Questions About New TOS? Post Here.

OH GOOD.. thanks for starting this Kelly I was just getting ready to pm you with my clarification question. []
 
My question deals with this:
 

   Warnings consist of post edits, PMs or emails from administrators or moderators.

 
Can you clarify the “warning” part for me in a “post”.  I am clear about a mod issues you a “warning” in a pm or in email, but if they “warn” you in a post will it be CLEAR that it is a warning?  I am assuming that just a “red ink” isn#%92t considered an official warning right? 
 
Also, can you clarify the “3 month period” comment:

Members will be warned a maximum of three times for any and all offences in a three month period

 
 
 
AFTER 3 months, since the last warning is it considered warning #1 again? What I mean is … is their “record” clean again AFTER 3 months of no warnings?     
 
Thanks Kelly.
 

Brave woman, first poster. LOL.
 
From now on, when we edit a post, we will be PMing the member. Sometimes, people post and don't return to the thread, therefore they would never see the edit. So, if your post violates the TOS, you will be notified, clearly.
 
After 3 months, the record is "cleared". Kinda like a ticket with your car insurance. Of course, unless you lose your license. []

An exception to the three strike rule applies when users contact administrators or moderators personally (via any method) and post insulting, indecent or vulgar material. Such users may be subject to an immediate permanent ban.

What about if a user contacts another user with insulting, indecent or vulgar material? Are they not subject to an immediate ban?

Arguing with administrators or moderators after having received a warning will lead to an immediate additional warning.

Will the specific reason for the first warning be clearly stated?

ETA: The above post kind of answers my second question... I was just wondering if a warning will consist of more than quoting a rule...

I was always the first to raise my hand in school Kelly! [] 
 
Ok, that makes sense so thanks for the clarification.  
 I appreciate being notified via pm if my posts get edited for any reason.  Just recently I noticed a post of mine was edited by a mod, but it wasn't inked and it had been a couple weeks since that post so I couldn't even remmeber WHAT I had posted and thus was curious as to why i got edited. I was going to pm the mod who edited me to inquire, but instead I decided to let it go, but it still would be nice to know what was changed so I can note it for the future.   SO I think this is a helpful addition to the board.

Sooner, members harassing other members, via email or PM, is covered under rule #3. They will be dealt with the same way rude posts are - 3 strikes.
 
Regarding the reason, the warning will most likely consist of the rule. However, you are always welcome to ask, politely, for further clarification.

" We discourage posts that target other members' posts or behavior."


This confuses me.  Isn't this what the quote function does?  How do you have a conversation on a message board if you are not responding to (thus targeting) other members' posts?

"Rule 4: Address forum problems privately
If you have a problem or complaint about the forum in general, or with another member, please either fill out a ticket or address it directly to the administrators or moderators. They will evaluate the situation and execute the proper actions. Do not address it publicly on the board, such threads will be deleted. This includes complaint threads, anti-moderator or administrator threads, goodbye threads, and other slanderous threads that are not conducive to the health of the forum."


I have a couple of questions about this rule---
Why do you have a section where members can give public feedback on the forum when you don't want members to give public feedback on the forum?

How are members who are going to no longer post supposed to let everyone know about it?  I do care what happens to the people on this board (and I know I'm not the only one), and I do wonder when someone just disappears.  What about threads created where the member just says they need a break and will be away for a while?  Are those prohibited to?

Also, what about being edited for going off topic?  Is that considered a strike? 

Target, as in stalk, harass, etc. The type you would get a restraining order for in real life.

since it is now considered a warning to be "red inked", is there any recourse a member has if they feel they have been "red inked" without violating the rules?

i know that lately several people have mentioned being red inked for posts that seemed to be within the old TOS.

also, occassionally someone will ask where they can buy a certain item (for example, i posted long ago asking for recommendations and where to buy car harnesses for our dogs). if someone responds with a link to a site other than dog.com, is there a number of times they can post such links before being in conflict with Rule 8 ("Repeatedly referring to competitors' sites is considered SPAM."). i mean, i dont want to innocently suggest where someone might buy a kong or something and be warned.

If you have a problem or complaint about the forum in general, or with another member, please either fill out a ticket or address it directly to the administrators or moderators. They will evaluate the situation and execute the proper actions. Do not address it publicly on the board, such threads will be deleted. This includes complaint threads, anti-moderator or administrator threads, goodbye threads, and other slanderous threads that are not conducive to the health of the forum.

Maybe "How Are We Doing" is an inappropriate section title, since "How Are We Doing" feedback is not allowed [sm=2cents.gif]

Members are asked to not act as "back seat moderators". If you see a thread or post that you feel is in violation of our TOS, please bring it to the attention of the Moderators or Administrators, either by filling out a ticket, or via PM or email. To ticket a post, click on "Report” at the bottom of the post's box. Do not respond to such topics yourself.

Does this apply to moderators that are out of their section?

I've been warned via PM a few times a few months back for no reason other than the mod stating I was posting too much, monopolizing a conversation, whatever you want to call it.  Asking for clarification seemed to make it worse (won't go into details since I'm trying to ask this in a general sense but it doesn't really make sense without an example so I'll volunteer myself).  I guess I don't get what is considered basically posting too many times in a thread (still on topic)?  Do mods receive complaints from posters stating they feel to threatened to post in a thread and make warnings based on that?  The incident in question wasn't even really an incident, since the other person and I were also PMing each other at the time and there was no real conflict, yet there were warnings.  Again, I'm volunteering my experiences as an example b/c I don't know if other people have had this problem and it's the one thing that confuses me and doesn't seem to be even mentioned in the TOS.

posting too much on a thread? Whoa...that's a new one on me. [&:]

ORIGINAL: sillysally

How are members who are going to no longer post supposed to let everyone know about it?  I do care what happens to the people on this board (and I know I'm not the only one), and I do wonder when someone just disappears.  What about threads created where the member just says they need a break and will be away for a while?  Are those prohibited to? 

 
I'm glad Christina brought this up because I was wondering the same thing.  In reading through the TOS, it looks like "goodbye threads" are lumped in with complaint threads, anti-mod or admin threads and slanderous threads.  This doesn't make any sense to me at all. If someone decides to take someone elses "goodbye thread" and turn it into something ugly, that person should be censored - not the OP who was perhaps just trying to let people know why they wouldn't be posting for awhile.
 
Joyce

From the TOS:
Additionally, there are no dog.com appointed in-house experts in any topic areas. No members are permitted to present themselves in a pattern of posting that suggests they hold such a position.
 
Personal Champ, can this be clarified.  Not sure why this is part of the TOS.  I am not seeing a clear crossover line between one's expertise derived from personal experience, professional experience, or self taught experience and how that becomes "claiming to be the in-house expert".  The "claiming"  part seems to be very subjective and possibly characterized as such because of their passion in the topic area. 

Regarding the How Are We Doing Section - if you read the rule, it says to address problems or complaints privately. Sincere, polite questions are always welcome in this section, but if you, for example, are being stalked by another member/hate a moderator/want to blow up the board, please do not post that in the forum.
 
Goodbye threads are welcome. It's nice to know if someone's taking a break, or going away, so we don't worry. But, "Goodbye, I hate this place, and all the people in it" threads are not welcome. People who turn a "I'm going to be away for a while" post into WW3 will be edited.
 
If a member feels they have been unfairly inked, contact me. We have copies of all original posts, so I can make a judgement on it.
 
Regarding links - rule says repeated references. Like spammers. The occasional reference is no problem.
 
Moderators only have "special powers" in their own sections. Not someone else's, unless the usual mod is out/sick/vacationing, etc.
 
No such thing as posting too much. Turning a thread into a personal conversation, though, is mentioned in the TOS.
 
Personal Experts: Each member is entitled to share personal knowledge and expertise. We do not rank or certify members' self-reported qualifications. Members should not post in a manner that suggests that their views represent the views of the site owners. The moderation team must make sensitive judgement calls. Moderators were selected with this in mind. If you have concerns about this, please don't hesitate to contact us via PM.