Making rules

[ChatBox]

How strict are you when you are making rules? Do you make sure you include everything? Is there things you add that may never happen? Do you just include them so they don't happen?

 

[David]

You should have two. Forum rules and Terms of Service. Forum rules should cover at least post content (including behaviour), graphics (avatar, sig) and advertising. TOS should cover legal matters regarding the forum and what results in what.

 

[ChatBox]

I totally agree but some forums don't really need a TOS. It depends what the genre is about.

 

[David]

TBH, if a forum doesn't have a TOS, then you aren't taking it seriously enough. Your TOS should be detailed and have no flaws, whereas your forum rules cover those above aspects, but can refer to the TOS.

 

[ChatBox]

FP doesn't have a TOS and it's a serious forum. 😉

 

[David]

Since its hosted on HawkHost servers, there TOS should prevail, like so with many forums. BTW, FP may be serious, but it isn't a large forum.

 

[ChatBox]

Well then that part is most likely for hosts but even their hosts would have a TOS.

 

[Raymond]

All of my communities are laid back and meh whatever happens happens, However I do keep some major things in check like no racism ect..

 

[PurpleCrow]

I have rules, but they are kept simple and easy to read. Just about stuff like no personal attacks, nothing NSFW etc. Also mentions no advertising threads 🙂

 

[Joshua Farrell]

Basically, rules should be in place to keep spam, and other unwanted undies from being posted on your forum. A TOS is what is required of someone that helps them know the main stuff that you should probably not post without getting banned.

All forums have a TOS, it is that thing that you have to read when you register. 😛

 

[Sam!]

I try and create my rules to cover the basic things (language, pornography, spam etc), and a little more. I try to create them so people can't find loopholes, too.

 

[golfbunny]

Rules should be fairly lighthearted, succinct, well written, and cover the basics. Here's a great example of a humorous but clear rule from www.flickr.com.

Don’t be creepy.
You know the guy. Don't be that guy.

 

[Black Angel]

My rules are the same rules that I have had since my PB days, nearly 6 years ago. Most were added as things had happened on the board, and others were loosely based on the TOS.

At first glance, I come across as super strict, but if a guest reads around on the forum for a bit before joining, and just observes the way I interact with the members there then they will see that that couldn't be farther from the truth. They will see that I am a very nice, friendly, and very laid back person with a delightfully dry, sarcastic, and horribly inappropriate sense of humor that would make a sailor blush.

Truth be told, I will treat you, as you me, and the members on my forum. If you are courteous, then you will be treated the same. If you act like an a**hole, then you will be treated as one.

 

[DarkRaven]

Having dealt with a fair few annoying trolls in my day, and having taken a few legal classes last year, I've become a huge stickler for well laid out rules that cover everything.

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Many would say that I'm going too far here, but experience would speak to the contrary.

 

[Anonymous]

Rules should be to the point but very easy to read and understand.