Once again, it's the time of the year where it behooves us (the mods) to post a friendly reminder about HF rules and regs. For the most part, the core of the site rules has changed very little since I joined in 2005. There have been some additions based on ignore lists and such, but flaming is still flaming, trolling is still trolling, offensive content is still offensive content, etc. So really everyone should have a good handle on what is and isn't acceptable here.
But even with that said, it's still probably for the best just to have a quick refresher:
The site rules can be found here -
http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/fa...aq_forum_rules
For the locals
1) For GDT creators, remember that HF policy is that
playoff board uses the GDT for the
home team each game. If you're making the GDT for a game that's being played at the tank, keep that in mind and adjust your content accordingly. It's accepted that there won't be total neutrality since it still is the home team's GDT, but excessive mocking or bashing of the opposing team or content that would absolutely be considered trolling outside of the Shark board is probably not a good idea.
also you don't need to post the GDT on the playoff board yourself. a global mod will come along and copy the GDT post or posts to the playoff board themselves on game day.
2) The report button. We went over this during the final game of the season, but just so everyone's clear:
That little icon that looks like an upside down yield sign with a line is the report post button. If you see a post you want to flag for some reason, click the report button for that particular post, then fill in the text box on the report page with a brief description of why you are reporting the post (anything from just "flaming" or "trolling" to a couple of sentences explaining the situation is acceptable. But you don't need to write us an essay.)
In the time it takes you to fire off a scathing reply to someone you think is breaking the rules, you could've clicked the report button, filled out the report description, and saved the mods a ton of headaches.
Taking matters into your hands wastes the mods time because we have to deal with your post and subsequent fallout too rather than just the inciting post. It wastes your time because you've just made a post that's going to get deleted. It potentially gets you in trouble if you break the rules in your quest for vigilante justice. And it hurts our (the mods') ability to keep a handle on things because cleanup distracts us from dealing with new problems as efficiently as we could.
And please don't pass up reporting because you think someone else will do it. If everyone does that, nobody reports anything. We'd rather 50 reports of the same post than none at all.
Also please don't PM the mods with stuff you want to report. Using the report feature brings the reported post to the attention of every moderator on the site. PMing one of us brings it to the attention of just one mod: whoever you PM. Having a report on file also creates a nicer "paper trail" for us when dealing with an issue.
3) Fans of other teams, including the Blues, are allowed to visit here and post as long as they are respectful and mindful of the fact that they are on the
Sharks board. Just because a Blues fan is here doesn't mean you should start harassing them or telling them to GTFO or the like.
4) Fanbase bashing, even within the confines of our own board, is unacceptable. You can trash the team all you want, but talking about how all the team's fans are jerks or morons crosses the line.
5) Please don't bring back posts you read on another team's forum or on the playoff forum to this board or any of the threads to mock, criticize, ridicule, or otherwise use them for inappropriate purposes. That sort of thing is against the rules. What the opposition says on their own board is their business and is for their mods to deal with.
For Visitors
1) You're more than welcome to hang out with us and post here if you so desire. But with that in mind, remember that this is still the San Jose Sharks board, and is intended for the enjoyment of Sharks fans. So you're probably going to see things you don't like and posters are going to make comments that you don't agree with. You have to expect an obvious and significant pro-Shark bias. If you don't want to see those sorts of things, this probably isn't the place for you.
2) If you are visiting here, please remember to be on your best behaviour and be particularly respectful of the local posters. Playoff intensity breeds extra sensitivity, so even if you think that your post comes off as flippant or sarcastic (even if it uses the appropriate smileys) always consider the possibility that it won't be interpreted that way and make sure that your intentions are 100% clear.
3) Don't "spy" on this board. Posting material you see here elsewhere on the site (your team's board, a neutral board, etc) is against the site's rules. If you're only here so that you can watch for comments you don't like and report back to other fans, you can expect the mods to step in.
For everyone
1) Thread and forum bans will be used liberally to keep the peace. Anyone trolling a GDT will be thread banned immediately. If you cause significant or repeated disturbances in GDTs you will be thread banned. If it appears that you are a habitual problem in multiple threads, you will be forum banned for however long we deem appropriate.
2) Everyone is going to be treated equally in the eyes of the mods. It doesn't matter whether you've been here for 9 years or 9 days.
3) Consider this thread your official warning of mod expectations. There won't be any consideration given for "but I didn't know!", nor should you expect to be let of easy "just this once" when we think you should know better.
4) The mods of different areas do talk to one another. So if something happens on the playoff board or the Blues board that impacts here, we'll know. And if something happens here that impacts other boards, those mods will know too.
Mods from one area cannot and will not overrule or rescind the decisions or moderations of our compatriots from other parts of the site.
If you have a problem with any mod anywhere on the site, you are encouraged to try and work it out with them. Failing that, you can send an e-mail to
complaints@hfboards.com and it will be reviewed by the appropriate Team Leader.
Thanks everyone. And enjoy the playoffs,
The Mods (Spin, Patty, Nem, USF, & Slo)
