Windows and Linux forums can be stricter than other forums. And it can be harder to stick to the rules. But if you follow these guidelines you can avoid getting into trouble with the moderators.And being banned from the forums.
Edit Steps
- 1Read the rules or terms of service first. That way you will know what is allowed and what's not,and avoid getting into trouble with the moderators.
- 2Stay on the topic. While it can be difficult to stay on topic in a Windows or Linux software forum,posting off topic can get you a warning from the moderators.And if you continue to post off topic you can end up being banned from the forum. So if the topic is about Windows Media Player, for example,stick to that topic or start a new thread.
- 3Think before you post. Does your post or question or answer relate to the topic? Is it appropriate for the forum? If you're not sure, then don't post it.
- 4Do not post for the sake of posting. As this could be seen as trolling and could get you a warning or banned.
- 5Learn about what defines trolling in your particular forum. Posting just to get attention from other members, posting for the sake of posting, posting off topic, posting a large number of posts in a short time are all actions that you might think are drawing attention.But they're also actions that could be seen as trolling by forums. As can posting to cause an argument.All of which will get you banned from the forum.
- 6DO NOT post the same thing over and over again. As this is regarded as spam,and will get you banned.
- 7Do not post a link to website unless the forum allows it.Many forums forbid this. As this is seen as using the forum to promote your website. If you want to link to your website,check the rules to see if it is allowed first.If you are not sure don't do it.
- 8Don't link to other videos or articles on the web unless the forum allows it. Even if the post is your own from your blog or website, a lot of forums don't allow this because they see this as yet another way of using the forum to promote your website, or get noticed on the web.
- 9Be polite and well mannered.
- 10Do not post swearwords or be abusive to other forum members. As this will get you banned. And never post obscene content.
- 11If a forum member is rude to you or tries to wind you up, do not respond back to them.Being rude back to them will get you banned from the forum.If someone is rude to you just ignore them. Or if they continue to be abusive,you can report them to the admin or moderator. But DON'T whatever you do be rude back to them,no matter how abusive to you they are.Or it could get you banned from the forum.
- 12Typing in ALL CAPS,that is all block capitals. Some forums forbid you to type in all caps,or bold or colored test or even to put your signature at the bottom of your posts.Typing in all caps is seen and read as shouting,by some forums.This may seem silly but it is their website and rules is rules.So if the rules forbid it,don't do it.
- 13If you do something unknowingly that breaks a forum rule, apologize. For example, maybe you went off topic by mistake or you bumped a thread. If you get a warning from a moderator,be polite to them and apologize sincerely. If it's a first offense, they'll likely let you learn from it.But if you continue to do it, you could get another warning and end up being banned from the forum.
- 14Keep some opinions to yourself. While you may have your own ideas about how you run your computer better, some Windows forums are so strict that they'll ban you for posting comments such as: "I don't run anti virus software", or "Windows sucks". If you have such ideas, don't post them on the forum. Also if you're on a Windows forum, don't say "I hate Windows."Or if you're on a Linux forum, don't say "I hate Linux, Windows is better". As this could be seen as trolling the forum and it could also get you banned.
- 15Do copy content from the web and post it on the forum. This is seen as copy write and will get you banned.
- 16If you get banned from the forum, do not sign up on the site again with a different user name and email address. Those moderating will have records of your IP address and they'll know it's you. And that will just make them more angry with you,and they can ban your IP address. And then you won't be able to view the website at all.
- 17If you've been banned from a forum before, do not post that you were banned from your last forum on the new forum.Or you could be banned from that forum as well. Some forums will not allow anyone who has been banned from other forums on their forum.
Edit Tips
- View the site first. That way you can get an idea if or not that forum is right for you.
- If one of your posts is deleted or edited by a moderator, do not post it again. This could earn you a warning from a moderator. Also, if a thread you've started is locked, don't start another thread about the same topic, since this will also get you a warning. The moderators have a right to delete and edit your posts and lock your threads and any other thread you're posting on. You have no control over this.It is their website and they can do what they like.
- Admins and moderators also have a right to move your thread and any other thread from public view to private view. This means that your thread is not visible on the web and cannot be found in search engines.And can only be read by other forum members.This can be very annoying when you may have written some very good posts.And you want your friends, and other people using the Internet to see them. But remember,you are posting on their website,and you have no control over what the admins allow or don't allow.
Edit Warnings
- Even if you follow the rules you may still be banned. Some moderators are just like that.
- If you're banned from the forum do not sign up again on the same site with a different user name and email address. This will make them more angry and they'll ban your IP address.
- If you are banned and you think you have been wrongly banned, you can send a polite email to the administrator or moderator of the forum, but bear in mind they do not have to respond to your emails. If you do not get a reply, do not email them again and again. That is harassment, and they can ban your IP address for that.
- Never post obscene content, such as porn or nudity; that will get you instantly banned.
- Some forums will not allow anyone who has been banned from other forums on their forum.
- The forum has control over everything that you post. They can lock your threads,they can delete your threads,and they can make your threads private view only. Or they can not allow them at all. You have no control over this,it is their website.They can do what they like.
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Article Info
Last edited:
May 4, 2012 by King Peter
Categories:
Internet | Internet Forums and Message Boards
Recent edits by: NightWings, TechFlash1, Zareen (see all)
