READ BEFORE YOU POST - Forum Rules and Guidelines (Updated 7/17/2009)

[AtlusAram]

Welcome to the official Atlus message boards! We constantly strive to offer our fans the most interesting, engaging, and pleasant community experience possible.

By registering for the forums, you assume responsibility for and agree to abide by all of the rules and guidelines provided herein. Failure to follow posted rules can result in warnings up to or including forum account termination.

New registrants and community members – be sure to read and fully understand all of the rules and guidelines below.

MODERATORS
A team of Atlus Moderators constantly monitors the forums to ensure that conduct is in line with the rules and guidelines set forth by Atlus, and to address any concerns or needs of the community. Members of the Atlus forums are expected to listen to and be respectful of the Mods. If you have a question or concern, feel free to send a Mod a Private Message. If at any point you believe you have been treated unfairly by a Mod, please communicate your concern to Onion of Mystery.

When a Mod is acting in their capacity as a moderator, they will post in red text. When they post in this manner, pay close attention to what they have to say.

The following is a list of Moderators (as of 7/17/2009):

AtlusAram
CrystalSword
Chibilemonchan
Onion of Mystery
Inzaghi
Rednusander
Manly Biceps

[AtlusAram]

MODERATION
Moderators are primarily responsible for addressing rule violations and ensuring that registered users conform to the provided terms, but there are also a host of other actions Mods have to take from time to time:

Friendly Warning/Please Don’t Do That
A Mod might post in red text asking you not to do something, without any reference to official warnings. This is a friendly warning to move you away from doing something that might get you in trouble, so take it to heart.

Official Warnings
An official warning will always include the words “Official Warning” in it. Most of these are issued via Private Message, but they may be issued in a post in a thread as well. Official warnings are issued when friendly warnings are ineffective, and as such are not open for debate or discussion. The rules below list specific warning offenses.

Nudges
If a Mod finds a thread going off-topic, they’ll post a friendly message trying to nudge it back on-topic – how hard a nudge depends on how far off the rails the thread has gone.

Moving Threads
Sometimes threads get started in the wrong place; this is understandable. If we find one, though, we’ll shunt it off to the right forum. As a favor to the Mods, please do your best to make sure you’re putting your thread in the right place.

Locking Threads
Some threads reach a point where they need to be locked (which makes it so no one can post to them). This may be because the thread has reached a point where it is so off-topic or violating so many rules that it can’t be recovered by other mod actions, or because it’s a copy of another active thread. Remember that re-starting a locked thread without permission is against the rules.

“Please don’t do it” Offenses
These are offenses that will not result in an official warning or banning upon the first offense, but repeated violations will eventually result in an official warning. In some cases a mod may edit a post or thread message saying “Please don’t do that,” or some other friendly warning for the user to be a bit more careful.

Typing Incoherently
This is a written medium and people have to read what you write. Excessive intentional use of “leet” speak and/or senseless writing is not acceptable. The occasional typo or confusion regarding spelling is understood and expected. It is highly recommended that members take a moment to read over a message before it is posted.

Posting Oversized Images
Giant pictures that stretch the screen are a bane to people trying to read the boards. Please link to files larger than 400pixels wide, or 500kb.

Frivolous Thread Necromancy
There’s bringing a thread back from “the dead” because some related new development has stirred the discussion once more, and then there’s bringing back old threads for no particular reason, just as a form of jest or playfulness. The latter is frowned upon and can be distracting to other more worthwhile discussions in the forums, so it is expected that members will have good reasons for resurrecting “dead” threads.

Discussing Post Counts
This also includes discussing user level or time being a member. Some people may think that a large post count is a status symbol, or grants them spooky powers. It doesn’t. We try to treat all posters as equal, the ones that just started posting and the ones that have been here since the dawn of time (or since the last forum crash) have equal importance.

Double Posting
Posting twice in a row is generally frowned upon. There is a modify link in the upper right hand corner of each post, please use that to add any extra information that you wanted to add but forgot to. You can also remove any accidental double posts with the remove button that is right next to the modify button.

One Topic, One Thread
There should be, in most cases, one thread for a specific topic. Please check and see if there is already an active thread (one that has been posted on in the last six weeks and is no further back than page 3) discussing a topic before posting a new one.

[AtlusAram]

WARNING OFFENSES
These are offenses that will garner you an official warning from a Mod and most likely a modification of the offending post.

THREE official warnings will result in a poster being Banned upon the issuing of the third warning. Exceptional or Special cases may result in instant banning – see the Banning Offenses section. Repeated offenses along the same line may also result in immediate banning.

Flaming
Any poster that openly attacks, insults, belittles, or abuses another poster will have their offending post modified and a warning issued to them. You can be critical of another poster's viewpoint in a debate, even going as far as to explain why you believe them to be mistaken and backing your points up with references as appropriate, but the moment your criticism extends to the person who posted that viewpoint, it has crossed the line.

Specific things you cannot do on this message board that might be allowed elsewhere:

Tell a poster to shut up or to stop posting on the current thread.
Use passive-aggressive insults, such as "Anyone who believes that is an idiot," or "I'd call you an idiot, but it's against the rules." Yeah, we know that technically, you didn't call him or her an idiot, but guess what? It's still not allowed.
Harassment of other posters, such as repeatedly following them from thread to thread to dispute them, personally.
Tell a poster that they clearly didn't read what you wrote. Alternately, any statement that implies that the only way someone could disagree with you is because they don't understand you/can't read properly is likewise not allowed.
Responding in kind to a poster who has flamed you. Please inform a moderator via PM and wait for the offending post to be scrubbed or deleted. Remember, the more they flame, the deeper a hole they dig for themselves, but don’t spur them on.
Belittling or putting down anyone or their opinions based on post count, member rank, or how long they have been a member.
Posting insults or slurs based on anyone's race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender, or sexual orientation

We run a much tighter ship now when it comes to flaming than many other places you might post. It is our hope to create a place where people can have discussions about gaming and other topics without the rampant personal attacks prevalent at other game boards. If you find you are incapable of participating in a debate without resorting to attacking your opponent instead of his position, our suggestion is that you find another board to post at.

"Mea culpa" Offenses
Attempting to ward off a warning by admitting your behavior warrants a warning is not tolerated. This will, instead, result in a second warning. Acknowledging the fact that your activity is breaking the rules is not a defense. If anything, it's flaunting breaking the rules, which is very insulting to both the staff and all the posters who take the time to try to follow the rules. If you know, or even think, that what you are about to do is worthy of warning, then just don't do it. Find another way of saying what you wish to say, or hold your peace altogether. Here are some examples of a "mea culpa" offense:
"I know this is probably flaming, but you're a jerk." This would be worthy of two warnings: calling someone a jerk is flaming, and acknowledging that you are flaming earns you a mea culpa penalty.
"I'd really love to tell you what I think of you, but it'd be against the rules." This would also be worthy of two warnings. Passive-aggressive flaming is still flaming, and once again, it earns a mea culpa penalty.

Trolling
Any post that, in the judgment of the moderators, was made solely to incite angry responses and/or flames, or attempts to disrupt a thread so that it becomes a flame war, will be edited to remove the offending content and the poster issued a warning. If a thread is judged to have been started for this reason, it will be locked, and the poster issued a warning.

Posting on Inappropriate Topics
Any post that includes anything in the Inappropriate Topics (see below) will have that text deleted and the author will be issued a warning. If another poster ventures into Off-Topic subject matter, it does not give you a free pass to respond to his post with more Off-Topic discussion; there is no "He started it!" defense. Do not take it upon yourself to publicly reprimand the poster, either; you're not a moderator. Simply PM your friendly neighborhood moderator and alert them to the inappropriate post, which will have its inappropriate portions deleted.

External Baggage
Each thread should exist in a vacuum, free from outside influences—especially those outside of these boards. What this means is that you can't carry over anger from a debate in another thread into a new discussion, and you can't harass anyone over anything they did in another thread, on another website's board, or in real life. If you can't check your baggage at the door, you'll end up earning a warning.

Re-starting a previously locked thread without permission
Certain threads will be locked by Mods for a variety of reasons, including excessive flaming, inappropriate subject matter, or simple redundancy. If a poster decides to start a new thread on the exact same discussion topic without first gaining permission from the Mods, the thread will be deleted or locked and they will be issued a warning—even if the new thread does not, in and of itself, violate any other rule! Which means that if a mod decides to lock a heated debate over a subject, starting a new thread with a calmer, more well-reasoned point of view is STILL breaking the rules. Unless you ask a moderator first, then it's cool.

Ignoring or Disrespecting a Mod
Any poster that deliberately ignores or disrespects a post made by a Moderator will be issued a warning. In the situation of a very short window of time existing between the Mod Post and the offending post, a 10 minute window will exist in which the offending poster may modify his post without incident.

Ignoring or Disrespecting a Moderator's Private Message
Any poster that deliberately ignores or disrespects a Private Message sent by a Moderator will be issued a warning. Please check your PMs regularly – “I didn’t see the PM before I posted” is not an acceptable excuse. As with Ignoring Mod Posts, in the situation of a very short window of time existing between the Mod PM and the offending post, a 10 minute window will exist in which the offending poster may modify his post without incident.

Editing of Mod Edits
If you modify a red-text edit to one of your posts by a moderator in any way, you will be issued a warning.

Vigilante Modding
If you’re not a moderator, please don’t act like one. Atlus has selected a few trustworthy people to keep an eye on conversations here. Please refrain from chastising other posters over breaking the rules, especially concerning minor things. The proper response when you see someone breaking these rules is a PM to the local moderator. At most, you may courteously link to this thread. But whatever you do, do not tell other posters what to do, what rules they have broken, that they are "spamming", etc. Posters who do so excessively will be issued a warning for their actions.

Circumventing the Board filters
If a poster attempts to circumvent the board's language filter in order to post profane or obscene content, their post will be modified and they will be issued a warning. This includes masking (using non-letter characters in place of letters). Yes, we're aware that the board’s filters are horrendous, but if you are adult enough to use such language, then you're adult enough to NOT use such language. The filters are primarily for the protection of young children because this is not a strictly adult website.

[AtlusAram]

BANNABLE OFFENSES
Violating any of the following rules will result in an immediate ban from the Atlus USA forums.

Three Strikes Policy
As mentioned in the Warning Offenses section, earning three official warnings results in a ban upon the issuing of the third warning. To be clear, it is the third violation that results in a ban, not "three warnings and the next violation is a ban." Be aware that official warnings do not "expire" after any period of time.

It should also be noted that the three strike policy is not writ in stone - flagrant violations of warning offenses may result in a ban even if they do not result in a third official warning. Repeated violations of the same warning offense, especially over a short period of time, will also likely result in an immediate ban.

Violating any of the following rules will result in an immediate ban, regardless of the number of official warnings a poster has.

Hate Speech
Particularly flagrant examples of insults or slurs based on anyone's race, religion, ethnicity, age, gender, or sexual orientation, and especially any post advocating violence towards those of a certain race, religion, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation will result in an immediate ban.

Criminal Activity
Posts containing illegal content - including but not limited to discussion of how to commit illegal activities, discussion of the use or acquisition of illegal substances, or posts that violate a law in and of themselves - will result in an immediate ban for the poster.

Commercial (For-Profit) Advertising
Posting advertisements for commercial products, services, or events will result in an immediate ban, and all advertisements removed. Note that a suggestion of a product in the course of a related discussion is not considered advertising (unless the poster holds a personal stake in the finances of the company suggested).

(Exception: Representatives of Atlus USA and/or its licensees and distributors are permitted to make posts advertising services and products related directly to Atlus USA. They are not permitted to make posts advertising other services they might provide.)
If you wish to advertise a non-commercial website, please refer to rules regarding advertising.

Spam
Chain letters, get-rich-quick schemes, and overseas investment opportunities are considered spam, as are a variety of other pointless topics. Generally, you know when you're posting spam, so don't. Posting spam to the boards is a banning offense, especially when it violates the "one topic, one thread" guideline. Any account created solely for the purpose of posting spam will be deleted immediately, and the spam removed.

Previously Banned Users
Any user found to have been banned while using a different account will have his or her new account banned as well. If it is found that another user is allowing a previously banned user to post using his or her account, the account of that user will also be banned.

Inappropriate Topics
The following topics are always off-limits on these forums, no matter what (hence, Inappropriate Topics). Any posts including these topics will be edited, and any threads started to discuss these topics will be locked.

Graphic violence
Illegal drugs
Criminal activity
Explicit sexuality
Advertising/Linking

The following topics are considered sensitive, and as such should always be handled with care and consideration for the thoughts and views of others.

Real-world religions (including religious reactions to Gaming)
Real-world politics

As noted above, commercial (for-profit) advertising is not allowed on this forum. However, you ARE permitted to start threads advertising non-profit websites; either charity events or merely amateur/fan sites that don't sell anything. Please be sure to observe the rules governing Spam and multiple-thread cross-posting, however, and make sure your plug is in the most appropriate forum (usually Friendly Banter).

[AtlusAram]

So those are the rules, in all of their wordy glory. We ask that you try your best to follow them to keep the spirit of community these boards have built up over the past three years, and avoid looking for loopholes or exceptions to let you get away with stuff. These boards are only as good as we all make them, after all. Thanks, and happy posting!

The above words represent the consensus of the entire Atlus U.S.A., Inc. staff.