Post by saddlebredlover on Nov 21, 2006 16:02:27 GMT -5
Message Board Rules:
These will occasionally be added to, so please refer back!
NEWCOMERS – It’s a great idea to watch the cams for a while, as well as the posting that goes on, before jumping in head first. Sometimes you may see something that you don’t understand, or may misinterpret on the cams that is completely
normal. The ‘veteran’ posters will usually pick up on any problems and post about them, but by all means, we are here to help newcomers. If you have questions, feel free to ask them!
PERSONAL ISSUES/DISPUTES - Please do not use the board to discuss personal issues/disputes with others. Everyone here is to be treated with respect, and if a discussion gets heated and personal, please agree to disagree, or take it to private message. This is a friendly community.
PERSONAL THREADS – If a thread is started with the intention of involving only a few members, it is a personal thread. These threads may be locked or removed by a moderator at their discretion, as these types of discussions really should go on in private message. Please make sure your thread postings are something all board members can participate in.
POST DELETING/LOCKING – Moderators will occasionally lock a thread if another thread has already been started on that topic. For example, “Mare ‘x’ looks close!” thread was started and has 7 pages, then someone starts a new thread “Mare ‘x’ is looking interesting!” We will lock the second thread to keep confusion down on which thread to use. Sometimes posts that are inflammatory or unnecessary/against board policy will be removed. If one of your posts is removed or locked and you would like to know why, private message a moderator and they will assist you.
RESPECT OTHER USERS – It is very easy to misinterpret posts on message boards. There may be times that you may see something that offends you. But before launching into a public flogging of that individual, please take into consideration that they may not have intended to cause any offense with their words. Please don’t resort to insults and bashing. That will NOT be tolerated here. You can’t tell the tone words are ‘said’ with in print on message boards. Use smilies to try to express the tone in your posts. Always be respectful of other’s views, even if you disagree with them. Also, respect the farms. Things go on behind the scenes that are not visible on the cams. We have to respect the rights and opinions of the cam/farm owners. When they shut a cam off, it is usually to discourage negative feedback….and usually when it’s left on during a bad birth it is met with praise and thanks for sharing a learning experience. Consider your words and thoughts before you share them. Make sure that they won’t be interpreted as being critical or mean. We do not want to discourage anyone from having a cam online. There are so many benefits to it and so many mares/foals have been saved with them. Please think before you post and use the chat room or private messaging to discuss things that may be viewed as critical.
POWER-POSTING – Please make sure your posts are adding something meaningful to the conversation and not just “power-posting” to boost your number of posts to earn more stars, as that is heavily frowned upon. Posting to say “LOL” or “Me too!” are examples of this. It’s OK to answer “LOL” to something funny someone posts occasionally, but answering posts with one or two word replies constantly with every reply you make instead of using well thought out posts that are meaningful constitutes power-posting and is annoying to other members and is wasted space. Please refrain from doing this.
POSTING ETIQUETTE – When you register and pick a screen name, stick with it and DO NOT change it or create multiple screen names unless you have a very good reason and PM a moderator first. In order to make sure the board runs smoothly and the information is easily accessible to all, please make sure you post your topics in the correct categories. For instance, general horse topics in Talk Around The Stables; Mare Watches/Foalings and important updates/info in Alerts & Updates; contests and fun things (including horse photo contests) in Contests & Other Fun Stuff; youth/18 & under topics on the Youth Board; and all photos on the Photos & Such category. All for sale, wanted, etc. need to be posted on the Mare Stare Sale Board. Also, please make absolutely sure your information is correct before you post it, especially if it is about someone else’s horse. Copying and pasting from other boards is preferred to accidentally posting erroneous information. Also, please make sure you have permission to pass on information or photos of other people’s animals. If a topic has been inactive for a long period of time, don’t bring it back into the active mix and reply to it unless you have a very valid reason. For example, if mare “x” foaled while you were on vacation, don’t come back and reply to it 2 weeks later giving your congrats and dredging it back up into the active mix. Move on with what’s going on today. You can private message your congrats to the owner.
OUR POLICY - It is our policy that material from other message boards on mares that are due may be copied and posted on our message board, or information and/or links to cams of mares due may be posted on our message board (make sure you also post the link to the board you cross posted from so that people can go there to read more if they wish, crediting the post so to speak) unless we receive notification in writing from the owner of the mare or farm/message board stating that they do not want information copied from their site or posted on their mare/cam. Once we receive these requests, we will post the names in this thread. Please respect their wishes.
CONTESTS - All contests must be cleared by Heather unless started by a Farm Owner; except "fun" things on the Youth Board, which need to be directed to one of its Moderators.
IMAGES - Images in the signature area are NOT to exceed 500 pixels wide by 200 pixels high. An example of this size can be found in the Help section of the message board. Please abide by this, or your signature will be removed by an administrator! Also, Please try to limit the number of photos per posting to no more than 5, and try to resize them where they are not too large, as it eats the bandwidth. And, do not post pictures that are not yours without permission - no exceptions!
FAMILY REMINDER – Please keep in mind that this board is open to members of ALL ages, so keep the material in your threads “G” rated and refrain from the use of all profanity and suggestive material.
FLAMING – Negativity and flaming on the board will not be tolerated, be it towards board members or moderators. This is a friendly community here to enjoy horses and the wonderful experiences of watching mares foal. Let’s keep it that way.
MODERATORS – The moderators do their best to monitor the board and make sure things run smoothly and are enjoyable for everyone. If you have questions, problems, concerns, feel free to private message any of the moderators for assistance.
WARNINGS, USER LOCKING, BANNING – If a board member becomes a problem to the community by breaking the rules, they will first receive a warning by private message. If the rule infraction continues, depending on the severity/what rule(s) are broken, the member may receive further warnings, have their account locked, or even be banned for a period of time (or permanently, at the board owner’s discretion).
These will occasionally be added to, so please refer back!
NEWCOMERS – It’s a great idea to watch the cams for a while, as well as the posting that goes on, before jumping in head first. Sometimes you may see something that you don’t understand, or may misinterpret on the cams that is completely
normal. The ‘veteran’ posters will usually pick up on any problems and post about them, but by all means, we are here to help newcomers. If you have questions, feel free to ask them!
PERSONAL ISSUES/DISPUTES - Please do not use the board to discuss personal issues/disputes with others. Everyone here is to be treated with respect, and if a discussion gets heated and personal, please agree to disagree, or take it to private message. This is a friendly community.
PERSONAL THREADS – If a thread is started with the intention of involving only a few members, it is a personal thread. These threads may be locked or removed by a moderator at their discretion, as these types of discussions really should go on in private message. Please make sure your thread postings are something all board members can participate in.
POST DELETING/LOCKING – Moderators will occasionally lock a thread if another thread has already been started on that topic. For example, “Mare ‘x’ looks close!” thread was started and has 7 pages, then someone starts a new thread “Mare ‘x’ is looking interesting!” We will lock the second thread to keep confusion down on which thread to use. Sometimes posts that are inflammatory or unnecessary/against board policy will be removed. If one of your posts is removed or locked and you would like to know why, private message a moderator and they will assist you.
RESPECT OTHER USERS – It is very easy to misinterpret posts on message boards. There may be times that you may see something that offends you. But before launching into a public flogging of that individual, please take into consideration that they may not have intended to cause any offense with their words. Please don’t resort to insults and bashing. That will NOT be tolerated here. You can’t tell the tone words are ‘said’ with in print on message boards. Use smilies to try to express the tone in your posts. Always be respectful of other’s views, even if you disagree with them. Also, respect the farms. Things go on behind the scenes that are not visible on the cams. We have to respect the rights and opinions of the cam/farm owners. When they shut a cam off, it is usually to discourage negative feedback….and usually when it’s left on during a bad birth it is met with praise and thanks for sharing a learning experience. Consider your words and thoughts before you share them. Make sure that they won’t be interpreted as being critical or mean. We do not want to discourage anyone from having a cam online. There are so many benefits to it and so many mares/foals have been saved with them. Please think before you post and use the chat room or private messaging to discuss things that may be viewed as critical.
POWER-POSTING – Please make sure your posts are adding something meaningful to the conversation and not just “power-posting” to boost your number of posts to earn more stars, as that is heavily frowned upon. Posting to say “LOL” or “Me too!” are examples of this. It’s OK to answer “LOL” to something funny someone posts occasionally, but answering posts with one or two word replies constantly with every reply you make instead of using well thought out posts that are meaningful constitutes power-posting and is annoying to other members and is wasted space. Please refrain from doing this.
POSTING ETIQUETTE – When you register and pick a screen name, stick with it and DO NOT change it or create multiple screen names unless you have a very good reason and PM a moderator first. In order to make sure the board runs smoothly and the information is easily accessible to all, please make sure you post your topics in the correct categories. For instance, general horse topics in Talk Around The Stables; Mare Watches/Foalings and important updates/info in Alerts & Updates; contests and fun things (including horse photo contests) in Contests & Other Fun Stuff; youth/18 & under topics on the Youth Board; and all photos on the Photos & Such category. All for sale, wanted, etc. need to be posted on the Mare Stare Sale Board. Also, please make absolutely sure your information is correct before you post it, especially if it is about someone else’s horse. Copying and pasting from other boards is preferred to accidentally posting erroneous information. Also, please make sure you have permission to pass on information or photos of other people’s animals. If a topic has been inactive for a long period of time, don’t bring it back into the active mix and reply to it unless you have a very valid reason. For example, if mare “x” foaled while you were on vacation, don’t come back and reply to it 2 weeks later giving your congrats and dredging it back up into the active mix. Move on with what’s going on today. You can private message your congrats to the owner.
OUR POLICY - It is our policy that material from other message boards on mares that are due may be copied and posted on our message board, or information and/or links to cams of mares due may be posted on our message board (make sure you also post the link to the board you cross posted from so that people can go there to read more if they wish, crediting the post so to speak) unless we receive notification in writing from the owner of the mare or farm/message board stating that they do not want information copied from their site or posted on their mare/cam. Once we receive these requests, we will post the names in this thread. Please respect their wishes.
CONTESTS - All contests must be cleared by Heather unless started by a Farm Owner; except "fun" things on the Youth Board, which need to be directed to one of its Moderators.
IMAGES - Images in the signature area are NOT to exceed 500 pixels wide by 200 pixels high. An example of this size can be found in the Help section of the message board. Please abide by this, or your signature will be removed by an administrator! Also, Please try to limit the number of photos per posting to no more than 5, and try to resize them where they are not too large, as it eats the bandwidth. And, do not post pictures that are not yours without permission - no exceptions!
FAMILY REMINDER – Please keep in mind that this board is open to members of ALL ages, so keep the material in your threads “G” rated and refrain from the use of all profanity and suggestive material.
FLAMING – Negativity and flaming on the board will not be tolerated, be it towards board members or moderators. This is a friendly community here to enjoy horses and the wonderful experiences of watching mares foal. Let’s keep it that way.
MODERATORS – The moderators do their best to monitor the board and make sure things run smoothly and are enjoyable for everyone. If you have questions, problems, concerns, feel free to private message any of the moderators for assistance.
WARNINGS, USER LOCKING, BANNING – If a board member becomes a problem to the community by breaking the rules, they will first receive a warning by private message. If the rule infraction continues, depending on the severity/what rule(s) are broken, the member may receive further warnings, have their account locked, or even be banned for a period of time (or permanently, at the board owner’s discretion).