Anime Anime Forum Rules (Last Updated 5/13)

[Shy]

[size=1]These forums has grown in popularity recently, and as a result several threads have been created to help clarify the rules. I feel that having one rules thread is enough, so this is being made as the primary rules thread for [b]all Anime Forums.[/b]

[note: These have been paraphrased from previous rules threads, written by many other hard working moderators]

1. Any pics strictly must be in the Artwork Forum, except in appropriate circumstances. This also goes for fanfics in the Stories section. Similarly, Anime RPGs and games must be posted in the specific ?Otaku Arena? forum, except in appropriate circumstances. These circumstances are chosen by OtakuBoards Staff, and not by members.

2. Double-posting is becoming a serious problem, and there is no excuse for it. Any double, triple, or quadruple posts will be deleted instantly, no questions asked.

3. If you have multiple questions regarding an anime, please put them in the same topic rather than create 5 different threads. Everyone is more than willing to use their knowledge to help you, as long as you don?t clutter up the forums by doing so.

4. Don?t ask dumb questions. Nobody knows if Goku is the cutest Saiyan, and why should anyone care if Gallantmon is more powerful than Lilymon? It's a matter of opinion and these types of questions end up with simple and brief responses (a.k.a. SPAM), so don?t bother posting them because they will be deleted.

5. Since many of the members of the anime forums tend to be younger than those in others it is especially important that you double-check every post for spelling and clarity. Nobody can answer your questions if they do not understand them. This is especially annoying if you do it on purpose, like I've seen some people do. Some colloquialisms are allowed, like 'gonna', but most chat room and text speak is inappropriate on a Forum and sometimes difficult to change back to normal English.

6. Don't point out other people's mistakes, especially newbies. This is called 'playing Mod', and it's not your job. The post will also be counted as SPAM along with the offending post, and will be edited if it also makes a valid point, or simply deleted.

7. Please check a forum's sticky topics before posting a thread of your own. Fic Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh deck ratings and advice, Dragonball AF, and Cartoon Network line-ups are all examples of things that have been covered in sticky threads.

8. Flaming, or bashing, is strictly prohibited. Creating a thread such as "I hate Cartoon Network," is ridiculous, and no good discussion can come from it. Stating your opinion is one thing, but trying to emphasize that opinion with exclamation points, poor spelling and an abundance of smileys is against the rules.

9. Favorites threads are generally not allowed, since they lead to short and pointless posts. However, some favorites threads are acceptable if they are well-written and can generate some discussion. The individual moderator decides which threads are, and are not acceptable.

10. Threads about individual video games go in the gaming forum. If a thread is created about an anime-based game then it needs to go in it's apprioriate gaming forum. More general threads such as "The Evolution of Video Games and Anime," might be allowed in Anime Lounge, depending on the judgement of the individual moderator.

11. Links to commercial websites are not allowed under no circumstances. Links to other anime websites are allowed if the site does not hold any information about anime that [b]theotaku.com[/b] does not feature. Posting a link to a competing Dragonball Z site would be against the rules. Threads such as "Where are some good Ranma 1/2 sites?" are not allowed and will be deleted immediately.

12. When making threads in Anime Lounge, be sure to include the name of the series you are talking about in the title. (Example: "Ranma 1/2 - Ryoga Question.)

13. Feel free to PM an anime moderator if you have a question regarding any of these rules.

Thank you for reading the rules. :)

-Shy[/size]

[Heaven's Cloud]

[color=indigo]Sorry to open a thread that you closed Shy, but I wanted to add one more thing to your list of rules, although it isn't really a rule, it is more of a creed that all members should adhere to while visiting the Otakuboard community.

Heaven's Cloud's general motto: Elaboration is a [b]good[/b] thing.

Allow me to explain. Lately the Anime Lounge has been plagued with favorite topics. The first post is usually well written, so I (as well as the other moderators, although I don't want to speak for them) allow them to continue. Unfortunately, there are always those posts that lack any real thought, and it is slowly driving me insane.

Please put a little bit of time and effort in to your post. Not only will it make the conversations better, but it will earn you the respect of your fellow board members.

Thanks for allowing me to rant.

~HC, your friendly neighborhood mod[/color]

[Queen Asuka]

[color=hotpink][size=1]I have something to add as well.

Lately there has been a large collection of Trigun threads. And usually, there is only one thread per series to discuss every aspect in a collective manner. If we merged all the Trigun threads into one, it would be very confusing. BUT, I ask, that from now all, all Trigun threads should try to remain in one collective thread instead of starting new ones everyday. It's beginning to be a lot of the same discussion over and over again. Let's try to keep this orderly.

Thank you.
*QA*[/color][/size]

[James]

[color=#808080]I would also like to add some clarification here, regardling links to sites other than OtakuBoards.

Our rules clearly state that a) members may not create threads specifically to advertise their own site and b) members may not create threads to advertise sites in general.

Having said that, it is appropriate to link to any site you wish within a post if it is relevant. If you're talking about DragonBall Z and you're giving advice, you're free to say something like "go here for more details" and such.

However, if you post a link to a site that is pornographic (or breaks any of our rules in some major way, which is a pretty obvious thing anyway), you are in serious violation and will probably be banned immediately.

I am [i]hoping[/i] to get a fully updated rules put up soon - pending a few other important developments. I understand that it can be frustrating to have rules that are not updated, so I will do my best to work on that quickly.

But still, our current rules are mostly pretty adequate. They outline general things that we expect and they provide quite a few specific examples of what we don't like to see at OB. So as always, [b]read the rules page[/b] if you are unsure about anything. You can find a link to it at the top of the page, regardless of the skin you're using.

Remember; if you do not read the rules, you are running the risk of being banned. Moderators [i]will not accept[/i] ignorance of the rules as an excuse for rule breaking behavior. We expect every member to read the rules when they join, with zero exceptions. Of course, there is some room for flexibility and we'll rarely ban right away. But please keep this advice in mind, especially if you're new here.

It's always worth remembering the way things work at OB. [/color]