Community Guidelines, rules and bylaws Options

[micron]

APPROPRIATE CONTENT
These forums are to be PG-13, which means no explicit images and/or text (no nudity and pornographic text). Please remember that we have some young people browsing through the forums. Anyone posting obscene content will be warned and any offensive or obscene pictures used as avatars or signatures will be removed.

POINTLESS POSTS
To enhance the experience of these forums, please do not post just for the sake of posts counts. We care more about what you say than how many times you can hit the "add reply" button. This includes repeated posts (even in different threads), and anything unrelevant to the topic at hand.

CONTROVERSY
Think before you post. Everyone is different and everyone has different stances on certain issues. A little tact is never a bad thing. When you have an argument, it's better to post with reasoning justifying your views. Avoid saying things that creates or has the potential of creating controversy.

PERSONAL ATTACKS
Flaming, trolling, member bashing-you name it-will not be tolerated here. If you're making an argument, it's always better to retort with reason and composure. Personal attacks are childish and have no place in these forums.

SPOILERS
CreateBlog now has spoiler tag option when posting. Please use it to ensure that any spoilers remain hidden. To use the spoiler tags use the following code:

CODE

[spoiler]spoilingspoilerspoilspoil[/spoiler]

To read spoiler text, just highlight the text to read it. Don't ruin it for others!
This rule will be retroactively enforced, specifically if it has been previously requested not to post or show any type of spoiler.

Spoilers can be defined as: Anything that divulges information intended to be a surprise, such as a plot twist in a movie or a book.

Spoilers CANNOT be used in signatures or icons. Spoilers CANNOT be discussed WITHOUT the use of spoiler tags. Even if you put "SPOILER" in the topic title, you must use the spoiler tags in the post. IF you choose to post a spoiler without a spoiler warning in the topic title (DO NOT post a spoiler in the title, or in a sequence of titles to make out the spoiler when a Forum Board is read)without the use of tags, you will find yourself with an invisible post and a verbal warning. Repeated use of spoilers without following these rules will result in additional warnings, including a moderator preview with possible suspension. Repeat violations of the spoiler rule will lead to more serious consequences, including a possible ban.

Take a few extra seconds to use spoiler tags if you think that it's even a slight chance of being a spoiler.

SIGNATURES
Signatures should not take up more than 300 pixels of vertical space (equivalent to 20 lines of text) and 640 pixels of horizontal space (to prevent from stretching). Signature images should be less than 100kB in file size when combined. They may only contain references and links to personal pages, such as your blogs and profiles; references and links to anything that is not personal, such as websites and outside forums are not allowed.

ADVERTISING
Starting a topic for the sole purpose of advertising is not allowed. You may not solicit via Private Message. Anything that is not deemed useful or resourceful to the members of CB can be considered advertising. However, since there are a multitude of websites out there, this will have to be followed depending on the situation.

PIRACY
You may not request or post cracks, warez, or hacks at all. This includes serial numbers for software. You may not link to or encourage others by stating where/how to get illegally obtained software, movies, music files, etc.

JOCKING
Using an image/brush/resource/etc. not made by you and which you do not have permission to use is considered jocking. You may not submit a layout or graphic that is not created by you. You may not showcase a graphic or layout with images that is not created by you. When making layouts start by using your own set of scripts, which you can easily find on this site. It is not recommended to use the exact coding of someone else's layout; some do create their own scripts. It may be considered jocking in certain cases. Copyright infringement is a serious issue and you can be held against the law so do not use copyrighted resources unless you have permission to do so. Do not post them here or they may be subjected to closure/deletion.

MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS
Duplicates are now allowed in moderation. Please note the following rules:

Using a proxy IP address to register an account is not allowed. If you are caught doing so, you will no longer be allowed to create multiple accounts. If you use your duplicate account to break one of the Community Guidelines, your duplicate account will be removed and your warning level will be increased. If at any point you break a Community Guideline (even for something simple, e.g. spamming), the warning levels of all your accounts will be raised.

Impersonation of other members is strictly prohibited. Staff has been lenient about this in the past, but with the approval of multiple accounts, this rule will be more strictly enforced.

Staff may also revert to the previously stated Multiple Accounts rule if community members abuse the Duplicate Accounts privilege. We're being open to new ideas, so please don't make us regret it.

Creating multiple accounts without permission is NOT allowed. Depending on the severity of the situation, anyone who is caught doing this will receive punishment, which may include raised warning level, mod preview, disabled posting, or a banned account. All duplicate accounts will immediately be disabled. - Updated 8/10/2009

SHARING ACCOUNTS
When you sign up to become a Member, you are asked to choose a password. You are entirely responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your password. You agree not to use the account, username, or password of another Member at any time or to disclose your password to any third party. You agree to notify CreateBlog immediately if you suspect any unauthorized use of your account or access to your password. You are solely responsible for any and all use of your account. This rule is clearly stated in the cB Terms of Use.

If you share an account and that account is associated with a duplicate, banned or otherwise punished account, that shared account is subject to similar punishment, regardless of whether or not the ip is used to register that account.

PROXY USE
Any ip address associated with a proxy that is used to register with will be banned, as well as any ip address associated with that registration. Utilizing a proxy ip while posting with an account that was created using a legitimate ip address will not result in the account having an ip ban.

POSTING PICTURES
If found posting pictures of other members in order to demean them, the image will be removed and you will have an increased warning and if needed put on mod preview.

QUOTING AND POSTING LARGE IMAGES
Effective 10/17/08, warnings will no longer be given for failing to remove image tags when quoting or failing to thumb large images. That being said, please try to be courteous and not quote an image if the image has been posted on the current page or stretch the forums with large images. Please note that staff members may opt to edit your post to thumb large images and/or remove image tags when posts contain quoted images.


By becoming a member you agree to adhere to these guidelines. These guidelines are subject to change. Members that violate these rules may be warned/suspended, or banned in extreme cases.

[*mzkandi*]

Official createBlog Bylaws

Member Punishments
Upon a violation of the community guidelines and/or Terms of Use a community member is subject to punishment.

I. Verbal Warnings

1. Verbal Warnings are no longer given.

II. Warning Levels

1. When a member violates the Community Guidelines and/or Terms of Use they will receive a raised warn level.
   • Said member must be notified of this increase in warning level by means of a PM.
2. The warning level will be reduced after a period of time deemed appropriate by a staff member, based upon the behavior of the member in question.
   • Members must be notified again by means of a PM when their warning levels are reduced.
3. Upon reaching a raised warning level of 20%, an official member, designer, or promoter will be demoted the status of member.
   • Members are eligible to reapply for official status upon the reduction of their warning level to 10%.

III. Suspension and IP Bans

1. If a member persists in violating the community guidelines and/or Terms of Use after they have been issued a raised warning level exceeding 20%, then moderators have the power to suspend said member's account for a period of time that they deem fit.
2. For the duration of the suspension, the member in question is forbidden both from posting under their original (suspended) account, and from creating new accounts to bypass the suspension.
   • If a new account is created for the purpose of posting during a suspension, then moderators should automatically issue the new account with a suspension.
3. If, after two suspensions, a member continues to violate the community guidelines, they may be issued with an IP ban to prohibit their posting.
   • In these circumstances, moderators have the power to:
     1. Ban the existing accounts of IP banned members.
     2. Ban any accounts and IPs which a banned member may use to resume posting.

Member Groups and Requirements

Official Members:

• Members will have 1000 posts before applying for the title of official title, as well as holding and maintaining a post per day (PPD) of 2.
  • If an official member’s PPD falls below 2 or at any point an official member is issued with a formal warning, then they may be stripped of their title.
  • This title may be reapplied for when and if the member’s PPD is sufficiently high enough and the warning in question has expired.

Moderators:

• All potential staff members must have been a member of createBlog for a minimum of two months before applying/being nominated for a staff position
• All applicants/nominees will be an official member, designer, or promoter.
  • This can be overlooked if an Administrator deems an applicant to be exceptionally qualified.
  • As well as "official" status, people staff candidates must hold and maintain a PPD of at least 7, again unless exceptionally qualified.
  • Candidates are not required to have either a minimum post count nor must they submit endorsements from specific members of staff or from members of the community.
  Administrators/Head Staff:
  • Administrators and Head Staff should maintain a PPD of at least 7.
  • Ideally, there a minimum of 3 administrators and 4 head staff should be maintained.
    • However, should the existing administrators and head staff judge there to be no suitable candidates for promotion among the staff, this may be overlooked.

The Hiring Process

Applications and Nominations

1. When new moderators are required, a hiring thread will be created by an administrator in the Announcements forum.
2. Here, members who meet the aforementioned requirements may submit an application for a staff position.
3. Furthermore, if an administrator, head staff, or staff member wishes to, they may nominate a member of the community to be considered.
   • For instance, if the nominee is deemed exceptionally qualified but does not meet one or more of the aforementioned qualifications.
   • The nominee is not bound to accept the nomination and may decline if they so wish.
4. A deadline will be stated clearly in the hiring thread, after which no more applications or nominations may be made.
5. A thread will also be created and pinned (generally in The Lounge), in which members of the community may voice their opinions on the candidates.
6. Applicants are not prohibited from posting in this thread, but their posts therein will be taken into consideration by staff when considering applicants.
7. This thread will be closely monitored to ensure that opinions and criticisms remain constructive, and that posts do no violate the community guidelines, particularly regarding member bashing.
8. After the staff is finished with their deliberations, they will announce the new moderators by way of another thread in announcements by an administrator.
   • There is no maximum nor minimum time frame in which these deliberations must take place.
   • There is no maximum nor minimum number of new moderators who must be hired in any given hiring session.

This post has been edited by superstitious: May 11 2008, 06:30 PM