Draft for Rules

I have a few:

The JKDF2.Net Community Forums is a friendly community where everyone should be able to feel welcome to discuss the Jedi Knight Game Series. To keep it this way some rules have proven necessary. Please keep them in mind for everyone's well-being when posting here.

General Forum Rules:

0. Language - concerning "chat speak"

Posts made in IM/chatspeak will not be accepted on the boards. This is a forum, not an instant messenger so please make an effort to use proper English. We are aware that this is an international forum where not everyone speaks English as their native language. Everyone can make grammar and spelling mistakes and nobody should pick on you for that, but IM/Chatspeak is a deliberate choice and not a mistake or lack of language skill. Members who post in chatspeak will be asked to change their posting habits, and if they do not remedy the situation they may see their posts edited/deleted at moderators' discretion.

I.) Flaming

You cannot, in any way, insult (or "flame") someone else on the board. People may not be insulted just because their opinion differs from yours. Flaming includes, but is not limited to, calling people names, insulting them, or saying offensive things to them. While ReT did allow this here, we can no longer support it as it has been a root for a bit of trouble.

II.) Inappropriate language

Refrain from using excessive profanity in your posts. Basically, let the censor do its job. Don't attempt to undermine it. Also, please refrain from any sexual references unless you are in a subject relevant thread (Abortion) and are discussing it with relevance.

III.) Spamming

Spamming is strictly prohibited. It has become increasingly hard to control spam on the JKDF2.Net forums, so all new members much be approved by the Administrators after a background check. Your post needs to contribute to the discussion or the topic.
Spam Details:

* Do not post messages that are irrelevant to the topic. This is spamming and is prohibited. Your posts should contribute to the thread.

* You should not be able to look up at your screen and see that the majority of topics or messages on a page were just created or posted by you.

* Chatting is speaking in a light, familiar way and includes informal talk or one sentence posts like “I agree.” Chatting is considered spamming and will be dealt with accordingly on the JKDF2.Net boards. The staff will lock blatantly spammy threads at their discretion.

IV) Bumping

Please do not make posts simply to move the topic back up to the top of the forum. This is called ‘bumping’ and is not allowed. If people have something relevant to post on that topic, they will. Please be patient when waiting for replies. Don't worry if you don't get a response right away. People around here are helpful and friendly, and if someone knows the answer to something, they'll let you know.

5. Post count

You may not post threads about the amount of posts, post status, or rank that you or a fellow member has. Also, you may not spam to increase your post count.

6. Illegal material

Do not post links to sites that contain illegal material or discuss where to obtain illegal material (ie where to get illegal MP3s, warez, cracks, etc.). Do not post magazine scans and other copyrighted material. This is prohibited.
Discussions about how to perform activities that are illegal in the US are also prohibited. We have run into issues with the attempts to download Jedi Knight series games, and we DO NOT allow that as it is illegal and immoral.

7. Obscene material

You may not post obscene material. This includes text and/or images that are violent, disturbing, or pornographic.

8. Advertisement

Advertising of Jedi Knight released material will be allowed within the correct thread (Clan Discussion Thread, Clan Forums, etc.)

You may not spam the Private Message (PM) mailboxes of other members.

Commercial advertisement for products or services you are trying to sell is strictly prohibited.

9. User names

Do not duplicate any body's nickname, avatar, and/or signatures. Make or find your own. You may not take the name of someone outside the community, such as names or nicknames of game developers, moderators of other communities, and so on. It is strictly prohibited to impersonate someone else.

10. General posting habits

1. Threads and posts must be placed in their appropriate forums: check out the forum description before posting your message.

2. Before posting a new topic, do a search to see if there is already a recent thread on the subject. If there is already a thread similar to what you’d like to post, feel free to read it and post a reply in the existing thread. Note that sometimes the search function is disabled, so do your best without it.

If you can find no suitable thread that has received new posts within the past few weeks you may post your own. Do not revive threads that have not had any activity for months or years this way. This is called Thread Necromancy and is generally frowned upon.

3. Be specific when you name your topic. This will aid in topic searches and help prevent someone from posting something you already have.

4. Try to stay on topic. Discussion is a good thing and is encouraged, but if what you have to say deviates a lot from the topic, do not post it in that thread. Consider starting your own thread instead. This is a matter of respect to the thread starter.

5. If you want to add something to a thread that you have recently posted in, and no one else have made any new posts in, edit your last post in the thread instead of creating a new one. If several days have passed where no one has posted anything and you have something rather substantial to add to the thread you may make a new post instead.

11. Editing/deleting moderator warnings

If a moderator edits one of your posts, do not erase or re-edit that post unless you have the permission of the moderator. If you disagree with a warning or disciplinary measure, do not argue in the thread. Contact either that same moderator or another staff member to discuss the issue and express your concerns.

12. Thread/post deletion

The thread deletion feature can only be used by an JKDF2.Net Admin or Moderator. It is only used as a last resort, or used to stop redundancy. Lock Threads are deleted only if they are in a forum for 7 days and are redundant. Post are deleted only at the discretion of a moderator or administrator and for a serious reason. You can discuss the deletion within our Support and Services forum.

13. Liability

You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold us harmless with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s). We reserve the right to reveal your identity (or whatever information we know about you) in the event of a complaint or legal action arising from any message posted by you.

14. Multiple accounts

Multiple accounts are not allowed. You must also use a valid email address when registering. If you do not like your current account name, please see the Name Change thread.

15. Moderator applications

Do not hound current moderators or administrators asking to become a moderator. Currently our staff is growing bigger and we will post regarding new staff members.

16. Re-registration after a ban

You may not re-register after receiving a ban. If you re-register after you are temporarily banned, you will be banned permanently. If you keep re-registering, you will be IP banned.

17. E-mail addresses

For your own privacy and security, do not post your e-mail address in the forums. If you want somebody to contact you personally, then please use the Private Messaging system built into the forums, or turn on the option allowing other users to send you e-mail via your profile.

18. Other

Our Grand Rule:
Have fun, don't be a twit and use common sense!

18.1 Age

In compliance with the Child's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, we cannot allow any member to join who is 12 or younger. If your are 13 years of age or older, you can join the forums by clicking the "Register" tab on the navi-bar on the top of the forums.

Penalties-

They are as follows:

Multiple accounts and impersonating someone else:

The penalty for having multiple accounts is an immediate permanent ban. Do not create a new account if you've been banned. You will also be banned for impersonating someone else.

Spamming, cussing, and flaming:

A person who flames, spams, or uses foul language will first receive a public warning in the thread in which any of these offenses occurred. The staff, at its sole discretion, may also take any other appropriate measures.
If the person does not comply, he/she will be given a final warning via private messaging.
If the person keeps flaming, cussing, or spamming, he/she will be banned.
Spamming may also result in the reduction of the user's post count to zero.

Illegal activities and obscene material:

If the person posts links to ROM sites and/or warez sites, the post will be edited and the person will be warned. If the person does it again, s/he will be banned temporarily.

Any user posting pornography will be permanently banned without warning. Also, links to Supershadow, the huge fraud, will be edited and deleted at the moderator's discretion.

Commercial advertising:

Posting commercial advertisements for products or services you are trying to sell will result in a permanent ban from JKDF2.net Forums without any warnings.

Age: If you join our forums and you're out you are 12 years of age or younger, we will lock your account until your 13th birthday. You can remind us of this in Support and Services if we don't remember.

Other offenses:

A person will generally receive two public warnings. The staff, at its sole discretion, may take other measures. If someone continues to ignore the rules, that person will be sent a final warning in a private message. If the member continues to break the rules after the final warning, she/he will be banned.

* * * * * *

The staff reserves the right to remove, edit, move or close any thread or post for any reason.

If you have any questions, comments or objections regarding the forum moderation please address them via Forum Feedback. You will, unless deemed unsuitable, be answered.

If you'd like to stop people, please report them in Forum Feedback, and they will be dealt with.

Last, but certainly not least: Enjoy your stay here, at JKDF.Net Community Forums forums!