Forum Rules

Forum Rules
Disruptive Posting Disruptive Posting is not welcome at The Shadow Stars, it can take many forms from posting outside of the current conversation to generally being an annoyance to other members. Below are a few things that will be considered disruptive posting: Off-Topic Posting Any attempt to steer a topic away from its original purpose will be considered off-topic posting, and anyone who contributes to the secondary conversation will also be considered to be posting off-topic posts. Basically if you want to talk about something else, make a topic for it. And if someone does post something off topic, don't contribute to it. If you are afraid you may be steering a topic off-topic, then try to avoid the following; posting one paragraph on-topic and then one off-topic, try avoiding writing your side thoughts, try avoiding writing anything that is only very loosely linked to the original topic. Useless Posting Try to make every post count, if your post does not contain anything of quality then it will be considered useless posting. Useless posting can be considered posting one word or one sentence posts, posting something that doesn't make any sense, is poorly worded, is unreadable because of typing errors or poor grammar or has large gaps in between one point and its conclusion. Basically if you want to avoid being moderated for useless posting then only post if you can bring something new to a conversation, or bring a conversation forward. Don't just post your own opinions if they have already been raised and talked about, and if you do want to post your opinions then also post a well thought out passage as to why you think that, it will improve the quality of your post and will make it much likely for people to reply to you. Double Posting Double posting is where you make two forum posts in one thread without someone posting in between, these posts can be made seconds or months apart but it is still considered double posting. Double posting can be easily avoided by just editing your original post to include the additional points you want to make, and thus there is no excuse for it. It makes the forums look untidy and disorganised, and is generally frowned upon over most of the internet community which is why it is against our rules. There is an edit button on every post you make so please use it instead of double posting. Abusive Posting Any posts that may potentially insult another member, are aggressive or are intended to make someone else become insulting or aggressive are considered abusive posting. We will not tolerate abusive posting in any form so it is best to avoid it, even as a joke. Below are a few things that will be considered abusive posting: Direct Insults This one is simple, if you directly insult someone you will be moderated. We are a gaming clan, and video games are supposed to be fun, if anyone attempt to stop someone else having fun then they will be moderated so don't even try it. Suggested Insults Any insult that is not directed at anyone, but is rather suggested will still be considered abusive posting. If you make a post insulting a racial, religious, political ect group then you could potentially insult another member. Also if you try and make fun of someone's intelligence or try and make snipes at someone they are also not welcome, so don't post anything such as "well any idiot would...", "if it were me I wouldn't have been so stupid" or similar. Trying to provoke a response If you try to make someone else insult you, try to make someone else insult a 3rd party, or try to make someone else act aggressively, then it will be considered abusive posting. If you post anything that is intended to provoke a response and make other people post abusive posts it will be removed and you will be moderated. Fanboyism Portraying your own opinion as fact is considered fanboyism, not only will it make you look arrogant and unpopular, it will also get you moderated, so avoid it. This rules doesn't just apply to fanboyism between games and consoles, but to anything to do with technology and life in general. The Shadow Stars holds no opinion on politics or religion, so any attempt to bring either into the forums will be instantly moderated. Advertising Any attempt to divert our members to your own site, a site you support, or any site at all will be seen by the site as an attempt to steal our members and will be treated as we treat any other threat to our forums. It is difficult to tell if someone is advertising or not because it comes down to their intentions, something only they know. So I will provide examples to make sure that people aren't moderated for advertising even though they are innocent. Below are a few things that will be considered advertising: Posting an Advertising link If you post a link with the intention of getting people to go there then it will be considered advertising. Sometimes it will be an obvious "go here link" and sometimes it will be more detailed "this place has a great community, its very active, and the site presentation is amazing link". It may also be a bit less obvious, however any link posted with the intention of getting people to go there will be moderated. It is acceptable to post a link to a site if you are helping someone, for example if someone asks "where is a great place to find gimp tutorials?" and you post a link, that will be acceptable as long as it is not a place that you intend to advertise for. Covert Advertising Anyone who is found to try and advertise they site, not by making a topic or but publicly announcing it on the chat box, but through PM's and IM's, will be dealt with in an even more serious manner than those who are advertising publicly. Firstly because they are knowingly and willingly disobeying our rules by trying to find a way around them. Secondly because they are deliberately trying to attack our site and bring it harm, and thirdly because it becomes an extreme nuisance for the scores of people who receive said PM's and IM's. If any member finds someone is covertly advertising, they should either forward the PM to an administrator or moderator, or send details with a name and a transcript to an administrator or moderator. Trying to create interest Trying to stir up interest in a particular site, while not posting a link, is still considered advertising, as your intention is to get people to visit it, and we will see that as a threat to try and steal our members. Making comments such as "That's just like my clan/site", "My clan/site has one" or "I wont be as active because I'm spending time at my clan/site" will be considered advertising. And continually name-dropping or referencing a particular site will be considered trying to stir up interest in it. Moderator Abuse Being a moderator doesn't mean being exempt from the rules, not only does a moderator have to obey all the above rules, but they also must stick to all the rules listed below. Ordinary members should also read this so that if they feel a moderator has abused their power then can be absolutely sure and contact an administrator. Below are a few things that will be considered moderator abuse: Breaking Rules Just because you're a moderator doesn't mean you are exempt from the rules, it is you job to know the rules and to uphold them, so anyone caught breaking the rules will be punished more severely than if a normal member were to break them. Punishing someone without proof If a member comes to you and tells you something has happened, make sure they give you a screen shot, a transcript of what happened, or can provide witnesses. Because if you moderate someone, and it turns out they have not broken the rules, you will be punished. Punishing someone who has not broken any rules If someone is getting on your nerves, that is not a justified reason to moderate them, nor is it justifiable to moderate someone as a joke. Only use your powers if someone has broken a rule and you will not be punished. Handing out too severe a punishment If it is somebody's first offence, chances are they were ignorant of the rules, so just talking to them and correcting or deleting the post will usually solve the problem, altering their warn level or banning them is usually too harsh at this stage. However if someone has been here for a long time, or they have been warned before, then ignorance of the rules is not an acceptable excuse and you are free to alter their warn level. Its only after several repeat offences, or more serious offences, that moderator previews, and read only bans, should be used.

Disruptive Posting
Disruptive Posting is not welcome at The Shadow Stars, it can take many forms from posting outside of the current conversation to generally being an annoyance to other members. Below are a few things that will be considered disruptive posting:

Off-Topic Posting
Any attempt to steer a topic away from its original purpose will be considered off-topic posting, and anyone who contributes to the secondary conversation will also be considered to be posting off-topic posts. Basically if you want to talk about something else, make a topic for it. And if someone does post something off topic, don't contribute to it.

If you are afraid you may be steering a topic off-topic, then try to avoid the following; posting one paragraph on-topic and then one off-topic, try avoiding writing your side thoughts, try avoiding writing anything that is only very loosely linked to the original topic.

Useless Posting
Try to make every post count, if your post does not contain anything of quality then it will be considered useless posting. Useless posting can be considered posting one word or one sentence posts, posting something that doesn't make any sense, is poorly worded, is unreadable because of typing errors or poor grammar or has large gaps in between one point and its conclusion.

Basically if you want to avoid being moderated for useless posting then only post if you can bring something new to a conversation, or bring a conversation forward. Don't just post your own opinions if they have already been raised and talked about, and if you do want to post your opinions then also post a well thought out passage as to why you think that, it will improve the quality of your post and will make it much likely for people to reply to you.

Double Posting
Double posting is where you make two forum posts in one thread without someone posting in between, these posts can be made seconds or months apart but it is still considered double posting. Double posting can be easily avoided by just editing your original post to include the additional points you want to make, and thus there is no excuse for it. It makes the forums look untidy and disorganised, and is generally frowned upon over most of the internet community which is why it is against our rules. There is an edit button on every post you make so please use it instead of double posting.

Abusive Posting
Any posts that may potentially insult another member, are aggressive or are intended to make someone else become insulting or aggressive are considered abusive posting. We will not tolerate abusive posting in any form so it is best to avoid it, even as a joke. Below are a few things that will be considered abusive posting:

Direct Insults
This one is simple, if you directly insult someone you will be moderated. We are a gaming clan, and video games are supposed to be fun, if anyone attempt to stop someone else having fun then they will be moderated so don't even try it.

Suggested Insults
Any insult that is not directed at anyone, but is rather suggested will still be considered abusive posting. If you make a post insulting a racial, religious, political ect group then you could potentially insult another member. Also if you try and make fun of someone's intelligence or try and make snipes at someone they are also not welcome, so don't post anything such as "well any idiot would...", "if it were me I wouldn't have been so stupid" or similar.

Trying to provoke a response
If you try to make someone else insult you, try to make someone else insult a 3rd party, or try to make someone else act aggressively, then it will be considered abusive posting. If you post anything that is intended to provoke a response and make other people post abusive posts it will be removed and you will be moderated.

Fanboyism
Portraying your own opinion as fact is considered fanboyism, not only will it make you look arrogant and unpopular, it will also get you moderated, so avoid it. This rules doesn't just apply to fanboyism between games and consoles, but to anything to do with technology and life in general. The Shadow Stars holds no opinion on politics or religion, so any attempt to bring either into the forums will be instantly moderated.

Advertising
Any attempt to divert our members to your own site, a site you support, or any site at all will be seen by the site as an attempt to steal our members and will be treated as we treat any other threat to our forums. It is difficult to tell if someone is advertising or not because it comes down to their intentions, something only they know. So I will provide examples to make sure that people aren't moderated for advertising even though they are innocent. Below are a few things that will be considered advertising:

Posting an Advertising link
If you post a link with the intention of getting people to go there then it will be considered advertising. Sometimes it will be an obvious "go here *link*" and sometimes it will be more detailed "this place has a great community, its very active, and the site presentation is amazing *link*". It may also be a bit less obvious, however any link posted with the intention of getting people to go there will be moderated.

It is acceptable to post a link to a site if you are helping someone, for example if someone asks "where is a great place to find gimp tutorials?" and you post a link, that will be acceptable as long as it is not a place that you intend to advertise for.

Covert Advertising
Anyone who is found to try and advertise they site, not by making a topic or but publicly announcing it on the chat box, but through PM's and IM's, will be dealt with in an even more serious manner than those who are advertising publicly. Firstly because they are knowingly and willingly disobeying our rules by trying to find a way around them. Secondly because they are deliberately trying to attack our site and bring it harm, and thirdly because it becomes an extreme nuisance for the scores of people who receive said PM's and IM's. If any member finds someone is covertly advertising, they should either forward the PM to an administrator or moderator, or send details with a name and a transcript to an administrator or moderator.

Trying to create interest
Trying to stir up interest in a particular site, while not posting a link, is still considered advertising, as your intention is to get people to visit it, and we will see that as a threat to try and steal our members. Making comments such as "That's just like my clan/site", "My clan/site has one" or "I wont be as active because I'm spending time at my clan/site" will be considered advertising. And continually name-dropping or referencing a particular site will be considered trying to stir up interest in it.

Moderator Abuse
Being a moderator doesn't mean being exempt from the rules, not only does a moderator have to obey all the above rules, but they also must stick to all the rules listed below. Ordinary members should also read this so that if they feel a moderator has abused their power then can be absolutely sure and contact an administrator. Below are a few things that will be considered moderator abuse:

Breaking Rules
Just because you're a moderator doesn't mean you are exempt from the rules, it is you job to know the rules and to uphold them, so anyone caught breaking the rules will be punished more severely than if a normal member were to break them.

Punishing someone without proof
If a member comes to you and tells you something has happened, make sure they give you a screen shot, a transcript of what happened, or can provide witnesses. Because if you moderate someone, and it turns out they have not broken the rules, you will be punished.

Punishing someone who has not broken any rules
If someone is getting on your nerves, that is not a justified reason to moderate them, nor is it justifiable to moderate someone as a joke. Only use your powers if someone has broken a rule and you will not be punished.

Handing out too severe a punishment
If it is somebody's first offence, chances are they were ignorant of the rules, so just talking to them and correcting or deleting the post will usually solve the problem, altering their warn level or banning them is usually too harsh at this stage.
However if someone has been here for a long time, or they have been warned before, then ignorance of the rules is not an acceptable excuse and you are free to alter their warn level. Its only after several repeat offences, or more serious offences, that moderator previews, and read only bans, should be used.