Site rules announcement (it's lengthy but required reading).

• justincredible

  

  A while ago I started a thread about knocking off the personal attacks in an attempt to get the site "under control" and more inviting to potential members and old members that left because they were sick of sifting through the crap. I did a bad job of actually enforcing it and making sure myself and all of the moderators were all on the same page so it just kinda fizzled out and we all went back to the free for all bitch fest we had been accustomed to. I've reached the point where the site needs to be cleaned up so it can grow or it just needs to be shut down. If we continue to let it go as-is it will no doubt fizzle out in a slow, painful death. I really don't want that to happen so we're going to clean the place up.
  
  I know there will be a few people bitching, comparing us to the huddle, and at this point I don't really care. The vocal minority will not be making the decisions around here. If you can't see the differences between what we're doing here and what they've done/are doing over there you aren't worth the time to argue about it. Having rules and sticking to them isn't a concept unique to them and it seems like more often than not they just make up the rules as they go. Since day 1 we've had the rules laid out (they are in red in the secondary navigation menu up top), we've just done a piss poor job of caring enough to enforce them. For the most part people stick to them but there are a small number of members that tend to break them (at least the personal attacks rule) more often than not.
  
  I created The Basement as a forum where people could still be assholes to one another but limit it to one place where people could stay away from and still have an enjoyable forum experience. Starting now we are going back to that plan and actually sticking with it this time. If you want to be a jerk to someone, take it to the basement. We know there are going to be disagreements in threads outside of the basement, and that is fine, but keep it civil. If you don't feel like you can be an adult about it, start a new thread in the basement and continue the "discussion" there.
  
  We've added two new rules (outside of the basement), as well. Do not follow other members around to harass them. A few examples being the "CC is a pedo" and "LJ is the expert in everything." No agressive trolling meant to derail a thread. An example of this being sleeper's obsession with derailing threads with his anti-religion agenda. We get it.
  
  We aren't making these changes to be power hungry assholes. We are making these changes to hopefully keep this place going for years to come. We're never going to grow if we keep the "free for all" culture and if we're never going to grow what's the point of existing? I think these changes will be welcomed by most members, even a lot of you that have been guilty of breaking the "rules" since the beginning. We're all adults here, we just need to start acting like it.
  
  The following will be the protocol for warnings/bans:
  
  1st offense: a warning.
  2nd offense: a 1 week basement ban.
  3rd offense: a 1 month basement ban.
  4th offense: an indefinite basement ban.
  
  Everyone starts over with a clean slate and we will be using the infraction system to keep track of offenses. When a warning or infraction are given you'll receive notice in the form of a private message. I know most members on the site have never had either so this is just a heads up. Please bear with us for the next few days as we get things in order. Remember, the moderators are volunteers doing this "job" when they have free time.
• justincredible

  

  This thread can be used to discuss the new announcement.
• september63

  

  justincredible;1168939 wrote:This thread can be used to discuss the new announcement.

  
  What new announcement? I didnt have the time to read that novel you posted. J/K
• sleeper

  

  Are moderators going to be subjected to the same rules?
• justincredible

  

  sleeper;1168945 wrote:Are moderators going to be subjected to the same rules?

  Everyone is subject to the rules.
• sleeper

  

  justincredible;1168951 wrote:Everyone is subject to the rules.

  Wonderful.
• Mooney44Cards

  

  Nice. My posts on here have gotten few and far between for this reason. Maybe I'll start posting regularly again.
• justincredible

  

  Mooney44Cards;1168965 wrote:Nice. My posts on here have gotten few and far between for this reason. Maybe I'll start posting regularly again.

  Do it. We've noticed a lot of regulars from the past have left or drastically decreased their posting. No reason to let a small handful of people ruin the site for members that actually bring something of value anymore. I want this place to succeed going forward. That wouldn't happen without this change.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  tl;dr
• justincredible

  

  ernest_t_bass;1168977 wrote:tl;dr

  You read it.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  Going to take some getting used to the basement not being under sports.
• justincredible

  

  Commander of Awesome;1168981 wrote:Going to take some getting used to the basement not being under sports.

  Yeah, but I think the new location will make it easier for people to keep the "crap" where it belongs.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  Will you just move derailed threads to the basement, or delete posts?
  
  How about the power to neg?
• ernest_t_bass

  

  justincredible;1168982 wrote:Yeah, but I think the new location will make it easier for people to keep the "crap" where it belongs.

  
  It was my idea folks.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  justincredible;1168979 wrote:You read it.

  
  reed or red?
• justincredible

  

  ernest_t_bass;1168986 wrote:reed or red?

  Red.
• justincredible

  

  ernest_t_bass;1168983 wrote:Will you just move derailed threads to the basement, or delete posts?
  
  How about the power to neg?

  Derailed threads will be moved and warnings/infractions will be handed out accordingly. Easiest thing to do is NOT DERAIL THREADS. Simple, right?
  
  And I said Wednesday on the negs.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  justincredible;1168988 wrote: And I said Wednesday on the negs.

  
  missed where you said that.
• justincredible

  

  ernest_t_bass;1168989 wrote:missed where you said that.

  sleeper asked a few days ago.
• ernest_t_bass

  

  justincredible;1168990 wrote:sleeper asked a few days ago.

  
  I don't follow him around. Not allowed to.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  justincredible;1168982 wrote:Yeah, but I think the new location will make it easier for people to keep the "crap" where it belongs.

  Oh I agree, not complaining. Old habits.
• justincredible

  

  Commander of Awesome;1168995 wrote:Oh I agree, not complaining. Old habits.

  Heh, I just went to check the basement and I scrolled down to the sports forums. Derp.
• said_aouita

  

  justincredible;1168988 wrote:Easiest thing to do is NOT DERAIL THREADS. Simple, right?
  

  Anyone who believes threads will no longer be derailed, please stand on your head.
• The Equalizer

  

  When it comes to derailing threads, will there be lee way given? I think we all know when people come in to ruin it, but what if during the course of conversation a side discussion branches off?
• justincredible

  

  said_aouita;1168999 wrote:Anyone who believes threads will no longer be derailed, please stand on your head.

  I know it's going to happen. It would just be easier/more enjoyable if it didn't.