Registration

Number of usernames - An individual may have only one username registered at ReNext. Possessing a 'dual' will get both you and the dual permabanned. If you want a username change, don't register a new name - PM an admin and request the name change.
Unacceptable usernames - This is a PG-13 forum, hence, the usernames must also be PG-13. Usernames that troll or flame other users will not be allowed.
Re-registration after a ban - If users are permabanned they may not register again at ReNext.

Posting in the Forums

Civility and respect for your fellow poster - If you abide by the basic rules of civility and respect for your fellow man (read: poster) you should do just fine at ReNext. When in doubt, err on the side of civility and common sense.

Other messageboards - please do not use ReNext as a platform to complain about/insult other messageboards or posters on other messageboards.

Spamming

No more than two posts right after the other. Frequent double posts, however, are frowned upon. Have respect for the moderators. We have to read every single posts in the forums we moderate. Therefore, please exercise restraint. Contentless posting is frowned upon. One word responses, a smiley as a response, et cetera, is not looked upon well. You cannot post the same post more than once. Copy-pasting will be warned immediately.

Multiple threads - Please post no more than three threads in a forum in a 24 hour period.
Posting off-topic - is frowned upon. I know that chatting is fun and sometimes threads can be derailed from one topic to another, but in general please try to keep on or near the topic. If you want to talk about something else it is adviseable to start a new thread.

Journalistic/Bloggy topic posts --- are best made on LiveJournal, MySpace, or one of countless personal blogs. Please make sure your topics have some kind of question or way to engage the other posters.

IM-style chat --- is not allowed. This messageboard wasn't created to service as a chat room or an alternative to AIM/MSN/ICQ. Please use these other programs if you'd like to chat in this fashion.

Sig images - sig images must be no more than 40 pixels high, and must be both PG-13, acceptable according to the rest of the rules, and not annoying. Remember, we have to see these images every time you post. Please use them wisely, or sig privileges will be revoked.
Trolling/Flaming
This section is straightforward. Do not troll or flame. Doing such can end up in a warning or ban, depending on severity, as it is up to the discretion of the moderator. Examples of trolling and flaming are (not limited to, however): attacking a poster personally by calling them names or dropping hints and implications of denigration, attacking so-called 'groups' based on ethnicitiy, sex, geographic location, religion or dogma, et cetera. This does NOT mean you can't express your opinion, but please do so responsibly and like an adult, always erring on the side of civility and respect.

NOTE: If you aren't quite sure what troll is, please read the Wikipedia article. Again, what a troll/flamer is/is not and does/does not is certainly not limited to what the article outlines, though it gives a general idea.

Also, this is a great article on
Flaming.
A Note About Trollish Behaviors
There are a few observed ways that posters 'attack' other posters. The obvious ways, like name-calling, slandering, instigating, etc, are covered under "trolling/flaming."

However, there are other time-tested methods in which posters are attacked. These are (but not limited to):
- Bringing up a poster's history not in reply to their post, but rather to make the poster look bad and hence make their argument lose credibility. We'll just call that mud-slinging.
- Picking apart a response for grammar, or taking statements out of context, in order to deflect the argument or obfuscate what the poster was actually sayingso that they look bad, or look like they don't know what they're talking about. We'll call this one deflection.
- Beating a dead horse. This is obsessing about a percieved wrong done that is long past and dealt with, or a statement said from one poster to another you didn't like, or nursing a grudge against a poster or staff member that gets brought up over and over again by yourself, etc etc.
While not exactly warnable by themselves, these kind of behaviors are trollish behaviors. We ask you respectfully to not use these devices to try to get at other posters. The staff here are experienced posters themselves, and this kind of behavior is not as subtle as you might think it is when making the post. The rule of thumb should be: if you're posting just to 'get' at someone, DON'T.
PMs
Private messaging is private, so isn't covered by the rules for trolling/flaming etc. However, harrassing people over PMs --- sending ridiculous numbers of PMs in order to fill someone's PM box, sending illegal content or advertising over PMs --- isn't allowed.

For the most part, however, if you have a problem with someone who won't stop PMing you messages you don't like, simply put them on your "Foe" list.
Illegal Content and Soliciting
Illegal content is NEVER allowed. If you are not sure whether something is legal to post, err on the side of caution and don't post it.

This isn't eBay. Listing items for sale or advertising is a very easy way to get a warning or a ban.

Hotlinking is not allowed. This means if you post an image it must be hosted on your own personal website, Photobucket account, et cetera. You cannot link to someone else's image. Photobucket is easy and free, if you need to host your images.

Pornography is not allowed. Posting pornographic images will immediately result in a permaban.

Plagiarism

You may not, at any time, post someone else's work, quote, any kind of writing or artwork or idea, and claim it as your own. Please give credit to the originator in a reasonable fashion.

For more information on what it means to plagiarize, please refer to this article on Wiki: Plagiarism

Zero-tolerance Forums and Policy

As it stands, the so-called "zero-tolerance" forums are Politics and Current Events, Thought and Ideology, and Sports. Very few friendlies are given in zero-tolerance forums, moderators are instructed to be more liberal with warnings, and one can be banned from posting in the forums if they cause trouble.

Warning/Ban Protocol

Two warnings in the span of a week earn you a one-day ban. Two one-day bans in the span of a month earn you a 30-day ban. Earning any temp bans after a 30-day ban will earn you a permaban. Do not try to toe the line. Frequent warnings and bans, even if they don't fit the above bill, can earn you a permaban. This isn't a game to see how you can 'outwit' us; we reserve the right to restrict this community to those who are respectful and civil.

We all make mistakes, sometimes. If you are unhappy with a warning you must discuss it via PM with the moderator who gave you the warning. Then, if you are still not satisfied with his/her explanation, you may open a thread in Moderator Actions in order to discuss the warning. If you are still unsatisfied, you can petition Renie. However, at this point you must accept your fate; discussing a warning in a thread not related to the warning, or starting a new thread in MA after a warning discussion had been locked is not allowed.

Avatars

Avatars are 120 x 120 pixels and must be linked from another site. No pornographic or illegal content is allowed in avatars. Do not use an avatar selection to troll or flame.

The Rank System and Legions

Ranks are roughly based on a sort of Roman officer hierarchy. They are thus:

Post Count	Rank Title	Rank Insignia
0-24	Gladiator
25-49	Pleb
50-99	Citizen
100-199	Lictor
200-399	Augur
400-799	Censor
800-1599	Centurion
1600-3199	Primus Pilus Centurion
3200-5999	Praetor
6000-9999	Patrician
10000-17999	Senator
18000-31999	Consul
32000+	Imperator

Legions are fora in which only posters of a certain rank can post. Acceptance into a legion is NOT automatic. Please PM an admin if you qualify for a certain legion, and you'll be given permission to enter.

Posting in a legion you no longer qualify for is not allowed. For instance, if you have attained the rank of Censor and you are still posting in "The Citizenry" legion, you may be warned.

THE LEGIONS:

Legion	Ranks Assigned
The Citizenry	Plebs, Citizens, Lictors, Augurs
Censors	Censors
Legion of Centurions	Centurions, Primus Pilus Centurions
Legion of Praetors	Praetorians
Patricians	Patricians
Senators	Senators
The Imperial Chamber	Consuls and Imperators

Closing/Pruning Topics

Unfortunately ReNext does not have its own server, and in order to remain a free, ad-less site it will have to do frequent pruning and closing of topics.

Closing - Threads are closed at 500 posts. Whether the 'next generation' of the thread will be allowed to then open is up to the discretion of the moderator.

Pruning - Once in a while there will be pruning of old, unposted-in topics.

Technical Issues

For technical issues, please refer to the FAQ before asking mods, admins, other posters, or posting a topic in QS&F.

NOTE: This board is new. As the board grows and administrators/mods become more experienced and encounter issues they cannot yet foresee, the rules and regulations may change or be added to.

All major changes will be announced.

BOARD RULES AND REGULATIONS