I saw something and I don't understand how the TOS apply, what shoul

So you are out reading the forums and you see something you think might not be allowed. What should you do?

Terms of service or TOSis here: https://www.theforumsite.com/tos.php and at the bottom of every page.

Here are a few tips on what you can do:

You can always report it, the first mod on-line will get a notice and decide how to deal with it. This works great for spam, porn, name-calling, fights, etc. Pretty much all the easy to identify as wrong stuff.

But wait, there is the rule about abusing the report button, what does abuse mean?

There is no quota of how many things you can report. If we get targeted by spammers there may be like twenty posts they can make before caught. All these are violations of TOS, you are being helpful to the mods, we like that, we can't read everything, even if we are on line at the time.

What abuse is: following someone you dislike around and reporting everything they post, or reporting the same post over and over again, because you don't think they are being seen. Basically, it's being a nuisance and flooding the report box with unnecessary messages or using the mods to deal with a personal grudge.

What if I have more of a clarification question, because I don't understand why something is bad?

A report may not be the best, because members don't always see the outcome, as punishments are private and we don't talk publicly about a lot of drama.

What you can do is ask a mod for clarification. Sometimes people do this in the thread it happens in, such as warning the new people that name calling is not allowed and they should stop. Or asking "is this against TOS?" This is ok, and sometimes helpful other members sometimes know the answer, but mods may not see this post, so if it is something that we need to deal with, it goes ignored. Or none of us ever clarify, and no one knows the answer.

You could make a thread in site support, feedback and suggestions for the "easy questions" like can you explain what TOS 3.** means in different words or with examples?.

But I think my question might start more drama and feel like questioning it in public might get me in trouble, because I saw some warning I don't understand, but I don't want to mess up accidentally, what do I do?

This is the best place to PM a mod and ask privately. We may not always be able to give out all the details, but we can at least explain what not to do wrong.

Asking Tino about the little things probably won't get you an answer quickly. He is more the boss to call on over the big things.

However, I, like all of the other mods, are perfectly willing and happy to explain something to people when we are here. We all try to catch them when we see them, we just don't always see the threads. Mods only check reported posts, feedback and suggestions and site support on regular basis. All other forums are pure luck if we see them.

Despite the tiger avatars, I don't bite. There are also other mods around, we all talk to each other, so if one of us doesn't know, we can ask someone else who does. So you might not get an instant answer, but at least you can get a good answer.

OMG! someone just sent me a PM that is so offensive that if it was posted on the forum it would be against TOS. What do I do?

Easy answer: report it. The mods do not see private messages unless they are reported. Sometimes people come on and spam people, sometimes its pervy unwanted comments, sometimes its name calling and threats. These are all NOT OK.

Here is where knowing your target audience is helpful. A lot of us have friends that if you walked up to them and called them a name they would laugh, or there is a funny picture that you want to share but it might be risque. What happens between friends in private is cool. Just realize that if you send it out, and they are offended and report it, you will be warned or punished over it.

There is this poster that is making me so angry, I can't get along with them, will the mods do something about it?

If it's a personality conflict, we probably won't want to get to involved in making sure people are happy and get along. Our "job" is to enforce TOS, not make sure everyone is happy, gets along, and agrees. Most of the time simple disagreements can be dealt with by blocking. Sometimes it escalates that we have to give warnings to people to stop fighting. We will not take sides, and in a fight everyone is responsible for their own posts and words. The excuse "but they started it" will not be accepted. Defending yourself with name calling is just as bad as starting out name calling. What happens in these cases is both parties get punished. Just a reminder though, not everyone complains about a punch or warning, so just because you don't see it does not mean it doesn't happen, and mods will neither confirm nor deny what action was taken. Hitting the report button quickly to get a mod on scene in a fight is always best for everyone involved, before things get too out of hand. Of course all the "good drama" stuff happens when the mods are not here, then first mod on does their best to handle it.


I think that is it for now. Again if you have questions feel free to ask. I think this forum might be mod only, but its one of those cases that PMing me and I would get back to you is a good option.