Posting Guidelines for StarshipModeler.net

[onezero]

The following are site-wide posting guidelines for all members participating on the Starship Modeler Discussion Forums. These rules are solely intended to make your posting experience here as rewarding as possible.

The rules may be boiled down into one simple commandment: DON'T BE A JERK.

These rules may be amended in the future if necessary. It is your responsibility to check this rules section and '<A HREF="http://www.starshipmodeler.net/talk/vie ... p?f=5">Ask Your Questions about SSM HERE</A>' to stay informed of any changes.

Forum-wide rules will be posted here. You may ask questions, make suggestions and voice complaints in the '<A HREF="http://www.starshipmodeler.net/talk/vie ... p?f=5">Ask Your Questions about SSM HERE</A>' forum or via eMail to the site owner, onezero@aol.com.

Each forum member may have only one account.

Do not hide behind extra aliases. Those caught doing so will be banned, along with all their split personalities.

Post in the right forum!

Please do not cross-post your post in multiple forum categories. When posting, do not post the same question in multiple categories in hopes of getting a quicker response. This is called spamming, and may result in your being banned from the board. Choose the one category that best accommodates your message, and post it there, once. If you're following up on a question, reply to the original thread, not start a new one. Moderators will move posts to the appropriate forums as necessary.

Off-Topic Posts

There are a multitude of themed forums here. Off-topic posts will be moved to where they belong at the discretion of the moderators. Non-hobby related topics belong in Thunderdome - if appearing in other forums, they will be moved or deleted at the discretion of the moderators.

Use a descriptive Topic subject.

This will help others find what they want to read. Topics with inappropriate or misleading Topic subjects will be edited. Moderators will clarify topic headings as necessary.

Research your post!

Make sure that you are not double posting. Search the forum first. Most questions have been answered many times before. This is particularly true of the Construction and Finishing forums - none of those topics are erased, so use the site's 'Search' function before asking a question that has already been discussed (have a heart - server space isn't free and the database that powers this thing is already quite big).

No trolling.

Don't make posts that are inflammatory just to annoy people. The moderators will delete or lock these topics as necessary. Trolling will lead to an immediate banning.

Do Not Engage in Personal attacks.

Criticize ideas, not people. Flaming will not be tolerated. This includes any material which is vulgar, defamatory, harassing, hateful, threatening, invading of others' privacy, sexually oriented, or violates any laws. The moderators will delete or lock these topics as necessary. Personal attacks may lead to an immediate banning.

Do not post pornographic materials, links to warez or other objectionable sites.

Do not post or link to sexually offensive or sexually explicit material. This includes suggestive images, graphics, and comments.

Do not post info from or links to warez (pirated content) sites or sites with pornographic or objectionable content.

We have many visitors under the age of 18 here - do not link to sites with content that you would not want your own kids to see (or if you have no children, sites you would not want your mother to catch you viewing).

Do not use objectionable language.

These boards use a filter to replace profanity and other offensive language. Circumventing the filter by inventing new ways to spell the filtered words, or using words from other languages that mean the same thing, is considered poor form. English is a rich language with perfectly acceptable words with which to make your point. If you can't say it with out cussing, expand your vocabulary.

Respect the privacy of others.

Do not post others' phone numbers, addresses, pictures, etc., without their permission.

Complaints, abuse and harrassment.

Complaints of any kind, comments, or reports of abusive behavior should be sent to the site administrators (OneZero, LindaSmile, or Ter-or) via Private Message or email to onezero@aol.com.

Moderators.

The moderators are here to keep order on the forums and ensure all users have the same opportunity to express their opinions, ask their questions and discuss the topics that interest them. The moderators will monitor the forums and reserve the right to edit, move or delete posts or topics as they deem appropriate.

Do not ignore, harass, bad-mouth or otherwise make the moderator's lives difficult. They are doing their job as a favor to me (OneZero) and are in no other way compensated for their time and effort. I have every confidence in their judgement - which is why I asked them to take on the job in the first place. If you feel you are being unfairly singled out - bring the matter to the attention the site administrators (OneZero, LindaSmile, or Ter-or) via Private Message or email to onezero@aol.com.

Arguing with, talking-back to, or ignoring the requests of the moderators will be treated the same way such actions would be if directed at an administrator: Your posting priveleges will be revoked.

Time limitations on postings

After posting a message, there is a short period of time before you can post again. This is to prevent the boards from being flooded by spam and multiple identical posts. In case of accidental double-posts ... don't worry, it happens when connections get flaky. A moderator will be by to take care of it.

Posting articles

Do not try to post entire articles into a message or into multiple messages. You can include a link to the article, if it is on the web. It's better than duplicating information which can be found in another place and making the boards load slower. Help in including links and formatting messages is provided on the form when you're posting a message.

Advertising and Spamming.

These forums are not free advertising space. If your company has a hobby-related sale, special offer or new product you wish to announce, you may do so in the "This Just In" forum - that's what it's there for. Advertising in any other forum will be removed at the discretion of the moderators.

If you need parts, have models or supplies to sell or trade, please make use of the Trading Post over on the main Starship Modeler site:

http://www.starshipmodeler.com/trade.cfm

That's what it's there for. You may also post your trade/sale in the Trading Post forum. But please only post one message per sale.

You may include a promotional link to your website in your signature, as long as it meets all the other requirements for signatures.

Flooding the forum with useless content, multiple posts on the same subject in multiple forums, and other "spam" will be ruthlessly eliminated, and may earn the originator a swift banning.

Message content.

You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages.

Images

Do not post in-line images, regardless of their size. They count against our bandwidth, for one. Just as importantly, not everyone has a highspeed connection - and loading images only slows everything down for those on a dial-up.

Instead, use a link to direct others to your images, like:

http://www.starshipmodeler.com/masthd.gif

Posts containing inline images will be edited by the moderators.

Smilies are (generally) exempt from these rules, as they're too small (again, generally) to affect much. Those deemed too large or otherwise inappropriate, however, will be edited by the moderators.

Copyrights

You may not post copyrighted material that is not owned by yourself or the owner of these forums. The best way to post an article or copyrighted material is to write your own summary and then post a link to the complete item. Or, post the first paragraph of the article to introduce the article with a link.

No cap locks

Please do not post messages with either the subject or post all in capital letters or your message will be summarily deleted. Messages all in capitals are not only annoying but are read 50% slower than normal writing.

Signatures

- Signatures will be no longer than 255 characters
- Signatures may contain smilies, but no other images. Images will be removed from your sigline by an administrator at their discretion (though we'll probably ask you to do so first)
- Signatures may contain a link to your personal or business (if it is hobby-related) site or sites that may be of use to other members.
- Signatures are expected to follow the same guidelines as posts.
- Why can't I put whatever I want in my signature ? It's my signature! Because it looks like crap. Putting animated avatars, or any other HUGE signature, at the end of your message uses up valuable real estate and besides - no one but you wants to see it. Just don't do it.

Penalties

Abusing/breaking the above guidelines will result in action taken either by a moderator or administrator. Sometimes it's as simple as your post being edited out (which does not always equate to a penalty, rather, just a reminder). Other times, you will be contacted and warned. In more severe cases, you will be banned immediately and without notice. If banned, it is permanent.

Legal Disclaimer

Users are legally responsible and liable for the content of their posts. Additionally the Starship Modeler Discussion Forums, the Starship Modelerâ„¢, staff, volunteers, and moderators will be held harmless against any and all claims resulting from the use of these boards.

We operate these forums under the principle of the "Golden Rule". Civility and common sense are all that's necessary to fit in with our little community.

Please direct any questions, comments, complaints or suggestions regarding these rules to site administrators (OneZero, LindaSmile, or Ter-or) via Private Message or email to onezero@aol.com.

Thanks -


[Edited for spelling and grammar 9/22/2003. Happy now, Em?]

[onezero]

What Happens on Other Forums Stays There

Please do not drag disputes, complaints and other baggage from different discussion boards over to this one. What happens elsewhere in cyberspace is best left there - no one really needs to know, or cares, about your problems with the administrators/moderators/other users/etc. on any other forum.

Similarly, if you have a problem with something going on on these forums - show us the courtesy of resolving it here. We don't, in general, monitor other forums. If you bring up problems elsewhere, we won't see them and can't try to resolve them. There are half a hundred ways to contact the SSM Moderators and Admins, so there is no excuse for not doing so.

[onezero]

Accusations - Recasting, Fraud, Ripping-Off, etc.

Just because someone makes a claim doesn't mean it's true. Before you charge someone with recasting, theiving or some other nefarious activity, take a moment to actually ascertain the facts of the matter.

We take accusations of members using our boards to conduct illicit activity seriously, and we investigate _all_ such claims to the best of our ability.

People abusing our forums to rip-off others (either their hard work or their money) will be sanctioned, and where possible, referred to the appropriate authorities for legal action.

People continually making unfounded accusations against other members, whether out of spite or ignorance, will be sanctioned as well.