[Starcraft]

Summary
1. No profanity, inappropriate material, or content.
2. No illegal content.
3. No harassment.
4. No flaming.
5. No spamming (advertising, bumping, and multi-posting included, see below).
6. Stay on topic.
7. No trolling.
8. No whining.
9. No begging.
10. Account Responsibility - Protect your password; keep it updated.
11. Read and follow staff messages.
12. No backseat/mini-modding.
13. Staff can delete or lock messages at any time.
14. Foreign Languages - not allowed without translation
15. Release of Other User?s Private or Personal Information
16. Other Rules - Listen to the mods. Do not use loopholes. Mods determine what is considered flaming, spam, etc. (more in the section)

- Rules Enforcement
- Ban Evasion
- E-Mail/Private Message
- Staff Have Final Say


Long Version

1, No profanity, inappropriate material, or content.

This is a family friendly site; we have posters of all ages, including children. Do not post links to sites that have content rated more "mature" than PG-13 (Some PG-13 content however, swearing and partial nudity in particular, is prohibited from the boards). Profanity is strictly prohibited. Any material that is pornographic, sexually explicit, visually offensive, derogatory, or discriminates on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, lifestyle, or, any other material (includes nudity and offensive pictures) that may be deemed as objectionable in a public community environment, is strictly prohibited. If you want to post a link in the non-game forum with questionable content, send it to a mod and list all offences it may have and staff will make the final decision. Use of foul language, including swear words, real-world racial slurs, alternate spellings, and other language that is not of appropriate forum nature will be considered a disruption. Any swearing, whether spelled out, placed in an acronym, and/or censored (both self and through the forum), or placed in a graphical image, is prohibited. The mods have a specific list of words, don't try and add more.

2. No illegal content.

This includes linking to any sites that may violate the rules. If you have any doubts whatsoever about the appropriateness of the content you want to post, ask the mods or don't post it. This includes but is not limited to:
- adult-oriented content
- copyright infringement warez, CD keys, cracks, passwords, serial numbers, etc.
- drugs
- hacking materials and information
- terrorism (promotion/carrying it through)
- trojans, viruses, worms, and other such harmful things

3. You must not harass or abuse others.

Harassment is defined as specifically targeting another player or group of players to harm or inconvenience them. As harassment can take many forms, the moderators will make a determination as to whether or not a "reasonable person" would feel harassed and act accordingly. Actions which would be considered abuse include but are not limited to:

3.1. Sexual Abuse or Harassment - untoward and/or unwelcome advances of a graphic and sexual nature.

3.2. Attempting to Defraud - creating false information with the intent of harming another and/or receiving benefits as a result - This includes reporting player misconduct without basis for it or abusing bugs.

3.3. Impersonating a Moderator - falsely representing yourself to another player as a Forum Staff Member (in or outside the site) - this includes using anything restricted to moderators like using official tags and making it seem like a moderator edited something into the thread, implying that you can edit someone's posts, ban someone, etc.

3.4. Personal Abuse - includes but is not limited to sending excessive private messages or e-mails to a moderator or staff member, making physical threats, or using abusive language against a moderator.

3.5. Fellow Users - The above also apply to fellow users of the forum.

3.6. Private messages- Private messages between staff and a player and between players are just that, private. Using a private message from a mod or from any other player without consent is a bannable offence.


4. No flaming (inflammatory speech).

Any speech or inference, direct or indirect, that constitutes a personal attack against another individual is prohibited. Do not insult other users for their ideas/opinions no matter how ridiculous they may be. Snide remarks will not be tolerated.


5. No spamming.

Unsolicited promotion of other web sites, or products, is spam. No advertising your uncle's Avon catalog site, etc. Please keep our forums free of unsolicited advertisement or product promotion. Posting referral/recruitment/trick links is strictly prohibited. Do not create threads on a topic that is already being discussed. Thats why we give you a Aearch button.

Spam also includes the following:
- any posts that serve no purpose and/or fail to contribute to the overall productiveness of a thread (includes off topic posts),
- posts bumping/reviving threads
- double/multiple posting
- posting in all caps and/or other pointless formatting,
- excessive use of smileys
- threads targeted at one person/a few people (use PM, e-mail, or IM instead - If no information is provided, nothing can be done.)
- excessive quoting - quoting the post immediately above you (unless you are relevantly breaking down a post several lines long), quoting a quote, and quote pyramids.
- replying to old topics

This list is not exhaustive. If a mod determines that something is spam, it is spam.


6. Stay on topic.

While Game Thinker respects and appreciates your privilege to free expression, the fact remains that our site is topical in nature. As such the posting of material should remain at all times within a forum that is topically appropriate. It is not, for example, appropriate to role-play in the game discussion forum, nor is it appropriate to post stories (think books, novellas, short stories, etc.) in the general (acting as a character, like your character from a game) forum. Please keep replies and posts topical to the board on which they are posted or they will be removed. Remember to read each the description of each place, the guides, and any pinned (stickied) topics before posting. Do a search if you want to ask a question or start a new thread to make sure that it hasn't been posted before.

Don't change existing thread topics. You should not be changing the topic of an existing thread when you reply. This just serves to confuse people who have been following a thread, and often leads to spam and extra threads. If you have a new topic, you should be creating a new thread on that topic and not "hijacking" an existing thread.


7. No trolling.

In other words, don't post pointless replies to every thread that someone writes, also considered spam. If you don't have anything serious to contribute to the conversation, stay out of it. Please try to keep your replies relevant to the topic you are replying to. If someone is asking about a game, do not start going on about your oddly shaped head or your great thirst for life. Do not post anything intended to provoke someone. Be nice, and make the forums better for everyone.


8. No whining.

Whining is defined as "an attack upon an idea, concept or problem, without offering a counter-idea, alternative concept, or a solution" or anything along the lines of "It's not fair." Any and all whining is strictly prohibited. Ideas are welcome, however, attacking ideas without offering constructive criticism is counter productive.

9. No begging
(coming soon)

10. Account Responsibility

You are fully responsible for your own account and protection of your password. Statements such as "My friend/sister/brother/dog was using my account." are not acceptable as an explanation for the violation of any rule. If you share your account with someone and they break the rules, it will be treated the same as if you broke the rules yourself. It is also your responsibility to keep the account up to date.

Staff of GameThink or Idgamer will never ask for your password.


11. Read and follow staff messages.

If staff or moderators post rules specific to a forum, they must be obeyed. Staff give their own time to keep the forums running smoothly. Failure to comply with their requests is grounds for punishment. If asked by a member of Staff to stop or change a behavior or action, you will do so. It is the job of Staff to keep the forums clean, so don't think that they're "out to get you". Users will find their time on the forum much more enjoyable when they follow the rules and address Staff politely (This does NOT include something that seems polite but is meant to provoke...).
The term "polite" is at the moderator's discretion. An action or statement that you think seems acceptable or inoffensive may offend a moderator who has different views than you.

If you are confused with a Staff member?s decision, or there appears to be a conflict with another rule, bring up your question in a polite and respectable way.


12. No backseat/mini-modding.

This includes demanding that a user delete his/her post and/or getting the thread locked (e.g. Delete your post! This thread should be locked.). Any action where the user attempts to take over for a mod (including any variation of "I'd rate this ___, if I could!" anywhere on a forum without explicit permission may be considered mini-modding.

This is especially true when the user only posts to do so. If someone has posted in a forum where it might be hard to determine what topic belongs there, post with advice addressing the question and suggesting (Note: NOT demanding) that the user post in the appropriately named forum.

Posting in a particularly troublesome thread will likely get you into as much trouble as other users. The best way to take care of rule violations is to report the post. Only report a post the mods once per violation. It is the responsibility of the mods to enforce the rules. Please make sure to report the correct person. Please do not hinder them by addressing them in threads that need moderator action. It only serves to revive the thread and create even more of a hassle.


13. Staff may delete messages at their discretion.

Part of the job of moderators is to keep the boards clean. Messages deemed inappropriate, old, or off topic may be deleted by moderators at any time.


14. Foreign Languages

While we realize that Gamethinker and Idgamer is viewed internationally, the boards are english-only and do not allow any foreign languages, unless a translation is provided.

Additionally, if a Moderator requests that you not use additional foreign language in a thread, it means that they want you to stop, not to disregard the request. This includes any codes or L33t speak.


15. Release of Other User's Information or Communications

It is unacceptable to post another user?s private/personal/public information, including email address, location of residency, contact information, or other information without express permission from that user.

Private messages from the forum or external chat clients, emails, memos, note scribbled on napkins and all other forms of communication are classified as personal and are not to be publicly posted in any shape or form onto these forums, or mailed to other users of these forums, without express permission from all parties involved.


16. Other Rules

If you are told by a moderator to stop, you cannot claim that it was not stated in the rules. It is impossible and impractical to list every rule possible. Attempting to circumvent a rule will result in a more severe warning. That includes deleting a post then reposting an identical or similar version of it. That will be considered both bumping and multiple posting. Also, the determination of things such as begging, flaming, spam, whining, etc. are dependent on the mod, not the users. Any complaints involving attempts to find loop holes in the rules and complaining that it was not explicitly stated in the rules will be ignored.

The forums are not to be used as your own message system.

Threads directed at and/or inquiring about one person or group are not allowed.

Posting for a banned member/allowing that person to use the account is also not allowed and could be considered ban evasion.

People who are temporarily banned then unbanned and return flaunting the unbanning will be banned again. Bans are not a joking matter.

Rules Enforcement

Excuses for not knowing the rules will not be accepted. This includes claims about being a n00b/noob/newb/etc. The rules apply equally to everyone. When any of the above rules are violated or supposed violation occurs, the Staff will, at their sole discretion, determine an appropriate remedy with or without communicating the warnings or results of the remedies taken. This includes but is not limited to verbal warnings, written warnings, temporary forum suspension, and permanent suspension.

In the event that an action is communicated to the transgressing user, the player will have an opportunity to appeal for a review of the decision within thirty (30) days time; otherwise, no such review is applicable. It is the responsibility of the user to stay up-to-date on the rules. To appeal, send your request, formulated in a precise and courteous manner, to the admins AND to the mod who has taken action against you. Make sure you explain in full why you don't agree with the action taken. Simple wining or complaining of staff abuse will be ignored.


Access to this forum and any of its related products is a privilege and not a right! The staff of this community moderates the forum to their best of their ability and at their own discretion. Attacks upon their decisions or non-constructive arguments will be completely ignored. We also reserve the right to update and chage the rules as we see fit.