Post by Tot on Aug 13, 2016 6:51:58 GMT
FORUM RULES
Foreword: When you've registered, please post in this other thread to say you've read the rules, thank you
We all have an obligation to 12A Grimmauld Place (12A GP) membership to behave responsibly and with due politeness, courtesy, respect and consideration. We want 12A GP to be a safe and comfortable environment for members of all ages to discuss their interests, show off their artistic efforts, and foster a sense of community.
In order to have a community where everyone can feel at ease and comfortable, the following Code of Conduct applies to each thread on 12A GP.
Note that the following guidelines are not exhaustive, and may not address all manner of offensive behaviour. As such, the forum moderators shall have full discretion to address any behaviour that they feel is inappropriate.
We reserve the right to evaluate each incident on a case by case basis. The action we take may be more lenient or more severe than those listed under each category.
CONTACT THE ADMINS (Family Elders) if you have issues or questions: phineasnigellus.esqu@gmail.com or private message to Phineas.
Bear in mind that writing to Phineas allows all the Admins to read your mail or private message.
The Golden Rule:
"Post unto others, as you would have them post unto you"
"Post unto others, as you would have them post unto you"
In other words, think about what you are saying and what you have typed before hitting the Enter Key.
Be respectful of your fellow members!
Be respectful of your fellow members!
Code of Conduct
1. Multiple accounts are not tolerated.
2. Attacking, flaming, harassing or threatening another member is not allowed nor will it be tolerated.
3. Profanity is not permitted, yet we know, everybody slips once in a while... The occasional "hell", "damn", "ass" etc... are fine, we simply don’t want them to be every other word of each post.
4. Spamming is not allowed.
5. Cross-forum posts are allowed, as long as they link to Harry Potter- or other fandom-related forums and make sense in the thread.
6. Posting of links to pornographic sites is not permitted. Posting of pornographic or overtly sexual images is not acceptable, unless specified so in the subforum rules (see also age-lines).
7. Arguing your point with a moderator or refusing to do, or stop doing something a Moderator has asked you about, will not be tolerated. If you have an issue with a Moderator, arguing with him or her on the forum is not a smart move. However, discussing the issue is tolerated. If you feel better to private message the Moderator, please do so.
If you have an issue with a staff member, feel free to message any one staff you feel at ease talking with, and they’ll help you solve the problem.
8. Screen names, avatars and signatures of an offensive or suggestive nature will not be tolerated and may be removed at Administrators’ discretion.
9. Advertising in any way in signatures or avatars is forbidden.
10. Posting of personal information about other users or non-users (i.e., phone numbers, addresses, employment, etc ...) within the forum is not allowed, even if the subject is a known troll, spammer, or recognized pain in the butt.
11. The following subjects are tolerated as topics for conversation within the usual boundaries of it remaining a DISCUSSION (be polite, respectful, we KNOW it’s not always easy):
Politics
Religion
Sexual Orientation
Interpretations are based on a variety of different factors, many of them quite personal. There’s age difference, cultural difference, religious difference and personal experiences. Take the chance to understand why one person feels about a scene or character in a completely different way than you do. Explain why you feel different. Discussing is not about winning an argument. Discuss the post not the poster! You can always agree to disagree.
12. Language should be understandable by all users. If you are using slang or colloquial expressions, explain what you mean so as to avoid confusion. Be aware that you might be asked for explanations by other users, because not everybody speaks the same English. Therefore, don’t get offended. Take it as an opportunity to enrich somebody’s vocabulary and tell about your culture.
13. The forum language is English. However, if you want to quote another language, you may do so, provided that you give the translation in the same post.
14. Reporting is accepted, but must be motivated, otherwise it’s considered trolling and a punishable offense.
15. If we feel that members are abusing the privilege of posting inline images, we will restrict the posting of images to links only. If you want to show a lot of images, post a link to an album hosted by an external site, like Imgur, for example.
This rule doesn’t apply for the Magical Geographics forum, which purpose is to show travel and meetup pictures (see said sub-forum for more details).
16. Role-play is allowed, within reasonable limits. Don’t invite everybody to the Yule Ball every other day, please.
17. For more specific topics, see the list below:
a. Commercial links
b. Real Life threats
c. Posting Cheats, Hacks, Trojan Horses or Malicious Programs
d. Impersonating a 12AGP Administrator or Moderator
e. Illegal Drugs or Activities
f. Creating Duplicate Threads
g. Circumventing a Suspension / Ban
More Specific Topics
a. Commercial links
We allow users to post links to general webstores (Amazon, Ebay etc.. ) to share information about fandom-related products. However, if that should become too frequent and bordering to abusive, we shall take measures to first warn, then punish the faulty user, and finally forbid such links on the forum. Remember there are always private messages, that can make things much easier.
b. Real-Life Threats
This category includes both clear and masked language and/or links to websites containing such language or images which refer to violence in any capacity that is not directly related to the forum world.
Bear in mind that if you post animal protection-related texts, pictures or videos, they might be really gruesome. If such would be the case, then please post a warning and the link. NOT the picture.
c. Posting Cheats, Hacks, Trojan Horses or Malicious Programs
Posting links to cheats, hacks, or malicious viruses / programs is not allowed. Should you come across something that needs investigation from Admins, private message or email Phineas at phineasnigellus.esqu@gmail.com . Do NOT post about it on the forum.
d. Impersonating an Administrator or Moderator
Using the name and account information of an Admin or Mod for any reason, spreading misinformation, is forbidden.
e. Illegal Drugs and Activities
Both clear and masked language and/or links to websites containing such language or images which refer to abusing illegal drugs or to performing illegal activities are forbidden.
f. Duplicate Threads
Duplicate threads will be merged.
g. Circumventing a suspension/ban
If you have been suspended or banned, you are forbidden on the forum in any way. That includes the fact that you CAN’T have another user post on your behalf, nor can you use another account to post.
Breaking the Rules
Any Violations of the Code will result in the punishments described below.
Minor issues will be addressed by first giving up to three simple friendly warnings, and if that isn’t enough, then we shall move on to nastier things.
In order to keep things simple we use a "Three Strikes System" for enforcing the rules.
Strike One is a verbal (posted) and email warning from an Administrator or Moderator, which may direct you to make amends or apologize for your actions to another member or at the very least clean up your own mess.
Strike Two is the suspension of posting privileges for a given time, depending on the nature of the problem. You will be notified by email of the suspension.
Reinstatement is automatic, unless it’s the umpteenth time you fault.
Strike Three is temporary or permanent ban, depending on the nature of the problem.
Repeated violation of any of the rules can result in permanent banishment from the forum.