Forum:De Facto Policies

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So it's basically come to my attention that we have a bit of a problem when there is no Smash Wiki policy, but there probably should be. It also seems that we tend to take wikipedia policies as the de facto policies, at least until a better solution is reached and/or we decide that we don't. Well, I'd like to propose a change to what our de facto policies are/can be. I propose that we use the popular Starcraft website Team Liquid's policies instead. They just seem to be better. Here they are, in all their barren glory. Btw, replace team liquid with SmashWiki (or SmashWikiz); I'm too lazy to do that myself

1. THIS IS OUR HOUSE
You are our guests. We will make all attempts to treat everyone with due respect and to accommodate everyone's wishes as far as reasonably possible. But, this is a private site. We are not a "for profit" enterprise. We are not funded by any governments. This means we run the site the way we see fit. We are not obligated to observe anyone's notions of "free speech" or even "fairness." We try of course, and that's why we're consistently considered one of the best gaming sites on the web, and you are always free to give us suggestions (Website Feedback Forum). But, we have our limits. If we don't like you, we simply IP ban you. If we're really pissed off, then we IP ban you AND nuke every single post you've uploaded to the site - ever. It will be as if you had never existed here. This is our house. You've been warned.

2. THOU SHALL OBSERVE FORUM ETIQUETTE
Common sense, people, common sense. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. (And if you happen to be into masochism, then you're at the wrong site, anyway.)

This doesn't mean you can't get verbally medieval on someone's ass every once in a while. We don't run the place like a monestary. But, flames are generally discouraged and we expect people to have a damn good reason for resorting to harsh language in the forums. This means gratuitous swearing is a no-no. Generic trolling will get you banned. If you must flame, be smart or creative about it, and make sure the flame was warranted to begin with. Generally, you'll never go wrong by being nice, polite and mature. All just common sense, people.

There are also a number of Rules of Posting in our forums. Take the time to observe and learn them. There are way too many to recite here, but the following are a few important examples:

Tasteless jokes at the expense of someone's race, gender, or sexual orientation are not acceptable. Nobody likes to be called a name.

Do not post in ALL CAPS. It sounds like you are screaming.

Post your topics in the appropriate forum. If you can't find a topic you created, it might have been closed (Closed Forum).

Don't be an attention whore and give away the results of games, sporting events, movie endings, etc. in the title of the thread/post. Also, if you're going to reveal stuff in the body of your post, then be decent enough to use the + Show Spoiler +

Don't be a drama queen martyr. TeamLiquid isn't colonial America or Tianamen Square. You do not need to preemptively declare "I'm going to be banned for this..." or "ban me, I don't care." Our Moderators ban for good reasons. If they read someone acting like a martyr, they'll simply treat it as a request to be banned.

Before you create a new thread, make sure to use the search function to make sure there isn't already a thread about the topic.

Only bump old threads if you have something new and significant to add to them.

Use the search function. It's better than Google and it works because whatever questions you may have, chances are we've already discussed it before ad nauseum. Did a search already and you still don't know? Ask politely!

Memes, even TL ones, are annoying. Don't 1a2a3a your way to posting over 9000 memes -- we will ban you. There are plenty of places to go if you want to see posters of people failing at things or a humorous caption appended to a photograph of a cat. TeamLiquid is not one of those places.

3. THOU SHALL THINK BEFORE POSTING
Please, think before you chime in with your opinion on a given post or series of posts. There will usually be some history behind a given exchange in our forums, so take the time to observe what might really be going on and put the conversation into context before you decide who's "right" and who's "wrong." Above all, take into account who is posting - context is everything. Chirping in with your grossly uninformed opinions will only make you look dumb and irritate the heck out of the people who do know what's going on.

Remember, there's a reason why we do things around here. Our Moderators are not power hungry, unreasonable people with agendas against specific users. If they ban someone, there was probably a very good reason for it. If you believe a certain ban was a mistake, you can contact a Mod through PM or in our IRC channel, but please be respectful about it. Do not take things into your own hands by posting "Ban?" or telling users they will be banned. You PM Moderators to let them know about specific posts or threads, but let them handle it after that.

Finally, do not post for the sake of posting. While it is sometimes acceptable to support another person's view point, doing so by adding "+1", or quoting while adding nothing at all, is not an appropriate post.

4. THOU SHALL CONTRIBUTE TO THE SITE
Contribute to the site. Everyone should pitch in. Some people contribute by being helpful when someone posts a question. Some people contribute by writing interesting posts that stimulate discussion or by uploading relevant and useful facts and information. Some people contribute by posting news from the gaming world. Others contribute by providing resources allowing us all to enjoy this game. Still others contribute by simply making everyone laugh. Contribution can take many forms and there's no single prescribed way to go about it. But, like good micro, we know it when we see it. Many contributors will have stars or special icons by their name. It's not a license to do anything they want, but good contributors will always get favorable treatment.

For you this means, when you create a new thread, make sure to include content worth discussing in it. A link or youtube video is not enough. An opening post should set the tone for discussion by being thoughtful and well constructed. We will not hesitate to close threads that don't have enough OP content.

5. THOU SHALL NOT SPAM
Do not spam. Do not spam. Do not spam. Do not spam. Do not spam. Do not spam. Do not spam.

Spam our site and you die. Advertise pyramid schemes (it's been tried before) and you die. Post/link/request illegal stuff (CD keys, warez, serialz, copyrighted materials, actual threats of bodily harm, etc.) and you die. We'd rather ban you than receive a cease and desist letter from some lawyer or anal retentive parents' organization.

This includes non-StarCraft related voting campaigns (vote for my friend in this contest!) or blatant threads asking for homework advice (how do I solve this equation??). TeamLiquid is not your personal army. It is not a substitute for Google or a tool for lazy students. We're here to discuss things and have fun, not for your own selfish needs.

You've been warned.

6. THOU SHALL RESPECT FORUM VETERANS
All other things being equal, we will give preferential treatment to site members who have been with us longer (as reflected in their post count + length of time with us as a registered member). It's a simple recognition of the quality of these people. Longevity and contribution are prized commodities around here. In a similar vein, "known" pro/semi-pro players will also be treated with deference (yes, quite a few hang out here). Don't complain - these guys have earned it.

Remember: we ban little kids all the time because they sign on thinking they can say and do whatever they want to whomever they want right from the get-go - just like they're used to doing at other sites. That attitude won't work here. That's a promise. As far as new users are concerned (i.e. anyone with less than 1000 or so quality posts to their name), this site is Holy Ground. The veterans are the users who've consistently shown respect to the site and to others and that's why they're still here. Show them some respect.

In practice, this policy means a user who has thousands of posts may be able to get away with a few minor transgressions in etiquette with just a warning. If you're at 50 posts and you try the same kind of stunt, then we may just ban you. Harsh? Yes. Unfair? Most definitely. But that's the way life is. Learn to live with it.

This also means you should think twice before calling that guy with 5000+ posts a jackass. If the guy's been with us that long, chances are YOU'RE the one being an idiot. Some battles are just not worth fighting - just move on.

7. ENGLISH IS THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
Ceci est un site anglophone.

Ver sa vennlig a benytt engelsk pa disse sidene.

Engels is de officiele taal van deze site, gaarne geen andere taal gebruiken dan Engels.

영어 전용 사이트입니다. 영어를 사용 해주세요.

このサイトは英語を共通語とするので、サイトへの書き込みは原則として英語でお願いします。

Diese Seite ist offiziell in Englisch gehalten.

Ingles es el lenguaje oficial de este sitio.

Use English, and please make at least a moderate attempt to spell check and type coherently. It doesn't matter how brilliant or insightful your posts are if nobody can understand them.

8. THOU SHALL RESPECT YOUR ID
This means you don't use clones or aliases or any other form of obfuscation of identity (other than the ID you first signed on with). Try any skullduggery with your ID and you get an automatic ban. We can see your IPs in real-time and if we even suspect someone's abusing, we just ban you. So, don't even try it. It's not worth it.

Also, don't use IDs containing weird characters, symbols, smiley faces, geometric shapes or any combination of the same. The last thing we need here are fan club members of the Artist Formerly Known as Prince moving in and setting up shop. Finally, crude and offensive usernames will be banned. Do you really want to be known as LayZeeDick anyway?

In limited circumstances we do allow users to change their IDs later on, but we generally discourage it. It's all about respecting your own name. If you have a legitimate reason for changing IDs (for example, you need to change your clan tag), let us know in the Website Feedback Forum and we'll be happy to accommodate.

A comment about your country of origin. It's all up to you what country you decide to put in your profile - but, why the heck would you want to lie about the country you're from? We've had members think it's "funny" to put "Afghanistan" in their profile for the heck of it. Some even put down nothing. Maybe it may seem cool or different to some. But, to us it's really the farthest thing from "cool" - and it's "different" in the most negative way possible. Users who are juvenile enough to lie to everyone about where they're from don't tend to last very long on our site. If you don't respect your own name and where you are from (or where you happen to be), why should anyone else?

All just common sense.

9. READ THE COMMANDMENTS
Read these Commandments. Pleading ignorance will not get you anywhere. If you just registered, make your first post here!

10. THOU SHALL HAVE FUN
It's a fun site with fun people. Have fun with it. Enjoy it. Make others happy. Be happy. Avoid being negative. We don't expect you to be Pollyanna, but users who are consistently negative will draw the ire of their peers and site staff alike. No one likes people who have nothing but bad things to say all the time. Heed the admonition of Oscar Wilde: some people bring happiness wherever they go, others whenever they go.

I like these policies

Discuss. Semicolon (talk) 05:10, November 3, 2009 (UTC)

Your apparent attitude is appalling.

1. This is a wiki, and as such is more similar to Wikipedia than any forum. Therefore, their policies are most likely more relevant.
2. Most of the "rules" have a Wikipedia equivalent anyway.
3. However, the "rule" about giving more respect to veterans is in direct contradiction of SW:YAV.
4. Similarly, the first "rule" cannot apply, since wikis do not "belong" to anyone and are not "run" by anyone.

To me, posting these "rules" and suggesting we use them (without even bothering to edit them into context) is just plain rude. Yeah, okay, maybe we do need more structured policies for some things. But I'm certain that you're in the distinct minority in terms of copypasting rules from another site. Toomai Glittershine eXemplary Logic 14:35, November 3, 2009 (UTC)

While I can't say that I one hundred percent agree with these policies, some of them do have some merit. I can't say much right now, considering I'm in class, but I will say that we tried "You are Valuable" and it failed. Clarinet Hawk (talk · contributions) 16:39, November 3, 2009 (UTC)

Toomai: "You are valuable." is not the same as "You are of exactly equal importance to all other users, without exception.", and actually, some of the policies are almost directly copy/pasted from other wikis. Also, the Administrators kinda "run" SmashWiki, and we "belong" to Wikia (but that doesn't change the fact that the first rule doesn't apply).

Semi: Firstly, the rules are all about posting in forums, and SmashWiki's an encyclopedia, so they don't really apply. Secondly, as Toomai said, policies from wikis are more likely to be appropriate to SmashWiki than policies from forum websites, as SmashWiki is a wiki, not a forum, so it is run like a wiki, not like a forum. Thirdly, the rules are kinda elitist, and demonstrate an attitude of "I can do what I like, because I'm an Administrator" (or at least, "I should be allowed to do what I like, because I'm an Administrator"). Fourthly, SmashWiki is in no way "private" - if someone has a severe problem with the way SmashWiki is being run by the Administration, they can contact Wikia Staff, who will then take appropriate action. Team Liquid mods may answer to no one, but we answer to Wikia. I don't like these policies - I agree with the spirit of some of them (like, always use good English, and don't troll or swear), but most simply don't apply, and I disagree with most of those that do apply. I'm confused. I normally agree with you and think what you say is sensible, but this leaves me almost lost for words. PenguinofDeath 16:46, November 3, 2009 (UTC)

I think that most of these are directed at forum use. And let's face it, most of the problems we've had have involved forums and/or user talk pages, so I understand how he could see these as being useful, even if they're a bit harsh. Especially true is the part about, as PoD said, "You are valuable." is not the same as "You are of exactly equal importance to all other users, without exception." I'm honestly getting fed up with the users who randomly show up here, contribute nothing of value, demand that some idea they have be implemented, and then YAV gets waved around as to why we have to give their idea a chance. The simple fact of the matter is that people who have been here longer have a better understanding of how things work, so when I defer to their opinion (and yes, this does sometimes include mine) it's perfectly logical and really shouldn't be considered a policy violation. Clarinet Hawk (talk · contributions) 17:04, November 3, 2009 (UTC)

When I brought up YAV, I intended to point to the idea that any user can become an asset given the correct attitude and feedback. I didn't intend to say that experience is irrelevant. Toomai Glittershine eXemplary Logic 18:33, November 3, 2009 (UTC)

Then you are basically agreeing with what is said in those policies. You become an asset through contributing. The difference is that under what Semi put the burden is on you to prove that you are valuable instead of on others to prove that you are not valuable. Personally, I believe that it is each person's responsibility to prove that they are valuable.

I can also say that I absolutely agree with this statement in the above policies: "We are not obligated to observe anyone's notions of 'free speech.'" Clarinet Hawk (talk · contributions) 18:50, November 3, 2009 (UTC)