Global Forum Rules

[Lady Vulpix]

Lately, several members have been making low-quality posts, mostly spamming and advertising.
Hence, the mods of TPM have agreed that a little reminder is in order.

Kindly co-operate with us by posting meaningful posts and following the rules. This is to ensure that other members get a fair chance to enjoy their stay at The Pokemasters.

In case you haven't read the rules yet, please take a look at them.

The following rules are general rules that apply to all of TPM. Forum specific rules may be added at a later date.

1 ) No SPAM. Stupid Pointless Annoying Messages are not allowed to be posted on TPM.

2 ) Don't advertise. This includes posting on the public forums and using private messages (unless requested).
TPM's definition of advertising is:
Linking to your own site or material in a discussion where such material would be considered 'off topic'.
Posting a topic just to show off your site.
Linking to other Pokemon main sites.
Linking to your own refferal URL's, whether on-topic or not

Posting links is not considered 'advertising' in the following situations:
A direct link to a page within your site or another pokemon site with relevant information to a topic at hand.
Any site which is not your own and contains something you wish to discuss.

3 ) No flaming. While we like to encourage active debates, posting blatant insults or something deliberatly intended to offend someone isn't allowed.

4 ) Do not create gimmicks or extra accounts. Only one account per person.

5 ) Use your common sense: if you know something's wrong, don't do it. The Super mods and admins reserve the right to assume you should know better.

6 ) No posting for the sole purpose of bumping topics. Necroing anything without a purpose for threads over 3 months old = ban. The mods and admins will judge what passes as a decent purpose.

7 ) No pornography, graphic violence or other similarly explicit content.

8 ) If you think your post is not suitable for some people, include a warning that can be seen before reading it.

9 ) Follow Little_Pikachu's signature rules.

10 ) Obey the forum-specific rules of the forum you are posting in.

11 ) Please do not reply to posts made by spam-bots or obvious troll posts made by new members. Instead, please report the post using the Report Post button and a moderator or admin will deal with it. All posts that do reply to spam and troll posts will be deleted.

Remember that these rules are in effect throughout the whole board; they apply to all forums, and to all members.

If anyone has a problem with the rules, PM me and I will discuss them with you. - RedStarWarrior

[shazza]

GOOD RULEZ

[Angel Blossom]

I'd hit it.

;P

[Lady Vulpix]

I'd hit it.

;P

You'd hit what?

You may post questions and comments about the rules, but please try not to go off-topic. There are other places for that. This thread is just for the rules.

[Magmar]

Thank you for making these available for discussion.

I have to ask, What exactly constitutes as Flaming (besides firepokemon)? I mean, how would you define the point where reckless insulting becomes all-out too hurtful? Just cuz we seem to bicker a lot. Just wondering what the fine line is here.

[Crazy Elf Boy]

Thank you for making these available for discussion.

I have to ask, What exactly constitutes as Flaming (besides firepokemon)? I mean, how would you define the point where reckless insulting becomes all-out too hurtful? Just cuz we seem to bicker a lot. Just wondering what the fine line is here.

He flames cause he is a fire pokemon, der. Anyway I think flaming would be repeated insults against someone or something without any provacation or good reason. So it would have to have a lot of hate behind it rather then some useless arguements.

[shazza]

He flames cause he is a fire pokemon, der.

I think you missed the joke.

[Drago]

Thank you for making these available for discussion.

I have to ask, What exactly constitutes as Flaming (besides firepokemon)? I mean, how would you define the point where reckless insulting becomes all-out too hurtful? Just cuz we seem to bicker a lot. Just wondering what the fine line is here.

Personally, I just pick a line and then keep an eye out for people to cross it. Bickering I can handle; disagreements or differences of opinion are welcomed. It's when it just becomes petty squabbling that I put my foot down. Years ago, I might have had a different stance on when to draw the line, but nowadays I figure we're all mature adults to handle a bit of back and forth. If you look at the arguments that are happening even now, they have a reason behind them, and it's just an angrier way of getting the point across. Depends on how personal it gets, too. Personal attacks are a no-no in my book.

[Heald]

I think, as a seasoned flamer myself, and I doubt anyone on this forum would disagree with that, that everyone has different definitions of flaming. Like in Gabi's promotion thread, we have people saying she will be a bad admin. Is this flaming? It is an opinion, and people are allowed to opine, but when people start making ad hominem attacks against the person, then that begins to become flaming. There is a very fine line between valid criticism and flaming. It is often why if most people do not like criticising people's fanfics or artwork, since most people cannot tell the difference between criticism and insults when it is them being criticised.

Heated debates are another area where ambiguous flaming occurs. There's a point where you can disagree with a person's beliefs and views, but I believe the second you say something like 'If you think Bush was a bad president, you're a moron', that does cross into the realms of flaming.

The other problem is, seasoned members often flame each other, since they know each other and therefore it can make it less severe than if two members that don't know each other start slinging mud at each other. This can lead to a bad precedent, as when you allow seasoned members to flame each other, newer members will think this is appropriate.

As a member and a mod, here is how I see it: the second that the so-called flaming starts ruining the topic for everyone else, I have a duty to step in and resolve the situation. I've seen too many good topics die because someone couldn't shut up.

As for trolling, well there is a difference. Flaming is outright attacking someone. Flamebaiting is antagonising someone in order to get them to flame you back without you directly flaming them, which is somewhat akin to trolling. Trolls just subvert threads in order to antagonise people and derail a thread, purely to get a reaction.