Rules (current version, 7/25/10)

This is the most recent edition of The Rules of the Forums.

If we suspect that you may have broken one of the more severe rules, you will often receive a temporary user ban. This is to stop you removing possibly incriminating evidence. If this is the case you will be given a temporary account to appeal your innocence. The offending user will be unbanned, and the temporary accounts password will be changed.

It is also here that I would like to explain demerit points and strikes.
You start with 100 demerit points, and gradually lose them as you break rules. You can appeal to have some demerit points removed no earlier than 2 months after your last offence by contacting iHEdgeHog.(2007guy)

If you successfully appeal to have some demerit points taken away, then you will not have to repeat a punishment if you reach that level again, unless it has been at least 1 year since you did that punishment.

Note: Please keep in mind that every strike you will also lose 100 reputation.

100 Demerit points equals one strike. Once one strike is filled up you will receive the following consequences. When your demerit points reach zero, you use up one strike, and your demerit points are replenished.

These are the punishments available to the average forum member.

1 strike-36 hour ban
2 strikes-72 hour ban, 1 month moderator ban.
3 strikes-2 week user ban, 2 week IP ban, 6 month moderator ban. This particular strike's punishment may be changed depending on the current circumstances.
4 strikes-User banned forever. 6 month IP ban. 4 strikes??? Yes, that's right. 4 strikes. If you already have 1 or 2 strikes, and you earn 3 or 2 strikes respectively, that's 4 strikes. But seeing as you are already banned at 3, getting 4 strikes is rare.

EXCEPTIONS MAY APPLY. For example, there may be cases when you may be banned for a week. It may be just that. It is based on the high court judge's decision.

The following applies specially for moderators. Since moderators are supposed to be our highest quality members, we have high expectations for them.

Keep in mind that these punishments are not cumulative. You will only receive punishment for the highest level available.

50 demerit points- 1 week moderator ban. 1 month administrator ban (if you were being considered for a promotion to administrator).
1 strike (or 100 demerit points)- 36 hour user ban, 3 week moderator ban, 3 month administrator ban
1 strike, 50 demerits points- 1 month moderator ban, 1 year administrator ban
2 strikes (or 1 strike, 100 demerit points)- 4 day user ban, 1 month moderator ban, infinite administrator ban.
2 strikes, 50 demerit points- Demotion to trainee mod; must go through training again (if he is not already demoded), infinite administrator ban.
3 strikes and over- Infinite User ban, 6 month IP ban.

Once again, exceptions may apply.

We have also recently introduced the "notoriety" marker. That said, if one of you regularly commits a crime, goes on good behavior, gets in trouble after a while, and gets a strike for it, we may alter the punishment into more severeness based on your past record. This goes with good behavior, as well, which connotes more lenient punishment.

So, here come the rules.

There are Six Categories of Crime levels available.

Major classes:

Class S: This is a special class above the class of A, meaning it's only reserved for the user that manages to hack and delete the forum. It is never given, unless the one condition happens.

Class A+: This is for users who are worse than class A, and have attempted class S rule breaking. You will also be placed as A+ if you attempt to blackmail any of our senior staff into making you an administrator or threatening to hack us and delete the forum.

Class A: This is a huge crime class, meaning you have done something so bad to the forum (banning everyone, deleting all the posts, spamming 200 posts everywhere).

Class B: This class is pretty bad, ranged from swearing constantly and flaming constantly, to other major crimes (such as racism).

Minor Classes:

Class D: This class is often some sporadic flaming, swearing, threatening, attempts at anything in Class B, etc. It demands attention but severe punishment is usually not an option, though it still could happen.

Class E: The lowest possible class, this is often just a petty double post, a wide spam, or something along those lines.

The rules:

Swearing:
Class: Minor=no punishment. Moderate: Class D. Major: Class B.
For major swearing, you WILL be punished.
One-two word swearing is acceptable. Such as "what the hell" and "Oh (CENSORED)". Only the F word and racism words may not be written.
Penalties for swearing are...
40-120 demerit points, fine of up to 2000 points.
Penalties for excessive swearing are...
100-200 demerit points, fine of up to all your points.
Excessive swearing is specified as two sentences or more of pure language.
For swearing at others, please see the flaming section below.

Flaming:
Class: Minor: Class E. Moderate: Class D. Major: Class B.
Try to avoid flaming as much as possible. Flaming is defined as abusing another by written text online. Racism is a special type of flaming.

Minor flaming: 1000 coin fine, 20-75 demerit points. Minor flaming can be described as a one word insult, a paragraph connoting denouncement on another, or a combination of the two.
Moderate Flaming: 1000-3000 coin fine, 40-100 demerit points. Moderate flaming can be described as several sentences of insults, or overall hatefulness in a paragraph.
Major Flaming/Racism: 75% of coins taken away, 90-200 demerit points. Major flaming is described as an entire paragraph or more of insults, including swearing. If there is any trace of racism in one's text directed towards another, or towards a race in general, the punishment is headed straight for this category.

Advertising:
Class: Minor: no punishment (as long as it abides by the rules). Moderate: Class E. Major: Class D to Class B (if it was spammed).
Please avoid advertsing, unless it complies by the following rules.

-Must be in the standard size font
-Its description must be no longer than 30 characters. Characters include spaces and punctuation.
-Must not be posted more than once.

If you break this rule, there are 10-30 demerit points given, a fine of up to 1000 points, and removal of offending advertisements. For cumulative offenses (at least 3 times), more severe punishments may apply, such as a fine of up to 3000 points, 50-100 demerit points, and removal of ALL advertisements, violating or non-violating.

Claiming credit for something you didn't make/do:
Class: Small-scale: Class D. Large-scale: Class B.
This is disgusting and dishonest, and will result in 45 demerit points. If it was large scale, it will result in 1 strike and 60 demerit points. No exceptions. This includes corruption and cheating.

Personal Information:
DO NOT GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION!
Class: Class B, unless minor
You are putting yourself at risk. If you do give our personal information, then we will have to choice but to terminate your account forever.
If the offending material is minor, we could just delete the post and give you a severe warning. If you only posted one post with some personal information like address, zip code, full name, etc, the first time is a deletion and a severe warning. The second time would be 100 demerit points (1 strike) and post deletion. The third offense is final, your account will be deactivated. Please do not view these strikes as a means to make more offenses, please not our "notoriety marker" may apply here as well.

The use of personal messaging:
Class: Depends on the way the PM privileges were violated.
Personal messaging is a privilege, administrators can nullify your ability to use PM. It is also possible for us [Admins] to read your PM's if we feel that a violation of the rules have taken place. If this is the case, you will be notified that a search has taken place, and what your new password is. When you join the forum, you give us [Admins] permission to access all information that may appear on your Igloo Forums account.
If you break this rule, in any way (sending PMs with sexual content, flaming, swearing, etc), your ability to use PM's will be terminated, and you will receive 45 demerit points and 50% of your coins taken away, additionally, any other violation you committed using PM will also be enacted upon you, and you will be punished for those as well.

We ask that all users report any inappropriate content they receive via PM, before administrators must resort to reading the PMs themselves.

Asking to be a mod!
Class: Class E.
If you ask to be a mod, including via PM, you will never EVER be one. Simple. There a few exceptions to this rule, but they usually won't apply, so just simply don't. Constant asking will result in 5-10 demerit points every time.

Double Posting:
Class: Regular double posting: Class E. Triple posting+ and constant double posting: Class D.
Please avoid double posting everywhere EXCEPT spam section. There are certain exceptions (such as when you click the send button twice). In the case of an accident, no punishment is given until the 4th time within two weeks.
The first time you will receive a warning, then 25 demerit points and a 1000 point fine for every cumulative offense.
We are currently in a trial period of no double posting. We will delete this rule if people don't abuse it.
Update: The double posting rule is now abolished. Double posting will only be punished if it is pointless, at the discretion of moderators or administrators.

Triple posting or more (except in spam), will result in a more severe punishment.

Grammar
Class: class E
Please avoid using incorrect grammar, as it is annoying for everyone. Every time one of your posts has bad grammar to the point which it is annoying to read, 10 demerit points will be given. This teaches that the way to post in forums is almost like you post in school, minus the formal words and adding abbreviations, although there's nothing stopping you using the formal words and not using abbreviations.

No bumping!
Class: Class E
Bumping is when you post 1 month after the previous one. This is to stop pointless topics resurfacing. You can receive up to 20 demerit points and a small fine for this. You may bump in any stickied topic and in specified forum categories, like custom games, discussion, etc.

No Wide Spamming
CLass: Class E
If there is any post that has an excessively large picture or long line of words, it will be deleted, and 10 demerit points and a 500 point fine given. Cumulative offenses may require additional punishment, up to 1 strike and 2000 points may be fined if a user spams this.

No Abusing your powers
Class: Depends on the severity, ranges from Class D to Class A.
If you abuse your powers as a moderator or admin, you receive between 50-100 demerit points, a fine of up to a 3000 points, and if fitting, a de-mod. If it had to do with treason, please see below.

The following is considered an abusing power offense, but it is not limited to this.

Deleting unnecessary amounts of posts: If it was a relatively small amount (<50) then the above punishment will apply. Anything more is considered treason.
Treating regular members insanely rudely: Above applies.
Corruption: Depends on the severity.
Deceit: Using your powers to amass powerful allies can be pretty bad, it is considered treason.
Demoting other administrators/moderators without their consent, or for enjoyment or anger: Above applies. Exceptions may apply. If the selected administrator or moderator performed a heinous crime (bolded red), they may end up being demoted without their consent with no punishment.
Using any of your granted benefits to break a rule: Above applies.
Altering the layout of the forum greatly (i.e. moving lots of topics around): Depends on the severity.
Banning a user for no reason: 60-100 demerit points, if demoting an admin, could be charged with treason.

No banning administrators or moderators
Class: Accident: Class B. Purpose: Class A.
If you do this by accident, 1 strike, 50 demerit points and a 6000 point fine. If you do this on purpose, you get 4 strikes, thus get banned permanently. End of story.

Respecting Users, especially Admins and mods
Class: Class D.
Please show respect to Admins and mods. If you are rude to them or any user without a good reason you can receive up to 100 demerit points, and a fine of up to 1000 points. This deals with the hierarchy. It goes as follows.

Chief Administrator (currently Kaku)
Administrator
Senior court staff
Court staff
Senior Moderator
Forum Moderator
Senior Member
Regular Member
Rule breaker
Epic fails

You are considered to rank at the highest of the groups you are in. (For example, an administrator who is also court staff should be treated as an administrator)Please respect anyone that is higher than you in the hierarchy, but that doesn't mean you look condescendingly on inferiors (see "abusing powers" section). Respect them because you were once among their ranks. (Except for the Epic fails, you can do as you please to them).

Impersonating Mods/Admins
Class: Class B.
If there you change your name to a Mods/Admins without permission, or post in imposter mode of an administrator or moderator you can receive up to 100 demerit points, and a fine of up to 4000 points.

Sexual Posts directed toward a user
Class: Class B
Depends how severely you broke this rule. It ranges from 1 strike up to 3 strikes. (A combination of both demerit points and strikes may be given).

Sexual Posts not directed towards another user
Class: Class D
This includes pornography. It depends how severely you broke this rule, but it ranges from 50 demerit points, to up to 2 strikes and 95 demerit points. Also included is a fine of up to 5000 points.

Treason
Class: Class B
This is when you betray the forums in any way, shape, or form, or attempt to take control over the forums unconditionally.
Punishments are severe, depending on the circumstances, it can range from 1 strike to 3 strikes, a number of demerit points, and a hefty fine. You will often receive an admin ban (Never being able to become an admin), and often up to 1 years suspension of being a mod.

High Treason:
Class: Class A or S
This is when you betray the forum in a vile way, such as in the case of Virulent, where he de-admined everyone to get power, or in the case of Mimo, where he deleted many posts. This is often a permanent ban, though permanently banned members may be partially pardoned after at least five months. They may never become a moderator or administrator though.

Talking to Criminals:
Class: Depends on the criminal, ranges from D to A
Depends on the nature of the criminal, you could be banned for safety and even charged for high treason. DONT TALK TO CRIMINALS. Even though you may have done it unknowingly, we do not know that; this often requires an education program to learn about the criminal and a temporary demotion.

False Accusations/Defenses in Court:
Class: Class B or A
This is where you attempt to incriminate another person with false evidence, or attempt to get out of punishment's way by persuasion, false evidence, etc. Often we figure out, we've got very smart individuals who often scent out any flaw you make, as was the case with Virulent. This may result in 50-200 points, a post of apology to the user(s) affected, and a fine of up to 2500 points. It depends on what kind of crime you were trying to incriminate someone, or free yourselves from.

Double Accounts:
Class: Class D or B, B if repeated
This is where you create more than one account, either using the same persona, or a completely different alias. This is against the rule. If you are caught doing so (we can track all members IP), you could get from 1-2 strikes, and up to 75% of coins removed. For continuous or excessive offense a permanent ban may be necessary.

Indirect Crimes
Class: Class D, B or A, depending on the intensity
If you try to induce or persuade a user to commit a crime for your own benefit, that is considered dishonorable, and it is usually under the "Indirect Crimes" list. This is when you carefully word yourself, not committing a crime yourself, but purposefully trying to make the other user commit a crime, and if that happens, you won't get away with it either. Yeah, the other guy might get punishments for not being so confident about the rules, but you could get 30-100 demerit points (1 strike).

Spam section
You may double, triple, quadruple or quintuple post in the spam section, but you are limited to 5 posts a day, and all posts must have at least 5 characters in them. You may not post continuous spam in the spam section purely for post farming. It will be deleted at the discretion of moderation staff.

Common sense applies.
If something isn't written here, that doesn't mean you can do it. It just means that we may have overlooked it. (Writing rules is harder than it seems!) Moderators+ (See hierarchy) have the ability to say that you are doing something wrong, and give you an appropriate punishment, even if it isn't specifically covered here.

• List of edits: (MM/DD/YY)
  
• Created on 7/1/10 by KMS.
  
• Edited on 7/5/10 by 2007guy.
  
• Edited on 7/25/10 by KMS.
  
• Edited on 8/1-4/10 by KMS.
  
• Edited on 8/6/10 by 2007guy.
  
• Edited on 8/10/10 by KMS.
  
• Edited on 9/5/10 by Jagger.
  
• Edited on 9/9/10 by iHEdgeHog
  
• Edited on 18/08/12 by Mugy7
  

Credit to 2007guy for the demerit points system and the previous rules, which are very similar.

Update.

Good rules, seem perfect. (Of course, we'll be proved wrong)

Updated

Class A+ added.