Site Rules/Guidelines

The purpose of this post is to express a couple things that everyone should be on the same page about. The date of the last update will be reflected in the title. Members will be expected to be familiar with this post so please do take a look at it when updates are made.

Please observe the following rules/guidelines as a member here:

General Conduct: Admittedly, I'm probably a little more anal about this topic than some. I have very little tolerance for uncalled for disrespect. With that said.. read on. Please treat other members with respect. These forums were put together for Android fans to come together and help each other, collaborate and discuss in a positive way – not bash on someone because you don't like their idea, or because they don't share the same views as you. We are big into the free speech idea here. So you're free to say what you think – but do it in a constructive, positive, 'add to the conversation' kinda way – not the condescending 'I don't like what you're saying so you suck' kinda way. We encourage mature debates – discourage childish arguments.

Also while the search feature on forums is great, and hopefully will be utilized - if someone comes here and asks a question, either answer it or don't. If you're going to suggest the search feature, be polite about it. Nothing irks me more than when I go to a forum, (and use the search!), then ask a question because I want some one-on-one with my problem, and get a simple "Use the search." reply. Suggesting it is encouraged, but don't withhold the answer because they don't.

Please don't make pointless rude/nonconstructive replies. "This thread sucks," etc.

Also - do not take it upon yourself to play Grammar Nazi. If someone's post is literally so bad you cannot understand it, fine - ask them to rephrase. But do not nitpick and ruin threads just to show how high-n-mighty-like you can be.

If staff asks you to end an argument, debate or any sort of dramatic agenda - please do as asked. Staff are here to keep AF focused and on point - if they ask you to stop doing something it is because they have the welfare of AF in mind.

Strong Language: Language is fine to a common sense degree. Say what you gotta say, how ya gotta say it, when it's in a positive or neutral tone. If someone expresses offense to terms you're using, please respect them enough to at the very least NOT respond with “get over it this is the internet blah blah” crap. It IS the internet – but it's also in a forum where you're expected to respect your fellow members. If you're in the midst of a 'friendly' debate – use extra caution when using terms that may cause you to project a certain aura that you hopefully don't desire to have.

Examples:

“Damn, that's the Sheet!” .....That's fine.
“Go **** yourself.” .... That's not fine. Starred out or not. On a couple levels.

Terms to NOT use: There are a few terms I ask you don't use. I'm going to have to space through them here for the purpose of this post, but otherwise they will be filtered. Do not go around them.

One being "g_ay". Don't call something g_ay. Does it bother me? No, I do the same thing, too, in private. I know it's not meant derogatory to that particular lifestyle when *I* use it (again, in private). It's just habit. Does it bother my g_ay brother, who also uses the the term in the same manner? No. But it does bother a lot of people and I'll tell ya, I've worked at a lot of forums out there and there's nothing that gives me a harder time than whether or not it's okay to call something g_ay. So this one's getting nipped in the bud. Keep that, "f_ag", and even "r_etarded" and "s_pazz" outa your posts. As well as obviously offensive things that serve no other real purpose, like "c#nt" - and racial slurs. Also, F_uck has been complained about enough to be added to this list.

Creating Multiple or New Accounts: This is more of a clear-cut rule than the above two guidelines. Creating a second (or more) account on here will most likely get all - including your original - accounts banned. People usually do this for less than desirable purposes, which may include but aren't limited to:

-Have an alter ego to say how they really feel
-Gain numbers in arguments
-Spam
-Just plain create trouble

Deleting your current account and creating a new one to start "fresh" is also not permitted. Staff need your history to make the best decisions, and wiping the slate clean makes fair moderation impossible. If there is a reason other than this that you need to delete/remake an account, please contact me.

Language - Tagalog/English only: Please use Tagalog/English only on MyPhoneA818 Duo Pogi Forum. If you need, you can use a translating service to help with this. This assumes, of course, that you can even read this message!
http://translate.google.com/

Links on first post (or first couple if you're being slick) to your own site: If it's a competing website, not okay. If it's say.. a blog entry you're referring to, or... you're a developer and want to link to your site when you announce an app, that's alright. Bottom line - Don't come here to pimp your site – come here to be a member.

Links to your own site, in general: Toss 'em in your signature, that's fine. Linking when referencing something relevant and stuff is fine too. Just be a contributing member, not a spammer.

Linking to pirated/illegal software: It's a shame I actually have to touch on this. Don't do it. It will be removed and repeat offenses will result in a ban.

Do not post the following, or links to (including but not limited to): Porn, Drugs, Hate, Terrorism, sexism, or anything else you imagine should be listed here. People can do what they want elsewhere, but we're not looking to provide direction to these things.

Infraction System: There is an infraction system in place to help us keep this place clean. I don't want to go into too many details - but just know it is there. So many points you will be marked as 'on probation', and so many more you will lose posting rights for some time. This system is used to help mods keep track of what they as a team are doing, and serve as a history for user behavior.

Username Changes: We will take username change requests on a case-by-case basis. We may or may not allow it - depending. Up till now we have allowed all requests. However if you choose to request it - please make sure you know what you want. To have it changed a second time will take some extra convincing on your part. This is not something we particularly love to do. If you would like your username changed, PM me.

Referral Links: Please limit the use of referral links to within threads designated for such.

Account Deletions: We periodically get requests to delete an account. This was previously not allowed. You now have the following options:

Behavior

Good Eggs: For those of you who are being helpful, contributing nicely, and are respectful to your fellow members – we thank you! We applaud those that resist getting sucked into fights and flame wars and all that stuff. Keep it up! However – please DO report trouble users/posts/threads. This is very very important. We cannot read every thread here, there is just no way – and we rely on the community to to help us weed out the trouble users.

Bad Potatoes: We are initiating an all-but zero-tolerance policy on the "poor behavior" issue. You are encouraged to debate, even if they are heated debates – that is fine.. but do NOT get downright mean to your community-mates. Name calling, being overly condescending, carrying disagreements across threads and starting more fights.. all that kinda stuff has got to stop. Everyone here needs to keep their cool and remember people come here for help and to be a member of the community and don't want to have to sift through flame wars to get the info the need.

Be respectful to everyone. Do not be hateful. Do not flip out if someone disagrees with you or has wrong information. Agree to disagree. Do not hate on “noobs” for having questions. Even if they don't search. Just don't post if you have a problem with it. (Though, the new threads may get merged with an old one. More on that later.)

It's simple, really – be civil to those around you. Save the smart-ass comments for when they are actually and clearly “ha ha funny” and not “damn - that was rude.” If you don't have something constructive or nice to say - don't say it.

Infraction System

The infraction system is now a standard. A certain number of infractions will cause you to be put “on probation”, more will cause you to lose your posting privileges. Or banned. Please do not try to work the system. “Oh okay so I can get x more points between now and Sunday, got it”. None of that.

This system is not our overall solution. It is to supplement what we already do. To help us as a group keep track of what we each are doing. There can and surely will still be bans outside the system.

Be a decent member and civil to those around you and this system won't even effect you.

Last Thing

One last thing guys. Please understand we have a huge slew of posts hitting every minute. We do our best to keep things clean, merge what needs it, etc. If we don't do this things are a huge mess with each new thread you post finding its way to page 2 in 5 minutes in a couple of the forums.

Also understand that everyone makes mistakes. Include the staff here, including me. When mistakes do happen we correct what we can. Sometimes we can't and I apologize for when that happens. We DO NOT like to see embarrassing mistakes happen but every once in a while, with all the actions we take on a daily bases, it happens.

Please remember this is a site you are using for free - don't take for granted the community we are trying to provide. This is costing you nothing. On the flip side - others have lived very meager lives for the past year and a half flipping the (large!) cost of this place while getting it to the point where it can finally start to pay for itself. (Until more traffic grows and more hardware is needed - again.)

Thanks for your time.