Version one, the longer more drawn out version:
LPF’s Rules and Guidelines
Notice:
Linkin Park Forums is a forum funded, founded and run by Linkin Park fans. The staff of LPF would like to welcome you to the community. We also encourage you to participate. Be open-minded to everything that someone else has to say. These are the rules written and discussed by all of the Linkin Park Forum staff. If you have any questions regarding these rules are anything else, please feel free to contact anyone on the staff.
Rules:
1. Respect: A most important issue. . The staff will respect and embrace everyone’s right to agree and disagree with whom they so choose. We also realize that sometimes, after some things are said, there can be some heated discussions that follow, but you are never allowed to be rude/insulting/derogatory. Anything offensive will be deleted as soon as it is read by one of the staff members, also realize as members of the forum you have the ability to report a post, the offender will be given a warning; those who persist will be banned(the amount of time will be discussed by the staff).
In relation to the topic of respect:
What is considered inappropriate? Anything in a post/signature/profile LPF deems inappropriate will be deleted. We do allow so strong language to take place here at LPF, be do not take that for granted, don’t go overboard and drop the f-bomb in every single post, that will be deleted and you will receive a warning. No racial, religious, or sexually inflammatory language will be tolerated.
2. Stay on topic. We don’t allow spam in other topics. In this case spam would be anything that has no relation to the topic at hand. LPF does have a chat, if you want to chat with a friend, go in there, or get each other’s messenger handles. If you go off topic the moderator has the right to remove your post without warning.
3. Don't use the forums as a promotion tool. Links are allowed in your signatures and profiles, but any posts that incorporate commercial advertising, plugs for your Web site/fanfic/fan art/message board/mailing list, unless directly related to the subject matter of the topic, will be immediately deleted. You may use PM, to tell people about your site, IF and only IF they express an interest to you directly. Do not link anything inappropriate in your signature/profile.
4. Don't spam. Spam posts will be removed. If the moderators have reason to believe a user is padding the forum with exceedingly short posts to up his/her post count, that person will be temporarily banned. Persistence after the first banning will result in permanent exclusion from the forums.
In relation to the topic of Spam: What is spam? Spam includes posts that do not contribute a new idea, perspective, or concept to the discussion, and are often made in order to simply increase the member's post count.
5. Language. We realize that there are a few people out there that know other languages, but we ask that you keep all posts in the English language. That also means, be as proper as possible. No, “OMG YOUZZZ R SO HAWT”, this will be corrected, and you will be given a warning. With having people who are not good at English they might not understand this.
6. Sig Size: The maximum sig size allowed at LPF is 500x175 pixels. Moderators have the right to remove any sig size that they see is not in the limits. You will be given this sig as a temporary to you correct the problem: http://www.freewebs.com/lpfstuff/SigReplacement.gif If you persist and keep using an illegal sized sig, you will be banned for 1 day.
7. Read before posting. Use the search tool, make sure there isn’t a current thread going on for something that you would like to post about. Also, read through the thread, no one wants to reread that same thing 20 times. Duplicated/redundant threads will be closed and removed.
8. No bumping threads. This goes hand in hand with reading before posting. Do not bump a 5 month old thread. If it more then 2 months old, you are allowed to create a new thread. You will not be punished for creating a new thread, if the old one is really old. Do not bump!
9. No Double Posting. If you feel the need to say something more in the thread, either edit your post or wait till someone else posts something.
10. Game Section. Anything relating to a forum gave goes in the game section. We also would appreciate if you put birthday threads in this section as well. I don’t want members boosting up their post count by just putting, “Happy Birthday!” in a thread. If you wish to say happy birthday to someone, make a thread in the game section.
11. Leaving and Coming Back. Many people have made threads claiming that they are leaving and never coming back. These kind of posts belong in journals. If you make a thread releating to you leaving the forums or returning to the forums after you said you were leaving it will be deleted. This stuff belongs in your personal journal.
12. Talk to the Mods/Staff if you need something. If you thing someone is spamming up, or being rude, use the report post or PM a mod. That’s their job, and they will not be mean. They are here to better the community and they can only do so much without community input. They more you communicate the better a community the forums will be.
13. Respect decisions made by the staff. We chose our staff very carefully. They will do their best to make the best decision possible, based on their knowledge and the information they have at hand. You must understand, anything the staff decides is their final decision.
14. Site Questions/bugs. If you have a question about the site, or you notice a bug in the forum please post this in the Site Help section of the forum.
15. Welcome Newcomers. You were new once; don’t be rude to the new people. Just because they are new doesn’t mean they are horrible people, so don’t treat they harshly. If they make a mistake, explain it tome them in a nice manner, and tell them what they should have done instead. If you are caught being rude to a new member or any member you will be warned, and if it continues, it will result in some sort of suspension.
16. Links. If you want to share something from another site, don’t just give the link and leave it like that. Leave a summary of the link and explain it, so that people will be interested in it.
17. Spam Posts. There have been some problems in the past with spam bots, people/bots that sign up and only post spam reports. If you see one of these posts please report it. If you post in such a thread and just write “OMG DIE SPAMMER” you will receive a warning, the next time you do it, it will result in a one day suspension.
Policies:
· The staff does not just delete posts because they don’t like this member or that member. If your post got deleted, or you got a warning, it was because you have done something to warrant such an action.
· If you are finding that you are having a tough time getting along with a certain member, you can choose to ignore them, using your Buddy/Ignore List. We will not ban a member just because you don’t like them, so don’t ask.
· The staff does not delete a post just because you don’t agree with it. They only time a staff member will delete a post, is if it has broken on of the rules.
· You are only allowed one account per person. Don’t create multiple accounts. If you are caught, all the accounts will be banned from the site.
Last, but certainly not least:
Have fun, that is what this forum is for, getting to know and talk to new people. Don’t make it a bad experience for people, or yourself.
