Read Before You Post: Rules of The BoardLast updated: 07/13/07The rules were created to help regulate board traffic. Please do not let these rules make you believe this place is about to be run by military standards. I like to allow everyone as much freedom as possible to express them selves and to enjoy their time in this community. In theory these rules should help you enjoy your time here, as there should be less spam and repeat topics.
If you have any questions about these Rules and Guidelines send them to the Administrators.
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General Board Rules & Guidelines Behavior When you post you must be courteous and respectful to others. Keep in mind that people of all ages from all countries and parts of the world come to this board. Abusing another user either in the public forum or through private messaging is forbidden here. Derogatory comments, bad language, racist comments, sexist comments, or otherwise hurtful language is also forbidden here.
Violation of any of these may result in a ban with no warning. Treat others as you yourself would like to be treated.
Multiple Accounts You may only create one account here. Within your single account you may edit any settings to fit your needs. If you need to change anything, it can be done within the single account - there is no need to create a whole new account for any reason.
If you have special need that requires a second account, please ask us ahead of time and let us know the reasoning - we are flexible.
Before Posting a New Topic Before posting a new topic make sure that your question hasn't already been answered. Use the search function (located at the top of the page) to look through the threads for your answer. Also pay attention to the Sticky topics, as they may also have your answers. Finally your answer also maybe found in the other areas of mimitchi.com under FAQs. If you don't find the answer you are looking for in those places, please do post a new topic with your question in the appropriate forum and we will be happy to help you out.
Replying to a Topic When replying to a topic make sure that your reply is 1) relevant to the conversation 2) hasn't already been said 3) adheres to the rules posted here 4) does not highjack a topic.
Examples of a bad reply are: “me too” or “ok” or single word responses that don't add value to the thread.
Bumping a Topic Bumping topics are allowed but only on these conditions: 1) you can only bump your topic once a 24 hour period has passed 2) you may only bump your own topic once.
Bumping a topic refers to when a user posts a thread and having not received an answer right away, they will post a reply to their own topic to push their thread to the top of the forum to entice people to respond to their thread.
Staying on Topic This is less of a rule and more of a guideline. It's not always possible for a thread to stay on topic to the original post and many times one subject leads to another (this IS fine). However if the conversation is on topic, another person should avoid coming into the middle of conversation and highjacking the thread all together (unless such a topic change is relevant to the thread). In general when a user clicks into a topic, they expect to read posts about said topic.
Highjacking a topic refers to replying to a topic and changing the topic entirely to a different (unrelated and irrelevant) subject. Example: Person A posts a topic asking how to use the Board Search function. Person B and C reply to the topic and then Person D replies asking how they should post an Avatar. Person D is highjacking the thread and should have posted their topic as a new topic.
Splitting a Topic If you feel a topic should be split and we have not, feel free to PM or email us. This may happen on your topic where more than one subject matter has come up and after so long deserves it's own topic for further conversation.
Replying to Trolls The best way to reply to a troll is to reply with one line -
"The only way to deal with trolls is to limit your reaction to reminding others not to respond to trolls." i.e. simply do not reply or reply by telling others to not feed the troll.
Fighting Flame wars and arguments are not appropriate here. Friendly debates on hot topics can be welcome, so as it does not get out of hand.
Karma Anyone with negative karma who creates a new account to start clean will be banned. You got the negative karma because you deserved it, make it up the right way by creating informative posts. I've been sending private messages to individuals about this as a warning. This is now the official warning.
Anyone with negative karma, even if their post count is above 50, cannot alter other peoples karma. This restriction is released once the person with negative karma reaches 0 karma.
Wannabe Administrators or Moderators Users may not play the roll of an Administrator or Moderator if they are not really an Administrator or Moderator. If another user has broken a rule, send a private message directly to the Administrators or Moderators of the forum.
Misrepresenting Mystic Fortress or mimitchi.com Do not posts threads with titles like "Mystic Fortress Official Poll" or other such topic that is misleading to other users about the origin of the thread.
Regular users, registered or not, do not represent Mystic Fortress and should not use the site name or URL in such matter without prior permission from an Administrator.
An Administrator may do so as they represent mimitchi.com and its interests.
Location to Post Posts are to be made on the relevant section of the board. Please read the board descriptions before posting.
Posting Images Posting images within posts larger then 300x300 is forbidden. If the image you want to post is larger then that, please post a link straight to the image instead.
Language Users should post with ‘normal English’. Posts and New Topics should not be written in ALL CAPS, l33t sp34k/hacker speak or anything similar. Posts should not have excessive formatting, text colors or large amounts of smilies or punctuation.
A Good Title New Topics should be written with descriptive and understandable titles.
Good examples of post titles are: “How to get Mimitchi on Connection” or “Discovered a new trick for the Teen stage” or “What stores can I buy Tamagotchi at?”
Bad examples of post titles are: “Help me!!!” or “Read this please” or “Why me, what do I do?” or “Please answer!!!1”
Sexual Content Sexual content and/or discussion is
not welcome here. Sexual posts or messages will result in immediate and permanent ban. This is a family friendly board.
Illegal ContentContent posted that requests or results in the commission of a crime. This includes the illegal distribution of software. Making a post that violates this rule will result in an immediate and permanent ban.
Spam Advertising Spam is not allowed here. Do not advertise money making schemes, chain letters, illegal software downloads, advertisements or any sort of advertising at all. Do not make entire threads dedicated to advertising your website or updates made at your website, except in the relevant Websites thread. Links to news articles and relevant websites based on board topics is allowed in the appropriate threads.
Sticky Topics Stickys are created to help new users on frequently posted or asked questions. Please read through them and post in them if you are discussing that topic.
Avatars Rules and Usage can be found in another post in the Board Notices
Signatures with Text Signatures can contain up to 300 characters of text in the default text size. This may include a link to your personal or favorite website. It may also include a link to an image.
Signatures with an Image A single image may be used within your signature. An image can be used in your signature as long as it is no taller then 60 pixels and no wider then 300 pixels. Advertisements, scams or money making images with links are not allowed.
Signatures with an Image and Text The Text and Image rules apply with one limitation; when text is used along with an image, the text can be no more then one line (one phrase or short sentence).
Private Messaging PMing is private way to interact with other users. No one can read the contents of these messages except the sender and the receiver. Harassing another user in PM is forbidden. If you are being harassed in private messages be sure to place the user on your ignore list, then report the harassing message and the user name to the Administrators.
Suggestions or Comments If you have any suggestions or comments about these boards, please post them in the Feedback forum. All comments are welcome!
General Usage of the Board The general FAQ is here:
Board HelpA link to this can be found at the top of the forum as well.
How to Issue a complaint If someone is breaking any of the above rules please send a PM to an Administrator.
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Moderator Actions If you break rules, you will be given a reminder in PM how to behave on this board. Excessive offensive behavior will result in an account removal and ban.
How you behave determines the course of action taken.
Administrators and Moderators reserve the right to act accordingly to each individual situation, whether it is listed here or not.
Editing of posts Administrators and Moderators do this with bad language for the most part. We also will change an image into a link if it doesn't adhere to the rules.
Removal of Posts Moderators very rarely remove posts because we like to give people freedom to express themselves here. But there are cases that posts must be removed such cases are: 1) when the post offends many of the other members of the board 2) the poster breaks one or more of the board rules. Moderators will also remove double posts if a user accidentally posts the same post more then once and the user doesn't remove it themselves. Removal is decided on a case by case basis.
Removal of threads Moderators rarely remove threads. It mostly occurs in the case of trolling or repeat posts.
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This Document: Rules and Guidelines This document may or may not be updated in the future. When updates are made, posts will be made in reply to this thread.
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Terminology / Definitions -
Site Admin / Admin / Sysop: Board Administrators. They can do everything and more then Moderators can. They also help with Moderator duties. (Full definition:
Sysop)
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Moderator: Helps maintain the quality of the board and helps prevents abuse (Full definition:
Moderator)
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Regular: a regular poster on the board. Have been members and contributors of the online community for a long period of time. (Full definition:
Regular)
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User / Member: A registered member of the community.
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Newbie: A new comer to the board. (Full definition:
Newbie)
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noob/n00b: A newbie who claims to know a lot about a subject, but really does not. (Full definition:
noob)
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Troll: A user who posts to create arguments among the community members. They also post multiple threads of the same type and try to create controversy. (Full definition:
Troll)
How should you react to a troll? Click the link "Report to Moderator" at the bottom of the post and an email will be sent to the Admins and Moderators of the board.
Replying to the troll will only create further fighting and problems. "Feeding the troll" as it is called - replying to trolling - just makes the troll want to post more and create further havoc on the community - which is what they are posting for in the first place. So the best response is no response and a report to mods.
If you must respond put: "The only way to deal with trolls is to limit your reaction to reminding others not to respond to trolls."
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Avatar: an icon or representation of a user. (Full definition:
Avatar)
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Internet Forum: General/historic information:
Internet forumAnd that about sums it all up. Overall we want you to have a good time, please let us know how we can make that happen!
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask!
Regards,
-Tamagotchi Social Sphere Forum Administrators
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Updates 07/13/07:
Karma can now only be updated when a person obtains 50 posts or more.
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Updates 02/02/07:
Illegal Content: Rule added concerning the posting or requesting of illegal material.
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Updates 01/07/07:
Karma: Disabled karma use for users with negative karma.
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Updates 01/04/07:
Behavior: Added line stating violating behavior may result in ban with no warning.
Karma: Added karma section to warn about multiple accounts to erase Karma.
Multiple Accounts: Added section on this to address the issue.
Splitting a Topic: Added section on this to address the issue.
Trolls Definition: Removed broken link, added how to react to a troll comments.
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