Rules 1.5

1 - Do not purposefully attempt to undermine or harm the running of an existing RPG. While criticism is perfectly fine, and in many cases assists in catching errors and smooths the running of the game, trolling a game can often harm the game, by convincing other members that fair things are not fair, causing them to join an unnecessary bandwagon and causing the RPG staff to spend time putting out unnecessary fires that they could spend running the RPG. The staff of the RPG in question will decide when something has crossed the line from criticism and become something unhealthy.

2 - Do not intentionally harass another chat member. We all like to joke around, but your victim may deem the joke as insulting and/or as harassment. If a given topic is actually upsetting you, tell the person saying it, as well as a moderator, and appropriate action will be taken.

3 - Abuse of chat privileges, after one warning, will result in kicks and bans of at least 30 minutes.

Rules 2.0

1. Rules of conduct
There's a difference between playful jokes and repetitive harassment and it's no secret that we have a history of the latter. While we'd like to let everyone express themselves as they like in the chat room, certain modes of expression cause way more harm than should be tolerated. These include but are not limited to:
• Complaints of games in progress without first addressing your concerns with the webmaster.
• Trolling of the webmaster/game.
• Repetitive harassment directed at anyone in the chat.

2. Ensuring Equality
Treat others as you would like to be treated. But most importantly, if someone expresses to you in any way that you are harassing them (even if this is not your intent) and they ask you to stop, for goodness sakes just take their word for it and stop.

3. Avenues of Addressing Problems with Moderators
If someone is harassing you and they have not ceded the harassment after you've politely asked them to stop a number of times, seek out the aid of a moderator. The moderator may choose to act either as a mediator (it is up to their discretion), or just simply address the aggressor privately and notify them that if their behaviour doesn't change, they will be reprimanded.


4. Methods of Reprimanding for Infractions
Chat usage is a privilege. If your questionable conduct has been brought to the attention of a chat moderator and they agree that you are stepping over the line, you will at first be given a warning. If the warning is not heeded you will be kicked and banned for 30 minutes. If even this doesn't work, more drastic measures will be taken.


5. Responsibility of Moderators
Being a moderator can be fun and all, but you do seriously have a job to do and are expected not to abuse your mod powers. You are also subject to the same Rules of Conduct and penalties, upon breaking the Rules of Conduct, as anyone else.

• For personal harassment: Do not ban anyone unless a victim has come forward and you've given the aggressor one warning.
• In the case a moderator is the victim they are expected to follow Rule #3 (they can issue the ban themselves or have another moderator do it).
• For game trolling: Left to the moderators discretion. If the moderator isn't sure, they're to get the opinion of the webmaster. In either case, a warning will be issued and will be followed by a ban if the aggressor doesn't stop.
• Repetitive abuse of chat room privileges and/or repetitive abuse of moderation powers will result in the moderator losing their moderation powers.



Rules 3.0: Final (draft)

1.) Senseless Spamming is (at least) a kickable offense.
2.) Constructive criticisms of RPGs is encouraged by staff. Destructive whining, complaining and trolling is not. Staff of the RPG in question will decide when criticism has become unhealthy.
3.) Free speech is very much your right, but repetitive harassment will not be tolerated. (Victims are encouraged to seek out the help of a moderator).
4.) No moderator abuse. Moderators are subject to the same code of conduct as everyone else. Misuse of mod powers will be subject to probation or complete loss of moderator status.
5.) Moderators are encouraged to give one warning before banning. Ban duration is left up to the moderator's discretion.

I am all for having awesome moderators in chat. I also agree that with awesome moderators, we might not need explicit rules. But, our moderators are less-than-perfect and only debatably-awesome. The rules/guidelines we have, that Anastasia has worked so hard to develop with the community, are there to protect chat users from abuse - from moderators and their fellow chatters.

Plus, having defined rules will help new chatters know what kind of behavior is okay and not okay in chat, without it having to be explained to them by the moderators.

The latest, 3.0, seems to draw power away from the rules and put lots of power into the moderator. So I just reason, why not give all the power into the moderator and use their good judgement to good use? Rules or no rules, when a person is kicked or banned, they'll blame the moderator, not the rule.

Honestly, the above quoted reason just makes it much MUCH easier for moderators to handle. It'll help decrease the number of fires that need to be put out in the first place. There is far too much drama going on every day as is. That is the main goal, along with everything else Threid said being secondary goals etc.

It really doesn't hurt to have the general populace know what to do in the case of abuse, or for brand new moderators to have a general guideline to follow.

The biggest drama right now is this rules discussion. We're already done with them. Please post the finalized stuff today or I am going to start shooting kittens.