Code of Conduct

There aren't too many rules here, but there are a few, so please familiarize yourself with them. Take note that their listed order does not necessarily indicate their importance. Generally, and except where stated, they all carry equal weight.

***

1. Do not make threats directed at other users or public figures. You may not like so-and-so, but that is not an excuse to tell him you are going to hunt him down and '...rip his lungs out...'  In addition, stating that a public figure you dislike should be '...eliminated from the land of the living...' is a sure way to get yourself permanently removed from this site.

2. Do not use the published words  or articles of others when posting a comment, unless you name or link to the source. This primarily applies to articles published elsewhere (outside this blog). Even when you do, site the source, and avoid posting more than a few paragraphs, and either indent the text (to set it apart from your own writing), use quotation marks (""), or bold fonts.

3. Refrain from copying and pasting another published author's text into a comment. If you want to refer to it with a one or two sentence introduction and a link, that is acceptable, but cite the author, as described in 2 above. Quoting the author with a sentence or two is also acceptable (again, see 2 above).

(Writing is not an easy task. If you are quoting another, please show proper consideration for their efforts and credit them. Bear in mind also that when something is published elsewhere, the site publishing it may have rights to it and may not appreciate your efforts to share it with the world in its full-blown glory. So, please keep the citations short...)

Note: If you are quoting another commentor at this site, make the effort to indicate who it is you are quoting, so that the other readers know whom you're referring to.  This is not a rule--merely a suggestion.

4. Do not use sock puppets. A sock puppet is essentially a second account. They are often used to impersonate others, or create the appearance of a consensus or disagreement, or give the impression that there are more unique users on the site than actually exists, among other things. Don't do it.

5. Do not spam the site. Drug ads are obvious spam. Posting "Flabio is an idiot" twenty-five times in succession amounts to the same thing.

6. Do not libel others, either private or public figures. If you are unsure of the definition of libel, see the this site:

http://w2.eff.org/bloggers/lg/faq-defamation.php

7. Personal Attacks. In any any public discussion area, it is expected that people will lose their tempers on occasion. In those instances the commentary easily devolves into name-calling, or attacks on the commentator's intelligence, etc. There is no hard-and-fast-rule on how this will be addressed: it will be up to the Site Editors to determine whether or not it is becoming excessive. If an editor asks you to desist, then please do so.

8. Profanity. It's allowed--we're not above using a foul word ourselves sometimes as editors--but try to go easy on the usage. If the primary content of your message is consistently profane, you will probably be encouraged by one of the Site Editors to go elsewhere. What level of profanity is considered excessive is up to the discretion of the Site Editors and in what section you are commenting in. For example, the political and music sections will likely be more lenient than in say, the Polite Discussion Section (no, it doesn't exist).  Also, bear in mind that readers may view this at work, where profanity is frowned upon.

9. Pornography. Don't even think about it.  There are many sites that offer this. This site is not one of them.

10. Not Safe For Work (NSFW) content is a somewhat restricted, depending on the section.  We will avoid putting any NSFW videos or topics on the Front Page without a good reason, and a note to the reader beforehand. The Music, Distortion, and Opera Sections  are more likely to contain videos or images (and sometimes text) that are NSFW. If you want to post something you think is NSFW, ask one of the Site Editors first.   

Conclusion: the site is designed for free expression and thought. We intend keep a light touch.

Please help us keep it that way--we're not trying to cramp anyone's style--but even in chaos, some order must maintained.  Use common sense. It usually provides a proper course.

Site Editors: Machiavelli, Redbeard, Skinnydipinacid, Wes, Winston, and Zoy Clem.

The Master Admin account can be any of the above site editors and wil be used to perform administrative site functions, and to post site-specific announcements. It will not be used to post articles or commentary.

Thank you for visiting the BL RAG. We hope you come by regularly and enjoy your stay while here.

***