The Rules

[Random]

Warnings and infractions are issued to members for a number of reasons. For everybody's reference, this is a compiled list of the most common / most likely reasons for being issued with a warning or infraction.

1. Using numbers in place of words, or parts of words.

This isn't your phone, your personal blog or a chat room. Numbers have a purpose, and that purpose is not to help you type less. It makes posts harder to read, and you look like an idiot for doing it. (See also; Spelling, grammar, punctuation.)

If you want to type less, post less.

2. Posting off-topic.

We have multiple threads on these forums for a reason: each thread is (or should be) a specific topic of discussion. If you want to post something that isn't on the same topic of the thread you're looking at, start a new thread or post it in the General Random Thread.

3. Abuse of other members.

There is no place on these forums for abusing other members of the Bombshock community. If you disagree with someone, attack their argument - do not attack them.

4. Posting referral links or affiliate links.

It was decided some time ago that members were not allowed to post referral links or affiliate links on the forums. If you have found a great website or service that you want to recommend to other Bombshock members, do so - but do so without any affiliate or referral tags attached.

5. Selling, or attempting to sell, via the forums.

The Bombshock forums are for discussion and debate - they are not a trading post, or a place to buy or sell goods or services.

6. Failure to follow a moderator's instruction.

When a moderator gives an instruction to one or more members, there is a reason for it, and an expectation that the instruction will be followed.

If a moderator gives you an instruction which you believe is inappropriate, refer the issue to another moderator or to an administrator.

7. Posting junk.

This isn't your personal website. If you absolutely must post useless junk, pointless chatter or opinion without argument, post it in the General Random Thread. Or, preferably, don't post it at all.

8. Pseudo-moderation.

This one's pretty simple: don't tell a member to do something if you don't have the authority to enforce it. This includes post such as "stop posting this shit", or "this will get locked lolz" and all the rest of that.

If you have a problem with a post, click on the Report Post button. It's at the upper right of each post, and it looks like a button with an exclamation mark in it. This creates an alert that all moderators see, which will bring it to our attention for us to deal with.

Try to deal with it on your own, and you'll only make yourself look like an idiot, and be reprimanded as well.

9. Failure to reference contestable points or claims.

Welcome to the Internet, where your word doesn't mean shit against the next person's word, because you're a nobody. As such, anything and everything you say that could be disputed, is wrong.

"The sky is blue" is a (stupid) example of something you don't need to reference. But, if you are posting claims that could be disputed, or posting facts or figures from an external source, show where you got them from. If you're suggesting something that is hard to believe, give examples of other websites or books or magazines that agree with you.

If you don't, you'll just be laughed off as another paranoid idiot, desperately trying to seed their conspiracy theories and unfounded ramblings in those around them.

10. Vague topic titles.

A topic title is meant to describe the topic. Given that 95% of the topics here are questions, "Help Me" is not a descriptive topic title. I should have a fair idea what the topic is about from reading the title.

11. No criticising other websites.

They've got their target demographic and we've got ours. That's enough.

12. Discussion of "bombs" or explosive devices intended to maim or kill.

I would hope that this doesn't need to be explained, but I guess it should be regardless.

These forums are intended to allow the Bombshock community to learn about and discuss topics like explosives, and how to work with them safely. That word, safely, means that nobody gets hurt - not you, not any spectators, not anyone walking past. And there will certainly be no discussion allowed of explosives intended to hurt people.

---> Such posts will result in an instant long-term ban. <---

[headcase]

I want to clear up the stickies so I'm adding the "Report Posts" and "Pseudo-moderation" threads here.

Pseudo-moderation and Chatter.

Next time someone decides to take it on themselves to flame another member, angrily point towards Google or the Rules or inform others that "this thread is going to be locked" or any other task that they don't have the authority to carry out will be banned for a week. If you've got an issue, report the post (see below). I've just deleted over a dozen posts in two threads with less than 15 posts in total. That's not acceptable. This will be your only warning. The quality has gone down a lot these last few days so I'm going to be very quick with the bans from now on. Same goes for useless posts, innaccurate anecdotes and opinion without arguement.

Report Posts;

There's an important feature introduced recently that I don't believe people or utilising to it's full potential, or are even aware of; the "Report Post" button. It's located in the top right-hand corner of every post, looks like a grey box with an exclaimation box in it and moving the cursor over it displayes the options to "Report Post". (If someone wants to make one of those pics with the button circled in red I'm be much obliged).

The result or reporting a post is a thread appearing in the Mod Section with a copy of the post reported, a link to it, and your explaination of why you reported it. We can then decide whether or not action is appropriate. Even if we dicide the post is fine, we'll thank you for reporting it and explain why why haven't taken any action. At least this will give you a better understanding of our goals.

This is important because today I've spent over two hours online and have not even glanced at any sub-forum in the "Fringe" section - which is our busiest section and the one most prone to abuse. Up until now I imagined everything was running smoothly because few posts were being reported but looking at it now, I was mistaken. But I don't, and rarely will, have the time to wade through it and deal with everything appropriately. So we need support.

On another note, for those of you gunning for moderator positions (which may or may not become available), then the Report Post function works almost as a try-out. An introduction to the principles and anr requirements of moderation. I certainly take it into account when building up an image of a member. So... go!

__

... and to transfer some useful info from these threads so I can delete them;

Originally Posted by Pyrotechnik

I'm not trying to be a smartass and this is a serious question but what if we pleasantly point towards google or tell them the rules in a non-offensive way?

Originally Posted by headcase

Then ten other people will follow you saying the same thing turning the thread into a shit pile. Besides, every piece of information distributed by the site can probably be found elsewhere through Google. So, if we're being completely search engine fascists, we render this site completely useless. If the question is of no actual value then I'll deal with it, but just because the information can be found elsewhere doesn't mean we can't discuss the topic. You'd be surprised how many of these discussions become worthwhile, despite the lack of initiative by the OP.

Edit; if you want to reference a Google search, quote the relevant text and provide a cite at the bottom. That will encourage discussion here, rather than kill it.

[headcase]

I also want this to be the one necessary stop for all our rules. So, from the Drugs section;

Originally Posted by -inefficiency-

Don't post threads with questions asking things like:

"Anyone know where I can score some good pot in Surrey?"

or

"Would any of you guys mail me some weed?"

Its just fucking stupid. Don't do it.

Peace

[Random]

New rule, #12, added. Take careful note.