House Rules - Please Read Before Posting

1. Post in the right forum

Please find the correct forum for the topic you wish to discuss. Similarly, please use the board’s search function to find relevant threads before starting your own one; this helps us to prevent duplicates and spam.

2. No abusive posts

Abusive posts shall result in punishment which will vary depending on the seriousness of the offence. For more information, please see Rule 12.2.

3. No post-boosting

This is self-explanatory. Do not post spam, superfluous threads, or unnecessary smiley posts. For further information as to the punishments post-boosting will incur, see Rule 12.2.

4. Use common sense

Internet message-boards are often places which contain irreverent, direct humour which can cause offence. However, please try to respect other people’s feelings and beliefs. This does not preclude healthy debate or the ridiculing of stupidity, particularly in The Third Half.

5. Piracy

You are permitted to discuss clients and file sharing as a phenomenon. However, discussion, linking or other publicising of files or sites that index files is forbidden. This will be met with the award of points and a possible ban, depending on the frequency and seriousness of the offence. See Rule 12.2.

6. Sexually explicit content

Breasts are allowed in the appropriate threads, which should be labeled NSFW (Not Safe For Work). Anything beyond that will be punished. See Rule 12.2.

7. Posting Images

Use www.imgur.com to upload your image. This helps to maintain the readability of threads, and it also enables those on slower connections to read the forums easily.

8. Signatures and Avatars

Animated signatures and avatars are prohibited. Avatars must be 120 x 120

Your signature can be one from the following three options:

1. An image with a maximum size of 400x100 pixels
2. 1 Quote which may not exceed one line of 980 pixels width and 3 lines of text below it (this also includes open spaced lines).
3. 5 text lines (including open spaced lines), excluding quotes.

Violation of the rule above will result in a removal of your signature and possibly the removal of your ability to have a signature and avatar.

9. No text talk in posts

The Dugout severely discourages users from the use of l33t or text speech on the forums. We ask users to contribute using English to the best of their ability, and for those who do not know how to paragraph to learn to do so. Exceptions shall be made to those using a Braille keyboard.

10. Aliases and ‘Loan Accounts’

Each user is allowed one account. Any user found to have more than one account on The Dugout will be deemed to have an alias. The alias account will be banned and punishment for the original account will be at the discretion of the staff.

People who are found "loaning" their accounts to other posters will be banned for one month. Persistent offenders will be permanently banned.

11. Use of proxy services

Use of proxy servers as in those of known proxy server sites and hosting companies like layeredtech, ev1servers and others is prohibited. Although we respect your privacy, those we find hiding behind a non-normal proxy server (normal being for example NTL, AOL, BT, etc) will be permanently banned from The Dugout.

12. Warnings, punishments and bans

12.1 Discretionary Bans

Discretionary bans are given out to members who are a continually disruptive and divisive influence. Members who are deemed to fall in this category are given a permanent ban on the agreement of 3 members of staff. (Point of no return ban)

12.2 Points System
Code:
Warning Type Points
===========================

Do not use TXT speech in posts 0
Signature/Avatar Infraction 0
Post boosting 1
Nagging 1
Abusing the tagging system 1
Being an immature arse 1
Insults/useless banter 1
Ignoring Mod/Admin request 2
Posting on Behalf of a Banned User 2
Continually reporting posts 2
Abusing the embedding of videos 2
Offensive behaviour 3
Repetitive use of Text Speak 3
Creating alias account 5
Pirated software 5
Offensive PM's 5
MP3 linking 5
Promoting pirated software 5
Attempting to log in as another user 5
Racist comment 5
Heavy Offensive behaviour 8
Extreme Offensive behaviour 10
Porn (XXX) 10
Alias 10
Permanent Ban 10
2 Day Temporary Ban 10
4 Day Temporary Ban 10
7 Day Temporary Ban 10

12.3 Incremental banning system

Previously, an incremental ban system was in place, whereby each ban earned the user a further week's ban additional to the length of his previous ban.

From now on, a user's first ban (regardless of bans up until this point) will last 1 week. His second will last two weeks. If he receives a third ban within a 12-month period (excluding time spent banned), he will be banned for 1 month and will also be automatically eligible for a permanent ban, at the discretion of the staff.

If no further bans result after the second, the first two will be wiped off after twelve months.

13. Enjoy the forums

The staff here do a very good job in what are often very trying circumstances. Try to make their job easier by respecting them, and the house rules.

However, we are here to help. If you have a problem, please feel free to contact an admin or a mod. If you think the forums can be improved, please post your ideas in the suggestions thread, or contact @phonics