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Forum Rules

Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:46 pm
by rickgriffin
Welcome to the Housepets! Forums!

Minor Rules:
  • Do not derail a discussion thread. While it is acceptable to go off-topic for a post or two, it is much less so to overtly change the topic for an extended period.
  • Don't stretch the page. It is completely unnecessary to write a long string of characters uninterrupted by spaces. Similarly, outside comic translations and the Media Median, there is no reason to post images more than 500 pixels wide.
  • If you must resurrect a thread, please don't do so to immediately drive it off topic. Make sure any necromancy is both necessary and relevant.
  • Keep it clean! The profanity filter has lots of words in it. Trying to evade the filter counts against you. To be safe, if you're going to self-censor, completely obliterate the word with asterisks.
  • Make sure to report inappropriate posts. Talking about posts that break the rules does nothing to resolve the situation and may be construed as mini-modding. You can get more information about reporting posts here.
  • No one-word or single-image responses. If you cannot contribute to one conversation, find another to participate in. (This rule does not apply to some forum games.)
  • Please do not double-post. Every post you make has an edit button in the upper-right corner. If you need to add more information to a thread and nobody's posted since you, use that button instead. (This rule does not apply to 'updates' in threads where those are necessary.)
  • Type coherently. Since we communicate entirely through the written word here, we have to be able to understand each other. This means, among other things, no chat speak.
Major Rules:
  • Come as you are. Outside of role playing, there's no reason for you to assume a false persona. Be honest about yourself. It should go without saying that this includes impersonation. This also includes sockpuppeting. Don't create multiple accounts to support a contrarian point of view.
  • Do not evade bans. This is common sense. If you've been banned once, coming back with another account will only get you banned again. If your ban was originally temporary, it will be extended or made permanent.
  • No Flaming. Do not openly attack, insult, belittle, or abuse another poster. You will be warned if this occurs; you will be banned on grounds of harassment if this appears to be chronic.
  • No Mini-Modding. Attempting to call out a rule-breaker by citing the rules is annoying and derails the thread. You will be warned if this occurs. Remember to report any post in violation of the rules so a moderator can handle the problem.
  • No Trolling. Any topic or response purposely intended to incite flames WILL result in a ban. Even if you attempt to have a "serious" conversation, and bend or tiptoe around the board rules as a result, this counts as trolling.
Not for Discussion:
The following items are not appropriate for the board and will result in post deletion and/or thread closure.
  • Current politics, religion, and other potentially controversial issues outside of the context of the comic, especially as far as it pertains to creating an environment in which to flame others for their viewpoints.
  • Drugs or criminal activity, including obtaining mp3s, movies, or computer programs illegally.
  • Shipping IS allowed with the following caveat: No threads specifically about shipping, as they can quickly degenerate into arguing and creepiness. Do not make threads discussing your favorite pairing. It is acceptable to discuss romantic couplings in the current comic thread and the role playing and fan fiction sections in the context of comic discussion, a role playing adventure, fan art, or fan fiction.
  • No solicitation. Do not create a thread or post requesting donations. The boards are not here for you to advertise your products or services and while we can sympathize with those who are down on their luck, you should seek assistance elsewhere.
  • Respect the moderators and their decisions. If you want to know why an action was taken, feel free to PM the moderator with any questions. If their answer doesn't satisfy you (or you think it's unfair), you may ask a global moderator for a second opinion. However, you should not make a big scene in public and disrupt the flow of conversation. Doing so will result in a warning.
  • The rating of this forum is PG-13 at maximum. That means, while it is okay to mention sex, it is not okay to be explicit about it, nor to discuss it in context of specific characters, NOR is it okay to discuss explicit violence in the same manner. Talking about sites that deal with pornography is not allowed, and linking to them will result in a warning. Posting images with explicit sexual or violent content WILL result in a ban.
  • None of the above can be discussed in any capacity on the forum, comment box, or any other board or chat room endorsed and moderated by this forum or a representative of this forum (to the extent they are acting within their capacity as a representative of this site), nor can discussion or arrangement of said activities be advertised within these areas or directly connected with Housepets in any manner.
Being here is a privilege, not a right. Your account may be suspended over matters of instigation (arranging DDoS, troll baiting) against this site and any attempt to use the board as recruitment for any illegal or other activity against the rules of this forum, including creating and advertising for boards, chat rooms, and Web sites solely for the purpose of defaming or subverting the rules of this forum, even if the activity was private or did not occur on the forum itself.

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:09 pm
by Sinder
So then Max can't snort catnip off Grape's chest? :(

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:10 pm
by rickgriffin
Okay technically that's in context of the comic, but yeah, none of that

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:13 pm
by Sinder
Awwwwww...

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:15 pm
by Anonymous_Pyro
I AM CREDIT TO TEAM!

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:16 pm
by Ebly
Now we can be real mini-mods, instead of parading around with what we think the rules are! Thank you, Rick! <3

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:28 pm
by Anonymous_Pyro
Sinder wrote:So then Max can't snort catnip off Grape's chest?
wait what?
looks like i miss something, but im not going to start a discussion

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 10:18 pm
by GameCobra
Awesome to hear, Rick. Really was hoping there would be rules posted eventually.

I'll add some suggestions later on as well when i can =)

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 10:37 pm
by Two_Twig
rickgriffin wrote:Except in the reposting of translated comics, please try not to post any image over 400 pixels wide.
Does that mean I shouldn't post any fan art that's too big? Should I just make a link to all of them? I just want to be sure :?

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 10:52 pm
by Sinder
Two_Twig wrote:
rickgriffin wrote:Except in the reposting of translated comics, please try not to post any image over 400 pixels wide.
Does that mean I shouldn't post any fan art that's too big? Should I just make a link to all of them? I just want to be sure :?
I'm sure fanart is exempt, Rick's just being a doofy furret

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 11:54 pm
by rickgriffin
Well you should either thumbnail it or link to it, preferably.

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:00 am
by Anonymous_Pyro
I don't know about the image rule, seems a little...

unnecessary.

It's not like someone is going to come here and put a 2000 x 1800 repugnant image. (you know what im talking about)
You need to edit that one

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:01 am
by Buckdida
And how do we thumbnail it? I know not how to do this...

I do know that there's some kinda auto image re-sizer for forums out there somewhere...one of the other forums I partake in has it. If you want, I'll see if I can't pester one of the admins there for it...

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:05 am
by valerio
Good thing you put these rules in evidence.

Suggestion:
mark rules sections and lines, like

A) and then
A-1)
A-2)

B) and then
B-1)
B-2)

etc.

Also, I think the 'three strikes and you're out' rule should be applied for minor infractions. It's bound to happen that some of us will violate a minor rule. THAT will give the violator a mark. Three marks and *pop* goes a 1-week ban.

to quote anonymous-pyro, he's absolutely right: the rule should read
'It is forbidden to post ANY Housepets-unrelated image!'. And since fan-art, so far, is staying within the allowed size limits, the 'thumbnail' rule is already authomatically valid for major-size artwork.

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:18 am
by rickgriffin
Anonymous_Pyro wrote:I don't know about the image rule, seems a little...

unnecessary.

It's not like someone is going to come here and put a 2000 x 1800 repugnant image. (you know what im talking about)
You need to edit that one
Actually it's mainly just so that the window doesn't break. I took most of these from the Giant in the Playground forums, mainly just the ones I thought were a good idea.

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:19 am
by rickgriffin
valerio wrote: to quote anonymous-pyro, he's absolutely right: the rule should read
'It is forbidden to post ANY Housepets-unrelated image!'. And since fan-art, so far, is staying within the allowed size limits, the 'thumbnail' rule is already authomatically valid for major-size artwork.
Er, what about image macros, and picture threads in the not-comic forum? And other images?

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:05 am
by Sinder
Most imagehosting services will probably generate their own thumbnails for you to use. Imageshack certainly does, and I'd imagine that Photobucket does as well.

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:16 am
by valerio
Er, what about image macros, and picture threads in the not-comic forum? And other images?
you are right. That line, I had thought for 'the comic' section
then you could keep the original line for the 'not the comic' section AND my suggestion for 'the comic' section

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 4:15 am
by Alex
Awesome, Rick. It's good to see that we have rules now :).
rickgriffin wrote:The rating of this forum is PG-13 at maximum. That means, while it is okay to mention sex, it is not okay to be explicit about it, nor to discuss it in context of specific characters......
I love this rule. And I'd add something more to it. Something like this: "If you exaggerate with the sex discussion, and I end up deleting a lot of posts, this rule will be replaced, and any and all sex discussion is going to be forbidden". You know, just to make sure people don't exaggerate with it.


As for the thumbnails for pictures, you can easily make them yourself. Resize the image in an image-editing program like Paint.NET to be, let's say, 100 pixels wide, and save it as another picture. Once done, upload both the original picture and the thumbnail to an image-hosting site (Photobucket, Imageshack, Tinypic, etc), and post it on the forums in this format:

Code: Select all

[url=*original picture url*][img]*Thumbnail url[/img][/url]
That will generate a 100 pixels wide thumbnail that links to the original picture.
Ebly wrote:Now we can be real mini-mods, instead of parading around with hat we think the rules are! Thank you, Rick! <3
You're not a mod if you don't own a banstick :P.

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 4:20 am
by Ebly
I feel I should point out for other people that "please try not to" is not equivalent to "Rick will kill you in your sleep if you do".
Linking or putting in a thumbnail isn't too hard. I'm ever so sorry if you feel it doesn't have the same 'effect'. :|

In light of Alex's post:
If you want to go through all that boring junk go ahead, but some places like tinypic do automatic thumbnails if you need.
And you can always just link it.


Also, you don't need a banstick to be a mini-mod. <3

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 11:19 am
by Anonymous_Pyro
rickgriffin wrote:Actually it's mainly just so that the window doesn't break. I took most of these from the Giant in the Playground forums, mainly just the ones I thought were a good idea.
What kind of computer do you have...

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 11:26 am
by rickgriffin
I have a laptop, max resolution is 1024, although I also have a secondary screen with a much higher resolution. The thing is that the width of the page should not need to exceed 1000 pixels.

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 11:31 am
by Anonymous_Pyro
rickgriffin wrote:I have a laptop, max resolution is 1024, although I also have a secondary screen with a much higher resolution. The thing is that the width of the page should not need to exceed 1000 pixels.
most of my images are 600 or 800, i guess im not breaking the screen.

but anyways im going to shrink them when i upload.

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:24 pm
by Alex
Rick, I have some new rules suggestions:

1)No inb4, lrn2, lawl, etc. Why having to read posts that could be written by a six-year old in an AIM chat room?
2)No talking about obtaining MP3s! Seriously, we don't need topics about illegal downloading of music that you'd have to pay for.
3)Don't answer a question if you don't know the answer. It isn't helpful at all, and it only makes things more complicated for the user asking it, not to mention the people that have the real answer.
4)Don't backseat moderate, or basically, don't be a mini-mod. This falls into the category of the last minor rule you put up.


These just popped my mind. I'd love to see at least one of these rules put up, especially #1.

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 1:39 pm
by rickgriffin
They are covered but I will clarify in the rules. Also I don't think it's necessary wrong to answer a question you don't know the answer to; after all, some people like to speculate.

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 2:13 pm
by Alex
Well, that is a different story then, if an answer is currently unknown, it's okay to discuss possible answers and guesses, like if Fiddler/Keys is male/female.

Also, I just remembered something very important that should be in the rules: No double posts. By that, I mean do not make a reply... after you just replied. There is an edit button in the upper-right corner of every post you make. Of course, and exception here is if your post is the last in a thread, and the thread dies, but then you remember something that you forgot to mention in your post. Then, you can make another one in order to "bump" the thread.

Maybe take it into consideration? Also, if I'm annoying with these rule suggestions, please tell me right away, so I can stop.

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 2:35 pm
by rickgriffin
It's fine!

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 5:41 pm
by Alex
Also, I have a question: Take a look at this thread. The OP edited one of your comics to make it, let's say, funnier. Are we allowed to do that, but instead of just editing the text, to edit the images, too? Or to replace some images in one comic with images from other comics (All Housepets, of course).

By editing images, I mean stuff like recoloring the characters to resemble other characters (E.g. to recolor Grape to look like Marvin), editing the face expressions, etc.

I'm asking this here, since, well, if you say it's not allowed, you can add it to the rules :).

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 7:09 pm
by rickgriffin
He actually asked me directly, but I am fine with this stuff being posted on the forums.

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 9:59 pm
by Dissension
Alex wrote:Also, I have a question: Take a look at this thread. The OP edited one of your comics to make it, let's say, funnier. Are we allowed to do that, but instead of just editing the text, to edit the images, too? Or to replace some images in one comic with images from other comics (All Housepets, of course).
rickgriffin wrote:He actually asked me directly, but I am fine with this stuff being posted on the forums.

I swear, I'm a good boy! *laughs* I actually waited several months between the time I originally showed those to Rick and when I posted them, making sure to get his permission between the two events. As I told him, I felt a little awkward about it since the artwork was his and in no way at all my responsibility.

Honestly, I thought we always had rules. Shows what I know.

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 11:14 pm
by Ebly
Dissension wrote:
Alex wrote:Also, I have a question: Take a look at this thread. The OP edited one of your comics to make it, let's say, funnier. Are we allowed to do that, but instead of just editing the text, to edit the images, too? Or to replace some images in one comic with images from other comics (All Housepets, of course).
rickgriffin wrote:He actually asked me directly, but I am fine with this stuff being posted on the forums.

I swear, I'm a good boy! *laughs* I actually waited several months between the time I originally showed those to Rick and when I posted them, making sure to get his permission between the two events. As I told him, I felt a little awkward about it since the artwork was his and in no way at all my responsibility.

Honestly, I thought we always had rules. Shows what I know.
More one guideline - don't be a jerk
But that was meant to be temporary anyway. <3
Now we can be a jerk! So long as we don't break any of the other rules. :|

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:21 pm
by Slippery-Q
We have rules now. THIS ISN'T WHAT I HAD IN MIND! :<

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:49 pm
by Anonymous_Pyro
Slippy wrote:We have rules now. THIS ISN'T WHAT I HAD IN MIND! :<
This was my idea, p. cool right?

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 8:31 am
by Flamboyant-Pencil
No lawl? D: BUT BUT ;-; That's like #5 on my list of favourite purposeful misspellings!

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 10:20 pm
by Slippery-Q
I voted Ebly for office.

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 12:29 am
by Ebly
Slippy wrote:I voted Ebly for office.
Which office?

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:54 am
by Slippery-Q
Ebly wrote:
Slippy wrote:I voted Ebly for office.
Which office?
Office office.

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 7:47 pm
by Ebly
Slippy wrote:
Ebly wrote:
Slippy wrote:I voted Ebly for office.
Which office?
Office office.
Which office office? Presidential office? Microsoft office? :| I NEED SPECIFICS HERE

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:29 am
by valerio
mod office, I daresay :?

Re: Forum Rules

Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 1:31 am
by Ebly
valerio wrote:mod office, I daresay :?
You mean there's a vote?
Then I say Sinder!