General guidelines for the forum boards?
I'd like to know all the rules and recommendations for using these forums, due to a few missteps. Thank you very much.
Add "common sense" to the end of Charlie's explanation and we got a list of general guidelines!
Don't feel bad if you had a few of your topics locked. I had two locked. One was about religion and the other was about sharing interesting things about yourself. The first was screaming for flame wars, and the latter was just going to generate traffic. I learned from my mistakes.
Understood. And I apologize for my imprudence on previous forum posts.
What they said. If there are any problems, don't worry, we'll bring them to your attention. (possibly via Private Message, or just by locking the topic)
Let me gently add a few more guidelines:
#1 Read the FAQ and various links in the left sidebar on the website. There's great and plentiful information there, on questions you may wish to ask. Look at the various Youtube videos, wikifur articles, and such about the genral fandom. This helps you learn without us answering questions we've already covered.
#2 Consider before each post if the post really needs to be made. I've typed out several a reply, reviewed it, went "Nah, I don't really need to say that." and cancelled the post. Remember forums are for everyone, and the best posts are those that are most appreciated by mutliple people.
#3 Leave some things to the experts. This targets you a bit directly, but it's a general guidline: Anthrocon advice is best given by those who have attended Anthrocon, or other furry cons; by forum regulars and staff. The longer you stay here and absorb the collective wisdom of the community, the better able you'l be to make posts with benefit to all (See point #2). Some topics are better suited for general conversation, but some are very clear requests for information; with the latter, hang back and let others take care of it for now.
#4 When in doubt: be positive, accepting, kindly, and brief[*1].
--Chi
[*1] Vulpes Rex manages the first three expertly, the last we don't require from him.
One additional point: Very often the postings on our boards are very timely. After several months they may not be applicable, and certainly after a year they are rarely applicable. It is bad form to resurrect an old thread (more than 3 months old or so).
The simplest rule is that this is a board related to Anthrocon, what should (or should not, in some cases) go on there. That means there's a wide range of things that can be discussed, including fursuiting, Con registration, Hotel registration, Travel to and from the con, artwork both general audience and adult, furry comics, furry movies... (That list isn't definitive, either.)
But things that don't relate specifically relate to Anthrocon are not welcome here for numerous reasons, including the fact that computer time and storage cost money. This isn't the place to talk abou the Qur'an burning minister in Florida: it doesn't impact Anthrocon (specifically). Politics and religion are not on topic either. And unless somebody says something like "All furries are XXX, because I am!" differing opinions on even furry subjects are normally tolerated... or simply ignored.