  |
 |
Rules
The following rules are guidelines for using Soft Hardware Forum Board. These rules were created to give users a framework in which to conform their conduct while participating on the Board. The Administration, in its discretion has final say as to the specific action to be taken, if any, for violations of rules. Further, the Administration reserves the right to close or delete any thread or post that it deems unacceptable for any reason, regardless of whether such thread or post violates a specific rule or rules. Keep in mind that our goal is to provide useful Computer Support Forum Board in a congenial atmosphere, which is the ultimate guideline we will use when evaluating any post or thread, or the conduct of any member. If you have any questions, email Support@SoftHardware.net.
NOTE: If you would like to become a Staff Member please visit The Soft Hardware Staff Application.
IMPORTANT:
If you believe that a user has broken any of these rules, please contact any of the "Moderating Team". Please be as specific as possible in describing exactly what was done, what rule was broken, who did it, and the address (URL) of the offending thread.
|
Category I Offenses
Minor and Unintentional Annoyances
|
- P2P Instructions - The purpose of P2P is to illegally trade copyrighted material. We do not support the use of P2P networks and any threads requesting help for them will be closed. This includes Kazaa, Bearshare, WinMX, and programs alike. If you're interested in the topic, you are free to discuss it on our site, but information on how to use them will not be provided.
- Cursing - This is not only a minor offense but also a major one. Watching your tongue on the forums is a big thing. To enforce the rules further and somewhat disable cursing on the forums we have set up a word filter which will block common curse words. But if for some reason the word you were pertaining to or have said is not blocked by the filter you will be automatically warned by a moderator which will in turn give you three chances to clean up that sailor mouth. After the third offense you have the warning increase on your account by 20% and each time the offense is repeated you will gain another 20% on the account. After you have reached 100% on your account if you continue your account will be suspended accordingly.
- Multiple Postings - It is simply not acceptable to post your question more than once, or to post it in more than one category. Choose the forum that your question or post best fits in, and place it there and only there. If, after posting, you feel it should be in another forum, contact a person(s) from "Moderating Team". We also reserve the right to move posts to other categories and delete duplicates.
- Misuse of vB/HTML Code - Over-use or misuse of HTML or vB Codes may be held as an offense at moderators' discretion. This would include particularly annoying, large, flashing, or otherwise unnecessary over-use of such special features. If you have any questions please contact an Administrator
- Forum Flooding - This mainly applies to new members even though we do not want to discourage members from posting new threads or replying to threads, DO NOT have an abundance of replies or posts containing under 10 characters. This prevents members from making short fast replies which they may be using to increase their post count which intern is considered "forum flooding." Please be considerate of other members when deciding to start a new thread.
|
First Offense: As these offenses are often unintentional, the offending user will first receive a warning from a moderator within that particular post. The offending thread may be closed at the discretion of the moderator.
Second Offense: After the second offense, a warning will be emailed from an administrator.
Third Offense: If same offense is repeated after a warning has been sent, the account will be disabled for a period of time. Good communications with the offending user following this may result in re-enabling the account.
|
Category II Offenses
Advertising and Spamming
|
- Spamming/Advertising - You cannot post advertisements of any sort in any forum. This includes products, services, or web sites from which you'd directly or indirectly benefit in any way. You may only do so unless you have gotten permission from an Administrator
- EXCEPTIONS (You may be exempt from Advertising by the following exceptions)
- Unaffiliated Announcements - If you see a great deal somewhere, you're welcome to share it with everyone by posting it in the "Off Topic" forum if and only if you are completely unaffiliated with that deal.
- Signatures - When posting a useful response, you may include your own web page (or that of your company) in the signature of your message. However, this does not precede other rules. (That is to say that you can't misuse HTML in your link, provide links to naughty web sites, etc.)
|
First Offense: As soon as an advertisement has been found, a moderator will delete the post and administration will email the offender. If the user has signed up only to spam, the account will be disabled immediately and indefinatley.
Second Offense: If another advertisement is posted after an email has been sent, the account will be disabled indefinatley.
|
Category III Offenses
Intentional Offenses
|
- Crude or Rude Intent - Soft Hardware was designed to be a community of people who can help one-another, and should be completely free of any profanity and vulgar language. There is absolutely no excuse for being rude to a user. Uncivilized and offensive language (especially cursing of any sort), images, or anything else, used anywhere on the board (including your user name) is completely unacceptable.
- Irrelevant and/or Inflammatory Postings - While we certainly don't discourage productive and useful debate relating to the particular topic at issue, posts that are made for the purpose of arguing or debating, in a nonproductive or inflammatory manner, an irrelevant or ancillary issue with either the topic starter or another poster are not permitted.
- Intentionally Harmful Advice - In the same way, this is a place to help people, not harm them. This offense applies when administration suspects that a user has intentionally posted harmful advice. For example, don't tell a user to type "FORMAT C:" in order to send an email.
- Impersonation - This applies when administration suspects a user of misrepresenting their identity, whether to the web site in general, or to another user.
|
First Offense: The offending user will be contacted by email and the account will be immediately disabled according to the offense the member has violated. There will be no second offenses of this sort. In some rare cases, a user may be given a second chance after the account has been disabled for a while.
|
Category IV Offenses
Serious Crimes
|
- Hacking/Interference - This is the deliberate use of any device, software, routine, or activity to achieve or attempt to achieve any interference with the proper operation of the site, as determined by the administration.
- Threats/Harassment - This would be threats of bodily harm or other harassment from a user, whether by email or on the forum, as determined by the administration.
- Other Illegal Activities - As you might expect, we don't want anything illegal going on here. Users cannot post hacks, cracks, pirated software, or anything of the like. Furthermore, we do not allow instructions on how to complete illegal activities, such as pirating. Please don't ask for advice on using illegal software, as it will be removed.
|
First Offense: These are very serious crimes, not merely site regulations. The offending user's account will be immediately disabled and his/her service provider will be informed of the activity. If applicable, proper authorities will be contacted. The user may or may not be immediately contacted by administration during investigation.
|
|
Administrator |
Global Moderator |
Review Team
Copyright ©2007 Soft Hardware. All Rights Reserved.
No portions of Soft Hardware may be used without expressed, written permission.
|
Soft Hardware Forums [MOVED]->Rules
