Zelda Dungeon Forum Rules

[Mases]

The rules of the Zelda Dungeon Forums are pretty much what you would expect from any online community. The purpose of the forum is to have constructive and intelligent conversation about the Zelda series, but of course we understand tension will rise at some point in time. So here are a few rules about what is allowed, what isn't allowed, and what could happen if rules are broken. Please note the differences between the rules within the actual Message Board and the Shoutbox.

1. All Members Are Treated Equal
This includes webmasters, administrators, all forum staff members, all site staff members, old respected members, and newly registered users. Anything that has happened at any other online community in the past is not an issue of the Zelda Dungeon Forums. So if you are a newly registered user, you should expect to have a clean slate. However, certain events that happen outside of the Zelda Dungeon Forums will be taken into account when they are relevant to the forum or to the specific user. In particular, Hylian Heroes and Forum Staff members are expected to act as leaders and representatives of Zelda Dungeon while at the Zelda Dungeon Forums and while at other portions of the online Zelda community.

The below rules are expected to be followed by all members including the forum staff and webmasters. While there is equality for all members, the forum staff should be respected. The staff voluntarily takes time out of their daily lives to make this place the best it can be and they deserve to be treated with the utmost respect.

2. Swearing
Blunt swearing is not tolerated. If it is used in an offensive way attacking a member or a members idea, then this will result in a warning and/or ban. Just because something appears as (******) to replace a swear, it does not make it okay to say it. We will be a bit lenient with the language, allowing words like 'damn' and 'hell', but please remember we have a younger audience here at the forums.

3. No SPAM, Duplicating Topics, or Double Posting
This means no 'Stupid Pointless Annoying Messages'. A topic that is posted and has no purpose at all, or is just meant for one answer, and then closed (exception in the Game Help section) is not tolerable. Duplicated topics are also considered SPAM and will be deleted. We understand that sometimes there are old topics buried deep within the forums and a user might miss that thread. That's fine, but if it becomes a consistent problem, it will be dealt with. Double Posting is not tolerated unless there is a good reason for it. (A great topic that has been inactive for several weeks and the last poster wants to bump it back up with another intelligent post).

4. Bumping Old Topics
At other forum communities, it is usually a sin to bump old topics. Here at the Zelda Dungeon forums, interesting topics that have not been posted in for several months CAN be bumped. However, the user that bumps it must have a good reason for doing so. If he wants to contribute to the thread with interesting and valuable ideas/opinions, than that is fine. If he simply makes a post saying that he agrees with somebody or anything that adds very little value at all to the thread, then that is not tolerated. Only bump threads that are old if you truly have something valuable to say.

5. No Attacking or Flaming Other Members
This goes back to rule number 1, all members are equal. If a member is breaking any of the rules, do not attack or flame him, but rather, contact a member of the staff and it will be taken care of. If one user attacks and flames another user, but then the response continues the attacking and flaming, both users will be punished. If the person is actually a member of the staff, then contact Mases, Dabombster, or Caleb.

6. No Multiple Posting
Two things specific about this rule. One, it does not look good on the forum if one member makes a new post in nearly every single active topic out there right after one another, filling every single part of the page with 'posted by ______'. Also, more importantly, this is a community forum and not a chatroom. If Person A makes a post, and immediately person B responds. Person A should not respond immediately after, but instead this person should wait awhile before responding. Let others get involved in the thread. Thus, this is a Community and not a chatroom. If you are interested in one on one discussion, that is what the Shoutbox is for.

7. No Religious or Political Discrimination
While we have a limited general section, 'Mature' discussion is not tolerated outside of the actual Mature Discussion section. The Mature Discussion has its own set of rules which can be viewed as a sticky thread within the Mature Discussion forums. Mature Discussion Rules

8. No Inappropriate Posts or Images
This includes anything that could be considered sexist or racist. This is very judgmental, so if you think it may be considered inappropriate by any group of people, be safe and don't post it. This includes images that have partial nudity or any inappropriate body gestures. Also, the Zelda Dungeon Forums has a younger audience, and some posts may be inappropriate for all users. We don't like to discriminate against particular users, but we have to keep things civil and organized. Thus, images that reflect deformed faces, cross dressing, obnoxious blood, violence, etc... (whether they are real or photoshopped images)... are not tolerated. [Exceptions in the Mature Discussion ONLY].

9. Opinions
Remember, this is a community forum and there will always be different opinions. All members are entitled to their own opinion as long as it does not break any rules. (Rule #4, don't flame somebody for having a different opinion). Especially take this into account within the Theorizing area of the forums, as well as the Mature Discussion. In both cases, there are hardly ever any concrete answers and things can always be interpreted differently. Let's try to be fair towards all members while also be constructive.

10. Grammar and Spelling
Having proper grammar and spelling at the forums is desired, but we understand that it doesn't always happen, given we have a large base of younger users, as well as foreign users. To help improve spelling, a thread is available on how you can install an add-on to your computer to Improve Your Spelling. Grammar, we are bit lenient with. If a user misses a period or a comma, that's perfectly fine. However, if it becomes a constant problem where a post has no periods at all, then this is a problem. Also, much like how we don't allow posts that are in all Caps-Lock, we don't want a post that is in all lowercase letters. Capitalizing the first word of a sentence is something that is usually taught at the age of 5 or 6, and there should be no reason that this is a consistent problem at the forum.

11. No Duplicate Accounts
This is pretty self-explanatory. Super Moderators and Administrators know if you make a duplicate (or alternate) account. If you are banned, or even if you aren't banned, do not make another account. If you aren't banned and want to change your username or something, request it. Adjustments can usually be made if you are relatively new and do not have many posts. Duplicate accounts will be banned immediately. Continuously creating duplicate accounts may warrant a permanent ban.

We want to keep the forum clean and as long as you can work with us to try to make quality posts, we will work with you to enjoy your stay here at the Zelda Dungeon Forums.


So what happens if a member breaks a rule?
For the time being, all infractions of the rules will be handled on a case by case basis. If you are an active member and happen to break a rule just once or twice in a long while, for the most part, we will let it slide. However, repeat offenders can be punished. Punishments will vary and escalate on a case by case basis. However, here are the general steps of the process.

a) A formal warning by an arbiter, moderator super moderator, administrator, or webmaster
b) Being banned from part or all of the forums for a short time
c) Being banned for a longer time for each repeat offense
d) Last resort will be a permanent ban




Shoutbox Rules
- Standard Rules - All standard rules listed above also apply within the Shoutbox. (Except those that apply to posting threads)
- Flooding - Posting numerous shouts in a row without talking to somebody can be perceived as Spamming the shoutbox.
- Improper Behavior - Acting too annoying/childish is not tolerated. It is a chatroom atmosphere, but we need to have some standard.
- Talking Negatively of Other Members - Any negative conversations about other members in the open SB will not be tolerated.
- Caps Lock - Posting shouts in all Caps Lock is not tolerated.
- Smileys - Posting numerous smileys in a row can be perceived as spamming the Shoutbox.
- Images - Posting and linking oversized images/animations is not tolerated.
- Advertisement - Advertising other websites in the Shoutbox is not tolerated. (Making a single post is okay).
- Complaining - Constant complaining about members/rules is not tolerated. Private Message an Administrator or Super Moderator to voice complaints.
- Role Playing - Role Playing is not allowed. However, small instances, if there are just two members online, are okay.
- Conflict - Having an argument or fight with a member is not tolerated.
- Language - Having a conversation in another language while other members are in the shoutbox is not tolerated.
- Arbiter/SuperMod/Administrator - Ignoring an Arbiter or Super Moderator's request or warns to a member could result in removal from the shoutbox.


So what if you break a rule within the Shoutbox?
-You will be warned/banned accordingly, depending on the individual person and situation.
-Reminder, being banned or silence within the shoutbox, DOES NOT mean you are banned from the forums. It just means that you have been temporarily removed from this single added feature of the forum.




Signature Size Limits
The maximum limit of the size of your signature is about 400x250 Pixels. You can use more then one image in your signature, as long you don't pass the maximum limit.
Using animated GIF images is allowed, as long they are not too large of a file size.

Here is an example.



So what happens when your signature is oversized?
a) A Moderator/Arbiter will send you a PM to ask you to reduce your signature size.
b) You will have 2 days to change your signature after you received a Private Message.
c) If you ignore the PM, your signature will be removed and you will receive a Formal Warning.
d) If you are not active for a long period of time and you had no opportunity to read the PM? Then it will still be removed but you won't receive a Warning.

Reminder - the 400x250 limit is a bit arbitrary. If a user user has a signature that is 450*150. (Wide but not tall)... we'll usually be a bit lenient with it. If a user has 9 tiny images that all add up to being smaller than 400*250 they will be removed. The purpose of the rule is to keep signatures from being obnoxious, and not to dictate exactly what is not allowed.






Things to consider.
1) We are moral people and if you are willing to work with us, we are willing to work with you.
2) The general rules of the Zelda Dungeon apply to all areas of the Message Board. This includes the actual Topics, the Shoutbox, or the Arcade. However, some individual sections have their own added rule set.


If you have any questions or concerns about the Zelda Dungeon rules or something that happened within the Message Board, don't hesitate to contact Mases, Dabombster, MrMosley, or Caleb.