Forum Rules

Evening all!

So, the mods and Committee have been thinking about setting out a proper set of forum rules. We havn't had much of a need for same up to now, but we think it'd be very handy to have something to point to in case of emergency. This is a draft only, so additions, alterations etc. etc. greatly appreciated.




1. No swearing or profanity, or anything not safe for work generally.

2. No insulting other forum users, other fans, players, refs. Insulting does not mean constructive criticism. The Mods decision of what crosses the line is final, but if you’re not happy, the mods are available to talk.

3. No discussion of a players private life, except in the most basic sense. i.e. saying you heard Sol_ie likes cheese is perfectly fine – saying Sol_ie doesn’t get on with his Uncle is out of line. The Mods decision of what crosses the line is final, but if you’re not happy, the mods are available to talk.

4. No posting of personally identifiable information (i.e. name, address, email, phone number, etc.). Feel free to share your own real name and email address/twitter handle etc. but no posting of phone numbers or physical addresses.

5. No Spam!

6. No sharing your account. Forum accounts are intended for the use by one person.

7. No alternate, backup, or multiple accounts.

8. Do not publicly post or otherwise share PMs with other users unless you have the expressed permission of the sender to do so.

9. No Racism or discrimination of any sort.

10. The selling of match tickets for above face value, will not be permitted under any circumstances. Anybody trying to sell tickets for above face value will have their thread deleted and will be permanently banned from the website.

Initial minor infractions will result in a mod amendment and a warning, either public or private. Multiple infractions, or a major initial infraction, will result in a ban, escalating to a full ban.

Basically, the above is just in an effort to say: "don't be an arse, and don't make the mods be arses to you". We've never had any major problems on here, but as the forum grows it's helpful to have these in place.

Cheers!

We actually have existing rules in place, www.connachtclan.com/clan-forum/rules but they're not exactly front and center. I had a look and couldn't quickly see em. So the above will amend and add to the existing rules.

Magpie wrote: Good idea.


Point #4 does not make sense, most forums do not allow personal info it, and I don't always agree, but commanding us to do so is a bit much

Actually, add a 'No....' to the renaming points, otherwise it looks like you to want people to do the naughty things.

Yep, good point. 'No' duly added!

With personal info, it's more to stop the trolls and spambots than anything. A good chunk of people here know others real names, have their emails etc. Hey, my Clan email address is in my signature, my actual real name is in the About Us section, 15 seconds of googling will tell you what I do for work etc. Loads of people have their twitter handles etc. etc. The real problem is spam - our filters stop spambots for getting at posted email address but not for mobiles - and sharing your physical address in public is a bad idea anyways.

We'd have to enforce the rule strictly for your own phone numbers and addresses, but leave it up to your own best judgement on the rest?

But: Sharing anyone elses personal info is a big no no, even in a jokey sense.

No, no. Expect the same (hopefully very light) level of moderation as before - this is hopefully more just a restatement and reminder of the existing rules and practices here than anything else.

ConnachtCows wrote: I find this quite strict. People didnt like when I compared Munster to the Lannisters in a match thread. I thought that was a bit ridiculous. Is something like that going to get a mod warning now?

If memory serves, the problem wasn't with the comparison per se, but the slight hint that Leinster, akin to the Lanisters, might not have any issues with 'sibling rivalry'. Comparing them to the Lannisters because they're both loaded - absolutely fine! It's all a matter of degrees.

ConnachtCows wrote: Similarly, if I have a negative opinion of Leinster (for example), and I made a post such as "Typical Leinster, and they're media hungry overpaid players" is that also going to get a mod warning?

To be honest, if I was coming on to the site, and kept seeing that my posts had been edited, or deleted, I would start frequenting the forum less. I'm sure no one would be too bothered

Again,it's very much a case by case thing. What you have said above is fine, probably closer the line than anything, but if it degenerated into a Leinster Hate Thread, we'd probably have to step in.

Don't worry, we have no intention or desire to becoming boards.ie. We don't have that kind of time, tbh. I can't see us making any more edits/changing any more posts than we currently do - which I hope is very few - but the difference being we can point to these rules and this discussion as we edit/delete it.

Agree with most of the above. To clarify: none of this is reactionary, none of this is expanding what the mods can do or will do, and it's not a new regime of mod-dom, it's simply an effort to add somethings that need adding (the personal info and comments with regards to players personal lives especially), to clarify and restate the existing rules and to clarify what the mods will/should/can do if there's a step over the line on any of the rules.

The only red-line issues are libel, hate speech and personal info: those could land the club and the Committee into hot water. Extreme example, and it won't ever happen, but we do need rules in place for that.

The other rules and to make this place a welcoming and safe spot for people (be they regular forumites, occasional readers, new fans or players opposing fans) to talk or read about Connacht, rugby in general, or whatever else might take their fancy.

CC mentions we run the forum, but we run it for ye. If people didn't feel welcome here - either for fear of moderation or too lax rule enforcement - there'd be no point in a forum.

Do feel free to add or subtract to my wording above with regard to anything.

pinky wrote:
But why can't that be done by amending the existing rules?

It certainly can. From looking at the existing rules, we're adding 5 new rules (No.'s 3 - 8 in my suggestion) and simply restating all of the existing ones. If people would prefer that to happen, 100%.