Forum Rules, These rules apply to all Topics and Threads Options

[Guest_Admin_*]

This document is designed to clarify various responsibilities of Forum Members here at TKS Forum.
Please read it and become familiar with it, its terms are retroactive and agreed by team and group members.

(12-16-03) TKS Forum is not responsible for the Authenticity of information posted by its members.
Please make sure you research the facts before taking action on information you have found in the forums.

Forum Policies & Rules
1. Forum rules

a. Posts are to be made in the relevant forum. Users are asked to read the forum descriptions before posting. Users consistently posting to the wrong forum may be given a warning (see policing below).
b. Members should post in a way that is respectful of other users. Flaming or abusing users in any way will not be tolerated and will lead to a warning.
c. Members are asked to not act as "back seat moderators". If members note an issue which contravenes something in this policy document they are welcome to bring it to the attention of a member of the Moderator Team. Members who consistently "act" as moderators may be warned.
d. Members should remember this board is aimed at a general audience. Posting pornographic or generally offensive text, images, links, etc. will not be tolerated and will lead to a Warning or Permanent Ban from the Forums.
e. Members are asked to respect the copyright of other users, sites, media, etc. Users linking to or asking for information on warez, crackz, etc. or re-printing material without permission will receive a warning and their post will be removed.
f. Members should respect the bandwidth of other users and sites. The use of inline ([img][/img]) image tags pointing to data stored on third party systems for which the user has not received permission to link to will be removed.
g. Members should post in a way which is consistent with "normal writing". That is, users should not post excessive numbers of emoticons, large, small or colored text, etc. Similarly users should not SHOUT or use excessive punctuation (e.g. ! and ?) in topic titles or posts. Users consistently abusing this will be warned.
h. Members should use an appropriate, descriptive title when posting a new topic.
i. Members are welcome to use the test forum for general "test purposes". These may include checking signatures, testing a link or image, etc. (subject to previous points on decency, warez, etc.). Users posting in the test forum just to increase their post counts will be warned.
j. Spam of Any Kind is not tolerated here under any circumstance. Users posting spam will be warned and their post removed.
k. Members are asked to not post topics or replies containing information which may detail a security vulnerability issue.
l. The moderating, support and other teams reserve the right to edit or remove any post at any time. The determination of what is construed as indecent, vulgar, spam, etc. as noted in these points is up to Team Members and not users.
m. The above forum rules where applicable also apply to private messaging. Abuse of the private messaging system may lead to warnings (as above) and/or Temporary or Permanent Ban.

2. Signatures

a. Signatures may contain up to five lines (one line being that displayed on a browser opened to 800px width) of text (of small or normal size) and/or one image, valid combinations include; a single image of no more than 60px high, 468px wide and 6KB in size. Signatures containing an image this large may also include one line of small size text. Signatures containing an image of 30px high may include up to three lines of small size text or two lines of normal size text. Images of 15px height or less may allow up to three lines of normal size text or four lines of small size text.
b. Text sizes should be between 9 and 12 (small and normal). Text in signatures is subject to the same conditions as posts with respect decency, warez, emotions, etc.
c. Links are permitted in signatures. Such links may be made to non-TKS material, commercial ventures, etc. Links are included within the text and image limits above. Links to offensive sites will be removed.
d. Users abusing these rules will be warned.

3. Avatars

a. Users are permitted to link to one of their own avatars (subject to previous points on misuse of bandwidth). User defined avatars are to be no larger than 80 pixels square, contain no animation, contain no image which attempts to portray the user as having an official status here (e.g. ranks or copying avatars of team members), Avatars may not exceed 6KB in file size and have a consistently high availability (i.e. links to images on slow servers or those prone to failure may be removed).
b. Avatars are subject to the same conditions as posts with respect decency, etc.
c. Users abusing these rules will be warned and/or may lose their avatar privileges.


4. Policing

a. TKS operates a three strike policy. Users will be warned a maximum of three times for offences. On The Third (3rd) warning a temporary ban will be put in place of between 1 to 7 days.
b. Arguing with any Administrators / Moderators after having received a warning will lead to an immediate additional warning. Should this exceed three strikes a temporary ban will be put in place as above.
c. Users who feel they have been unfairly warned by a Moderator are welcome to contact the Site Administrator, e.g. if warned by a moderator you should contact the Moderator who issued you the warning to resolve the issue. If they feel you were treated badly they may remove a warning. If you feel their decision is also unfair you may contact the Site Administrator. Their decision is final.
d. Any attempt to circumvent a temporary ban will lead to that ban being made permanent. Circumvention includes re-registering under a non-banned username, changing IP addresses to evade an IP ban, registering a new email account of evade an email ban. Circumvention includes posting as an anonymous user.
e. An exception to the three strike rule applies when users contact team members personally (via any method) and post insulting, indecent or vulgar material. Such users will be subject to an immediate permanent ban.
f. Permanent bans are a last resort and thought is given before implementing them. While TKS may consider lifting permanent bans from time to time this is a rare occurrence.



Avatar & Signature Rules

Here are the 'rules' concerning both Avatars and Signatures:

Avatar Images:
1. Must Be 80x80 Max Pixels
2. Cannot Contain Animation
3. Cannot Mimick TKS Rank Images &/Or Administration Avatars
4. Cannot Exceed 6k In File Size
5. Remote Files Must Load In Under 5 Seconds On Any Given Connection

Signatures:
Images:
1. One Image Max.
2. Image Must Be No Wider Than 468 Pixels
3. Image Must Be No Taller Than 60 Pixels
4. Image Cannot Contain Animation
5. Image Cannot Exceed 6k In File Size

Signature Text/Message:

1. Text Lines Must Be 7 Lines Or Under (if small text-size is used) Including Blank Spacer Lines
2. Text Lines Must Be 5 Lines Or Under (if normal text-size is used) Including Blank Spacer Lines
3. Text Lines Cannot Contact Huge Or Tiny Text-Size. That is; between size=9 and size=12, no smaller, no larger.


One (1) notice of violation will be given, and if no action is taken then a physical change by our Administration will take place.

Likewise, the Administration reserves the right to remove any avatar image, and edit/remove any/all Signature info., at any time.


Thank You for adhering to these rules.


These Rules Apply To All Forums

[Theresa]

When registering at the forum, please add some detail in your profile, like what's your Favorite Kite. Otherwise, if blank, it looks like a spam attempt at registration and the new username will not be activated.

Thanks!