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Rights and responsibilities - an exampleFriday 13 Dec 2002
author: TeeJay
The following are the "rules" for PCGamer Forum in the UK. I know it is just a videogaming site, but it has some of the best political discussion of anywhere I have ever been on the internet bar none. All *points of view* are tolerated but gratuitously offensive comments are not as they they don't allow free speech they destroy it. It is just lik being in a room full of people and having extremists deliberately provoking fights and violence. Anyway enough of me, here's the rules (London stylee):
IF NEW TO THE FORUM, READ THIS MESSAGE. IGNORANCE OF THE RULES OF THE FORUM WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AS AN EXCUSE FROM THE MANAGEMENT. THANK-YOU.
Welcome to the PC GAMER forum!
It's a forum for the readers of PC GAMER magazine - and other assorted good folk - to discuss matters pertaining PC games. Read this entire message before considering entering. It'll be better for all of us.
Please practice general netiquette at all times. Do not write your messages in ALL CAPS, as it makes you look like as if you're screaming, or just a mad raving lunatic. Do not insult people pointlessly. Do not troll by saying pointlessly provocative titles. Do not be a fool.
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This isn't Tellytubbies, so we don't want to set a strict rule regarding language, except it header titles described below. Consider the average level of expletives considered reasonable in pleasant company. Note that people whose posts consist of nothing but expletives will be gagged.
In order to make this thing work, I will be sending my team to sterilise threads that serve no use. These include personally abusive, grotesquely off-topic and desperately surreal threads. This is not a democracy. This is a semi-benevolent dictatorship. Behave.
Some threads are clearly started without thought. The response to it shouldn't be flaming the unfortunate in question - this just perpetuates the nasty atmosphere and in many cases its ignorance of what's been discussed and allowed in the forum rather than genuine maliciousness. A thread that you believe should be deleted, simply post a message asking me to remove the thread, with me in the "To" part of the message. I will look at the thread and delete it if I agree with you. If you see that someone else has already posted to the thread asking to remove it - and you agree with them - don't post anything else to the thread
Why? Because if you post to it, it skips to the top of the list. By posting to it, you're making it more visible to everyone else. Essentially, it means you make more prominent whatever ridiculous opinion you despise so much. So, if you really care, don't post anything in these threads.
That last one's he important one. It's especially aimed at those who like to think themselves as forum regulars. If you want a good forum, obey.
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Discussions of races/countries/groups/whatevers foibles generally will be deleted. Discussions about races/countries/groups/whatevers specifically are generally reasonable. For example, a discussion about the vagaries of the American election is reasonable. A discussion about all Americans being evil will lead to you being gagged.
When entitling a thread, don't put an expletive in it. Reasonable swearing is acceptable within a message, but not in the title. It looks tacky and reduces the atmosphere of the forum. Doing it repeatedly will lead to gagging.
Complaints about gagging should go to Me. Include your log-in name so I can remember why I nuked you.
Note, I'm doing this for kicks. I don't get paid for it. Equally, I'm not able to insult you back due to being an efficient employee. This means, like waitresses and barstaff, I hold the right not to deal with you if you're being abusive to me. This is, of course, different to criticising my work. Calling me by any expletive will get you - yes, you've guessed it - gagged.
Finally, don't come to me with freedom of speech arguments. This is a house. If you insult anyone or act a fool inside my house, I make you leave.
Yours,
A Higher Moral Authority.