10-17-2007, 01:16 PM
We hope that everybody will at least read through this list at least once, to get the gist of the structure and intent. If you have personal problems with any of the issues, please send them by PM to any of the moderators. We will give you a respond to all comments asap.
UTAH MESSAGE BOARDS GUIDELINES
The Utah Board of BFT is very active, with a lot of members. Since there are differences of opinion among members as to how they would like their board to function, and how they want it moderated, a joint meeting was held between the co-moderators and a member of the main BFT administration staff to establish some guidelines. The following issues were discussed, and a vote taken on each of them. Here are the results of that meeting and the majority votes:
BASIC TONE AND DIRECTION:
It is requested that members restrict their posts and replies to matters related to fishing…not necessarily just Utah fishing. There are other “sub-boards” to deal with other topics. Participation is open to all and is not limited to Utah members only. Posts from all members are welcome, as long as they remain within the established guidelines. Unregistered guests may read our threads, but may not make posts or send Private Messages.
OPEN DISCUSSION AND CONTROVERSY:
We encourage the free and open discussion of any issue related to fishing, including regulations, tackle, techniques, species, environmental issues, etc. However, whenever someone makes a post that becomes negative and directed at the way mods are performing their duties or is personal attack upon BFT or another member, that post can be moderated or deleted.
PERSONAL ATTACKS:
In most cases, moderators will not interfere in good natured ribbing or mild bantering. However, some members are more sensitive than others. Posts that offend any other member may become subject to moderating action…editing or deleting. Members who establish a pattern of frequently and openly challenging, heckling or berating other members will have their posting privileges curtailed.
PROFANITY & VULGARITY:
BFT Utah membership includes males, females and juveniles. And, since many members let their youngsters read the posts…we need to keep the content “family friendly”. One of the moderator responsibilities is to review the content of every post. We try not to be prudish, but a pattern of overusing even mild cursing will result in moderator involvement. The use of rude, crude language or inappropriate subject matter will definitely incur editing, deletions or loss of posting privileges. And, the substitution of symbols instead of letters in certain words will be construed as actually using the whole word. “Creative” profanity will be moderated too.
“POLITICAL CORRECTNESS”:
We will not tolerate the use of derogatory references to any ethnic group, race, religion, gender or physical challenges. Similarly, posts addressing issues of politics and/or religion may be subject to editing, relocation or deletion.
PHONY REPORTS:
As moderators, we feel strongly about phony reports being made. Some of the reasons we feel so strongly are:
1) The post is invariably made by a new member (whom is actually an existing member logging on as a new member) and moderators always want to make a new member feel welcome, and as a result we are more sensitive to negative replies made to someone we assume to be a new member.
2) Existing members do not appreciate their negative or challenging replies being edited or deleted by a moderator.
3) Negative responses and challenges to the original post often leads to name calling or worse between two or more members.
4) Many members and non-members make needless trips to a body of water, as a result of the false report, with the hope of catching some large fish, to be met with poor results. It is one thing if the catching has changed or they are inexperienced anglers or whatever, but to send folks needlessly to a body of water, as the result of a phony report, is another matter altogether.
HOT SPOTTING:
When a poster of a new thread does not wish to ID a certain body of water, NO MEMBER will reply giving the name of that body of water or asking where that body of water is located. In the same regard, if a member wants to post all the details on a spot they fished....they can do so without being harassed for hot spotting as long as the fish were caught in a legal manner and no laws were broken.
If someone chooses to ignore this rule and post the name anyway or harasses a member for making the post, their post will be edited with a PM sent warning them that what they did is not allowed. If that member chooses to ignore the warning, then it will be grounds for banning that member.
HIJACKING THREADS: For the sake of continuity, and archiving by subjects, we ask that members stick to the subject of the thread in their reply posts. If you have a question or comment that may be related…but different…and could be the basis for a new thread…then simply start a new thread. Posts that take an existing thread in a different direction are subject to moderator discretion. They may simply be allowed to remain, deleted or detached and moved…starting a new thread on the new topic.
PERSONAL “CHIT CHAT”:Free exchange between members is encouraged. However, we ask that members refrain from using the open forum for personal interaction. Use PMs instead. Other members don’t want to read about your personal agendas or private lives.
POSTING PICTURES:
If you wish to use an image for your “avatar”, it should be kept smaller than 150 pixels in width.
COMPLAINTS:
We will gladly accept all complaints from members…on issues of BFT format, procedures, moderating, etc. However, we do ask that personal complaints be handled via the PM function, to appropriate moderators or administrators and that you refrain from posting your gripes on the open forum. Other members cannot help you and they do not want to read it.
MODERATING:
Your moderating team has been assembled for their abilities to provide service to members and to enforce the standards for posting. Ideally, the major portion of a moderator’s duties will be assisting members in navigating the BFT world and in taking full advantage of all there is to enjoy. However, moderators are empowered to edit, delete or move posts…using moderator discretion. They also have the power to ban individual members who openly and wantonly violate BFT Utah guidelines. It has been agreed upon, among the moderators, that an individual moderator can only issue a one day ban, pending review and consensus opinion by a majority of the other moderators. Longer bans will be issued whenever a majority of the moderators feel it is necessary. It has also been discussed that all moderating functions…editing, deleting and moving posts, locking threads and issuing bans…should be accompanied by a PM from the subject moderator to the member thus affected…if at all possible notifying and explaining the action, although this depends on the member and history with said member. After explaining the reason for editing a members post, at least once, moderators do not have to continue telling a member they are breaking forum rules but can issue a 1 day ban if member does not comply.
In short, we want to assure all members that we will do everything possible to make BFT Utah a great place to hang out, tell your fishing stories and to gather information from others…without fear of being ridiculed or attacked for anything you might post or reply. We also want members to know that all have a voice in the operation and directions of BFT. We will listen to your complaints…and appreciate your compliments.
Additions to the above rules:
BFT does not support or encourage illegal activities. Any posts that directly or indirectly encourage such activities may be edited, deleted or identified as illegal. Members who then continue to encourage such actions may have stronger actions taken against them. All members are encouraged to hit the report post button, if they find a post about any illegal activities.
Double posting
Will not be allowed, and will be deleted asap.
UTAH MESSAGE BOARDS GUIDELINES
The Utah Board of BFT is very active, with a lot of members. Since there are differences of opinion among members as to how they would like their board to function, and how they want it moderated, a joint meeting was held between the co-moderators and a member of the main BFT administration staff to establish some guidelines. The following issues were discussed, and a vote taken on each of them. Here are the results of that meeting and the majority votes:
BASIC TONE AND DIRECTION:
It is requested that members restrict their posts and replies to matters related to fishing…not necessarily just Utah fishing. There are other “sub-boards” to deal with other topics. Participation is open to all and is not limited to Utah members only. Posts from all members are welcome, as long as they remain within the established guidelines. Unregistered guests may read our threads, but may not make posts or send Private Messages.
OPEN DISCUSSION AND CONTROVERSY:
We encourage the free and open discussion of any issue related to fishing, including regulations, tackle, techniques, species, environmental issues, etc. However, whenever someone makes a post that becomes negative and directed at the way mods are performing their duties or is personal attack upon BFT or another member, that post can be moderated or deleted.
PERSONAL ATTACKS:
In most cases, moderators will not interfere in good natured ribbing or mild bantering. However, some members are more sensitive than others. Posts that offend any other member may become subject to moderating action…editing or deleting. Members who establish a pattern of frequently and openly challenging, heckling or berating other members will have their posting privileges curtailed.
PROFANITY & VULGARITY:
BFT Utah membership includes males, females and juveniles. And, since many members let their youngsters read the posts…we need to keep the content “family friendly”. One of the moderator responsibilities is to review the content of every post. We try not to be prudish, but a pattern of overusing even mild cursing will result in moderator involvement. The use of rude, crude language or inappropriate subject matter will definitely incur editing, deletions or loss of posting privileges. And, the substitution of symbols instead of letters in certain words will be construed as actually using the whole word. “Creative” profanity will be moderated too.
“POLITICAL CORRECTNESS”:
We will not tolerate the use of derogatory references to any ethnic group, race, religion, gender or physical challenges. Similarly, posts addressing issues of politics and/or religion may be subject to editing, relocation or deletion.
PHONY REPORTS:
As moderators, we feel strongly about phony reports being made. Some of the reasons we feel so strongly are:
1) The post is invariably made by a new member (whom is actually an existing member logging on as a new member) and moderators always want to make a new member feel welcome, and as a result we are more sensitive to negative replies made to someone we assume to be a new member.
2) Existing members do not appreciate their negative or challenging replies being edited or deleted by a moderator.
3) Negative responses and challenges to the original post often leads to name calling or worse between two or more members.
4) Many members and non-members make needless trips to a body of water, as a result of the false report, with the hope of catching some large fish, to be met with poor results. It is one thing if the catching has changed or they are inexperienced anglers or whatever, but to send folks needlessly to a body of water, as the result of a phony report, is another matter altogether.
HOT SPOTTING:
When a poster of a new thread does not wish to ID a certain body of water, NO MEMBER will reply giving the name of that body of water or asking where that body of water is located. In the same regard, if a member wants to post all the details on a spot they fished....they can do so without being harassed for hot spotting as long as the fish were caught in a legal manner and no laws were broken.
If someone chooses to ignore this rule and post the name anyway or harasses a member for making the post, their post will be edited with a PM sent warning them that what they did is not allowed. If that member chooses to ignore the warning, then it will be grounds for banning that member.
HIJACKING THREADS: For the sake of continuity, and archiving by subjects, we ask that members stick to the subject of the thread in their reply posts. If you have a question or comment that may be related…but different…and could be the basis for a new thread…then simply start a new thread. Posts that take an existing thread in a different direction are subject to moderator discretion. They may simply be allowed to remain, deleted or detached and moved…starting a new thread on the new topic.
PERSONAL “CHIT CHAT”:Free exchange between members is encouraged. However, we ask that members refrain from using the open forum for personal interaction. Use PMs instead. Other members don’t want to read about your personal agendas or private lives.
POSTING PICTURES:
If you wish to use an image for your “avatar”, it should be kept smaller than 150 pixels in width.
COMPLAINTS:
We will gladly accept all complaints from members…on issues of BFT format, procedures, moderating, etc. However, we do ask that personal complaints be handled via the PM function, to appropriate moderators or administrators and that you refrain from posting your gripes on the open forum. Other members cannot help you and they do not want to read it.
MODERATING:
Your moderating team has been assembled for their abilities to provide service to members and to enforce the standards for posting. Ideally, the major portion of a moderator’s duties will be assisting members in navigating the BFT world and in taking full advantage of all there is to enjoy. However, moderators are empowered to edit, delete or move posts…using moderator discretion. They also have the power to ban individual members who openly and wantonly violate BFT Utah guidelines. It has been agreed upon, among the moderators, that an individual moderator can only issue a one day ban, pending review and consensus opinion by a majority of the other moderators. Longer bans will be issued whenever a majority of the moderators feel it is necessary. It has also been discussed that all moderating functions…editing, deleting and moving posts, locking threads and issuing bans…should be accompanied by a PM from the subject moderator to the member thus affected…if at all possible notifying and explaining the action, although this depends on the member and history with said member. After explaining the reason for editing a members post, at least once, moderators do not have to continue telling a member they are breaking forum rules but can issue a 1 day ban if member does not comply.
In short, we want to assure all members that we will do everything possible to make BFT Utah a great place to hang out, tell your fishing stories and to gather information from others…without fear of being ridiculed or attacked for anything you might post or reply. We also want members to know that all have a voice in the operation and directions of BFT. We will listen to your complaints…and appreciate your compliments.
Additions to the above rules:
BFT does not support or encourage illegal activities. Any posts that directly or indirectly encourage such activities may be edited, deleted or identified as illegal. Members who then continue to encourage such actions may have stronger actions taken against them. All members are encouraged to hit the report post button, if they find a post about any illegal activities.
Double posting
Will not be allowed, and will be deleted asap.