Hello and very welcome to The Ocarina Network!
Before you continue the registration process, the administration of the ocarina network requests all members to follow the guidelines of this forum.
♦ BOARD RULES ♦
♦ 1 - Forum Etiquette
1. - The official language for this forum is English.
Please try to keep that in mind. Even if you're not able to write/speak good English - the users of TON will be delighted to help you. However, try to use proper grammar and spelling.
2. - Discussion and debates are encouraged in this forum. However, please refrain from personal attacks, excessive profanity, and discriminatory comments (gender, race, faith, political, etc.) Violations can be penalized with a suspension or ban.
3. - No multiple accounts permitted.
♦ 1.1. - Respect for the freedom of opinion of TON members regarding businesses ♦
Businesses or members of businesses are not allowed to use the information posted by the members in any way perceived as dubious, unethical, hostile or discourteous in any sense or form. This applies whether the misuse of the information is within the forum, or outside the forum (e.g.: phone calls, emails, etc).
Violation of this rule will be dealt with very seriously by the moderating staff, and can result in temporary suspensions or permanent bans.
The purpose of this rule is to keep TON a comfortable environment where members feel safe and encouraged to express their personal opinions and viewpoints about all aspects of ocarinas, including businesses and their practices.
♦ 2 - Spam and Posting Rules
The administration of The Ocarina Network reserves the rights to remove offensive posts without prior notice.
1. - Spamming or trolling is strictly prohibited. Spamming to increase your post count will result in a post count reset.
2. - Please do not double post or open up identical topics! Unnecessary posts will be deleted/identical topics will be closed.
3. - Make use of the EDIT button. Edit your previous post if you want to add or delete something.
4. - Emote spamming is strictly prohibited. Posts should consist of at least 3 words without emoticons.
5. - Topic drift is unavoidable. However, please make the effort to keep posts as closely related to topic as possible. Multiple irrelevant posts are frowned upon and can be deleted without prior notice.
6. - If you quote somebody, make sure to quote the necessary information only!
7. - You're not allowed to write whole "CAPS LOCK posts".
8. - Threads with titles like "hello!" or "HELP PLZ!" Will be locked. Please chose proper thread titles.
9. - Posting about video game emulators is permitted but posting about ROMs is strictly prohibited.
10. - Reviving Dead Topics:
"revive" a topic means to post on it once it has had no posts for a period of time. This is generally frowned upon if:
- you are reviving your own topics, especially by double-posting.
- you revive a topic which has had no posts in two weeks or more.
11. - Do not try to get around the word filter!
We have a filter in place which recognizes when people use certain words in their posts, and then substitutes them for another word the Administrators have selected. The words normally filtered are swear-words, but occasionally will include terms that are offensive in other ways, or even website addresses.
♦ 2.1: -Posting pictures ♦
You are allowed to post pictures in our forums but you have to take care that they're not conflicting with §1.2!
Posting pictures that contain discriminations regarding gender, race, faith, political, etc. will result in a warning or suspension / banning.
If you post larger pictures, please make use of the spoiler tags.
If you are using a particularly large image, please run it through image editing software first to reduce dimensions and file-size. If the image needs to remain large or would ruin a discussion if the web location became inaccessible, please consider attaching it to the post instead. These options are underneath where you type the body of your post.
♦ 2.2: - The PM System ♦
Do Not Abuse the Personal Message System!
Do not start sending many identical personal messages. This normally occurs when a member joins simply to plug his/her self. If you receive such a PM, or any other sort which you think might break any of the forum rules, forward this to a Moderator or Administrator.
♦ 2.3: -Posting other content ♦
Posting content like sheetmusic from other sites is only tolerable if
1) You have the permission of the author.
2) You mention the source of the file.
♦ 3 - Avatars and Signatures
1. - Users are advised to have an avatar to represent themselves. Other members of TON can recognize you better if you use one.
2. - We have a size restriction for avatars:
Avatars can be up to 128x128 pixels and have a maximum file size of 25KB. Bigger avatars will be resized to 128x128 pixels with the exception of the members of TON staff.
3. - The signature's maximum is 300 characters with the exception of the members of TON staff.
- 3.1: You can add a picture to your signature with a size of 500x200 pixels.
IMPORTANT: The restrictions are due to respect towards 56k and ISDN users and to keep the threads neatly arranged.
Do not use signatures or avatars that conflict with § 1.2!
♦ 4 - Advertising
1. - Advertising is permitted but only restricted to ocarina related matters that will bring benefits to members of The Ocarina Network. (YouTube videos and links to personal sites in signatures are encouraged)
♦ 5 - Links
1. - links to filesharing sites like "RapidShare" are only allowed in special cases and ONLY if they are related to ocarinas and/or music.
NOTE: TON's staff will check the links. If we see that the link's or the content the filesharing site offerers is inappropriate, we'll unlink or remove the link from the post. Inappropriate use of this provision will be penalised with a warning.
2. - NO OTHER links to illegal download sites are permitted. Discussion of illegal activities such as music or software piracy and posting illegally obtained copyrighted materials are strictly prohibited and will be penalized with a warning, ban or, in the case of copyright infringement, a complaint.
Links that harm our terms of use will be removed, consequences are either a suspension or ban.
♦ 6 - Moderators
Moderators are members who have special permissions given out by the administrators.
They are here to preserve the forum's order and to maintain a friendly atmosphere.
Do not insult moderators for being a moderator!
♦ 7 - Warnings
1. - The continuity of a warning is due to the user's behavior.
2. - If you think that a you received a warning without a proper reason, contact a member of TON's staff.
We'll forward the issue to the team and judge if the warning was unjustified.
3. - If we EDIT your posts, you are NOT allowed to remove the Administrator's or Moderator's EDIT note.
Violation will be punished with a warning.
♦ GENERAL FAQ ♦
♦ What do the moderators do?
Moderators can:
- check the IP address of any post
- delete a post
- lock, delete, move, merge or split a topic
- detach signatures from posts
- step in in the event of a public dispute between users.
♦ How do I become a moderator?
All of our moderators have been elected by popular vote among current staff. We don't hold these often, but generally, members are nominated and then a yes/no vote is held by poll. Therefore, to become a moderator, you generally have to be a well-respected and well-liked member and staff will put your name forward. Asking to become one is likely to harm your chances.
♦ What do the Staff Merit Icons stand for?
 - Administrator
 - Moderator
♦ What do the Volunteer Merit Icons stand for?
 - TON xat Chat Moderator
 - Podcaster
 - TON Intern
All volunteers have a teal color code.
This does not effect MOD selections or adds any special status.
♦ What is a Senior Member?
A senior member is a member that has been selected by TON Staff for being an outstanding member of the community.
They will receive this Merit Icon:  and receive a purple color key.
Former staff usually gets the honor of being a senior member.
♦Images
What is too wide: If it stretches the forums.
What is too long: If you have to scroll down more than two message lengths.
What is too large: Rule of thumb is if you cannot attach it, do not post it.
What can I do: Link to it with (appropriate warning of size!)
What is inappropriate: Anything you wouldn't show your 6th grade teacher.
What is annoying: Anything poorly animated, improperly sized, or flashing.
♦Reviving Dead Topics:
Why is this bad: It's annoying to members who have already read it.
I want to thank someone for their help: PM them a thank you.
I have information to add: Feel free to post it.
I have a question: Is it a question that is relevant and others may ask?
If so, then ask it. If not, send a PM.
♦Spam
What is it: Short, off topic, or inane messages / threads.
What makes Chatter not spam: It needs to have a point. Ask yourself ...
1. Does it give information; public or personal.
2. Does it ask for help, opinion, or feedback.
3. Is it something you care a lot about.
4. Is it relevant to you as the creator of the thread.
All rules are relevant from now on for the entire TON website, including the TON xat Chat and are © by The Ocarina Network.
All images and logotypes are © by The Ocarina Network and may not be used without permission.
We hope you respect our guidelines and enjoy your stay here. If you have any questions regarding these guidelines please contact TON's admin and moderator team.
Thank you,
~TON Staff~
LAST UPDATE: 13th Nov. 2008 by DeMaulwurfn |
2:46 PM Nov 18
