Best practices is a good idea. So long as it is made clear that they aren't actually part of the CoC if you're going to put it in the same thread.

I have had no interaction whatsoever with 4chan. However, unlike myspace, facebook, and twitter, I have not gone out of my way to avoid it.

I just recently found a site ([url]signavatar.com[/url]) that rotates images for signatures and avatars. Any stance of such a thing?

Assuming it's fixed at on a given page (that is, it won't change your sig or avatar unless I press refresh), then only that any rules that are finalized about avatars and/or signatures would apply to all of 'em.

You should make it clear that publicly calling someone a troll when they aren't intending to troll is, in itself, a form of trolling

Several updates to the first post.



These are added. Note that currently, they appear in the advertisement section. So we might consider breaking them out into a new section for "avatar and signature" rules.



This was added to Section Two. Comments welcome to make sure my wording and such is clear.



Dropped the glossary section.



Added a Table of Contents, "back to top" links after each section, and some white-space formatting in some areas.



Added this info into the doc. Again, let me know if it's clear or needs something clarified.

Unless I screwed the pooch and made something above worse, I think we're close. There is an on-going discussion as to whether or not we ought to disclose how many warnings result in a ban and if so of what length, but I don't think that discussion prevents this document from going live. Those details can always be added later, as needed.

So, let's review the above changes and make sure we're good with everything. Let's decide if we need an explicit section on avatar and sig rules, and if so what those rules ought to be. And then we can get this live and move forward.

There has been great, thoughtful contributions from the community on this. Thank you!

Super appreciate the effort you've taken in shepherding this, Fire. I was going to tell you to have a beer, but it seems we don't have drinky smiley. Have a cookie for now , but make sure to have a beer if we get that smiley pulled over here. An great job for everyone who contributed.

I look forward to the IP section going live.

Okay, I apologise for not bringing this up before -it simply didn't occur to me- but regarding non-english in signatures, avatars, etc., would that extend to references? Just as an example, if I had an avatar that was the symbol of the Individual Eleven from the anime Ghost in the Shell, would that result in a warning? And for that matter, if such a thing is allowed, is it worth an written exception in the CoC?



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It may be obvious information, but under Section Five, about open reports and contacting mods, you still may want to add a line in the CoC along the lines of "Moderators for each area are listed at the top of that forum."

Other than those two little quips, I think it's great.



Not an actual issue, but I was wondering if the current forum software forbids users from creating accounts with "GobO_" in the name?

No worries on the delay bringing it up. That's why it's just an open discussion until we're satisfied; and even then we can tweak going forward as needed.

As to this issue: I'm failing to see what that image has to do with the "English language site" rule. You asked if it extended to references, so perhaps there's some reference that maybe I'm going to lose geek cred for not knowing...



Sounds like a good addition. Along with mentioning that they appear at the end of the document as well.



Yes. We actually have to go through some hoops when we add a new staff member to get their name registered.

Thanks for the feedback!

Yes, those account names are blacklisted by the forum software.

There is no English in the image I gave as an example, however in that particular case its a reference from the anime Ghost in the Shell (specifically S.A.C. 2nd GIG). The problem I see is that it's kind of impossible to know whether or not a picture is a reference if you haven't seen the original material (case in point), but with the size and animation limitations on avatars and signatures already as they are, I suppose it doesn't pose too much of an issue?

Maybe I'm just taking the phrasing too hard?

I think perhaps you're taking the phrasing too hard, because even with the extra info I'm still not seeing the issue. (I totally blame the medication for bronchitis!)

That said - if there is a way to tighten up the wording that doesn't involve linguistic gymnastics, I'm very interested in hearing it.

In addition to Luna's issue, I'd like to see about getting the rest of this nailed down so we can roll it out as the active CoC. I'm particularly interested in making sure the IP section becomes the "official" rules of the site - we have every plan to honor them now even before they go live, but having it live makes it a bit more meaningful for some people. So with that in mind, here are the open questions I see (again, in addition to Luna's). Opinions on these, or adding your own open issues, helps get this wrapped.

1) Image size rules for signatures. Currently, the rules for this appear in the "advertising" section. My hunch is we'll be better served by adding a new section for "avatars and signatures" and moving the image size rules there. That allows us to keep the advertising section focused specifically on, well, advertising. It also gives us a clean place to add any future rules around avvies and sigs - for example, if we determine six months from now that we no longer want to allow animated avatars, there would now be an easy place to define that rule. (And it's just an example.) It also gives us a place to put the tech specs in for avatars - at least 20x20 and no more than 120x120.

Thoughts on adding a section for this, and moving the image size rules that appear in the advertising section into this new section?

2) I added a rule about backseat moderation to section 2. I'd very much like to ensure it's clear.

3) I added some definitions to section 5 for stuff like warnings and such. Again, I'd like to ensure it's clear.

4) Any additional formatting that would be useful - for example, linking one section to another and such.

5) And of course, anything else that you notice while reading it is still open for question and discussion.

Thanks, all.

IMO, the image rules should either be in their own section, or in the links (maybe links can be expanded to Links/Signatures/Avatars?) - it seems like those are all related.

For the backseat moderation area, it might be good to throw in another reference to the report button, as to provide the correct action along with what's considered incorrect.

I think the IP section looks great.

In the appendix, you have Stormageddon and Blitz listed as moderating the "Community" section. Since that area is now called the "Goblin Underground" maybe that should be updated as well, to avoid any minor confusion?

Overall, I think it's a very well thought out and detailed CoC.

Just catching up.
Fire, I believe everything would be covered with hotlinked images from copy url's as long as there is a disclaimer in the CoC stating plainly that the poster of the content is the one who is responsible for the content.
It would suck if a cute kitty cat all of the sudden turned into porn but that's a risk that seems reasonable considering the user friendly aspect of the hotlink.
Considering I've had my own .com for 5 or 6 years I've had no problems having a place to have photos to upload so I'm not sure how easy it is for the general public to have photos hosted so this helps ease any issues members may have.
That being said I don't always want to go through the trouble of firing up the file manager and upping a picture that strikes me in the moment so I use the hotlink feature quite a bit myself.

Out of habit I tend to just move everything to my Imgur so that I know that the file will be there as long as I need it, as well as re-size it etc. You can upload from PC or via URL from another site, and its free.

I second the notion of giving the image rules their own section. It will just make it that much clearer.

The rest I haven't re-read, so I can't comment yet. I currently don't feel up to it; I might be back later.

.

Also, a mod removing my signature without warning or explanation, after it had been noted in the past that it broke no rules, should be put in the COC as an example of what not to do as a moderator.

Sometimes we will rule that something is borderline but acceptable, and then after repeated complaints we are forced to revisit the issue, and may go the other way. We want to be consistent and transparent, but we aren't going to make a decision and stick to it forever and ever no matter what happens. Just as it is possible to give someone a warning and then overturn it on appeal, it is also possible to say that something is okay and then later adjust that opinion. Being consistent is good, but being wrong purely in the interests of consistency is not good.

I would also like to point out that your post is factually wrong. You may not have been given advance warning or asked to change it, but you were sent a notice that your signature had been changed as well as a detailed explanation of why. Furthermore, you weren't given any kind of warning.

Third, and perhaps most important, this is a gaming forum. This is not the United States of America or any other government entity. I would never in a million years tell you that you don't have the right to express yourself either verbally or artistically, but this forum is and will always be primarily a gaming forum intended for audiences of all ages, and as such there will be restrictions above and beyond what is acceptable speech in normal society. Your signatures have repeatedly used explicit language with a focus on violence and are generally not appropriate for a gaming forum. This isn't a rated G place, but I do not see what your signature adds to anything beyond deliberately trying to stir the pot, and this includes your current signature as well as previously removed ones. No one else on this forum has ever had a signature removed or edited for any reason.

I can appreciate the desire to express yourself and make a statement, but the code of conduct makes it clear that NSFW content needs to have some kind of justification beyond just being NSFW. For instance, you could have a stream of you playing starcraft where you swear a lot. This would be fine as long as you note it. But a random signature with violent, racist, misogynistic, or sexual overtones that not only doesn't add anything but appears in every single post you make? I feel that is not acceptable. Please also note that NSFW does not only mean you use explicit sexual images, swear words, overt hate speech, or anything like that. Something like "I LIKE TO EAT POOP PLEASE POOP IN MY MOUTH" as your signature is neither hateful, violent, sexual, or anything else specifically outlined by the code of conduct, and it contains no words specifically banned by the word filter. However, it is gross and not appropriate.

And finally, please don't be passive aggressive towards the moderation team. As has been mentioned repeatedly, if you have a problem with any mod action, talk to the mod (which I see you have done,) and then if you aren't satisfied, feel free to escalate the issue to a moderator lead. I would also submit that when your signature is deleted for being inappropriate, replacing it with a signature where someone wipes his butt on his hand and then wipes it on your face and then you punch a woman is not a very good way to get us to listen to you. It is a pretty good way to get an actual warning instead of just an edited signature though.

Can we extend to off site links of users as well (meaning profiles like on facebook or places like okcupid) and I think that should look like this




also the mod squad table needs to be updated to account for recent events

Admin... the last PM i remember getting had to do with my ban tbh, not the sig. Also the newest signature isn't meant to stir any pot. Its just funny. You guys have no sense of humor.