iPod touch Fans OFFICIAL RULES

**bgizzle** · #1 06-20-2008

Official Forum Rules

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We (the iPod touch Fans staff) consistently put in an effort towards making iPod touch Fans a better place, and by following the official forum rules, you're doing your part as a member. The rules are clearly outlined below. We advise that you take a moment to review the rules below as we will not accept the "I didn't know" excuse.

Disciplinary actions

All infractions / warnings are posted publicly in the Crime and Punishment section. This is done both to keep the staff accountable to the members and to allow users to learn from others' mistakes and avoid them.

There are two types of disciplinary actions for breaking the forum rules:

Warning: A warning is a reminder that you are breaking the forum rules. Warnings are typically given out in less severe situations or to first-time offenders.

Warnings are always worth 0 points and do not result in a ban.

Infraction: An infraction is given out to a user who is breaking the rules. There is also aggravated infractions, which have a higher point value and a longer ban period attached to them. Aggravated infractions are typically given out those who are severely breaking the rules or are repeat offenders.

An infraction results in an immediate ban from the forums, usually for 1 to 3 days depending on the point value of the infraction. Our short ban times for the first few infractions are designed to encourage members to learn from their mistakes and resume their participation on the forums quickly.

NOTE: Usage of warnings and infractions are fully at the discretion of the moderator.

Point Values

Warnings are always worth 0 points. Infractions vary from 1 - 6 points, depending on severity, and these points are added to your infraction score. Points do not expire. For example, if you are given 2 infractions, both worth 2 points, you will have a total of 4 points. If you accumulate 6 points, you will be permanently banned.

The exact ban thresholds are as follows:

1 point: 1 day
2 points: 3 days
3 points: 10 days
4 points: 2 weeks
5 points: 1 month
6 points: Permanent ban

Actions that will result in a warning / infraction

Double posting/thread bumping

Intentionally double posting for the purpose to "bump" a thread, whether your own thread that hasn't received enough attention, or an extremely old thread, may result in disciplinary action
Misleading help to users

Intentionally misleading other members is not a good way to contribute to the community.
Off-topic posting

We allow off-topic chat in the appropriate sections, although certain discussions are prohibited everywhere:
- Discussions or other-expression surrounding politics and/or religion
- Soliciting, asking for donations and/or begging for money
- Steering a thread significantly away from its original topic
Advertisements or unapproved off-site links

In general, off-site links are not allowed to be posted without prior approval. Many popular sites, such as Youtube, Digg, Twitter, TUAW, DeviantArt etc. are already approved. What we are trying to avoid here is shameless promotion and spamming of other sites. Specifically, particular types of links will never be approved and may result in a ban:
1. Referral links (for example, Free iPod offers, etc.)
2. iPod touch/iPhone related forums
3. iPod touch/iPhone related blogs
4. Other iPod touch/iPhone related websites
5. Irrelevant personal blogs, forums, etc.
Note: Large/well-known iPod touch/iPhone websites are permitted such as TUAW, MacRumors, iLounge. Also, iPhoneFanatics and Hack the iPod touch are permitted as they are sister sites to these forums.

We also do NOT allow reviews that do not disclose that a product was received for free or at a greatly reduced price. We consider this astroturfing. As a rule of thumb, if you are reviewing a product and the general public cannot get it for the same price you got it for, you should mention that to avoid misleading our users.

Another note: DO NOT share your Facebook, MySpace or Bebo accounts!
The posting of obscene/pornographic material

This includes extremely obscene language. We trust our users to be tasteful, so we do not filter swearing, but we may warn/infract at our discretion.
The posting or discussion of illegal or pirated material

First of all, to avoid any confusion JAILBREAKING IS NOT ILLEGAL AND MAY BE DISCUSSED. That's the point of this site!

That being said, our forum has always been appreciative and supportive of the work of independent commercial developers and development firms, and copyright holders in general. As such, we do not allow the posting or discussion of any material which is illegal or pirated.

This includes:
1. Posting or discussing about cracked applications (including patched MobileInstallation)
2. Posting or discussing links to websites facilitating the cracking or sharing of cracked applications
3. Posting serial numbers
4. Posting about/where to get ROMs / bios files. Emulators themselves are legal, but the actual ROMs and/or BIOS files are not.
5. Copyrighted code or other works. This includes modified IPSWs and paid firmware upgrades
Just to be clear, even discussing piracy may result in disciplinary action.

Furthermore, anything that is illegal by United States and/or California law may not be discussed. This includes:
1. Illegal drugs
2. Fraud (for example, how to break your iPod so that you can return it for an exchange)
Inciting unrest on the forums

Encouraging users to break the rules, registering multiple accounts to circumvent bans, and other such activities will be swiftly stopped.

Just to be clear, creating another account to avoid a ban will result in permanent bans of all accounts. If you are sharing a computer or internet connection with another user of this site, please be especially mindful of the rules, as any ban on your account may also affect the other user unfairly.
Flaming, trolling, insulting other members, excessive immaturity, etc.

At the full discretion of the moderator, anti-social behaviors will be disciplined. We want a pleasant environment for the majority of members that are here for help and enjoyment.

Other Important Information

Reminder: breaking any of the above rules 2 or 3 times (or at the discretion of the moderator) can result in a permanent ban.
The "report a post" feature () is to only be used to report a violating post. If you have any other concerns, feel free to send a private message to one of our moderators or administrator.
Posting any thread surrounding the whole "iTouch" argument. Whether you're against or for the word, there's nothing you can do about it and it's pointless to argue about it.

The rules may be updated at any time. It is your duty to check back periodically.

CHANGELOG:

June 20, 2008: Original version written by AlexRADL, Danls92, and bgizzle
Date unavailable: Rules added to clarify stance on piracy by bgizzle
February 16, 2009: Two quick additions about ROMs and multiple accounts by Kiks52
March 4, 2009: Updated to mention astoturfing and discussion of piracy by bgizzle
March 8, 2009: Updated to mention politics/religion and soliciting/begging by bgizzle
March 26, 2009: Updated to clarify about discussions surrounding MobileInstallation by Kiks52
April 6, 2009: New formatting and clarification by Kiks52, further clarification and formatting by bgizzle
April 9, 2009: Updated to mention US/California law by bgizzle
May 22, 2009: Updated with regards to making threads about "iTouch / iPod touch" arguments by Kiks52
24 Sep 2009: Updated with regards to sharing private info such as Facebook accounts by Kiks52

**bgizzle** · #2 06-20-2008

You can discuss the rules in the Rules discussion thread