allow a link to be added, but such a warning is not required).

[Yoda]

Due to ProBoard's forums ability to include multiple members in a Private Message exchange (an option that we didn't have on Zetaboard), the following rule has been changed from:

Arguments between posters are expected to be handled BETWEEN posters. Should posters be unable to keep arguments to/between themselves, they will get ONE warning from a Moderator to take their argument elsewhere and if it continues after that, they will get a two day ban (This won't count against them towards a "perma-ban"... think of it like a seatbelt ticket... pay your penalty and put it behind you). "Personal arguments" can be handled in one of two ways:
1> The people involved are free to create a thread
2> If it's only two people, they are free to do it via the PM system.

to

Arguments between posters are expected to be handled BETWEEN posters. Should posters be unable to keep arguments to/between themselves, they will get ONE warning from a Moderator to take their argument elsewhere and if it continues after that, they will get a two day ban (This won't count against them towards a "perma-ban"... think of it like a seatbelt ticket... pay your penalty and put it behind you). "Personal arguments" can be handled by taking it to PM if you really, really, REALLY want to continue the argument.

The changes are in bold italics.

[Yoda]

Added 05/21/2017 08:35PM (Eastern Time): To help avoid conflicts on the board, "baiting" will be considered a form of trolling and will be subjected to the same penalties as trolling. The determination of what does and does not constitute "baiting" will be solely up to the Moderators.

[Yoda]

Added 08/05/2017 09:35PM (Eastern Time): Warnings will decrease by 5% for every month that a warned member gets ZERO posts legitimately reported to us (the occasional "reported by mistake" or "this wasn't even report worthy" posts will be deleted from the records). This all has to be done manually, so it will be "on or around" the first of every month, Yoda will be making the adjustment, please allow time for it to happen.

This will begin, with the first adjustment occurring on or about September 1^st, 2017.

[Yoda]

Added 08/21/2017 08:50PM (Eastern Time): questionable posts will no longer be moved. It's been decided by the Moderation team that trying to make the board more civil by removing posts won't be done anymore. Instead posts that would have been moved before will now get a warning added to them (via a "Staff Note" at the bottom) and warning bars will be increased.

Remember: 100% warning level once means a vacation (1 week ban). 100% warning level twice means a longer vacation (1 month ban). 100% warning level thrice means permanent vacation (permanent ban).

[Yoda]

Added 10/21/2017 09:06PM (Eastern Time): There is a new Sub-Sub-Board in/on the General Chat Sub-Board. This new Board is for conversing with the Moderators. It's a "private" board set up so individual members can ONLY see their own threads, no threads by any other members will be visible.

Please use this Board for conversations with Moderators about issues relating to Moderation. PM's to Moderators about Moderation issues will be considered "personal opinions" from now on and carry no force or weight when it comes to Moderation.

This way, hopefully, All the Moderators will always be on the same page and will know what other Moderators may have agreed to on behalf of the Moderation team, and in regards to any interpretations of rules.

[Yoda]

Added 01/16/2018 10:17PM (Eastern Time)
For purposes of determining baiting:
A post will be considered baiting if it is written with apparent intent to offend, anger, enrage, provoke, harass, or torment another or others, with the sole apparent objective being to entice, allure, or tempt another or others to reply in a negative or defensive manner.

A post will be considered baiting if it is derogatory or insulting in nature and directed specifically at a member by their name, by quoting them, or by referencing them in any other way where it is understood that the member is the object of the baiting.

A post will be considered baiting if a member posts a rebuttal to it that is itself deemed actionable (for baiting where there is no direct naming of the subject being baited).