(16 Apr 2009)
Registration Agreement and Forum Rules

You must agree to conditions, stated in the Registration Agreement, when you register for Little Elm Forums. The goal of Little Elm Forums is to provide a community forum environment for all of its members. The rules and decisions are made to protect this goal over all else. By agreeing to these rules, you warrant that you will not post any messages that are obscene, vulgar, sexually-orientated, hateful, threatening, or otherwise violative of any laws.

The owners of Little Elm Forums reserve the right to remove, edit, move or close any thread for any reason. You are permitted to register at most once, with a single name and e-mail address. You can lose your membership for violation of Little Elm Forums rules. If your membership is terminated (banned), you may not reregister.

You must be at least 13 years old to register for Little Elm Forums and to post in the forums.

Registration to this forum is free. We do insist that you abide by the rules and policies detailed below. If you agree to the terms, please check the 'I agree' checkbox and press the 'Register' button below. If you are a registered member and would like to cancel the registration, log into your account, select “Profile”, under the “Your Profile” tab select “Administration”, then click on the “Delete this user” button at the end of the administration options. Once a user is deleted it cannot be restored.

This is a private forum website and by completing a registration or continuing your registration after a modification to these rules is informed to you, you agree to abide with the following terms:

While the administrators and moderators of this forum will attempt to remove or edit any generally objectionable material as quickly as possible, it is impossible to review every message. Therefore you acknowledge that all posts made to these forums express the views and opinions of the author and not the administrators, moderators or webmaster (except for posts by these people) and hence will not be held liable.

You agree not to post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, threatening, sexually-oriented or any other material that may violate any applicable laws. Doing so may lead to you being immediately and permanently banned (and your service provider being informed). The IP address of all posts is recorded to aid in enforcing these conditions. You agree that the webmaster, administrator and moderators of this forum have the right to remove, edit, move or close any topic at any time should they see fit. As a user you agree to any information you have entered above being stored in a database. While this information will not be disclosed to any third party without your consent, the webmaster, administrator and moderators cannot be held responsible for any hacking attempt that may lead to the data being compromised.

Each member is responsible for only his or her own posts. If another member breaks rules, you may ignore them or report the problem to the moderators, but you may not use it as an excuse to break rules yourself.

Privacy Information

We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. This forum system uses cookies to store information on your local computer. These cookies do not contain any of the information you have entered above; they serve only to improve your viewing pleasure. The e-mail address is used only for confirming your registration details and password (and for sending new passwords should you forget your current one).

Warnings and Bannings

Warnings may be issued in a Private Message (if the member has enabled receipt of Private Messages), but the moderators usually can't take the time to send personalized messages for each thread or post they moderate. Warnings may also be sent as automated "infraction" messages, notifying you of a rules violation. If you get a warning, make note of the rules violation and don't repeat it.

If rules violations are more serious, a majority of your posts are rule violations, or you repeatedly violate even minor rules, you may be permanently banned from the forums. If you are banned, we suggest that you find another discussion website with rules that better suit you, since your continued presence would be a detriment to our other forum members.

You can send a message to the moderators/administrators if you have questions about specific cases of moderation. Moderation is not personal; don't make it so. When contacting us about moderation, please identify the posts or threads in question; the moderators deal with many every day. Posting questions/complaints about specific cases of moderation in the forums is frowned upon because they are not relevant to others and we can be more frank communicating in private. If you have general questions about moderation or site policies (not about a specific case), please refer to these rules.

Moderation

The point of moderation is not to limit discussion, promote or suppress points of view, or any other secret agenda. Even though the site is private, we encourage discussion among all members. The goal of moderation is to keep the forums enjoyable and free from problems that detract from the experiences of our users.

If your post was removed, there was a reason for it; review these rules because one of them applies to your post or a previous post (because when a post is removed, posts that quote it or reply to it are often removed as well). If your post was edited, note the reason shown under the post; the moderators write these messages for your benefit.

The moderators understand that anyone can make a mistake now and then, and they are generally forgiving of minor problems. The most common moderator actions are to correct posts or threads, issue reminders or warnings, and answer questions. They make hundreds of judgment calls on behalf of our membership and they strive to treat all members fairly and equally under the forum rules.

Forum discipline is handled privately. We will not reveal your disciplinary dealings with the moderators to other members, even by private request, unless you give us permission. If you ask us why another member was given a time-out or banned, our answer will always be the same: Members are given warnings or are banned for only one reason -- rules violations -- and they always know the reason.

Signature Guidelines

External links in your signature line are allowed if they comply with the guidelines as described below. We reserve the right to remove any external link at any time, for any reason, at their sole discretion, including, but not limited to, external links previously approved.

Please follow these guidelines when creating a signature in your profile:

1. If you have a personal site, feel free to link it with descriptive text. Example: Visit my site to see pictures of my pets.

2. If you are an eligible sponsor, you can link it, but the link text must be the same as the link. No other business information will be allowed in the signature, unless your sponsorship agreement specifically authorizes you to do so. You may link both a site and an email address (see #3). Examples: Acceptable: http://www.thisisbusiness.com Not Acceptable: Click here to go to my business.

3. All emails must be linked using the same text as the linked email address. Examples: Acceptable: widgetguy@thisismybusiness.com Not Acceptable: Click here to contact me.

4. In all cases signatures should be 4 lines or fewer when viewed 800X600 and should be appropriate according to our Terms of Service guidelines.

Posting Guidelines

One of our goals is to promote local businesses as much as we can. We all benefit from keeping our tax dollars in Little Elm. Please follow these guidelines when posting in the Forums as a business owner: Do not start topics or posts about your own business unless you are asking for business advice, relating an anecdote, or asking a general question that would normally be appropriate for the category. If it has nothing to do with the post, specific business information should be left out.

Example:

Acceptable: I'm looking for an accountant who can run the payroll of a small (12 employees) LLC.

Not Acceptable: I need an accountant for my new retail shop in Little Elm, opening in a couple of weeks next to XXXX.

If a member requests information about your products or services, please feel free to give professional advice and helpful general information, industry-specific information, and expected price ranges.

Example:

Original Post: I am considering buying a new grill.

Acceptable Reply: I sell grills, and my advice is to get one with an infrared burner and not pay more than $500, we also recommend natural gas.

You may let the member know that you are available via PM or email, or provide other means for offline communication.

Example:

Original Post: I am considering buying a new grill.

Acceptable Reply: I sell grills. Send me a PM or email me at sales@grillparadise.com.

It is not acceptable to send any unsolicited PMs advertising your business. It is a great idea to join discussions in progress about your business, respond to criticism or praise. All discussions are monitored and members may be asked to take those discussions offline depending on the circumstances. Advertising will not be allowed in the responses.

Example:

Original Post: I got a great deal on a grill from Grill Paradise.

Acceptable Reply: I'm glad we could help, thanks!

Not Acceptable: Hey, I forgot to tell you that we also sell grill covers, if you buy one before Friday you will get a 10% discount.

We encourage users to post both good and bad experiences with local businesses. Sometimes a few members post the same experience over and over to keep their names on the Forums and to get around self-advertising. Frequent "good experiences with a business" posts by the same person(s) that have no additional information or substance may be deleted.

Instantly Bannable Offenses

These can be one-time bannable offenses for which you will not get a warning.

1. Insults. Direct personal insult of another member, i.e., "You are an idiot." and all the variations. Why? Because this isn't grade school. People should be able to discuss or even dispute other's posts without insulting people. And the only purpose of a post like this is to incite other people. You may dispute somebody's opinion, but not attack/flame the person who stated it. There are a lot of other non-direct-personal insults that won't necessary get you banned instantly, but depending on the context/nature may lead to post editing, post deletion, warnings, or time-outs. They include telling people to shut up, or being extremely or repeatedly rude or sarcastic. Bottom line -- don't try to tick off others. Although we do not read Private Messages sent between forum members, the rules for appropriate and inappropriate content apply to them as well.

2. Spam and overposting. Not just being a prolific poster, but posting the same exact post many times, posting multiple pointless posts in the same thread, making numerous posts with no real content, or posting for the purpose of gaining a higher post count. This will get you banned.

3. Pyramid schemes. Little Elm Forums does not condone multi-level marketing schemes (e.g. free items or rewards if you refer X number of people). Members who post referral links to these sites will have their posts/signatures edited and may be subject to banning. New members who post solely for this purpose will be immediately banned.

4. Harassment. Purposely intimidating a particular member, harassing them, sending them rude or unwanted private messages, etc. This includes personal attacks on moderators for doing their jobs.

5. Advertising/soliciting. Using the forums for advertising or for commercial business deals and offers. See the Advertising Rates page if you want to buy advertising at the site. You may not make posts to promote commercial, personal, or not-for-profit websites. Threads will be deleted if their purpose is to advertise, announce, or promote products, services, or organizations, build traffic at other websites, solicit donations, votes, or participants for surveys, contests, or product testing, carry out business activities including employment requests/offers, or other similar purposes that do not benefit our forum community. Memberships created solely for such purposes will be banned.

6. Registration rules. Violation of the rules you agreed to when registering for the site: that you will not post any messages that are obscene, vulgar, sexually-oriented, hateful, threatening, or otherwise violative of any laws.

7. Multiple registration. You may register only one account, and if you were banned or given a temporary forum time-out, you may not reregister. Reinstatement can come only from an administrator.

8. Shared accounts. Accounts are to be used by only one person, and not shared between family members, friends or any other people. Registration is free, so there is no reason not to create a unique account for each person. You are responsible for any posts made with your account.

9. Hoaxes. Purposely misleading other members to their detriment. Giving advice you know to be incorrect or harmful. Sensationalism.

Things Not to Do

These are usually not instantly bannable - but will likely get you edited and/or warned.

1. Useless posts. Do not bother making posts with only one or two words (e.g., LOL) or a smilie, or post simply to have the first reply in a thread. Such posts waste everyone's time and will be deleted. Posts saying "I agree", "+1", "me too", or the equivalent are also routinely removed.

2. Off-topic posts. Off-topic posts will be deleted/edited. If you keep doing it see #5. Threads and posts on controversial political, religious, and social issues are to be limited to the Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum, and made only by those eligible for that forum.

3. Warez/Serials/Keys. Do not post software serial numbers or keys or refer people to specific websites, software, or techniques whose purpose is to break or bypass software licensing methods, distribute cracks, or obtain or use commercial software or media in violation of its license and/or for copyright violation. Do not ask for or give such help.

4. "Trolling". Do not post in order to anger other members or intentionally cause negative reactions. For a given post, this can be a subjective call, but a pattern of such posting or an especially egregious case will get you banned. Basically, don't try to pick fights. Knowingly posting false information is also prohibited.

5. Any ongoing actions that make more work for the moderators and administrators or regularly annoy other members and require moderator action. If banning you is easier than dealing with the problems you are causing, you will be banned.

Minor Problems

1. Chattiness. Use the forums to discuss the topic of the thread, not as a substitute for Instant Messaging.

2. Profanity. The profanity filter is there for a reason. Do not circumvent it by using the language we intend to exclude or disguising those words. If a word is replaced by asterisks when you Preview or Submit a post, you know it's on the list.

3. Thread titles. Use thread titles that indicate the subject of the thread, not generic titles such as "Need help". Moderators may change thread titles that have no specifics, usually by adding something more specific in parentheses.

4. One thread. Do not post a thread more than once. Post a new thread in the proper forum. If the topic is relevant to more than one forum, pick the best fit or most specific forum and post it only once.

5. One post. Do not post multiple messages with the same content. One post in the most appropriate thread is sufficient.

6. Sequential posts. Combine your comments into one post rather than making many consecutive posts to a thread within a short period of time.

7. Avatar and signature content. Avatars and signatures, as well as other profile fields, must comply with all forum rules, including those against profanity, explicit sexual content, and insults against groups or individuals, and cannot be in other ways offensive. Members will be required to change avatars or signatures that are deemed too controversial or that are particularly annoying to other members.

9. Simulated signatures. Signatures must be set in the User Control Panel and not simulated within posts, so that other members can choose whether or not to display them. You may not use automated software such as FoxyTunes Signatunes to insert content into your posts.

10. Bumps. Posts that bring a thread to the top of the New Posts list but add no content to the thread (bumps) are not permitted. This applies not only to posts that say "bump" but to those with the intent to bump, e.g. posts saying "anyone?" or the equivalent.

12. Corrections. There is no need to point out another poster's spelling or grammatical errors unless you think it is causing confusion. Remember that not all members are native English speakers. Communication, not correctness, is our goal. Examples: Don't correct members who spell Mac in all caps or who call the iPod touch an iTouch.

13. Failing to search. If you have a question, it may already have been asked and answered in the forums. If you have an issue to discuss, there may already be a discussion about it. Set a good example by searching for existing threads before starting a new thread. When other people (especially new members) fail to search and start new threads on old topics, don't scold them or make them feel unwelcome. The best way to be helpful is by posting a link to a previous relevant thread.

14. Common sense. In the end, use common sense. When you are about to post messages just to increase your post count, or post something you think is funny at someone else's expense, or just to make the first post in a news thread, think to yourself "Is this annoying?" If the answer is yes, don't do it.

The Other Side

One thing to remember is that moderators are people too. Although we try to choose moderators who are exceptionally level-headed, it is possible to tick them off. This isn't being unfair; it's being human. When members assume "it's personal" or "I'm being singled out" when their posts are moderated, they are usually wrong. Still, we take all complaints seriously. Trying to stir up a public outcry is frowned upon, so let us know your concerns directly.

Sometimes moderators dealing with reported forum posts can be quick to the trigger, as it's hard to see the context of certain posts. We try for consistency in enforcement of the rules, but with multiple moderators we can't be 100% consistent when judgment calls are required.

Admin tends to give the administrators and moderators the benefit of the doubt, especially in situations in which a user has received warnings. If you have a specific argument or issue concerning moderation, submit a Contact form giving details, for review by an administrator. You can appeal administrator decisions by emailing admin at admin@littleelforums.com.

We ask our volunteers to do their best, and they put tremendous effort into helping the site. Still, we rely on checks and balances to avoid moderation problems. The moderators work as a team and know of each other's actions. Administrators review moderation and help establish and interpret site policies. admin oversees them all. If an administrator or moderator has acted mistakenly or inappropriately, we'll correct it. If you've been timed-out or banned by mistake, we will reinstate your account. If your posts or account have been handled in accordance with our rules, policies, and moderation guidelines, moderation decisions will stand.

Reporting Posts

Posts that violate any of the forum rules should be reported to the forum moderators by clicking the Report Post icon of the offending post. You will be given a form in which to describe the problem.

Tips for reporting posts:

1. To report a problem with a thread, report any post in the thread.

2. If you are unsure whether a post should be reported, report it anyway; the moderators will decide whether action needs to be taken.

3. If you are reporting a duplicate thread, please provide a link to the previous thread.

4. You will not receive a reply to a Post Report, but every report is reviewed. If you require a reply, contact a moderator or administrator.

5. After reporting an offending post, avoid replying to it, so you don't give it more exposure or make more work for the moderators.

Thank you to those who report posts needing moderator attention. Your work improves the quality of the forums.

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