Rules and Moderation Policy (Pre 2012)

[sake-bento]

1.) Civility and Criticism
As it's important this forum remains a place to go to, civility is paramount. Even the most diligent user will be asked to leave if they cannot keep a civil tone during their communications.

No flaming, personal attacks, or trolling. Do not make derogatory statements about individuals or groups of people.

We love and encourage constructive criticism, but please direct criticism towards work and ideas, rather than criticizing people. Criticism should be offered with the intent to improve a work. Insults or criticisms meant to tear down a work or person are not acceptable.

As this is a forum filled with creative minds, you're more likely than not going to receive constructive criticism and suggestions on your work. Accept these criticisms, and consider them as you do future work. You don't have to agree with the criticisms, but don't get defensive over someone's well-meaning opinion. In the case that the person is merely being rude or insulting, report the post and move on.


2.) Language
The common language of the forum is English. You are welcome to post in other languages, but please provide an English summary or translation with your post. If you wish to carry on a discussion in another language, you may do so via private message. You can also find a list of dedicated forums in other languages here.


3.) Going Off Topic
Please stay on topic. Your posts should address the topic presented in the thread's original post. We understand that conversations have a natural flow, and that the subject of discussion can change over time, but please avoid hijacking the thread based on a single comment or offhand remark that is only loosely related to the initial topic. If you feel that you need to make or respond to a point that is off-topic for a thread, you may create a new thread with a link or quote from the original.


4.) Pirated Works
Links to warez, pirated games, torrents, or any other illegal means of acquiring software are not allowed. Instructions on how to obtain software illegally are not allowed.


5.) Multiple Accounts
Use of multiple accounts should only be done in conjunction with game-making, or with a total break of forum identity. Using an account primarily to criticize or comment on another person's work is disallowed. Please choose an account name that is reasonably different from existing account names. Only one account should be used per discussion thread. Do not attempt to "out" someone who is using multiple accounts in compliance with these rules.

6.) Respect for Users' Attention

When you post a message, hundreds or thousands of people will read it. Be sure you make good use of your time, by:

• Making sure your post has a point - it answers a question, or supports a position. Simply expressing agreement, disagreement, or picking a choice out of a list generally isn't enough - try to make sure you express what you are thinking.
• Avoiding simply agreeing with other users. If you don't have something new to say, it may not be worth saying anything.
• Using standard English, to the best of your ability. It's disrespectful when a poster avoids capitalization, punctuation, or abbreviates short words (like typing "u" instead of "you").

If you can't spend the time to reason out your post and compose it, you should defer your post until you have more time available.

7.) Private Messages

Private messages are only called "private" because they do not get sent to everyone on the forum, unlike posts. Like email, the people you send PMs to might forward them to others. Administrators may access PMs when investigating user behavior, or during the course of forum maintenance.

8.) Warnings and Moderation
Warnings will be issued to anyone who breaks a rule. Multiple warnings will leead to moderation or banning.


9.) Everything Else
These rules are not all-encompassing, and you will probably be able to find loopholes and technicalities. Warnings may also be issued for disruptive behavior, rudeness, or creative ways of circumventing the rules. These situations will be handled on a case by case basis.

P.S.
To report a post, just click on the handy, red, exclamation point at the bottom right corner of the post.

Update History

2011-12-26, by PyTom

• Clarify the importance of civility.
• Add the section on respect for users' attention.
• Add the section on private messages.
• Add the update history.

[Blue Lemma]

As this has been happening more lately, a reminder of internet forum etiquette (also a rule here): Do not double-post, possibly unless there has been a large gap of time between posts. If you think of something you want to add after you have submitted a post but before anyone has replied, use the "edit" button and add it.

[PyTom]

Signature Length. Signatures should be at most 5 lines high. Space used by pictures comes out of this line height, so signatures with pixtures should be at most 90 pixels high.

Poll-Like Threads. Poll-like threads are open-ended threads that ask a user for their personal opinion, without requiring that they justify that opinion. Poll-like threads are frowned upon on this forum, as they can consume a disproportionate amount of resources, without ever leading to a conclusion.

The forum administration asks that you no longer post poll-like threads on the Lemma Soft Forum. When such a thread is posted, we will change, edit, or lock it as we deem appropriate, to ensure that polls do not take the place of discussion.

Examples of poll-like questions are "What is your favorite color?", or "Should my game be set in North or South Dakota?" In both these cases, there's no right or wrong answer to the question. Questions like "Which of these pictures has better anatomy?" or "What's a good screen resolution for my game?" are allowed, as these questions have answers that people can argue before or against.

Personal details threads are allowed on a case-by-case basis. Generally, we'll allow threads that require a little work to answer, like ones that ask the user to post their picture, and we'll disallow personal details threads where the user is just asked to answer a question (or set of questions), without any effort involved.