Onemoreblock Rules Update - Feedback And Input

Post by **Phantomboy** » May 18th, 2014, 1:15 pm

Hey guys, so I've wanted to be more open about things I am working on and the like, so here is a bit of an update on that

The current forum rules aren't the most finely-tuned and Wowfun recently brought up to me that it might be a good idea to update them a bit. With that, I drafted up a slightly updated version, then with his help we revised them. Of course, they are still in a way considered a "rough draft" because the lack the input of you guys, as of yet. So let's fix that!

Please take a second, read over the updated rules. Give any advice on how we could we could improve them!

1) Personal attacks on other users are not permitted, even if they are made in jest. You have every right to disagree and debate with other members, but you must do so respectfully and politely. For more information, please see this article on how to disagree. All users of of One More Block are expected to use DH levels two or above.

2) Although the occasional use of expletives is allowed, a small number of terms which have been deemed insensitive will be automatically censored. No attempt should be made to bypass this filter.

3) Purposefully offensive, vulgar, or otherwise disruptive material is strictly prohibited. This includes posts which are purely intended to advertise a product, or contain pornographic material or obscene violence.

4) Do not post links to copyrighted content on the forums. We do not condone illegal activity.

5) Each person is allowed only one account, and browsing the website via a proxy without explicit permission from a staff member is strictly prohibited. If you must use a proxy, please contact a staff member privately.

6) If you are banned, do not attempt to circumvent the ban. Doing so will cause the ban to be extended permanently.

Moderators can and will take action outside of these specific rules as they deem necessary. Users are expected to follow the spirit, not the letter, of these rules.

If you have any questions about why we made a certain rule, don't be afraid to ask!

Have a great day!

~Phantom

Baufritz · Post by **Baufritz** » May 18th, 2014, 1:53 pm

Love the article on disagreeing, rules overall are pretty nice.

ElectroYoshi · Post by **ElectroYoshi** » May 18th, 2014, 2:39 pm

My only objection is reverse engineering software unless MiSt made it. It's not really the mods' business if you want to reverse engineer a console game or a Smartphone app. Aside from that though, it works for me!

Post by **Wowfunhappy** » May 18th, 2014, 2:48 pm

ElectroYoshi wrote:My only objection is reverse engineering software unless MiSt made it. It's not really the mods' business if you want to reverse engineer a console game or a Smartphone app.

This part was intended to be an adaptation of the current rules, which says:

We do not condone nor accept posts pertaining to illegal activities such as hacking, cracking, warez, or spam.

Obviously, this is thinking of "hacking" as a sub-product as a piracy, but my fear was that it technically barred all of the work being done on Atmosphir. I later changed "hacking" to "reverse-engineering" because hacking seems like such a primitive and undescriptive term. (I mean, what is "hacking"? If you "hacked together a prototype" last night, are you a hacker?)

That said, making cool discoveries from poking around in a game's code is awesome in general, and I wouldn't want to stop people from talking about that… should we just get of the reverse-engineering part altogether?

ElectroYoshi · Post by **ElectroYoshi** » May 18th, 2014, 4:38 pm

Well, I wouldn't axe it totally, but it would be wise to make that more specific to the forum.

papaya · Post by **papaya** » May 18th, 2014, 4:53 pm

just look at it like this
don't post about pirating games

Post by **Wowfunhappy** » May 18th, 2014, 10:03 pm

I've edited rule 4 above to read:

Please do not post links to copyrighted content on the forums. We do not condone illegal activity.

tta · Post by **tta** » May 18th, 2014, 10:13 pm

yeh, all these rules are pretty cool, exxxcccceeeept for #1 that one isn't really important we can just sweep that one under the rug for now

tta · Post by **tta** » May 18th, 2014, 10:29 pm

also isn't it kind of funny how 'name calling' according to the list is considered the most taboo element of arguing/disagreeing and that threats are nowhere on the list

so i can tell wowfunhappy that i know where he lives and that me and my clan are going to go fuck him up except as long as i don't call him a fag chump i'm in the clear?

i take back what i said earlier, these rules are fabulous ! !

papaya · Post by **papaya** » May 19th, 2014, 1:31 am

I'd imagine threats would fall under the 'respectful and polite' part
also all you gotta do is now when you're arguing insult the argument not the arguer.

tta · Post by **tta** » May 19th, 2014, 6:10 am

"the argument you are using is the argument that a lesbian donkey would use"

sounds good to me

papaya · Post by **papaya** » May 19th, 2014, 6:47 am

no no no
that would mean the arguer is the equivalent of a lesbian donkey, or holds the same principles as a lesbian donkey. It's still an insult to the arguer.

i mean like saying 'that argument is a lesbian donkey' (don't say this) to say that it's wrong.

Post by **Phantomboy** » May 19th, 2014, 7:57 am

To hide behind a syntax alteration like that is a fairly desperate cling to an ad hominem comment. In many ways, I think the the implicit tonality of the first rule is that politeness, and through that, well-mannered discourse and debate, are all valuable qualities of every post on the forum. A forum in dedication to a video game really shouldn't necessitate guidelines on behaviour anywhere above common human decency, but any rules made should be in the best interest in of those posting well-intentioned content. I think I can speak fairly openly when saying, on top of all the rules, you probably already know what you should and shouldn't be doing.

A good environment and respectful peeps kind of go hand in hand

Miniike · Post by **Miniike** » May 19th, 2014, 12:39 pm

papaya wrote:no no no
that would mean the arguer is the equivalent of a lesbian donkey, or holds the same principles as a lesbian donkey. It's still an insult to the arguer.

i mean like saying 'that argument is a lesbian donkey' (don't say this) to say that it's wrong.

papaya you are a genius

TheLastLink · Post by **TheLastLink** » May 19th, 2014, 12:57 pm

These new rules are messy.

Post by **bionicnacho** » May 19th, 2014, 1:59 pm

TheLastLink wrote:These new rules are messy.

Please elaborate

Miniike · Post by **Miniike** » May 19th, 2014, 3:37 pm

bionicnacho wrote:Please elaborate

He's tll

We all know a huge, whopping rant is coming

Post by **ThatOneFox** » May 19th, 2014, 3:41 pm

Miniike wrote:He's tll

We all know an elaborate, beautiful rant is coming

Fixed that for you.

Miniike · Post by **Miniike** » May 19th, 2014, 4:08 pm

StreetLights wrote:Fixed that for you.

Thank you sir

TheLastLink · Post by **TheLastLink** » May 19th, 2014, 4:58 pm

All of the rules are overly elaborate or oddly specific (or not specific enough), or even unnecessary.

For instance how am i gonna stop some big mean mother hubbard from tearing me a structurally-superfluous new beehive:

Rule 1. "Do not attack other users, even if it's just in jest..."
As far as I know, this wasn't even a problem, and if we're saying that saying x is bad even if you're kidding, that extends to a whole lot more than "attacking other users in jest".

And then it links to a whole article about "how to disagree" (which is implied that everyone must read in the next sentence), when you could just say "Don't resort to ad hominem attacks and don't call people names".

Rule 2. "Although occasional use of expletives is allowed..."

This doesn't really mean anything, seeing as how "occasional" probably means something different to everybody. And then this goes to the issue of what exactly the goal is. And then there's the fact that particular words are being declared "insensitive", which is also so general it doesn't mean anything.

Rule 3. Nothing really to say here I guess. Reasonable enough.

Rule 4. Everybody on the forum is banned then? I guarantee that all the active users have posted "copyrighted materials" in the form of youtube videos. And furthermore, it makes no sense that users shouldn't post copyrighted material, and yet anything related to Atmosphir is given a pass. It doesn't make any sense at all. What is the point?

Rule 5. Again, why? Why can't I have a joke account called Santa Claus or Britney Spears (You could say it's to prevent spamming, but spamming is already against the rules)? What's wrong with browsing with a proxy? And there isn't even any point to using one unless you're banned, if you're banned, it's a moot point anyway (And it's not like you can know about it if someone is using a proxy).
Another unnecessary and nonsensical one.

Rule 6. I really hope that this isn't retroactive, because if it is, everyone who just came back is guilty.

I could talk about the golden snitch rule but I'd rather not.

I dunno, they all seem messy and ill-thought out to me.