Forum Rules and Regulations

Sentience · 14-09-2004, 01:43 PM

UK Sims Forum Guidelines

These forums are a place for Sims players to discuss tips, tactics and techniques for getting the most out of the Sims games. It is also a place for the game developers to gather useful information that helps them make better choices for future Sims titles. To achieve that, we work hard to keep these boards helpful and on-topic.

Failure to follow these guidelines can result in your posts being moved, locked or deleted, and may result in your posting rights being removed.

No swearing

Posts containing profanity, obscenity, insults, personal attacks, accusations or abusive language will be deleted and can result in a warning or suspension.

Using asterisks (*) or other characters to get around the swear filter is still considered profanity, as is using as abbreviations that stand for profanity. Post titles are subject to the same restrictions as post content. Even if the post content is not objectionable, posts can be deleted if the title violates those guidelines. If others have posted in reply, and all the replies feature the same offending title, then the entire thread may be removed.

Racial, religious or sexual slurs may result in immediate banning.

No flaming

This includes any kind of personal attack, flame, targeted harassment or intimidation either by board posts or private messages.

"But he flamed me first!" is NOT an acceptable reason to insult another poster. A flame war is a flame war, and it doesn’t matter who started it. If you have concerns about the treatment you are receiving at the hands of another poster, don’t respond in kind; notify a moderator.

Argue someone’s ideas, not their intelligence; feel free to debate, but don’t take it to a personal level.

Stay on topic

If you’re posting in the Sims 2 forum, don’t start talking about your favourite band - we’ve set up different forums so that all the posts in one area are relevant to specific aspects of the game. If you want to talk about the weather or suchlike, use the Off Topic forum.

No spamming

Spamming includes posting the same post multiple times in a forum, repeatedly posting on the same topic in different threads, or posting the same post in multiple forums.

Multiple posts, whether on the same boards or different boards, will be locked or deleted. Posts made to Real World do not contribute to your post count, however the rules against spamming apply to that area just as they do any other.

No thread bumping

Posting messages with irrelevant content for the sole purpose of keeping certain posts near the top is called "bumping". This causes other posts to scroll off the page faster than they should, and raises forum traffic unnecessarily.

If you think of something you’d like to add to a post after making it we recommend using the Edit Post button instead of making an additional post. Bumping threads can cause threads to be locked, and can result in a warning.

Respect others’ opinions

Many arguments cannot be won, and simply end up scrolling all the other posts off the boards. When disagreements resort to "Since you seem to be slow, let me repeat my points for the tenth time..." then it's a sign that the argument is going nowhere, and the thread will be locked. Agree to disagree.

Reporting Posts

Should you spot a post you feel requires the attention of a moderator or administrator you can report it using the button in the top right-hand corner of the post. Please be aware that while this forum is moderated regularly it may not always be possible to address posts that require moderation immediately, however all “problem” posts will be dealt with.

Abuse of the Report Post system will be subject to the same discipline as abuse of any other system in place on this site.

Personal messages

This message board allows users to send personal messages to one another through an enclosed system. While this means that while no other public user will be able to read the contents of your message all PMs are subject to the same moderation as the rest of the forum.

Sending offensive personal messages to someone through our boards system can be considered harassment or a personal attack, and will be subject to the same discipline as posts made on the regular forums. If you receive a Personal Message and it makes you feel in any way uncomfortable, tell an Admin immediately.

Internet Savvy

We recommend you do not arrange to meet anyone from these forums as people you meet on the internet are not necessarily who they seem. Always consult a parent or guardian if appropriate.

Similarly, personal details (full name, mobile, email address, home address, home phone etc) should not be revealed to anyone.

If you are in any doubt, contact an Admin.

Signature Graphics, Avatars, Links, and Screenshots

Signature pictures must be kept under 50K in file size, and be no larger than 450 x 120 pixels (similar to a banner ad). Avatars must also be kept under 50K in file size and 85x85 pixels.

Using the .jpg or .gif format for screenshots, rather than the .bmp format, helps reduce the file size, as does limiting animation.

All files and content linked to from the boards are subject to the same content guidelines as those posted directly on the boards.

You are welcome to post screenshots or other pictures within posts, however these should be posted as links rather than full size images which stretch the forum and slow page loading.

Hotlinking Graphics

If you use an avatar, signature or graphic that is stored on an external site, please make sure you have the site owners' permission to use it here before doing so.

Multiple Accounts

Each user of these forums is permitted one account only. Multiple accounts belonging to a single user will be removed. Users who create secondary accounts to get around a temporary ban will be banned permanently.

Name Changes

The username you chose to register with for this forum gives you access to all other EA login sites worldwide. As such username changes are not possible, and we are unable to act on any change requests we receive.

Languages

As this is the official site for the UK, we require that all posts made to these boards be in English only.

Moderators

Any volunteer moderators (either currently or in the future ) on these boards are not employees of EA and their personal opinions may not necessarily reflect the views of EA. We reserve the right for volunteer moderators to perform any of their allowed actions at any time, noting that there may be occasions when their responses are not necessarily correct. If you believe you have been unjustly treated by a forum moderator, based against the rules and regulations of our boards, please contact an admin.

This forum's moderators are:

Auntie Foxxii
The Star Hermit
Sm0ffi
RTaylor861

Administrator

There are a few people (such as myself) who are referred to as EA Admin. This indicates that they are employees of Electronic Arts and responsible for the upkeep of the website, forums and community. The Admins of this board reserve the right to remove any user from these boards.

So you know who does what, here is the website team for this site in full :

Nova - Community Manager
Protagonist - Web Producer
Sentience - Community Co-ordinator

14-09-2004, 01:43 PM	#1 (permalink)
Sentience Forum Junkie Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 4,988	Forum Rules and Regulations UK Sims Forum Guidelines These forums are a place for Sims players to discuss tips, tactics and techniques for getting the most out of the Sims games. It is also a place for the game developers to gather useful information that helps them make better choices for future Sims titles. To achieve that, we work hard to keep these boards helpful and on-topic. Failure to follow these guidelines can result in your posts being moved, locked or deleted, and may result in your posting rights being removed. No swearing Posts containing profanity, obscenity, insults, personal attacks, accusations or abusive language will be deleted and can result in a warning or suspension. Using asterisks () or other characters to get around the swear filter is still considered profanity, as is using as abbreviations that stand for profanity. Post titles are subject to the same restrictions as post content. Even if the post content is not objectionable, posts can be deleted if the title violates those guidelines. If others have posted in reply, and all the replies feature the same offending title, then the entire thread may be removed. Racial, religious or sexual slurs may result in immediate banning. No flaming* This includes any kind of personal attack, flame, targeted harassment or intimidation either by board posts or private messages. "But he flamed me first!" is NOT an acceptable reason to insult another poster. A flame war is a flame war, and it doesn’t matter who started it. If you have concerns about the treatment you are receiving at the hands of another poster, don’t respond in kind; notify a moderator. Argue someone’s ideas, not their intelligence; feel free to debate, but don’t take it to a personal level. Stay on topic If you’re posting in the Sims 2 forum, don’t start talking about your favourite band - we’ve set up different forums so that all the posts in one area are relevant to specific aspects of the game. If you want to talk about the weather or suchlike, use the Off Topic forum. No spamming Spamming includes posting the same post multiple times in a forum, repeatedly posting on the same topic in different threads, or posting the same post in multiple forums. Multiple posts, whether on the same boards or different boards, will be locked or deleted. Posts made to Real World do not contribute to your post count, however the rules against spamming apply to that area just as they do any other. No thread bumping Posting messages with irrelevant content for the sole purpose of keeping certain posts near the top is called "bumping". This causes other posts to scroll off the page faster than they should, and raises forum traffic unnecessarily. If you think of something you’d like to add to a post after making it we recommend using the Edit Post button instead of making an additional post. Bumping threads can cause threads to be locked, and can result in a warning. Respect others’ opinions Many arguments cannot be won, and simply end up scrolling all the other posts off the boards. When disagreements resort to "Since you seem to be slow, let me repeat my points for the tenth time..." then it's a sign that the argument is going nowhere, and the thread will be locked. Agree to disagree. Reporting Posts Should you spot a post you feel requires the attention of a moderator or administrator you can report it using the button in the top right-hand corner of the post. Please be aware that while this forum is moderated regularly it may not always be possible to address posts that require moderation immediately, however all “problem” posts will be dealt with. Abuse of the Report Post system will be subject to the same discipline as abuse of any other system in place on this site. Personal messages This message board allows users to send personal messages to one another through an enclosed system. While this means that while no other public user will be able to read the contents of your message all PMs are subject to the same moderation as the rest of the forum. Sending offensive personal messages to someone through our boards system can be considered harassment or a personal attack, and will be subject to the same discipline as posts made on the regular forums. If you receive a Personal Message and it makes you feel in any way uncomfortable, tell an Admin immediately. Internet Savvy We recommend you do not arrange to meet anyone from these forums as people you meet on the internet are not necessarily who they seem. Always consult a parent or guardian if appropriate. Similarly, personal details (full name, mobile, email address, home address, home phone etc) should not be revealed to anyone. If you are in any doubt, contact an Admin. Signature Graphics, Avatars, Links, and Screenshots Signature pictures must be kept under 50K in file size, and be no larger than 450 x 120 pixels (similar to a banner ad). Avatars must also be kept under 50K in file size and 85x85 pixels. Using the .jpg or .gif format for screenshots, rather than the .bmp format, helps reduce the file size, as does limiting animation. All files and content linked to from the boards are subject to the same content guidelines as those posted directly on the boards. You are welcome to post screenshots or other pictures within posts, however these should be posted as links rather than full size images which stretch the forum and slow page loading. Hotlinking Graphics If you use an avatar, signature or graphic that is stored on an external site, please make sure you have the site owners' permission to use it here before doing so. Multiple Accounts Each user of these forums is permitted one account only. Multiple accounts belonging to a single user will be removed. Users who create secondary accounts to get around a temporary ban will be banned permanently. Name Changes The username you chose to register with for this forum gives you access to all other EA login sites worldwide. As such username changes are not possible, and we are unable to act on any change requests we receive. Languages As this is the official site for the UK, we require that all posts made to these boards be in English only. Moderators Any volunteer moderators (either currently or in the future ) on these boards are not employees of EA and their personal opinions may not necessarily reflect the views of EA. We reserve the right for volunteer moderators to perform any of their allowed actions at any time, noting that there may be occasions when their responses are not necessarily correct. If you believe you have been unjustly treated by a forum moderator, based against the rules and regulations of our boards, please contact an admin. This forum's moderators are: Auntie Foxxii The Star Hermit Sm0ffi RTaylor861 Administrator There are a few people (such as myself) who are referred to as EA Admin. This indicates that they are employees of Electronic Arts and responsible for the upkeep of the website, forums and community. The Admins of this board reserve the right to remove any user from these boards. So you know who does what, here is the website team for this site in full : Nova - Community Manager Protagonist - Web Producer Sentience - Community Co-ordinator