14 replies to this topic

[Sumire]

Provisional layout...

I. Keep the spamming down, don’t make the section worse.

II. Don’t flame other members. Report trouble-makers, reacting to their baits usually makes things worse.

III. No inappropriate content.

IV. All the other rules that count for the whole site (no double-accounting, no bumping of inactive old threads, etc.).



Since spam and bad posts are the most frequently mentioned issues in this section, I don’t want to pull down a words limit or something like that. It's a conscience thing really: If you think this post you made is bad or completely unneeded, then it probably is. See if you can't add some more information, like telling us why you brought something up. Don't just post a video, or a picture and a word, and the likes because those are considered spam.
As for how I will proceed, there are only a few things to keep in mind:

• Every club needs a topic/something to be based on. We're not really concerned about what that topic is, as long as you have one and it's forum-appropriate. Threads that don't have anything to talk about will obviously be locked.
• Clubs that have become spammy: The member(s) in question will be warned. Possibly a one-day lock if the case requires it.
• Clubs that have completely lost sight of their original concept and are just random banter now: 1) Those will be locked for a day or more. 2) If there is no improvement, the thread will be locked permanently or alternatively moved to the Games section if they wish so. Some people have suggested a move over staying locked, but I'm still testing to see how this works out.
• Clubs that have turned into chaos for any reason other than spam (like being a flamefest or filled with inappropriate content) will be locked.

Bumping old threads: I don’t feel like this should become a problem if it’s kept within reason and the club leader agrees. There is no issue if the leader of a club no one has posted in for a month or two wants to revive the thread. But of course, those 1-year-old clubs no one posts in anymore should just be left dying.


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So much about the rules, now unto frequent questions and guidelines

• Opening posts: A club usually has a leader and the first post should lay down the organisation of the thread (like members, structure, important information). How you organise yourself is up to you. If you're unsure, feel free to ask or look at the currently active clubs.
• If my topic is Yugioh, do I have to stick with it all the time and can't I talk about anything else? No, you don't need to stick with your original topic at any time, but yes, it should stay somewhat relevant. Discussions come up spontaneously, especially in large threads, and expecting people to only stick with one thing would be silly. Just make sure that the original topic doesn't get overturned by the other stuff and that it still remains the backbone of the club.
• What about general clubs whose main purpose is to meet friends? When they started showing up, it seemed like a decent idea. As long as there are still discussions going on, I don't mind them, but any concept tends to become boring when it's overdone. There are 2 active clubs of that type; see if you can't join one of them before thinking about starting a new one. For reference about what topics are currently the most used, there's the club index.
• My club was locked (or moved), is it gone forever? Unless a mod says so, you can generally start anew and make an improved version of the locked club in Clubs & Organisations, provided that the new version isn't just like the old one. Unless I said you can't, but I don't expect this to happen too often.

This is the general actions I will take, but it's up to debate. If you think of something else, you can bring it up via PM and see if we can sort something out.
Feel free to send any questions if you're unsure about anything.

[Tormented]

Sorry if it's not my place to post, but surely general would be a much better place in stead of games?

Or are you talking about Forum Games? Either way I think general would work better.

[Miror~]

Sorry if it's not my place to post, but surely general would be a much better place in stead of games?

Or are you talking about Forum Games? Either way I think general would work better.

Games section has no post count, which is why spam is removed
Though I agree games isn't the place for a club :/

[Comrade Tentacruel]

Might not be my place to say since I wasn't there when it was moved, but Sugar Cube Corner does indeed still talk about ponies.

[Tormented]

Ah, that would be why then.

Do mods have the power to create new Sub-Forums? Or is that only down to the fool who runs this site?

[Legend Zero]

Or are you talking about Forum Games? Either way I think general would work better.

It really wouldn't though. :/

I say if a Club if to spammy to just lock it. If people want to talk/post in that fashion then they should just have a PM or get MSN.

[Miror~]

Ah, that would be why then.

Do mods have the power to create new Sub-Forums? Or is that only down to the fool who runs this site?

Only admins.

[Sumire]

Games because there's no post count/spam clause or anything.

It's definitely not the best section, but the only one that works that way.
I consider it to be sort of the leftover can on YCM, with the jokes cards thread, profile update and all being there.

Clubs that turned into spamfests would be locked anyway, but this would be the alternative incase people still want to keep up with others.
But it's not set in stone yet and it's only been happening to one club so far, so we'll see.
If anyone has a better suggestion, do want, but this is one way I have thought about that goes with both sides.

And Sugar Cube Corner is full of "one picture", or "a comic strip and a word", or "a video and a word" posts, which is why I moved it.

[Flame Dragon]

Ah, that would be why then.

Do mods have the power to create new Sub-Forums? Or is that only down to the fool who runs this site?

No we do not. Mod power is limited to playing around with members be it banning them, making them damage control, or editing them.

[Tormented]

What tends to happen when you lock something though, is that, people then go onto other clubs,then in turn, turn into spam fests.

[Stone Cold Loki]

Games section has no post count, which is why spam is removed
Though I agree games isn't the place for a club :/

I was actually thinking that C&O could be a sub-forum in Games, cause most clubs go off topic anyway and their sole purpose is to gather and socialize, mostly.

[Comrade Tentacruel]

Since the OP does say "complaints?" I feel I must complain. If the sole purpose of closing spammy clubs is because of some post-count competition, then I question the validity of said closing.

Post count is merely an indication of how little of a life you have, it's not a contest.

[Tormented]

True, but if the reasoning behind the locking is the spamming, why not just warn/ban whoever is responsible rather than just have the trouble of having more spam.

I know your not locking just yet but on the topic of locking.

[Sumire]

I was actually thinking that C&O could be a sub-forum in Games, cause most clubs go off topic anyway and their sole purpose is to gather and socialize, mostly.

If it goes after the majority of the staff team, post count will be turned off one day anyway.

I think you can socialize while still talking about things and keeping some sort of discussion up.
But if that's impossible for some people, I still think C/O can stay as an actual forum rather than a sub-section for Games.

What tends to happen when you lock something though, is that, people then go onto other clubs,then in turn, turn into spam fests.

People who leave a spam trace everywhere they go tend to get a higher warning or ban though.=o

Since the OP does say "complaints?" I feel I must complain. If the sole purpose of closing spammy clubs is because of some post-count competition, then I question the validity of said closing.

Post count is merely an indication of how little of a life you have, it's not a contest.

...How did you get the impression that threads here were being closed because of post count? Or that people's post count was relevant anyway?

I feel like this didn't come across well, but it's basically:
- Member breaks rules --> individual warning/ban
- Club turned messy and it's not about single troublemakers anymore --> Possibility between lock or, if you wish so, keep it going in Games
- If it's terrible and there's nothing to work on anymore, it gets locked and you can't remake it

The move is only offered as a possibility if you absolutely don't want your thread to die, but at least it will be somewhere where spam doesn't matter at all and it won't drag the rest of the section down. The Games section has the sole difference that there's no post count and as such, no spam clause, which is what the main point here is. Of course I'm just as fine with simply locking threads though.

But post count contests or whatever aren't relevant.

[Sumire]

I knew I had forgotten something.=o
Yeah, before the permanent lock/move, you'll be locked for a day or what other time I deem necessary.
That's what will generally happen before the other stuff.

Like I said, it depends on the case and whether it's just one person being a trouble-maker, or several people ganging up, or just no point at all anymore.