NOTE: These have been changed from "RULES" to "GUIDELINES" because nothing written here is concrete, or grounds for an automatic ban. Likewise, you could follow everything written here and still get banned. Forums are fluid in nature, and it can't be predicted when the need to take mod action will arise in order to maintain functioning. Nor can it be predicted in advance which transgressions need to be outlawed. - ec

1. Anything may be discussed here nor will anything be censored unless it involves bragging about you fucking kids or actually raping someone and you're now wanted by the police. We're not that kind of "creepy older single". Otherwise, it's okay to talk about your secret drug habit and hookers all you like! And if you're going to kill somebody, try and make it look like it's all hypothetical.

2. All troll posts will be eliminated and all proven trolls will be banned. Trolling is defined as spamming the boards with nonsensical and/or insulting garbage or inciting the forums with repeated baseless accusations. There is a difference between a "troll" and a "problem poster". For a troll, think asscocker or fuggles.

3. Those who engage in legit conversation but otherwise cause problems will be referred to as "problem posters" and dealt with on a case by case basis. Examples would be posters showing outward hostility to the board or the Google condition (here or elsewhere), occasional sock puppeting, or posters exhibiting outward abuse towards other members (such as suggesting one kill themselves in a malicious manner). Problem posters will be given chances to become "contributing members" but will have to put up with intermittent and random bans while they learn the ropes of what is and isn't acceptable. To clarify, disagreement is fine and debate is encouraged. Disrespect and hostility towards other members (or the board as a whole) is what makes one a "problem poster", NOT differing points of view.

4. All topics deemed redundant when a similar topic is already being actively discussed will be locked or merged upon admin or mod discretion. Any topic that has been derailed by another valid topic of discussion will be separated and made into a new topic unless it has clearly become a flame war, wherein it will be moved to Thunderdome.

5. All personal attacks on any other poster shall go into Thunderdome be they started intentionally or by natural entropy of the thread. Any such thread started anywhere else on the forums will be moved to Thunderdome.

6. This forum IS NOT A DEMOCRACY. Any complaint against the aforementioned rules will be disregarded. These rules are non-negotiable. Bitching about mod decisions wrt to banning and censorship is grounds for a ban. Editing mod red text in your posts is also grounds for a ban.