RULES AND GUIDELINES **READ**

First off, welcome to the Official Project Nyoka forum. Whether you're here to socialize or just get some help, it's important to understand how a forum works, and what is expected of you. You have probably been on other forums before, and are familiar with the basic rules and expectations. However, just in case you aren't or their rules vary from ours, it is imperative that you read this topic, and make sure that you understand. For those of you familiar with the terms, the low-down is boldefied for you. Or lazy people.

This is required reading, guys. This means that, if it's in here, "I didn't know" is not a viable defense. Also saying you didn't know that "I didn't know" wasn't a viable defense is not a viable defense, and so on. You're supposed to have read this, and in not reading it you surrender any defense in ignorance.
Now to the substance:

1--Spam
--First off, there are three types: Advertising Spam, Click Spam and Social Spam. AdSpam is spamming for the sake of a company, business, website, etc. SocSpam is repeated. The Acronym "Short, Pointless or Annoying Messages" pretty much covers this. AdSpam is typically a little more serious than SocSpam--as it often involves bots--but happens less often. So we'll just cover SocSpam & ClickSpam.

On a forum, Spam clogs threads and makes it impossible to read. If you start going severely offtopic somewhere, rather than continue loading, say, a Creature Suggestion thread down with how cool Octopi are, you can move to a chat box or start a new topic. Spam is not a serious offense, unless it is continued after being warned by a moderator, who will use their own judgement after that.

ClickSpam is creating a post simply for the sake of your creatures being clicked IN A NON-DESIGNATED AREA. This includes posting in an established topic as well as making your own. We have at least one click thread, which you are free to use. Repeated ClickSpam may result in punishment.

2--Double-Posting
Double posting is not typically necessary, but can be useful for bumping topics. However, this forum supports both a delete and edit button. Rather than continually post all your new ideas in five minutes, you can edit one post. Similarly, if you have been the only one to post in a topic for a while, you can delete and merge irrelevant posts and bump your topic at the same time. That being said, double posting is not a serious offense in any case. You may be warned or advised if you continually place two posts in rapid succession, but likely never banned. Unless you find some way to do this maliciously...

3--Profanity/Offensive Language/Content
Ohoho, so you know a four letter word? Good for you--I'm sure most of us do.
Using profanity on a forum isn't going to get you anywhere you want to go--it has a tendency to make you sound like an angry jerk, even if you were talking like you normally do. There is no reason anyone should have to resort to offensive language on this forum--this includes, but is not limited to, slurs, standard obscenities, personal insults, and inappropriate sexual references. Depending on the severity and usage of the language, you may be warned and/or banned.
Linking to something with profanity in it is not the same offense. While linking to a picture with a profane word, an appropriate warning should be attached, primarily as a courtesy.
Linking to illegal, dangerous and/or pornographic content will not be tolerated. You will almost assuredly face a banning, possibly permanent.

4--Hacking
Hacking of accounts will not be tolerated. However, it can be very difficult to prove a hack, and the site and administration takes no responsibility if your account is hacked--unless the entire site is hit or you can prove your account was hacked from an outside source--and will prosecute the account for all offenses. To avoid this, never give out your password--no-one else should ever need it. Users attempting to solicit passwords or similar information from other users will be banned, if not permanently.

5--Trolling
Yes, trolling can be fun. However, it can be detrimental to the sites progress and annoying. Keep any of it to a sheer minimum, or you may be tried for spam.

6--General Etiquette/Interaction Tips

These are the tips and hints. Not rules to be enforced, they're here to help the newbies (or perhaps newbies at heart) avoid some needless conflict.

--Don't be a jerk. That ought to cover everything, right? Just checking.
--WRITING IN CAPS MAKES IT SEEM LIKE YOU'RE SHOUTING, AND THEREFORE ANGRY. AVOID USING ALL CAPS. Not like it's an enforced rule or anything, but yeah. Just a hint.
--Typing row after row of smilies, 13375p34k and what have you is only going to make your post harder to read. Not more fun.
--Keep in mind how what you write will be read. I can't give you an English lesson in this post (if only...) so just try reading it out loud before you post it--odds are, that's how someone else will interpret it.*

*This does not apply for non-native English Speakers.

7--Mini-Modding
Mini-modding is when a non-moderator or admin corrects or suggests changes to the behavior of/warns/chastises another member in a way that suggests authority. Whether or not the suggestions were justified by rules, this should be left to the moderators and administrators, as they have been trusted with the interpretation of the rules. Mini-modding is not a serious offense. However, a post or signature breaking this rule is likely to be edited or deleted or removed the offending content. Repeated offenses may result in further punishment if deemed necessary.

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That should about cover everything. If you have questions, there is a help forum just for that. Try to search and see if your question is in a FAQ or another topic before posting--saves everyone a little time, you not having to wait for a reply and the other members not having to write one.

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