Forum Rules, updated v1.2

RULES and REGULATIONS

1. Spamming is forbidden.
What is spam? Spam originally refers to electronic junk mail or junk newsgroup postings. Some people define spam even more generally as any unsolicited e-mail but in forums.

Sample spam:

-Off topic responses (e.g. Topic: Gundam SEED | Response: I really love Inuyasha!
-All-ellipsis responses or posts (e.g. Topic: Dice | Response: …/First post: …
-All-smily responses or posts (e.g. Topic: Super Gals | Response: /First post:
-Txt/chat/gaming responses or posts (e.g. 2log na u?/got 2 go/brb/gg/amf/amp
-Anything incomplete or does not really say anything. Useless/senseless topics, posts, and responses.
-Any one liner post that doesn't contribute to the discussion.

This rule was made because smilies/ellipsis are not capable of conveying worthwhile comments to a topic and therefore constitute as spam. In case of off-topic side comments, make sure that it does not dominate the post.

2. Spoiler posts should be minimized. If the discussion calls for it, please include a disclaimer/warning before such content. It can help if you change the font color to make it hard to read.

3. Sensitive topics should be handled with extra care. This includes politics, religion and culture. An open mind is necessary if we ever decide to incorporate them in our posts, signatures, avatars or profiles. Remember to maintain respect and awareness in every action we make.

4. Trolling is strictly forbidden.
What is/are troll(s) or trolling? Function if used as a verb-> to post controversial insulting or divisive threads/replies in a deliberate attempt to provoke retaliatory insults and flames. Posts are usually incorrect with the intention of provoking readers.

5. Flaming is strictly forbidden.
What is flaming? Flaming is the performance "art" of posting messages that are deliberately hostile and insulting. Such messages are called flames, and are often posted in response to flame baits. Flame baits are usually unsuspecting or can be suggestive topics or responses that can cause hostile responses.

6. Explicit adult content is strictly forbidden. Pornographic or erotic images or text should not be incorporated in any way. This also applies to extreme violence and gore. Be reminded that there are minors viewing this forum. Any questionable material should be directed towards one of your local Moderators or Administrators. Staff decision is final.

7. Any action with questionable legality is strictly forbidden. This includes solicitations and advertisements of products, site URL, etc.; violation of materials with propriety/intellectual property rights - in short, anything that places us in danger with the law. This is to avoid legal actions against the forum.

8. Multiple accounts are not allowed. Anyone caught doing this will be banned from the forum together with his or her main account.

9. User-posted images should not exceed 400x400 pixels of dimension and 200kb or file size. Links or thumbnails should replace the image/s if it ever exceeds those limits.

10. The following are the rules for a member's signature or avatar.

General Rule:

-Animated GIFs are allowed, but only one can be animated. It should either be the avatar only OR the signature only.

-Other forum rules still apply.

Signatures:

-Signature images should have a total dimension of 500x200 or less. Any excess pixels in the width OR height is a violation.

-Signature images have 100kb as the maximum allowable file size. Likewise, any excess kilobytes is a violation.

-For signatures with images and text, you are allowed up to three (3) lines of text in standard size format. Spaces between lines are included in the counting. The 500x200 and 100kb rule will still apply on the images. Any excess line of text is a violation.

-For signatures with no images, you are allowed up to seven (7) lines of text in standard size format. Spaces between lines are included in the counting. Any excess line of text is a violation.

Avatars:

-Avatars have 50kb as the maximum allowable file size.

Standard Netiquettes and Reminders

SEARCH FOR AN EXISTING TOPIC BEFORE POSTING & DO READ BEFORE POSTING.
-No useless topics (like all smiley, all ellipsis " ", "…" & "1000 post counts" topics)
-Topics containing spam will be closed immediately.
-Respect all forum rules, or face consequences.

In consideration to the real-time nature of the usage of this forum, it is impossible for the Administrators and Moderators to review all posts at once or validate the content of the information posted. Therefore, you bear the risk associated with, the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of the messages.

Please remember that the moderating team cannot actively monitor the contents of posted information and are not responsible for any messages posted. Do not expect us to moderate the forum 24 hours a day.

Any user/member shall remain solely responsible for the content of their messages. And through the usage of this forum, the user agrees to assure and hold us, the moderating team, harmless with respect to any claim based upon transmission of their post(s). We reserve the right to reveal the identity (or whatever information we have about the user) in the event of a complaint or legal action arising from any illegal/inappropriate posted message.

The moderating team has the ability to move, lock, delete, split, and merge objectionable and illegal posts. If we confirm that deletion is necessary, we will make every effort to do it within a reasonable time frame. This is a manual process, unfortunately, so please understand and be patient with us. We may not be able to remove or edit particular posts immediately.

Sanctions:

The first violation, whether that be 10%~30%, is a warning PM. That's basically what we do right now. It would be bothersome if we'll make stricter enforcement, yet us officials can't even serve the set punishment and solely act on what we think is right. Let's try to avoid these complications as early as now.

e.g.
Forumer A does a random offense so he gets a warning.(For spam, we'll give them warnings up to 30%, which means 3 warnings.)

Next, touching the 40% barrier would warrant a 2-day post disable and 50%~60% for a 3-day suspension. Its not too brutal for lesser offenses that are worth 10%. For slightly serious offenses that weigh 20%, doing it for the second time will have posts disabled and a third time calls for a suspension. Major offenses done for the second time will immediately be served with a suspension.

e.g.
Forumer A did not stop after reaching 30% and having 3 warnings. For his next spam, he'll be given post disable, then another spam would warrant suspension. If he performs slightly serious to major offenses this time, its instant suspension.

Forumer B did not stop after having a 20% degree warning from a slightly serious offense. Doing another slightly serious shall give him post disable. A major offense will automatically give him a suspension. If its only a 1st degree violation like spam, he'll just be given a final warning.

Forumer C, who committed a major offense last time received 30%. Another slightly serious and major offense can bestow him suspension. A 1st degree violation will immediately mean post disable.

Lastly, when someone is in a state of suspension or just got out of it, and another violation has be done yet again, perma ban will be issued no matter what the offense is. The chances were given already so there is no excuse.

To sum it up:
10%~30% = warn
40% = post disable
50%~60% = suspension
Any violation done after or during suspension = perma ban

We can apply this:

I divided them according to how severe the act is, basing it on the current rules. The topic on spoilers has been too subjective lately so I did not add it for now.

Specific Sanctions:
Signatures and avatars will be replaced or removed, depending on the image violation. This goes the same with pictures on posts. For avatars and signatures, we'll give you time to change them if its the first warning. Second warning will get instant removal.