The Void: Core Membership Rules - V2, Post Here To Access The Board

[Mono_Giganto]

The Void - Rules : Revision 2.02 - ( June 18th, 2007 )


These are the core rules for the Void's membership and staff. They govern the more severe aspects of posting and regulation on the board, and should be known by all members. More information regarding a few other rules and guidelines can be found in: "Do's and Don'ts - A Guide to The Void".

---

Please note that in order to access the board, you must first post in this thread. It doesn't matter what you post; you can post a single, random word if you like. Whatever you post will be treated as a signature of sorts, and your affirmation that you have read this thread. Failure to read the rules is not an excuse.

You should receive a message about not having permission to access this section, so don't worry about that, just allow it to redirect you.

You will notice that as a new member, you are not permitted to post new threads. This was put into place to minimize the occurrence of spambots. Your thread starting privileges will be enabled when you reach ten posts.

If you have any problems with the system, send a PM to Mono_Giganto.

---

PART 1 - KEEP IT CLEAN (Decency Rules)

The Void is a community for most everyone, and in this we try to accommodate as many members as possible. With that, we need rules for common respect and decency, as well as some to ensure younger members have the ability to visit the board within some of their parental restrictions.

Some of you may find it a bit too restricting on some things, but it's done to allow a broader scope and more decent environment overall for our membership. This has always been one of the primary concerns of the Void Staff, and we do our best to make it so.

I want it to go without saying that common respect and decency are things we adhere to, for all members. If you can't show some basic courtesy to others, then you'll probably find yourself at odds with many people here, including the moderating staff. No matter who you think you are, it's not a reason to be inconsiderate.


REMEMBER: You are responsible for what you post!!! This includes if an image you hotlink to becomes in violation of rules at a later date (like done with some remote-linked images). I will no longer hesitate to ban you for being ignorant and lazy, then inadvertently putting in bannable materials on this board.

Host your images on your own website or photobucket account to prevent this.



1A - Language / Vulgarity:

The board employs a language filter to remove words that are either considered excessively vulgar, "problem words" that are causing some members' protection software to block part of the board, or if the word itself is causing problems (or being harshly abused in an offensive manner).

The standard language filter contains many racial slurs, heavier cursing, and a few indecent references.

Also, excessive swearing is considered unnecessary, and in most cases is generally disrespectful.
As such, it is also not allowed. You shouldn't have to swear every other sentence.

Avoiding the language filter, being overly vulgar, or excessive comments to offend others may be punishable by a warning.



1B - Sexually Related Reference / Material:

This board is under the policy that anything sexual is considered a personal thing, and it should remain as such. Language containing explicit reference is not allowed. In fact, there really is no need to mention those things at all. Perhaps you would like to talk about sex or make sex jokes? -- Do it in PM's or off the board.

The only "sex" reference that should be considered allowable is either a non-explicit reference, talking about the act as more to a reference that it occurred (lacking details), or if you consider mild forms of intimacy such as kissing under this category, then that is allowed as well.

It should retain the level of what would be considered a decent "PG" movie, for those familiar with the rating.

If you see "KYPOTB", it means stop it with the sex stuff.
If you need to know what the acronym means, PM a moderator or the administrator.

"Suggestive Content" is also considered anything that is a bit too revealing and / or provacative. Private parts barely covered or being able to distinguish "detail" of said areas will fall within this as well. Posted images considered "too suggestive" will be removed and a warning given. Repeated postings of images that get removed will likely result in moderator preview or a posting suspension. Failure to comply after the term of suspension or mod preview has ended may result in a ban.

Posting images or text considered pörnographic will earn you an immediate ban. I don't care if you've read the rules or not. If you can't see how posting that material may possibly be a bad thing, then you don't need to be here.

If you truly feel you need to post something that may or may not be allowed, contact the Administrator for permission. If we allow it, you may then proceed to post. If not and you post it anyway, you may be warned for it (or worse, depending on the level of content).



1C - Violent / Disturbing Content:

There is a certain level that is allowed on the board, in terms of images and text. The type of content allowed in this category is also much like a "PG" movie. Images containing rather graphic content (graphic dismemberment, entrails, etc) are not allowed. Images containing only a "disturbing" look have a little slack, but things like torture or images of the dead are prohibited.

There is some gray area in this subject, but the moderators will handle it as they feel necessary.
However, the Admin has the final say and may or may not seem fair in your opinion.

Posted images considered "too disturbing" will be removed. Repeated postings of images that get removed will likely result in moderator preview or a posting suspension. Failure to comply after the term of suspension or mod preview has ended may result in a ban.

"Graphic Content" includes any picture that contains realistic gore or toonish gore. The suggestion that someone or some character (animated or not) has been so injured to the point involving graphic detail is already considered borderline, and may get removed, possibly a warning.

Posting images considered "too graphic" can earn you a ban, or at least a 30 day suspension. Any images of actual gore or graphic wounds will be punished by an immediate ban. I don't care if you've read the rules or not. If you can't see how posting that material may be a bad thing, then you don't need to be here.



1D - R-E-S-P-E-C-T :

We cannot enforce respect, but we can act in response to a blatant lack of it.

You are here to talk to people and share with them, you are not here to; dominate, contol, attack, manipulate, hurt, insult, spite, defeat, steal, defame, label, disturb, stereotype, slander, stalk, hinder, offend, harass, or disrupt.

Now I know on occassion a FEW of those things will happen because of heated debate or situations where people are involving another's work, etc. Some of those things I should NEVER see taking place on this board, and will follow appropriate actions (including with legal authorities, if need be) to resolve those situations.

Your goal is to not do any of those things, and to be kind and respectful to your fellow members. This is a community, and I will follow any action I deem appropriate to preserve it, in and out of the areas covered by the rules. This is my prerogative as Administrator, and I will follow it with consideration and whatever sense of fairness I can allow.

You should consider the classic guideline: Treat Others as You wish to be Treated.
Otherwise, any disrespect you find in the end may be justly deserved.

If the Moderating Staff feels that a situation has gone too far, they may close the topic and/or remove posts to return the topic back on track. People might get upset with this, but we have many reasons for it. For situations regarding heated debates, I suggest you check the revised "Do"s and "Don't"s topic for useful guidelines.

The message is simple: Please try to keep your attitude, manner, and remarks kind and respectful.

---

PART 2 - KEEP IT NEAT (Order Rules)

While we encourage discussion to be varied and inclusive, we like to have some sense of order to our topics. When the order gets disrupted, it can tend to have a negative effect on discussion as well as a member's mood. These rules are here to preserve the order, as well as comply with a few aspects of board regulation.



2A - On Topic / Off Topic:

The whole point of a topic is to follow a subject. It keeps the conversation going smoothly, and allows for a better discussion. Try to keep your spam to a minimum (more on that in the next section), and be constructive towards the discussion. If you wish to take part in a subject that already exists, post in the existing topic about it. If you want to start a discussion about something related, but in much greater depth, start a new topic.

If a moderator considers some posts too far astray yet still worthy of a topic, he may split them into it's own discussion. Likewise, if a moderator feels your topic is the same as an existing one, he may merge them together.

Also, create your topic in an appropriate section of the board. It's a hassle to move topics around, and we shouldn't have to clean up after something that should be done correctly In The First Place!



2B - SPAM !!! :

Spam on this board has two definitions.

The first is specific: a post containing nonsense or has no relation to the topic or discussion at hand.
The second is more general: a post that has little to do with the discussion, or has greatly lead it off from the main discussion.

The first will likely be deleted in any forum on the board except "Spam-in-a-Can". There you may post anything that is Spam (all other board rules still apply). Thread Hijacking is a type of spamming that changes the subject completely, or ruins the purpose of the thread. That type of spam is not allowed on any part of the board.

The second type of spam is generally handled in a more lenient fashion on the other forums, but should still be kept to a minimum. The moderators may remove posts that fall within that classification of "off-topic spam".



2C - Legality:

When it comes to Legality, "Mum" is the Word.

I don't care why or if you do illegal things. Just don't do them here. Piracy, Hacks, Warez, etc.; not on this board. Don't even openly mention that you do illegal things. Any known posts mentioning it will be edited and possibly warned. Any users sharing links or are involved in illegal activities within this board will be Suspended, possibly Banned.

If you are posting torrent information (or a similar activity) in a legal manner, you may give them links to proper torrents. Avoid listing torrent search engines and discussing how to acquire anything construed as bending/breaking the laws. You'll likely earn a wrning or two if you try to "skirt the edge" of these rules.

Also, we are not a site to link places for No-CD's, or how to mount ISO's, Rip, etc. I don't care what reason you have, we cannot determine the legality behind your actions, so we just won't go there.



2D - Public vs. Private vs. Off-Board:

These rules govern what is public AND private on the board. Anything posted to the forums or PM is under the jurisdiction of these rules. However, it is up to member discretion on if they report contents sent via PM. If they do not report it, no action can be taken.

Serious enough infractions reported against another member's PM's may require the Administrator to temporarily change your password to log in and verify the claim. It would be hard to ban someone on claim alone. In reporting such a serious claim, you accepting and trusting the Admin to log on to your account and verify the message. After verifying, you may change your password back to whatever you wish.

Off-Board coments and such in IM's or other forums will likely be ignored. It IS my concern if another member is being harrassed, stalked, or has other serious implications involved. Under those circumstances, we may comply in investigating, reporting, or discussing these claims.

If I feel punishment will help resolve serious issues, I may certainly do so regardless of them being on the board or not.



2E - Follow the Rules:

All the rules are meant to be followed. There is no disclaimer you can put to avoid the punishment from them, so follow them before you get punished, and don't bother complaining about them after. "I didn't know" is not a valid excuse here. Arguing the rules will be considered spam in any part of the board except "Board Discussion", and may be removed as such.

Constant disregard for the rules will result in Moderator Preview or a Suspension.
If such punishments seem useless, a ban might be issued.



2F - Board Disruption:

Those who join simply to attack others and incite flames, or possibly start a "board disruption" will likely be banned. We don't tolerate those here simply to attack others or mess things up. Any person who registers without intent to actually participate with the members will consider their membership forfeit, and possibly be subject to a ban.

---

Version and latest date are at the top. Any changes to the current rule revision will be noted below this line:


V.2.01 - Changes to wording and added to the legality section.
Also added color formatting for better definition of sections in the rules..

V.2.02 - Added to the decency rules.
"REMEMBER: You are responsible for what you post!"

[JEDIMIKE2]

well, i have no problem with all the new rules so i guess pretty much abide by them, but i think the void is going down the right track,especially if the rules will be enforced so count me in.
mike

[MartinJ]

understands & complies with the rules
MartinJ

[Kain Ragnos]

Can and will do

[Xivion]

Understands and will do what is asked.

[UnsungHero]

ok

[Cheburan]

will do

[Nihilus]

I comply with the rules and say salute.

[zaXum]

I agree to these rules.

[ender910]

Aye aye sir. I will comply.

[Wyrst]

Yeah, got it.

[Ordo]

Read and will comply in the name of the Emperor.

[Ircov_Stega]

pretty much all common sense stuff, no problem.

[B3nny56]

all right, I got it, basic stuff for most forums.

[Winky]

I agree with these rules and salute everyone in the forum

[kal01]

Agree with the above rules

[Cyclop Woe]

yeah NP

[The-Lion]

I agree!

[AmonRa]

agreed.

[Jazen]

Understood, I will abide by these rules