xBhp - Forum Etiquette

[Aryan]

xBhp as a forum has been growing since it's inception. Even after the massive server crash which resulted in the loss of tons of data, we are getting back onto the place where we had perhaps begun from. To ensure that we get quality stuff back here again, we need to follow and lay some ground rules. I am sure you all must have heard about 'forum etiquettes'. It means maintaining a standard of postivie behaviour that is acceptable and considered appropriate.

Forum etiquette can be flexible, according to the subject of the forum, but there are certain standards most people expect others to maintain. Some lines must be drawn for the safety of all posting on the forum.

I am mentioning, below, certain ground rules which should be followed as strictly as possible. This is not just for xBhp, these kind of 'rules' are there in almost every other forum over the net. It's just that, here at xBhp, we have taken everything a little too liniently up until now.

Please do read the below mentioned pointers, and try to implement these for yours and the whole community's good, as a whole:

1. Off Topic Posts - This is perhaps the BIGGEST menace (not the TVS Menace!) looming large over xBhp. A fair and healthy discussion veers off-topic, may be by virtue, by a member's "bait" or even otherwise. Henceforth, please totally refrain from posting any kind of off-topic posts whatsoever. I have also seen members posting a note which says something like "OT" and then posting irrelevant posts/ texts, which is simply unacceptable.

We all know, here at xBhp, that off-topic posts are bound to be there in a forum so large as xBhp. Agreed. But, can't we all keep ourselves limited to the kind of off-topic discussions/posts that we have in a perfectly informative thread/ forum? Why defeat the purpose of the said thread with crappy, unuseable, absolutely uneccessary posts? If each one of us, as an individual take this responsibility of controlling that "urge" (to post OTs), then I am pretty darn sure that xBhp as a forum will surely go a long way in providing knowledge and information to one and all.

2. Usage of Smileys - Now, in the recent past, this is another issue which I wanted to raise. Usage of smileys, on all over the threads have seen a tremendous rise! There are instances (I wouldn't like to quote any in particular, although believe you me, I have a LIST of that too) where members have posted ONLY smileys, followed by just one or two words in a particular post. This, from henceforth, would not be tolerated. Please limit your smiley usage to two or at the maximum three smileys, PER POST. Else, that post would promptly be deleted, and the concerned member would be warned. If, inspite of that warning, he/ she doesn't pay any heed, then infraction ensues after which, the ultimate step would be a permanent ban to the member. The keyword here is "permanent" and NOT for 7-10 odd days, which would perhaps make the member active again after the said period.

Of course the banned member can re-register with xBhp. But if he/ she starts with the smiley thing again, a ban would AGAIN ensue!

3. Consecutive Posts - Another pointer towards making xBhp a better place for one and all, is not to post consecutively. If you somehow forgot to post something just after you posted a post, it's always better to "EDIT" the post and add that relevant information which you seemingly forgot to add. This way the courtesy of the forum remains. So, please avoid double posting and cross posting. Use the "Quote" feature; it is really not as bad as it seems. Trust me!

4. Netiquette: More than your Etiquette, Netiquette is something that we must ALL be aware of. The most important rule of netiquette is, "Think before you post." If what you intend to post will not make a positive contribution to the discussion and be of interest to several readers, do not post it! Just keep mum instead of posting anything and everything under the sun.

5. Be Courteous: Never forget that the person on the other side is human. Always be courteous.

6. PM - Another important thing which I, as an moderator and as a member would like to mention here is use the Private Message feature liberally. Do not post or talk about personal matters, openly in the forum. This does not only makes the post grossly OT, it also breaks the flow of a particular thread.

7. Language - Write in a clear, clean, concise language. Follow standard grammar and spelling rules, and DO NOT use any kind of slang. Please. Also, always stay on-topic. If you want to digress, it's better you take it off-line or to the PM/ IM/ etc. And do not use abusive language in the forum/ thread/ post(s), please. It won't be tolerated.

8. CAPS LOCK - Avoid the use of all CAPITAL LETTERS in posts. If it is absolutely neccessary, then by all means use it, but try and restrict it to, perhaps, a couple of words at a time, or so.

9. New Topic - Whenever you post a "New Topic", try and post it in the correct section. If you are not so sure about the section, then try and post it as close to the forum as possible. Do not just post it anywhere.

10. Lurk Around - The new members who register here, should lurk around in the forum just gauging the general behaviour, rules, etc. of the forum before jumping into any kind of discussion. Lurking is nothing but reading the forum discussions without really participating. The word might sound sinister but it is actually encouraged.

11. Search - Before creating any kind of new threads, please search to see if a similar topic already exists. If it does, then it's always advisable to post your query/ post under that topic.

12. No Piracy Please - Please do not provide any kind of link to any downloadable content that might invoke a moderator to infract/ ban you. These include any link to any movie/song/games/etc. Any kind of linking/ piracy is not allowed on xBhp. If you do however post a link, then be ready to get infracted or banned.


These are just some of the very ground level, basic forum etiquette that I could think of instantly. Let us all follow these simple rules, which would make not only ours but also your job easier. If we post in a relevant way, follow the simple rules, then we all would be the ones to gain from it. I am sure, many of us here are a member(s) of more than one forum. Hence, I don't really need to tell you all what to do and what not to do. I don't want to, believe me.

We, moderators cannot really keep an watch over each and every thread 24/7. It is also the job of us, as members to ensure that what we post, what we share, what we type is relevant to the topic in hand.

Believe me, I don't want to preach anyone on absolutely anything. I hate preaching. But, as a member of xBhp I would request you all to just read through the pointers mentioned above just once, and let us all try and adhere to it as strictly as possible. If we as individuals take care of these pointers, the whole group will benefit from it. Try it!

One last thing - If anyone veers severly OT, or tries to take a perfectly, sane, informative thread OT by ANY means possible, he/ she WILL get it from me, atleast. Period.

P.S: This thread has been made "Sticky" and it is under the "Off-Topic Discussions" forum, so that anyone, any time can come back and have a look at it, for their own sake.


-Aryan

[dcs]

Thanks Aryan for bringing up the issue. I on my part assure you that I will try to stay within the desired guidelines and I expect the rest of my mates to comply with the Etiquettes. Lets keep this wonderful forum a place to interact but within the Boundries. Peace on Earth!
Cheers

[Jukebox]

Hope people follow this!!

[inder.cool]

Whoah thats a big list there Aryan..

Nice initiative though..!! Hope ppl follow it..!!

[BANDHAV]

I dont know about people but i will surely try my level best to follow this.

JB & Inder: Dont worry much about the people, just be the change you wish to see. Period.

[MavericK46]

@Aryan : Aye aye skipper !
A statement to the effect that SMS lingo won't be tolerated oughta be appended to the list dada. Im sure people can post in clear, concise and simple english following the grammatical conventions if they put in the requisite time and effort !

[inder.cool]

Originally Posted by BANDHAV

JB & Inder: Dont worry much about the people, just be the change you wish to see. Period.

Yes sir...i will surely try my level best to implement these points..!!

[Mik]

Nice list Aryan, and timely too !

I have just one concern.
Sometimes in a thread, people (including me) have/do indulge in tongue in cheek humour. They can be classified as OT but keep the discussion alive and make for good reading too

As long as its not abusive/insulting/personal, these should be allowed, IMHO.

[TheRedPill]

Nice initiative Aryan.
The points listed are not new or unknown. These are things that everybody knows but somehow don't follow them while being online.

Originally Posted by Aryan

...........
4. Netiquette: More than your Etiquette, Netiquette is something that we must ALL be aware of. The most important rule of netiquette is, "Think before you post." If what you intend to post will not make a positive contribution to the discussion and be of interest to several readers, do not post it! Just keep mum instead of posting anything and everything under the sun.
............

-Aryan

To add to this. Before submitting your post, just press the "Preview Post" button and read the whole post once and ask yourselves: "Is this post clear enough in conveying what I want to?", "Would this post be constructive or destructive to context of the thread?", "Is this OT?", etc.

[rachitkohli]

@Aryan,.. Nice guidelines.. I think as this should be easily visible to the new members also, should be on a place where its easily noticeable.. may be on the homepage of talkies.!! this guidelines, tutorials, etc.. On a place where it can easily catch the eye of the new/existing member.