Posting Policies
Spam: Do not post comments that aren't relevant to the post topic. This is considered spam. This applies to comments such as "Sony sucks!" in a thread about Sony's release date or something. It is fine to not like (for instance) Sony or Microsoft, but do so in a place where it belongs, and don't annoy the other users with your hate.
Our spam policy includes throwaway posts like just saying "lol", saying "this is gonna get closed. you're gonna get banned" or posting a picture of cat with some text. If you're not contributing to the topic with your post, just keep it to yourself. Save it for Caturday.
Vs. Threads / Pointless Topics: Only create a topic if you think it warrants a discussion. For instance, creating a thread about which comic-book heroine is the hottest, is fun to talk and think about because it's an open idea that many can give their input for. A thread about who has bigger boobs, Wonder Woman vs. Supergirl, does not make sense. There's only two possible answers, and the chance for discussion about a topic like that is pretty slim, so either keep that sort of thing to the off topic section or don't bother posting it.
Flame posts: Don't insult other users with your posts. If User-Y decides to post something you don't agree with, it's not alright to call them an idiot, fag, or other term with the intent of annoying or insulting them. If you want to constructively disagree with what they've said, be our guest, but be civil about it. Flaming or baiting other users will not be tolerated.
Fanboy Topics: If you don't like a particular platform, developer, game, or what have you, that's fine. You're even welcome to make a topic on the forums about it, assuming you can discuss it in a civil and constructive manner. Having a “Halo 3 not for me” topic in which you state WHY you're not really into the Halo games is cool. A block of text about how much “gaylo” 3 sucks is not. (It's an example. Relax)
Duplicate Topics: Please try to use the search function to check and see if a topic has been created for whatever it is you want to discuss already. There's nothing more annoying then the index being swarmed with a dozen threads about the most recent Smash Bros update.
Do not make multiple copies of the same thread. One thread in one area is MORE then enough.
Thread Necromancy: It's always a great idea to post in an existing topic if you have something to contribute. That means that if you find a thread from a year ago, speculating about a game that has already been released, you really can't contribute to the topic, so please don't post in it. Also, bumping up old topics with things like "i agree" or "cool" is just pushing down topics people are actually interested in. If you're not going to further the discussion, then don't post, if you can genuinely further the discussion then feel free to post.
Official Topics: Official topics are not the end all, be all of discussion for a particular topic. They're a quick reference, general discussion, and so forth for the topic at hand. Feel free to make threads outside of an official topic if they warrant it. For example: A brand new 25 minute MGS4 video should probably have its own topic – it's informative, generates a lot of discussion, screens, etc. So what doesn't deserve its own topic if an official thread exists? Anything that really doesn't need to be “announced” to other users. Example: Updates to the Smash Bros website. There's five a week – we're all aware of this, so we don't need a dozen topics five times a week about it.
Karma and Pu Begging: Don't make threads to ask or beg other users for karma or Pu. It's not going to get you anywhere, and we might even take some away because we're mean.
Joke Topics: We honestly don't care if you think Rick Roll or David Hasselhof's crotch is hilarious. No one appreciates being tricked into viewing something of the sort, so don't post it. TF has a proper
joke section, if you have a joke, send it to me and i'll add it there for you.
Rules
If you disagree with the actions of a moderator, send a personal message to me about it. If you, for whatever reason, have access that, email
webmaster@totalformat.com . Do not openly argue with the moderator on the forums – it will not help your stance and it WILL get you banned.
Not knowing a rule is not an acceptable excuse for breaking it. This topic is right here and always has been in some form.
Do not send chain or spam PM messages to other users. This includes asking them to read blogs, thumb up your content, or give you karma or Pu.
If you have been banned permanently, you may return under a new handle. You are however on a very short leash – you've obviously had enough warnings.
If you have been banned temporarily, do not make a new account to circumvent the ban or it will be made permanent.
If your topics keep getting locked, the correct response is to stop making them and consider WHY they're being locked. Not to make more or get angry at us. If you're not sure, feel free to send a mod a pm and ask. We'll be happy to help you out.
You're not a mod, so don't try to be. Seriously, if you see something against the rules, report it and leave it alone. Don't spam threads with "this is gonna be locked" or "you're gonna be banned". If the thread is really that bad, you're just bumping it up to the top above other, more deserving topics.
With that said – don't impersonate a mod or admin. We won't even wait for you to tell us it was a joke. You're just getting banned.
Do not advertise your site, products, skills, or whatever else. We really don't care and the topic will be locked/deleted and you will be banned. A discreet link in a signature is allowed, otherwise, advertising should be done strictly via contacting Detomah.
Keep your thread titles free of cussing, capslock, and an over use of exclamation points. Forum topics appear on the homepage of the site and we'd like to keep it that way.
Please only post in English. That includes not posting in an abundance of l337 speak, as we'll all laugh at you and dismiss you as an idiot.
You are allowed to say whatever you please. Words won't get you in trouble here, their context will. For example "this video is fucking terrible because..." won't get you in trouble. "Fuck you" will.
Do not discuss warez, roms, torrents, or other illegal activities, or where to find those things on the forums. Just don't do it. There's no warnings.
Do not post anything featuring nudity (IE: No genitalia or nipples). If you have a less severe, but still questionable image to post, make it a link and give it a * NSFW * tag.
Do not post concerning another member's karma, Pu, or anything like that. It's that users concern and theirs alone.
If you're not sure where you should post something, put it in general off topic discussion, it can always be moved by a member of the team if they feel another section is more appropriate.
Do not bump threads. Unless you have something to contribute (lol, lmao, cool, etc... is not contributing), don't post.
Racism and prejudice will not be tolerated in any form. If you're not fond of black gay midget jews, go post somewhere else. Anything of the sort is a one way ticket out of the community.
If you need help with some facet of the site or have a suggestion to make, there's a specific area for it
here.
Support, Bugs and Suggestions is not a discussion forum. If a topic is closed, it's because we felt it was sufficiently answered.
One last time: If you have a problem with a moderator or even an admin, contact me. If this option doesn't work, please send an email to
webmaster@totalformat.com . Do not post on the forums.
If you have any questions about these rules, it's always better to ask a mod before you try your luck. We genuinely want to be helpful if you let us.
Reporting and you
TF has a report feature. This feature can be used to alert the moderators to problems.
So, what should you report? Well, anything you feel breaks the above rules. If you see a post, video, or comment that breaks the rules, please do report it and bring it to our attention.
Please don't make reports from inside a guild forum. Those areas are self contained and we can't see anything that goes on in them under normal circumstances.
Please try not to report a users with a message like "troll", "flames a lot", or "called me an asshole". If you have a complaint about a user, find an example of them doing something wrong and report them from there. If it's a problem with messages they're sending you, send a message to an admin about it.
Images and Signatures
You may be using a totally awesome 2560x1600 monitor, but most users aren't, therefore all images posted to the forums will be automatically resized to fit the post table.
If you need to edit an image to comply with the nudity rule (Hello hottest woman thread), just don't post it. It shouldn't be here anyway.
If you're posting several large pictures at once, please consider using links.
Signatures should be no larger then 500 pixels wide and 100 pixels tall. Lines of text count for 20 pixels each, as do blank lines with no text.
Signatures should not exceed a total of 20 kilobytes in size. Anything over that will be removed.
MAX SIG SIZE SAMPLE
FAQ
Is there an average length of time I can be banned for certain things?
There sure is! In the interest of efficiency and sanity, we have a few guidelines we follow when we hand out bans. Times will of course vary case by case and increase for repeat offenses.
- In before the lock/first!: Two hours to one full day.
- Flaming posts: One day on first offense.
- Spamming after a warning: One day.
- Fanboy topics: One day on your first offense. Three days on the second. Forever on the third.
- Breaking the no nudity rule: Three days unless you can realistically convince us it was a slip.
- Arguing with a mod in the forums: However long it takes.
- Posting porn: Forever
- Racist/Prejudiced topics: Forever
- Topics targeting specific users: Forever
- Saying something really dumb: We laugh at you in the super secret underground mod dungeon.
____ Doesn't work! _____ isn't showing up! FIX IT.
Please feel free to post to the Support, Bugs and Suggestions section, PM Detomah, or email webmaster@totalformat about it.
Can I just post random stuff about how my day has been? Or boring things like that?
Only in the general off topic discussion area, that is the only place that will be considered acceptable for such things. There's a reason TF gave you such a good members profile area.
How can I get people to view my blog?
You may advertise it your sig, and trying to make friends who will bring other friends to your members profile.
I hate you guys!
We get that a lot. It's sorta what keeps us going.
Wait, I still have more questions!
Feel free to PM a mod or admin. You may also make a thread in the Support, bugs and suggestions area.
Rules and Guidelines - READ THIS
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