Board Rules

Board Rules
1. Offensive Posting Posts of an offensive nature are not allowed. This includes: Using vulgar, profane, or sexually expressed language Using discrimination(race, religion, sexual orientation, culture, ethnicity, handicap, nationality, or gender) as an insult Using someone's sexual preference as insult in any way, shape, or form Using threatening, harassing, or defamatory language Posting or requesting links to material from pornographic, obscene, or hate-speech web sites Descriptions or details about any sexual act or sexual organs. 2. Flaming (Insulting Others) Posts insulting others, individually or as a group, directly or indirectly, are not allowed. This involves: Name-calling ("You're an idiot", "You moron") Direct insults ("Screw you") Offensive orders ("Go kill yourself") Implications ("Are you stupid or something?") or insults towards family ("Your mom...") Please respect all of the other BD members. Oppressing another's opinion is considered an attack on another member, which we will not tolerate. We encourage people to voice their opinions on this Message Board, without fear of being attacked. All members are asked to contact an BD Governor if they feel their opinion is being mocked. 3. Trolling (Prompting Flames) Posts intended to annoy and/or offend other posters by going against the characteristic of a board or topic are not allowed. This involves: Agitating other users to reply with flames Agitating fans of a particular system or game, on boards dedicated to that system or game Producing misleading topic titles Asking useless questions Posting false information as the truth. 4. Spamming (Useless Posting) Spam is anything that means nothing, or has little discussion value. Including posts with one or two words, comments that do not relate to the topic, posting to move a topic up the list, and triple posting. When writing your posts, please write something that can be responded to by another member, such as your opinion on the certain topic. Don't write messages that are only one sentence long and is basically a "Heh, yeah I like that" or something that does not expand upon the topic. Use the Private Messaging (PM) system to talk to members about something directly. 5. Bumping Topics/Double Posting Bumping is not an issue here at Broken Dreams. We do not discourage bumping. However, bumping is only tolerated under the following circumstances: The topic is on the first page. The topic is not on the first page, but still relevant. The user has discussion worthy material to post. Double posting is also not an issue at Broken Dreams. Double posting is allowed as long as user does not spam in the process. Triple bumping and triple posting are not allowed. 6. Disruptive Posting/Proper English Posts that disrupt the forum for others, intentional or not, are prohibited. This involves: Posts or topic titles that force browsers to scroll horizontally Large blank or content-free posts Posting multiple identical or near-identical messages or topics Posting images that stretch out the page(these will be removed and changed to a link) Intentionally hard-to-read topic titles the examples are: all caps, alternate caps, no spaces, no or excessive punctuation, and leet speak. Please type with capital letters, punctuation (commas, spaces, etc), and correct grammar. We do not allow short writing like 'u' for 'you' or '2' for 'to'. 7. Flooding and Invading Users will be banned (along with any associated accounts) for: Flooding a board with multiple disruptive topics and/or posts Invading another board (flooding a board as a group with multiple topics or posts) Inciting, participating in, or avenging in an invasion of a Broken Dreams or any other online service. Announcing or inciting a "war" or any conflict with the regular members of another board. 8. Imposture (Identity Theft) Users will be banned (along with any associated accounts) for impersonating other boards users by creating and/or using a forum account with a name planned to impersonate, mock, antagonize another user, or falsely claim to be another forum member. 9. Harassment/Stalking/Confidentiality Harassing behavior directed at an individual or group with the plan of creating an intimidating, offensive, or hostile environment on the forums, with or without use of expressed or covert threats is strictly prohibited. We will remove any phone number, address or other personally identifying information posted in the board if it violates someone's privacy, is harassing or could lead to harassment or is otherwise inappropriate. Also, any posting of your own phone number, address or any other personally identifying information is prohibited. 10. Restricted Access Accessing or attempting to access any user account not belonging to the user without his or her permission is prohibited. Accessing another user's account in this manner will result in an immediate loss of all known accounts. 11. Usernames, Profiles, and Forms Violating any of the above rules with a username, any part of the user profile (signature, quote, e-mail, IM), or via feedback forms (such as the Mark for Moderation function) is considered a serious violation. This includes an advertising username. 12. Advertising Posts, Personal Messages, and E-mails that advertise a service or product are not allowed and considered spam. This involves: Uninvited commercial or personal web site promotions Users may not request comments on their personal site in a social setting Users are allowed to include a web site address in a signature or the advertising forum. Advertising must only be done in the Billboard section of the forum. 13. Criticism When criticizing someone's work (fan art, fan fiction, sprites, etc), you should have a helpful comment or two. Don't reply to someone's work and say, "I hate it. It sucks." Give the person the reason why it isn't to your liking so that they can work it out, and make their piece of work better. Messages and topics may be removed at any time and for any reason at the liberty of Broken Dreams and its designated moderators and administrators. User accounts may be warned, suspended, or revoked at any time and for any reason at the liberty of Broken Dreams and its designated moderators and administrators. Broken Dreams and whomever it designates as moderators will determine what is “acceptable” and “unacceptable” substance. You agree that the decision of the moderators and administrators is final, and you may not legally contest their rulings. Intentional, repeated, or serious violations are cause for the banning of your account, all use of the boards from your IP address or your entire ISP, and Broken Dreams contacting your ISP or other relevant parties concerning your activities. 14 STAFF MEMBERS Staff Members must follow the above rules, this includes Moderators, Co Administrators, and Administrators. As well as: move topics when in incorrect forums, close inappropriate topics, delete extremely inappropriate topics, respect all members, stop flaming and/or spamming, do not disrespect the admin(s) or other mods, and most of all do not abuse your powers. Any staff member who does not follow these rules will be stripped of their rank at the administrator's discretion. 15 PUNISHMENTS Warning 1 - Member is given a verbal warning via PM Warning 2 - Member is warned and given a second verbal warning via PM Warning 3 - Member is warned and given a third verbal warning via PM Warning 4 - Member is on moderated posts for a week Warning 5 - Member is banned for a month. If behavior doesn't improve after that, it will be a perm ban. If you haven't broken any rules after a month of being warned, your warn level will go down by one. Evading a perm account ban will result in the banning of your IP.

1. Offensive Posting Posts of an offensive nature are not allowed. This includes: Using vulgar, profane, or sexually expressed language Using discrimination(race, religion, sexual orientation, culture, ethnicity, handicap, nationality, or gender) as an insult Using someone's sexual preference as insult in any way, shape, or form Using threatening, harassing, or defamatory language Posting or requesting links to material from pornographic, obscene, or hate-speech web sites Descriptions or details about any sexual act or sexual organs. 2. Flaming (Insulting Others) Posts insulting others, individually or as a group, directly or indirectly, are not allowed. This involves: Name-calling ("You're an idiot", "You moron") Direct insults ("Screw you") Offensive orders ("Go kill yourself") Implications ("Are you stupid or something?") or insults towards family ("Your mom...") Please respect all of the other BD members. Oppressing another's opinion is considered an attack on another member, which we will not tolerate. We encourage people to voice their opinions on this Message Board, without fear of being attacked. All members are asked to contact an BD Governor if they feel their opinion is being mocked. 3. Trolling (Prompting Flames) Posts intended to annoy and/or offend other posters by going against the characteristic of a board or topic are not allowed. This involves: Agitating other users to reply with flames Agitating fans of a particular system or game, on boards dedicated to that system or game Producing misleading topic titles Asking useless questions Posting false information as the truth. 4. Spamming (Useless Posting) Spam is anything that means nothing, or has little discussion value. Including posts with one or two words, comments that do not relate to the topic, posting to move a topic up the list, and triple posting. When writing your posts, please write something that can be responded to by another member, such as your opinion on the certain topic. Don't write messages that are only one sentence long and is basically a "Heh, yeah I like that" or something that does not expand upon the topic. Use the Private Messaging (PM) system to talk to members about something directly. 5. Bumping Topics/Double Posting Bumping is not an issue here at Broken Dreams. We do not discourage bumping. However, bumping is only tolerated under the following circumstances: The topic is on the first page. The topic is not on the first page, but still relevant. The user has discussion worthy material to post. Double posting is also not an issue at Broken Dreams. Double posting is allowed as long as user does not spam in the process. Triple bumping and triple posting are not allowed. 6. Disruptive Posting/Proper English Posts that disrupt the forum for others, intentional or not, are prohibited. This involves: Posts or topic titles that force browsers to scroll horizontally Large blank or content-free posts Posting multiple identical or near-identical messages or topics Posting images that stretch out the page(these will be removed and changed to a link) Intentionally hard-to-read topic titles the examples are: all caps, alternate caps, no spaces, no or excessive punctuation, and leet speak. Please type with capital letters, punctuation (commas, spaces, etc), and correct grammar. We do not allow short writing like 'u' for 'you' or '2' for 'to'. 7. Flooding and Invading Users will be banned (along with any associated accounts) for: Flooding a board with multiple disruptive topics and/or posts Invading another board (flooding a board as a group with multiple topics or posts) Inciting, participating in, or avenging in an invasion of a Broken Dreams or any other online service. Announcing or inciting a "war" or any conflict with the regular members of another board. 8. Imposture (Identity Theft) Users will be banned (along with any associated accounts) for impersonating other boards users by creating and/or using a forum account with a name planned to impersonate, mock, antagonize another user, or falsely claim to be another forum member. 9. Harassment/Stalking/Confidentiality Harassing behavior directed at an individual or group with the plan of creating an intimidating, offensive, or hostile environment on the forums, with or without use of expressed or covert threats is strictly prohibited. We will remove any phone number, address or other personally identifying information posted in the board if it violates someone's privacy, is harassing or could lead to harassment or is otherwise inappropriate. Also, any posting of your own phone number, address or any other personally identifying information is prohibited. 10. Restricted Access Accessing or attempting to access any user account not belonging to the user without his or her permission is prohibited. Accessing another user's account in this manner will result in an immediate loss of all known accounts. 11. Usernames, Profiles, and Forms Violating any of the above rules with a username, any part of the user profile (signature, quote, e-mail, IM), or via feedback forms (such as the Mark for Moderation function) is considered a serious violation. This includes an advertising username. 12. Advertising Posts, Personal Messages, and E-mails that advertise a service or product are not allowed and considered spam. This involves: Uninvited commercial or personal web site promotions Users may not request comments on their personal site in a social setting Users are allowed to include a web site address in a signature or the advertising forum. Advertising must only be done in the Billboard section of the forum. 13. Criticism When criticizing someone's work (fan art, fan fiction, sprites, etc), you should have a helpful comment or two. Don't reply to someone's work and say, "I hate it. It sucks." Give the person the reason why it isn't to your liking so that they can work it out, and make their piece of work better. Messages and topics may be removed at any time and for any reason at the liberty of Broken Dreams and its designated moderators and administrators. User accounts may be warned, suspended, or revoked at any time and for any reason at the liberty of Broken Dreams and its designated moderators and administrators. Broken Dreams and whomever it designates as moderators will determine what is “acceptable” and “unacceptable” substance. You agree that the decision of the moderators and administrators is final, and you may not legally contest their rulings. Intentional, repeated, or serious violations are cause for the banning of your account, all use of the boards from your IP address or your entire ISP, and Broken Dreams contacting your ISP or other relevant parties concerning your activities. 14 STAFF MEMBERS Staff Members must follow the above rules, this includes Moderators, Co Administrators, and Administrators. As well as: move topics when in incorrect forums, close inappropriate topics, delete extremely inappropriate topics, respect all members, stop flaming and/or spamming, do not disrespect the admin(s) or other mods, and most of all do not abuse your powers. Any staff member who does not follow these rules will be stripped of their rank at the administrator's discretion. 15 PUNISHMENTS Warning 1 - Member is given a verbal warning via PM Warning 2 - Member is warned and given a second verbal warning via PM Warning 3 - Member is warned and given a third verbal warning via PM Warning 4 - Member is on moderated posts for a week Warning 5 - Member is banned for a month. If behavior doesn't improve after that, it will be a perm ban. If you haven't broken any rules after a month of being warned, your warn level will go down by one. Evading a perm account ban will result in the banning of your IP.