Community Rules & Policy -- Updated April 11/2012

[Matt-H]

Hello users and welcome to the GTA-NeXt Forums. In this thread is a set of rules that each user on the forum must adhere to. Failure to adhere to the rules may result in a ban from the forum depending on the severity.

These rules also apply to content posted to our fanpages, as well as our other pages on the internet. Failure to follow these rules on these pages will result in your banning and removal from these pages.

The Rules:

• Flaming: You can lightly flame in a thread however direct attacks are not allowed, at all. Personal attacks that are obviously between friends joking around are allowed up to a point. If at any time anyone uses racism, sexual orientation, or religion to attack someone, that will result in a ban. Derogatory comments about these topics are treated the same way. Excessive minor flaming towards a single member will be treated as major flaming, which will result in a ban.

• Freedom of speech: Please be aware that we are a privately owned and run forum, and as such - freedom of speech rights do not apply here. With that being said, you are welcome to voice your concerns in a respectable manner but, don't expect to stay around for very long if you think you can run your mouth on the forum. The forum staff will be the ones to determine what is acceptable when it comes to this.

• Thread bumping: Bumping of threads is unacceptable with exception to spam forums. If you have a post to make that fits a thread, then that is fine. If the thread was worthy of attention it would have people active in it and would not need bumping. To deliberately bump a thread without good reason is unacceptable.

• Using of content on the Network: Unless otherwise stated, the content that is presented on the GTA-NeXt Network is written by the GTA-NeXt Network staff team or taken from sources where permission has been given to reproduce such. Use of content presented on the Network is strictly prohibited unless otherwise given permission to use by the owner.

• Rape/Surprise Sex and related jokes: Are not allowed.

• Secondary Accounts: On the forums, you are permitted to register only ONE account. Duplicate accounts will be banned and depending on the situation the main account may be banned too.

• Leet speak: Typing shorthand (R u going 2night?) is allowed to a certain extent. If it’s just for mucking around that’s fine, if you are actually trying to contribute to the topic your post should be at least remotely readable.

• External links: The only links allowed to be posted on the forum are are a) official news sites for the purpose of citing sources and b) links to the GTA-NeXt Network websites. Links to fan sites or other unofficial sources are not permitted and may be linked only in your signature. If you joined just to advertise, it is an instant permanent ban.

• Porn/nudity/bloody/disgusting/offensive pictures or links: There will be no porn/nudity/bloody/disgusting/offensive pictures or links posted ANYWHERE on this forum.

• Spamming: Posting spam or pointless posts outside of spam forums is not allowed.

• Report, don't reply: If you are at all concerned or offended by a post made by another user, please notify the forum staff. We will investigate and take appropriate action on your behalf. Please do not reply to topics which offend you..

• Correcting others as though you are a moderator/asking how to become a moderator: Do not correct others as if you are a moderator and do not ask how/if it is possible to become a moderator, and please do not ask for a thread to be closed unless it is your own thread. Asking us "do you need more staff here?" will also be considered a violation of this rule. Please be aware that the only time that this is permitted is if you are applying for a staff position that is advertised on our "Jobs" page - however a three month waiting period between unsuccessful applications will apply and applications made within the three month waiting period will be considered a violation of this rule.

• If you believe a decision by the moderator or administrator was unfair, please send a private message with your concerns to the person in question and/or another leader: Do NOT post a topic on the forum asking why you were punished, for example.

• If your post was edited by a moderator or admin, then that was done so for a damn good reason:Choosing to re-edit a post that was edited by a moderator is unacceptable.

• If you're going to post asking questions to the rest of the forum members, please elaborate: For example, if you posted a topic titled, "What's your favourite car for jumps" you should expand and mention your own favourite. If you're looking for the best possible replies, don't post with a subject like "help". More people will look at threads if they have a descriptive subject.

• Stay on topic: If you're posting a reply to a topic, don't undermine the topic starter by changing the subject. Posts like this will be treated as spam.

• If you post a topic or reply and then realise that more information is required and nobody has yet posted a reply, then do not reply to your own message, instead use the edit post feature to add more information.

• Do NOT talk back to the admins/moderators: For example, if you are asked by an Administrator to change your display picture and you reply with "I'm not changing it" and you can't provide a decent reason which changes our mind, you will receive a ban for disobeying the moderator's request.

• Discussions about Warez: Including but not limiting to: (NoCD) Cracks, Serials, Hacks etc. are against our rules.

• Bypassing the word filter: Bypassing the swear filter is unacceptable on these forums..

• Language of Posts: All posts made will be ENGLISH only. Posts that aren't written in English will be deleted.

The mods are here to do a job. They try to follow guidelines but have the ability to use their own discretion. If a mod feels any type of ban is needed that doesn't fall into a rule, the mod has the ability to act as he/she sees fit. Same with locking threads and editing posts. For those who seem to think mods have to follow a straight line of rules that is not true. We prefer that to happen but mods were picked with trust in their discretion. They are expected to use it.

By registering to the forum, you agree to follow and abide by these rules. Administrative action will not be reversed, if you are banned another-words; that's it. You are banned. Trying to circumvent a ban placed on your account will result in an instant perma-ban (IP ban if already permanent).

If you have any questions about The Rules or anything else related to the network, please feel free to contact us through Private Message.

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[Matt-H]

Please keep this in mind in regards to avatars and signatures on the forum:

Avatars:
Avatars may not be any bigger then 100 x 100 pixels and must be externally linked via another host. We do not allow avatar uploads to this forum due to bandwidth and even if we did, only a limited number of users would be able to upload avatars to the forum, and it wouldn't be fair on the others.

Signatures:
Signatures may be no larger then 500 pixels wide and 120 pixels high. Two lines of normal sized text is also allowed and with no more then one (1) link. Anything over this size and in violation of these rules will be removed by the staff. UPDATE: This now applies to all members and not just regular members.