PERMABANS (though you did not know it!)

[AndyDufresne]

After discussing things with the other Admins and Moderators, and taking into account their opinions as well, I hope to combine both their thoughts and the community's thoughts, outlined in this topic, in the the Official Middle Ground.

The Official Middle Ground:

The Community Guidelines have been altered and added to, to reflect the work that has been done. Revisions---I've added spoilers to hide unchanged information, but included the unchanged information so you can see the context of the new changes in the overall post.

What was added: Minor vs Major/Severe Offenses, added language to Bigotry area, cleaned up Vacation Flavor Area.

Forum Basics

Spoiler

The Conquer Club forum contains several different "forums" all cunningly described in the Board Index. Each "forum" encourages focused conversation on one of the many areas of interest here at Conquer Club. Whilst it is true to say that some boards are more focused than others, all apply, at a bare minimum, the same Posting Rules described below.

Basic posting terminology:

• "Posting" is the act of composing and submitting a message.
• Posting a "new topic" starts a whole new discussion topic about a whole new subject and is listed separately on the list of topics shown on each board. The new topic button is available when viewing the list of topics. The first post in a new topic is often referred to as the "original post" and the user who posted it as the "original poster" - both are often abbreviated to "OP".
• Posting a "new post" contributes to an existing discussion topic. The new post button is available when viewing an existing discussion topic.
• As a discussion grows a "thread" of posts accumulates. The word "thread" is often used interchangeably with "topic."
• We encourage you to check the Help FAQ, Forum FAQ, and use the Search Function before starting a post to ensure that your question or discussion topic doesn't already have an answer or a thread.

Conquer Club Specific BBCode Tags:

When posting you may find it beneficial to use one of our Conquer Club Specific BBCode Tags.

• name of user -- This can be used if you'd like to link directly to a specific user's personal Profile page.
  # Example:

  Code: Select all

  [player]admin[/player]

  admin
• [game] game# [/game] -- This can be used if you'd like to link directly to a specific game.
  # Example:

  Code: Select all

  [game]1000000[/game]

  Game 1000000

• Click image to enlarge.

  

  -- This should be used when posting very large images that may extend too far in height and width for normal viewing. If in doubt, use [bigimg] instead of the regular

Private Messaging

Frequently you might find yourself wishing to communicate with just one or a few members at a time rather than posting for the whole forum to read. In this instance, open your Inbox and click New PM. That screen is just like a public post, but only the people you wish to send it to will actually receive it.

For more specific and complicated uses of private messaging, please visit the Powers of the Inbox: How-To thread.

Much like the Game Chat, private messages are not actively moderated. It's up to you to block individuals who annoy you via PM, but in severe cases such as excessive spamming, flaming, or trolling, you can open a complaint in the Cheating & Abuse Forum.

• Note: If you receive a request for a game alliance via PM, please post a copy/screenshot of this PM in the Cheating & Abuse Forum. Secret Diplomacy violates Rule #2.

Forum Guidelines

Posting in the forum is a privilege, not a right. If you want to continue to keep this privilege, play by the rules.

The following list is a set of guidelines to avoid being annoying. It is not 100% comprehensive, but please read this carefully to ensure you don't accidentally breach the guidelines:

Off topic posts are posts which de-rail a topic either directly or indirectly, at any point.

• If the post is not about you, don't try to make it about you.
• If the main point of your post is about something other than what the OP intended, it's not on topic, even if you did post about how you agree with the OP.
• Yes, you can joke around in a thread, but keep it on the topic originally intended by the OP
• Whether or not your post is the first to take a thread off topic is irrelevant: Off topic is off topic.
• Just because everyone in the thread doesn't mind it going off topic does not mean that it's okey doky.

Spam is posting for the sole intention of being annoying.
There are a million ways you shouldn't be annoying, but ones worth mentioning:

• Double/triple/multiple posting.
• Quoting just for the sake of quoting.
  • "QFE", "QFT" etc. do not qualify as "a meaningful post", add why you agree with the quote.
• Posting only, or lots of, smilies.
• Posting about yourself in a thread that is not specifically about you.
• Posts that add nothing to the current topic.
• Posting rapidly in a short time.
• Posting the same thing over and over in the same or other threads.
• Posting "parody" threads that aren't meant for an actual discussion.
• Necrobumping (bringing dead threads back to life) if no new meaningful content is being added.

Flames are posts or parts of posts which, directly or indirectly, insult, belittle, bully, name-call, or otherwise attack another user is not allowed.

• In no circumstances is bigotry allowed.
  • Bigotry includes racism, aggressive homophobia, religion bashing or wishing violence on any minority group.
  • Bigotry takes into account historic events, emotional baggage and generally accepted associations with a term, phrase or intent - posting "White Power" in a thread has a history and is bigoted, posting "Green Power" makes you an environmentalist.
• It doesn't matter if another user rubs you the wrong way, that's not an excuse to flame or attack them.
• Attacking a person instead of the user is NOT ok - it's all fun and games until it becomes personal.
  • Using a person's real information, picture, address, blog or anything else "personal" is NOT ok.
• Yes, we are liberal on course language, but this does not mean cyber-bullying or Bigotry is acceptable anywhere. You will be removed from the community for cyber-bullying or bigotry.

Flaming will get your post edited/deleted and will get you a warning from a mod. Cyber-bullying and bigotry will be removed, and a mod will probably come down on you like a ton of bricks.

Spoiler

Flame baiting (or just baiting) is the intentional attempt to get someone else to flame.

• Just because you didn't directly attack another user does not make your post a meaningful contribution. If your post's intent was to provoke another user into an emotional response, to get under their skin or to otherwise piss them off, you're baiting them. Hopefully the user doesn't take the bait, but you'll probably get a warning from a mod.

Trolling is the intentional attempt to cause chaos.

• Posting controversial or irrelevant messages or topics with the intent to provoke someone else into a pissing match, emotional response, flame fest or to generally disrupt the discussion, community or user is not cool. Prompting or provoking others to do that is just as bad.
• Don't provoke others into a flame fest, this won't be tolerated.
• Don't ever post personal information of other users. Anywhere. Ever. Even if they already posted it somewhere else. This includes posting personal information about a CC user on another site, you will be held accountable here.
• Don't de-rail topics, don't spam them, don't flame them, don't bait them, don't drive a topic into a negative spiral.
• Don't flog a dead horse. If a discussion is over, it's over. Screaming louder, more or in a different place is not going to change the answer already given. If you think the answer was wrong, PM an Admin. If you think the admin is wrong, then this probably isn't the right community for you.
• If someone is trolling or baiting, don't fall for it. The best way to piss off a troll is to ignore them. They are just sad little children who don't get enough attention from their mothers and so are trying to get it from you. Ignore them and it will hurt more than any "zing" you might come back with.

There is little that is more annoying than a troll. This will get you removed from the CC community quicker than almost anything else.


Nudity and sexual material are not allowed.

• Any images or textual descriptions of sexual activity or nudity - nipples, areola, genitals, anuses etc - whether intended as artistic, erotic, pornographic or otherwise are not allowed.
• This includes content posted here and links to other sites. Posting NSFW - "Not Suitable For Work" - does not make it ok for posting.
• If it is ambiguous, we'll ask you to remove it anyway, so "It's a guy's nipple" isn't going to fly. You're just trying to be annoying at that point.
• Posting a painting from the 13th century with exposed nipples to claim that we're evil dictators when we ask you to remove it is also just being annoying, and you're probably just being a troll at that point.

Pornography in chat or in the forums will frequently earn an immediate 24-hour vacation, even without a warning first.


Gambling on or through this site is not allowed.

• This is a casual gaming site, not a serious one. If you want to gamble for money or "real-world items", then you'll have to find another site.
• Wagering CC points is also not allowed.

Posting Etiquette

To avoid annoying the rest of the community, follow these 3 basic steps:

• 1. Ask yourself if your post is actually contributing to the topic, or is it off topic or just plain spam? If it's not contributing, find somewhere else to post.
  2. Ask yourself if you are flaming, baiting, feeding a troll or taking the bait. If you are, then don't.
  3. Re-ask the above two questions

There are also some CC specific issues that you need to keep in mind for proper posting.

Un-noted Automatic Join Game Links

• If you post an Automatic Join Game Link, you must note that it is so to warn other users who may click on the link before the game is filled.

Foreign Language Forums are for language groups to discuss CC in their native language.

• Language forums are not places to practice your skills with Google translate nor are they for national groups, they are for language groups. If you have problems in them, PM an International Mod.

Posts that nobody can read are annoying.

• Signatures larger than 150 pixels high by 600 pixels wide just scream “I am compensating for something” and should be reduced in size. Note this size restriction includes all parts of the signature, i.e. all banners and all text. Here is a comparison box:

• |337 5p33k (0r d00d 5p34k) 15 h4rd 70 r34d 4nd m4k35 y0u |00k |1k3 4 ch1|d 57uck 1n 7h3 80'5 4nd n07 47 4|| |337.
  Translation: Leet-speak just sucks, and we all know it, and you don't want to suck too, now do you?
• TYPING IN ALL CAPS IS JUST OBNOXIOUS AND DOES NOT MAKE YOU LOOK COOLER OR SMARTER AND PEOPLE WON'T READ YOUR POST MORE BECAUSE IT'S IN CAPS. PLEASE USE CAPS ONLY AT THE BEGINNING OF SENTENCES AND FOR SINGLE WORD EMPHASIS WHEN REALLY NEEDED.
• The only thing more stupid than TYPING IN ALL CAPS is
  
  TYPING IN ALL CAPS IN A LARGER FONT AND ANNOYING COLOUR

Rules, precedents and customs from other communities don't apply.

• Neither do the By-Laws from the Podunk 3rd district. Believe it or not, Conquer Club is a private business. Just because something works one way in another community does not mean that is how it will work here. We're usually less strict and you can get away with a lot, but that doesn't mean that you can pull the "This is how it works everywhere else" card and expect to get away with it. Really. This is not "everywhere else."
• In the same vein, just because you are here, does not mean you MUST be here. This is a business and CC does reserve the right to promote or discourage any kind of behavior it sees fit. Claiming your first amendment right to free speech to post about the colour of your poop last night will not fly. If a mod or admin specifically say you shouldn't be doing something, regardless of if it's specifically spelled out in the rules, or if you think that they are stupid, it still means don't do it. If you don't like the rules here, google.com will help you find somewhere more appropriate.

Be nice or leave

It's fine if you don't like this site or the way it is run...find another one with better rules, start another one and make your own rules, abuse another one and try to get them to change their rules, but don't complain about the rules here.

Rule Enforcement

For users who break the above Guidelines, as they say, "there will be consequences and repercussions." The Mods and Admins will always take into account when past offenses occurred, and the severity of the current offense and any past offenses, in addition to the intent of the offense.

There are essentially Two Levels of Offense in Conquer Club: Minor and Major/Severe.

• Minor Offenses are those that are more annoying than hurtful with intent. This includes but is not limited to: Spamming, Off Topicing, Forms of Flaming/Trolling, Necro-bumping, Oversized Signature, Avatar Abuse, etc.
  • Minor Offenses follow the traditional vacation escalation scale of:
  • Warning, 24 Hour Vacation, 72 Hour Vacation, One Week or One Month Vacation, Permanent Vacation.
• Major/Severe Offenses are those that are more than just annoying, but are intentionally hurtful to a user, group of users, or the community in general. This includes but is not limited to: Cyber-bullying/Harassment, Bigotry, **Point Dumping** etc.
  • Major/Severe Offenses follow a shortened vacation escalation scale of:
  • Warning, One Month Vacation, Permanent Vacation.
  **Note: Due to the nature of Point Dumping having an impact of the integrity of the game, your account will be suspended first until the issue can be resolved.**

The general order of Rule Enforcement is as follows:

Spoiler

• Moderator Post
  • A moderator may drop in on a thread and provide a friendly reminder to all readers and posters. These reminders need to be considered otherwise other actions may be taken.
  • Mods are members first, so they are free to express their opinions in their posts. They will make it clear when they are warning the other users rather than just posting their personal comments.
• Topic Split
  • A topic may have off topic posts split into a new topic from the original topic, so as not to mix and mingle too many discussions in a single topic.
• Topic Merge
  • A topic may be merged with another topic if the discussion exists in an older and previous topic.
• Topic Time Out
  • A topic may be locked for a short period of time (up to 24 hours) if the discussion turned into insults, name calling, flaming, etc. After the designated period of time, the topic will be reopened for discussion, and will stay open, provided that discussion continues in a civilized and respectful manner.
• Indefinite Topic Lock
  • A topic may be locked indefinitely if the discussion has derailed from its original and intended purpose, or it has become unruly and no longer heeding the Forum Guidelines.
• Warning
  • A user will almost always first receive a Warning from a Moderator or Admin for their first offense. A first offense may include, but is not limited to: Flaming outside the Flame Wars, Posting off topic, Improper use of avatar/signature, Harassing another user, Trolling a user's personal information, Improper use of ratings, etc.
  • There are two levels of warning, friendly and formal.
    • Friendly warnings are considered a reminder that you are near or just over the line of what is allowed and gives you the opportunity to make any necessary adjustments.
    • Formal warnings are more serious and should definitely be heeded. These are sent via PM with the title "Disciplinary Measures".
  • If you do get a warning from a mod, remember that "But this person broke the rule too" is not an excuse". Sure, lots of people are annoying, but that doesn't mean you're not. Don't try to deflect your guilt onto someone else. You broke a rule, own up to it and don't do it again. If someone else did break the rule, then report it using the "report post" button in the forum or PM a mod directly when in live chat. They may have already been warned even if it wasn't posted publicly.

[*]Forum Vacation Flavors

During a Forum Vacation a user cannot post in the Forums and cannot access their Inbox, but they can still play games. Forum Vacations will be used when Warnings are not heeded. The range of Forum Vacations you may receive depends on if your infraction was a Minor or a Major/Severe offense. Flavors of Vacation you may receive:

• 24 Hour
  • For users who have yet to learn. Calm down, cool it, regroup, be happy.
• 72 Hours & 1 Week
  • For users who have yet to learn. Time away does the mind and heart some good.
• 1 Month
  • For users who have yet to learn. More time for reflection.
• Permanent Forum Vacation
  • For users who never learned from their previous offense actions. The ultimate zen.

[*]Permanent Website Ban

• Bans are the most severe of the Rule Enforcement methods. These are not vacations you come back from: No forums, no games, no Conquer Club.
• Used with Admin discretion, based on the severity of the offense and past history.

[/list]

Miscellaneous Cases

Spoiler

• Avatar Abuse
  • If an avatar is not within the above Guidelines or includes someone's personal information (whether it's true or not), a user will first receive a Warning along with having the avatar removed. If the Warning is not heeded, avatar use will be disabled for 1 week. If the disabling is not heeded, avatar use will be disabled indefinitely.
• Signature Abuse
  • If a signature is not within the above Guidelines or includes someone's personal information (whether it's true or not), a user will first receive a Warning along with having the signature removed. If the Warning is not heeded, signature use will be disabled for 1 week. If the disabling is not heeded, signature use will be disabled indefinitely.
• Posting for Vacationed or Banned Users
  • If you choose to make posts for individuals who have received a vacation or a ban, don't be surprised if you find yourself quickly joining them in paradise.

Remember: Common sense prevails - if you are intentionally or continually making this community less enjoyable, you're going to be removed from it. It's that simple.

I hope we have reached an acceptable and enforceable end. Thanks for all your work, everyone. Well done.


--Andy

[thegreekdog]

Andy - one minor point and totally nitpicking...

It should be "coarse language" not "course language"

Otherwise, looks very awesome to me.

[AndyDufresne]

Forgive me! I thought I got all my spelling errors.


--Andy

[owenator]

Forgive me! I thought I got all my spelling errors.


--Andy

Superb job Andy. Thanks for all your hard work, but most of all...the execution of it.

[MrBenn]

Andy, you have done a fantastic job of guiding discussion, and leading by example

[thelastpatriot]

Nice job Andy

[whitestazn88]

great work andy, and to everyone who participated in the discussion

[AndyDufresne]

It was more everyone else than me. You all provided the discussion, issues, points, and middle grounds---I just organized it and tried to keep it on track.


--Andy

[neanderpaul14]

Ummmm......What exactly is Necro-bumping??

[AndyDufresne]

Check out the Community Guideline, under Forum Guidelines-->Spam:

Necrobumping (bringing dead threads back to life) if no new meaningful content is being added.

--Andy

[sailorseal]

Can the word "agressive" be removed before homophobia.
I have seen posted like
Example:
"Hey you are so gay"
^That is currently acceptable^

[neanderpaul14]

Check out the Community Guideline, under Forum Guidelines-->Spam:

Necrobumping (bringing dead threads back to life) if no new meaningful content is being added.

--Andy

TY (please note: this was not a necro-bump)

[Timminz]

Can the word "agressive" be removed before homophobia.

I agree.

[AndyDufresne]

I've removed it---let me know if I've missed anything. On a side note slightly, I am glad we got this finished in roughly a weeks time, because a young friend of mine has just went to the hospital for a heartattack, which means I might be less active in the next coming days.

But once again, thanks everyone for all their work. Hopefully we can do this all again sometime, but lets not make it soon. Jiminski, give me warning next time you start something.


--Andy

[jbrettlip]

Hope your friend is ok. I just lost a 43 yr old coworker to a heart attack. I am probably next (bad things happen in 3's and another buddy of mine passed this month too.)

Thanks for the effort. You are earning every banana Lack is paying you. You should link this post to Twill and show him how responsible adults do not go on power trips and how users can have valid opinions and insights.

[sailorseal]

Great! Great! Great!

Thanks Andy

[pimpdave]

Okay everyone, we're still allowed to call each other retarded or stupid furries.

[wcaclimbing]

I'm thinking the jump from Warning straight to a one month ban is a bit extreme... Shouldn't there be at least something in between there?
I mean, I understand that you guys want harsher punishment for bigotry, but it seems like kicking a person out for an entire month after just one warning is a bit extreme.

[whitestazn88]

I'm thinking the jump from Warning straight to a one month ban is a bit extreme... Shouldn't there be at least something in between there?
I mean, I understand that you guys want harsher punishment for bigotry, but it seems like kicking a person out for an entire month after just one warning is a bit extreme.

well we had a discussion about it for a good little bit... sorry you missed out

[mpjh]

Okay everyone, we're still allowed to call each other retarded or stupid furries.

You can call yourself anything you want. Just don't call me Al.

[neanderpaul14]

Okay everyone, we're still allowed to call each other retarded or stupid furries.

Stupid furry retard.....

[Woodruff]

I'm thinking the jump from Warning straight to a one month ban is a bit extreme... Shouldn't there be at least something in between there?
I mean, I understand that you guys want harsher punishment for bigotry, but it seems like kicking a person out for an entire month after just one warning is a bit extreme.

I can understand what you're saying...but if they've been warned, do they really have any excuse for continued bad behavior? I mean...the warning is really just to make CERTAIN that you're aware of the rules. Once you know the rules...

[xelabale]

Thanks Andy,



Great solutions, great conversation. Now about those CC dice.........

[JoshyBoy]

Well done Andy!



Thank goodness. This topic looks like it might be nearing an end!

[owenshooter]

I'm thinking the jump from Warning straight to a one month ban is a bit extreme... Shouldn't there be at least something in between there?
I mean, I understand that you guys want harsher punishment for bigotry, but it seems like kicking a person out for an entire month after just one warning is a bit extreme.

i think it's spot on. they will receive a definitive warning and they will then know that continued activity has a very stiff penalty. what i really like is the fact that clear cut cases/extreme cases can automatically hit the ban status. which means, members that have already been warned for bigotry and have had continued bigoted behaviour may finally learn their lesson. everyone in the thread did a great job helping out and pushing this to be done. it came along way from "foe them and move on" and a very indifferent portion team CC that showed up, to andy stepping in and showing us why lack put him in the position he did. great job. andy gains mega respect from me for this.

Well done Andy!

Thank goodness. This topic looks like it might be nearing an end!

you for one at least learned something, Jboy... you should hope it continues, so your knowledge
of the world outside of your dorm room may continue ... again, great resolution... and
yes, even Jboy helped it reach it's resolution...-0