Forum rules reminder

[brendy]

Ladies and gents, Please read below. These are the main jist of the rules so everyone is a little clearer. There are over 170,000 words in the english language, there is no shortage so please refrain from lowering the toneany thread using foul, abusive, threatening, sectarian (whether you think they are acceptable or not) or racist comments.
Quoted from the rules as per Mike Harris.

Much of it is common sense and also in the sub text of each forum already but so it's all here in black and white here goes...

* What is not acceptable...
1 Posts that contain any sexist, racist or homophobic content
2 Posts or PMs that are abusive to another forum member
3 Posts that contain swearing. I feel this also includes the use of asterisked out swear words. I think everyone on here is smart enough to be able to find non offensive ways of expressing themselves without having to resort to swearing and offending any other former.
4 Posts that are spam - i.e. posts or messages that are purely posted in a bid to trying to promote or sell services or products.
5 Deliberately posting off topic messages in the wrong forum.
6 Using the for sale forum as an ebay style shop. The for sale forum is for the sale of your own kit you no longer want.

* Moderator responsibilities/authorities
1 To ensure the above guidelines are adhered to by forum members and that the ‘reputation of the forum’ (see below) is not damaged
2 To move posts to the correct sub forum if they have been posted
3 If necessary remove a post/thread if in the moderators opinion it is unsuitable for any of the forums listed on the GM site
4 To alert GM staff to any issues that they feel they do not have the authority to deal with.

 

[PhilTheFragger]

In the interests of clarity and transparency, below is a list of the various infractions that can be handed out by a moderator to a forum member in breach of the Forum Rules.

Forum infraction list and points. To be read in conjunction with Forum Rules

Forum Etiquette 2 Points , Expires 28 days
Such as Continually posting non golf topics outside of the Out of Bounds area or trying to sell goods outside the for sale section and turning members for sale threads into discussions.

Commercial Activity 3 Points, Expires 45 days
Using The Forum to promote your business or the business of a friend/associate, without prior permission from Golf Monthly.

Inappropriate Language 3 Points, Expires 45 days
This one is quite self explanatory and the most commonly broken of the GM rules.

Insulted Other Member(s) 3 Points, Expires 90 days
This can be a direct insult against 1 individual member or a general blanket insult which is directed towards a group of members.

Breach T&Cs 4 Points, Expires 60 days
Another self explanatory rule, this was in the Terms and Conditions when you first joined The Forum

Multiple ID/Accounts 4 Points, Expires 60 days
Another self Explanatory one, more than 1 account, this can be discovered by any moderator very swiftly.

Defamation/Potential Defamation 6 Points, Expires 90 days
We all know what defamation of character means.

Unacceptable Conduct/Behaviour 6 Points, expires 90 days
This infraction covers many areas, from the posting of explicit photos to starting threads with the sole purpose to start a forum war(Known as Flaming). Including racist and sectarian comments.

Ignoring Previous Advice 8 Points, Expires 12 months
If you have had a previous warning, infraction or been advised of how to follow the rules, then proceed to ignore that advice then this is the infraction you shall receive. It is the most severe infraction as it is deemed that you have had things explained and therefore have no excuses.

The method by which a member becomes Banned is done automatically by the forum software.
once a member reaches a certain number of points they become banned for a specific time period. However if a member receives 5 active infractions at once they become banned for 1 month.

10 Points = 1 week ban
15 Points = 2 week ban
20 Points = 3 week ban
5 Infractions Total = 1 month ban.

So to give you an example, Member A swears in a post and receives a 3 point infraction which will run for 45 days, He also received a PM from a moderator explaining why he has been infracted.
If within the next 45 days he repeats the offence, he will receive an infraction for ignoring previous advice, This carries 8 points and would trigger a 7 day ban, As he has accumulated 10 points or more .
As the 8 point infraction lasts 12 months, any further infractions during this time would trigger further “holidays”

In extreme circumstances it may be necessary to consider a permanent ban, this action is not taken lightly and would be discussed beforehand by the Moderator team, with reference to GM if necessary. However brand new members who join just for the purposes of spamming the Forum are banned immediately