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We've had a large influx of new members recently. This is great - it's awesome to see we have popularity and all that - but I've noticed that a lot of people posting around in the forums are making some common mistakes. Now, at this point, some of you might be sweating and thinking "Uh-oh... Have I been doing something wrong?". It's okay, really. I think that most, if not all, mistakes are being made because of relative inexperience with forums, which is perfectly fine. Anyways, I've made a little list of forum pointers:
First of all, watch http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting.php . Everything covered in that clip are the essential forum rules and guidelines.
Now for the extra stuff:
#1 (Super Big Ultra Rule): Flaming. Don't do it. You've probably heard this a thousand times by now, and probably will hear it a thousand more times, but we say it for a reason: It's wrong. If you feel angry or frustrated about someone's opinions or thoughts, don't hit that Post button. Take your hands off your keyboard, take a deep breath, and reconsider your thoughts. Is responding to one flame with another really the right thing? 99.999999% of the time, the answer is NO. Now, go back to your keyboard, and organize your post in a thoughtful and logical manner. Remember the Golden Rule: 'Do Unto Others As You Want Others to Do Unto You'.
#2: Please stay on topic. This isn't as important as rule #1, but it's still pretty important. Threads are posted (mainly) for one reason: exchange of relevant information. Person A asks a question, Person B answers, Person C provides an opinion, etc. Because the poster is looking for relevant information, I'm sure he/she/it would not like to scroll through dozens of posts that are 100% side-conversations. If you're not entirely sure if your post is on-topic, look at the first post, and next few posts after that, and the latest post. Compare your post to these. Do they discuss the same or similar things? If the answer is "Yes", than you should be good to go. If the answer is "No", than please rewrite your post so that the answer to the aforementioned question is "Yes".
#3: Necroposting. Of all the guidelines I'm posting here, this is (perhaps) the least major. In fact, it's barely even a rule/guideline... It's more of a common courtesy. "Necroposting" is the act of posting in a thread that is considered either "old" or "finished". Now, these definitions differ from forum to forum and person to person. Personally, I don't post in any threads were the discuss 'sounds' like it's come to a close or in a thread that is more than a few days old and a long way down the thread list. If you feel you have something important to say about the discussion... Well, again, this differs from forum to forum and person to person. Personally, I would only post in an old topic if you're absolutely sure you have something EXTREMELY ULTRA IMPORTANT to say. Otherwise, just make a new thread.
#4 (The "Catch-All" Rule): I put this last because it's the thing that acts as a substitute for every rule on the planet. And it is: If you think it's wrong, don't do it. 99.99999999999999999999999999999999% of the time, your gut instinct is right.
...And that's all I can think of right now. For further information, contact a Sundren staff member.
DISCLAIMER: AS OF 7:46 PM PST 3/20/07, NONE OF THIS THREAD IS OFFICIAL. EXACTLY 0% OF THESE GUIDELINES ARE ENDORSED BY SUNDREN STAFF MEMBERS. DO NOT CITE THESE RULES IN AN OFFICIAL SITUATION, AS THEY ARE CONSIDERED COMPLETELY UNOFFICIAL.
Staff Members: Feel free to move/edit/add/remove/sticky/endorse/whatever the content of this thread. Also feel free to use any or all of this thread in an official rules thread, which I couldn't help but notice we were missing...
First of all, watch http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/flash/posting.php . Everything covered in that clip are the essential forum rules and guidelines.
Now for the extra stuff:
#1 (Super Big Ultra Rule): Flaming. Don't do it. You've probably heard this a thousand times by now, and probably will hear it a thousand more times, but we say it for a reason: It's wrong. If you feel angry or frustrated about someone's opinions or thoughts, don't hit that Post button. Take your hands off your keyboard, take a deep breath, and reconsider your thoughts. Is responding to one flame with another really the right thing? 99.999999% of the time, the answer is NO. Now, go back to your keyboard, and organize your post in a thoughtful and logical manner. Remember the Golden Rule: 'Do Unto Others As You Want Others to Do Unto You'.
#2: Please stay on topic. This isn't as important as rule #1, but it's still pretty important. Threads are posted (mainly) for one reason: exchange of relevant information. Person A asks a question, Person B answers, Person C provides an opinion, etc. Because the poster is looking for relevant information, I'm sure he/she/it would not like to scroll through dozens of posts that are 100% side-conversations. If you're not entirely sure if your post is on-topic, look at the first post, and next few posts after that, and the latest post. Compare your post to these. Do they discuss the same or similar things? If the answer is "Yes", than you should be good to go. If the answer is "No", than please rewrite your post so that the answer to the aforementioned question is "Yes".
#3: Necroposting. Of all the guidelines I'm posting here, this is (perhaps) the least major. In fact, it's barely even a rule/guideline... It's more of a common courtesy. "Necroposting" is the act of posting in a thread that is considered either "old" or "finished". Now, these definitions differ from forum to forum and person to person. Personally, I don't post in any threads were the discuss 'sounds' like it's come to a close or in a thread that is more than a few days old and a long way down the thread list. If you feel you have something important to say about the discussion... Well, again, this differs from forum to forum and person to person. Personally, I would only post in an old topic if you're absolutely sure you have something EXTREMELY ULTRA IMPORTANT to say. Otherwise, just make a new thread.
#4 (The "Catch-All" Rule): I put this last because it's the thing that acts as a substitute for every rule on the planet. And it is: If you think it's wrong, don't do it. 99.99999999999999999999999999999999% of the time, your gut instinct is right.
...And that's all I can think of right now. For further information, contact a Sundren staff member.
DISCLAIMER: AS OF 7:46 PM PST 3/20/07, NONE OF THIS THREAD IS OFFICIAL. EXACTLY 0% OF THESE GUIDELINES ARE ENDORSED BY SUNDREN STAFF MEMBERS. DO NOT CITE THESE RULES IN AN OFFICIAL SITUATION, AS THEY ARE CONSIDERED COMPLETELY UNOFFICIAL.
Staff Members: Feel free to move/edit/add/remove/sticky/endorse/whatever the content of this thread. Also feel free to use any or all of this thread in an official rules thread, which I couldn't help but notice we were missing...