FORUM RULES, REGULATIONS, FACTS AND ETIQUETTE

[Ed Mack]

FORUM RULES, REGULATIONS, FACTS AND ETIQUETTE:

• BE RESPECTFUL: Brickpickers enjoy this site for a variety of reasons, but primarily because it provides a safe, non-threatening environment to share their LEGO investing thoughts.  Attacks on fellow BrickPickers will not be tolerated.  No bullying, flaming, stalking or discrimination will be allowed.
• KEEP ON TOPIC: Try to keep threads on topic.  Hi-jacking threads on purpose is tacky and frowned upon.
• NO ILLEGAL OR QUESTIONABLE ACTIVITY: Please refrain from posting ideas that could be considered illegal or unethical in nature.  This is one way to get banned and have your content erased.
• NO SPAM: Forums are meant to be fun and entertaining, keep them free of spam and nonsense.
• COLORED text is reserved for the Moderators:  To help with the readability of the forums, please do not use colored text - it is reserved for use by the Forums moderators.
• NO NECROPOSTING:  If a thread has not had a new post in several months, do not post in that thread. This is called "necroposting" and is disruptive to the community as it takes focus away from newer, more active threads. The only exception to this rule is when you want to post strong support for an item in one of the Suggestions forums or you think that an older topic is relevant to today's topics.
• MEMBER NAMES AND AVATARS:  All member names and avatars must be tasteful and acceptable to all members, young and old.  If you think something could be interpreted in a sexual, perverse, or obscene way...DO NOT USE IT!  You will be asked to change it.  If you fail to do so, you possible could be banned from the site.  Use common sense here...please.  
• AVOID CONTENT FREE POSTS:  Posting a "+1", or "me too", or simply quoting a previous post with no original content or discussion is to be discouraged.  Use the green "Vote up this post" reputation button if you agree with something a member has posted.  Better yet, add some of your own thoughts to the discussion.
• SEARCH BEFORE YOU POST: Try to search for a topic before creating a new thread to see if it already has an active discussion.  Take notice of the "Similar Topics" list that pops up after entering your Topic Title.  Do we really need another B-wing thread?  The moderators will merge topics where possible but it helps keep the forum tidy and discussions in one place if we can minimise duplicate topics.
• NO POLITICS: This is a LEGO Price Guide and investment site.  People should keep their political opinions to themselves, or share them on another message board.
• NO OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE or OBSCENE CONTENT: Posts containing offensive language or vulgar videos and pictures will be deleted.  Let's keep the forum rated PG.
• NO ADVERTISING: Most BrickPickers have items to sell, but the forum is not the place to advertise them.  Brick Classifieds is being developed to buy, sell and trade sets and there spots on the site which you can purchase advertising space for personal stores and the like.
• NO DOUBLE POSTING: If you've already posted a message, and no other users have posted one after you, do not post again! This is called 'Double Posting'. Simply edit your current post, and add on to it. Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it soon enough.
• POSTS MUST BE READABLE: If you like to write your posts in the style of a text message (no capitalization or punctuation) your posts will probably be deleted.
• GRAMMAR & SPELLING: If your spelling is atrocious, resulting in posts that are hard to read, your posts will probably be deleted.
• If you continue to post in violation of this rule, your will be warned, and your account may be suspended. Oh, and your posts will probably be deleted.
• NO "First Post" POSTS: Just because you're the first to respond to a thread, do not post: "First Post!" or "WOOT First Post!". It does not matter if your post is the first or last in a thread; what does matter is the quality of your post.
• NO PLAGIARISM: Post only your work on this board. If something you have created was specifically inspired by or uses in part the work of others, be sure to credit them.  Any member who posts the work of others as their own will be immediately banned from this board.
• NO POST/TOPIC SPAMMING: Do not post the same topic and/or post in multiple forums. We realize sometimes this happens within the same topic due to technical issues but other than that this is strictly prohibited.
• Any issues with members should reported to the Moderators, Jeff or I.  Don't fight it out in the forum.
• Please notify Jeff or I directly with any technical, data or site issues or errors.  There are support icons throughout the site...or PM us.  Use the Contact Us form or send an email to [email protected].
• Member awards are given in no particular order or method.  If you feel you or another member is deserving of one, please contact Jeff or I.  
• GREEN ARROW UP...or a thumbs up in other words, should be given to quality posts or answers that stand out or that you agree with.  Please don't spam these.  Members who receive one get two BrickPoints and one Reputation point.  
• Most of all...Just BE NICE!  There are plenty of ways to phrase something that is not confrontational or volatile in nature.  Treat others the way you want to be treated.  Sometimes it is difficult to read your intentions and tone through written words.  If you feel the need to insult other members, its creators or the site itself, seek life elsewhere.  

 

Please feel free to come up with some additional ideas that I can add to the list.  Break the above rules and you may encounter these penalties below...

 

1. Warning - This is where a private message is sent to you and your behavior is discussed.  Failure to listen to the warning may warrant implementing the harsher measures below...
2. Muting - This is where you are not able to talk on the board. You may still view it.
3. Temporary Ban - This is where you are not able to view the board for a certain period of time.
4. Permanent Ban - You can never again view the board.

 

[MartinP]

Great rules.

[DoNotInsertIntoMouth]

Good to have these posted somewhere. I know I forget and double post sometimes - mostly quotes because I forget about multiquote. Gonna do better about that.

[@rtisan]

I agree, great rules to follow.  Everyone likes Forums that stay free of garbage and are kept up to date. It`s less effort as well just to follow a set of solid rules, rather than post spam and such. Just a waste of space and effort IMHO to go out of your (generally speaking) way to cause issues for everyone else. I think most know this in the back of their minds already, but after reading through these I felt like putting it down. Still surprises me that people still do these kinds of things with little/no thought to common sense. Regardless, I`m grateful to have this post for reference, thank you! 

[Guest eightbrick]

It looks like a lot of rules, but really they are all just common sense, and not much to ask for. Thanks for posting this, I'm sure it will be helpful in the future to a-many Brickpickers - myself included.

[justafrog]

It looks like a lot of rules, but really they are all just common sense, 

 

Precisely - I'm sure it took time to type all that up, but in the end a little common sense and courtesy and this will stay a good place.

[Quacs]

Brianl3 and justafrog, none of this "common sense" business. You must commit these to memory as there will be a quiz tomorrow. :)

[Quacs]

Oh, and spit out that gum...

[justafrog]

+1!!

 

(Kidding, kidding, just kidding...   )

 

Seriously, though, I've moderated forums in the past and it can be like herding cats. This is a great site and I appreciate what you all do to keep it that way.

[exciter1]

+1!!

 

(Kidding, kidding, just kidding...   )

 

Seriously, though, I've moderated forums in the past and it can be like herding cats. This is a great site and I appreciate what you all do to keep it that way.

 

You beat me to it.      Thanks for posting the rules...

[malec]

So thoughtful and fair. Brickpicker rules !

[DoNotInsertIntoMouth]

Oh, and spit out that gum...

 

QUACS DOUBLE POSTED! BAN HAMMER!

[M.O.D.O.K.]

Nice set of rules.  I think this has something to do with the topic so I will mention it here.  Has the down arrow just been removed because of controversy or did I miss something?

[Darth Lego]

The only thing I can think of adding to the great list above is a section about moderators/administrators and what they do on the forums/site. Otherwise the list is insightful for newer members and older members alike.

[ExoBro94]

Glad to finally see a thread like this pinned on this site. Hopefully having these written out will help everybody! 

[Quacs]

Nice set of rules. I think this has something to do with the topic so I will mention it here. Has the down arrow just been removed because of controversy or did I miss something?

The down arrow has been removed. Ed and Jeff found it wasn't being used as they had intended, so it was axed.

[M.O.D.O.K.]

The only thing I can think of adding to the great list above is a section about moderators/administrators and what they do on the forums/site. 

I think that it would be cool to see this as well!  

[Quacs]

The only thing I can think of adding to the great list above is a section about moderators/administrators and what they do on the forums/site. Otherwise the list is insightful for newer members and older members alike.

 

For those interested in a peak behind the curtain, here's an entry from the mod handbook sent to me by Ed and Jeff:

 

Section 4 - Moderator Etiquette

The key to being an effective Brickpicker moderator is to take as many hypocritical stances as possible throughout the forums, so that members will focus more on your actions and mistakes than about our most critical mission: assimilation.  The goal is to obscure - be the lightning rod to distract members from realizing their minds are being slowly modified to accept commands from the Site Creators. It is your job, as a moderator, to help the assimilation process in any and every way possible.

 

Whatever you do, don't tell Jeff and Ed I leaked this.  If they find out, I'm done for.  If you don't hear from me in a few days, you'll know what happened... 

[DoNotInsertIntoMouth]

For those interested in a peak behind the curtain, here's an entry from the mod handbook sent to me by Ed and Jeff:

 

Section 4 - Moderator Etiquette

The key to being an effective Brickpicker moderator is to take as many hypocritical stances as possible throughout the forums, so that members will focus more on your actions and mistakes than about our most critical mission: assimilation.  The goal is to obscure - be the lightning rod to distract members from realizing their minds are being slowly modified to accept commands from the Site Creators. It is your job, as a moderator, to help the assimilation process in any and every way possible.

 

Whatever you do, don't tell Jeff and Ed I leaked this.  If they find out, I'm done for.  If you don't hear from me in a few days, you'll know what happened... 

 

Assimilation clearly.

 

I wondered why I had been muttering to myself soo much lately.

[Darth_Raichu]

^ Bah I prefer the Borgs' more direct assimilation methods: "Resistance is futile"

[Huskers1236]

The only thing I can think of adding to the great list above is a section about moderators/administrators and what they do on the forums/site. Otherwise the list is insightful for newer members and older members alike.

We are the Men in Black for a reason.  You never saw anything.

[Darth Lego]

We are the Men in Black for a reason.  You never saw anything.

That just reminded me of this scene. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnEWvBsRjBo

[M.O.D.O.K.]

 

• NO NECROPOSTING:  If a thread has not had a new post in several months, do not post in that thread. This is called "necroposting" and is disruptive to the community as it takes focus away from newer, more active threads. The only exception to this rule is when you want to post strong support for an item in one of the Suggestions forums or you think that an older topic is relevant to today's topics.

 

Does this mean that newer members like myself shouldn't post in some topic about "which theme is the worst", or some CM poll thread?  I mean, if you start a new topic about a subject it will just be merged, so what is the best way to do this.

[Fcbarcelona101]

Does this mean that newer members like myself shouldn't post in some topic about "which theme is the worst", or some CM poll thread?  I mean, if you start a new topic about a subject it will just be merged, so what is the best way to do this.

 

In those special cases it would be fine to post in the old thread, since they maintain their relevance over time. This is more related to threads that ask more specific questions.

[DoNotInsertIntoMouth]

Does this mean that newer members like myself shouldn't post in some topic about "which theme is the worst", or some CM poll thread?  I mean, if you start a new topic about a subject it will just be merged, so what is the best way to do this.

 

I thought it might be good to get this modified some. We do have some people (no mods) that jump on thread to be merged - but the merged thread is reallly old, and people may have changed their minds from when it was posted. But, technically they are necroposting if they are reopening a really old one.