VF Forum Code of Conduct - Discussion

[TheDrunkenDwarf]

This is an initial draft of the Vanguard Fighters Forums Code of Conduct. After it is finalized, it will be posted in the announcements and it will be the guideline under which our moderators operate.

I think that you should have some say in how we run our community, so I am posting the initial draft and would like comments, suggestions, etc... The people visiting the forum are what brings it to life, so I think you should have a say in what the rules are.

Up to this point, everything has gone smoothly, but I think that having a Code of Conduct will help keep things from getting ugly in the future. The primary benefits of having a clear set of rules are:
1. Everyone knows what is acceptable.
2. The moderators have clear rules to enforce. This will help prevent individual personalities from coming into play in the moderation of the forums, and keep things consistent and fair.

So here's the draft version. Please feel free to ask questions, suggest changes/additions, etc.

Vanguard Fighters Forums - Code of Conduct

• Derogatory comments or slurs based on a member's race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs are prohibited.
  Selling in-game items for real world money is prohibited.
  The forums are PG-13 rated. All language and images in the forums should be suitable for a teenage audience.
  Personal attacks on a member are prohibited. You can argue a point, but don't get personal.
  Advertising for real world merchandise is prohibited.
  While the Vanguard: SOH beta NDA is in effect, no information protected by that NDA can be posted or linked.

That's all I have so far. I don't want a 10 page document that people won't read anyway (and even that wouldn't cover every situation that comes up). But I do want enough rules so that the majority of things that might come up are covered.

Let me know what you think.

[Lightning]

A few possible additions:

- No discussion of warez or other illegal activities.
- Be helpful - not everybody knows as much as you might. Point people to information they might need where necessary.
- If a Moderator has edited your post, do not edit it again.

Do you think we should also lay down the consequences? Violation will result in a warning, further violations will lead to a ban at the moderators discretion. We reserve the right to move, lock or edit a thread for any reason.

Also, should we lay down rules about avatar and sig sizes, or would you rather leave that for now and see how it develops?

Oh, "commercial advertising will result in an immediate ban" (for when people sign up to spam the boards with advertisements), or should we just let that be explicit?

[Fisty]

Advertising for real world merchandise is prohibited

My only question is this... I have mentioned before that eventually when I get done with VG Crafters, and the graphics ya'll are waiting for here, and a few requests for target rings, and a few personal requests for sig pictures I'm going to finish putting together my website to sell sig pictures and magelo backgrounds.... will this rule prevent me from linking my website in my sig? (no, not a big ad, just a link)

[Lightning]

Originally Posted by Fisty

My only question is this... I have mentioned before that eventually when I get done with VG Crafters, and the graphics ya'll are waiting for here, and a few requests for target rings, and a few personal requests for sig pictures I'm going to finish putting together my website to sell sig pictures and magelo backgrounds.... will this rule prevent me from linking my website in my sig? (no, not a big ad, just a link)

I'd say there is a distinction between linking to a personal website and pimping some commercial wares... it's a fine line but one I guess comes down to moderator discretion.

[TheDrunkenDwarf]

Linking a personal website where you do Vanguard related art (signatures, magelo backgrounds, character portraits, etc..) is fine.

That rule is designed for the case that lightning mentioned... blatant advertising for commercial products.

[Nocturnos]

Sounds clear and concise to me. Like Lightning said, I also think that the consequences or punishment system should be laid out as well.

[Tudana]

Derogatory comments or slurs based on a member's race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs are prohibited.
Selling in-game items for real world money is prohibited.
The forums are PG-13 rated. All language and images in the forums should be suitable for a teenage audience.
Personal attacks on a member are prohibited. You can argue a point, but don't get personal.
Advertising for real world merchandise is prohibited.
While the Vanguard: SOH beta NDA is in effect, no information protected by that NDA can be posted or linked.

Originally Posted by Lightning

A few possible additions:

- No discussion of warez or other illegal activities.
- Be helpful - not everybody knows as much as you might. Point people to information they might need where necessary.
- If a Moderator has edited your post, do not edit it again.

I like this, and can live and abid by them.

Everything suggested so far, will help keep these forums mature and spam free so they will become and remain a place of information for a mature Vanguard community.

[TheDrunkenDwarf]

Originally Posted by Lightning

"commercial advertising will result in an immediate ban" (for when people sign up to spam the boards with advertisements), or should we just let that be explicit?

I am probably going to borrow your wording and change "Advertising for real world merchandise is prohibited. " to....

Commercial advertising is prohibited.

Accounts that are created for the purpose of spamming advertisements would be banned under this rule... while less serious violation would get a warning.

That's one reason I hesitate to list the punishment with the rule. There are varying degrees of infraction... Someone who posts a pornographic image and someone who drops the F bomb are both guilty of violating the same rule. One of those would be banned, and one would probably get thwapped on the head by Salty Dog and that would be the end of it unless it became a case of repeated offenses after warnings. Same rule... but very different situations resulting in different punishments.

I think a better way to handle it is to go with a policy along the lines of:
"Violation of these rules will result in disciplinary action. For minor infractions, warnings will be given. For serious or repeat violations, the account may be suspended or banned."

I want to be clear on one thing while we're on the subject. Banning will NOT be something that is done on a shoot from the hip basis. I hope to never have to ban anyone. It will always be a last resort (except in the case of bogus accounts registered for the purpose of spamming the forums with ads.)

Moderators will have the power to ban (they have to have this power to keep someone from repeatedly posting content in violation of the rules if that person ignores their warnings). However, any banning will be reviewed by me within 24 hours to determine if it was appropriate.

[Lightning]

Originally Posted by TheDrunkenDwarf

I want to be clear on one thing while we're on the subject. Banning will NOT be something that is done on a shoot from the hip basis. I hope to never have to ban anyone. It will always be a last resort (except in the case of bogus accounts registered for the purpose of spamming the forums with ads.)

Absolutely, a ban is and should be a consequence of only the most serious violation, and only after careful thought.

To avoid kneejerk reaction, would it be best if bans were discussed between you and Salty first? This would allow for a degree of seperation and not a "ban in anger" response.

[TheDrunkenDwarf]

Originally Posted by Lightning

Absolutely, a ban is and should be a consequence of only the most serious violation, and only after careful thought.

To avoid kneejerk reaction, would it be best if bans were discussed between you and Salty first? This would allow for a degree of seperation and not a "ban in anger" response.

In most cases, this will be how we operate. In the case where someone is repeatedly posting things in violation after being asked to stop, moderators will be able to ban the individual temporarily to prevent them from continuing to post in violation of the code. The ban will then be quickly reviewed and one of three things will happen:
1. The ban will be lifted and we will apologize.
2. We will discuss the problem with the offender via email and try to work things out so we can remove the ban.
3. The ban will be upheld and made permanent.