So you are new to a forum, made your first tentative post, and signed off for a nice cup of tea. You return 30 mins later to check for any replies. Excitedly, you log back in, and return to your first fascinating post. But what’s this. You have a half dozen replies all telling you to READ THE FORUM RULES. Or worse, your post has just disappeared. Or worse, and this happened to me, your account has been locked out.
The sacred forum rules
Every established forum will have a set of well defined rules. These will have evolved over time to reflect the tone of the forum dictated by its owner. There are some important things to note:
- A forum owner can set any rule he likes
- Moderators can interprete these rules in any way they like
- Free speech is a myth
- Arguing about these rules will lead to one thing. The dreaded ban!
Sticky
You will normally find a sticky post at the top of the forum. This is a post that will stick to its position over time as new posts come and go. It is also likely to be locked so that it doesn’t attract two dozen comments on the unfairness of the rules and calls to free speech.
Hopefully there will also be a sticky FAQ (frequently asked questions). This should also be read very carefully! In this post you will find answers to repeatedly posted topics that the forum regulars are very tired of asking! No one is trying to be difficult here, just put yourself in their position and remember that moderating a forum can be hard work. A few simple steps can save everyone a lot of time!