First Draft of automaticwasher.org Forum Rules

[Unimatic1140]

With the upcoming changes to the forums here I have plans on posting a link to rules for using the forums. This is just my first draft and will be making some changes. I'm opening up this thread so all members can review the rules and offer their input if they wish:

[this post was last edited: 7/27/2010-13:22]

http://www.automaticwasher.org/forum_rules.htm

 

[volvoguy87]

Seems to make sense.

Just change the word "our" to the word "or" in the following sentence:
The Imperial, Deluxe and Super Forums will be open to the general public with our without a username on this site.

Sorry to nitpick Robert, but writing and editing my MFA thesis is still fresh in my mind. I had my fair share of typos too (and maybe a few more than my fair share).

When might the fee system go live?
Dave

Thanks for Keeping AW tidy.

 

[Unimatic1140]

Thank you Dave, I fixed that typo. Not sure exactly when we are going to go live, I need time to finish it and I also need a time to be close to the site and not busy to launch it and watch for bugs. I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[surgilator_68]

How about inserting.....

or any members......(between automaticwasher.org and liable.) And after damages add; death or injuries.

"All information, service/restoration instructions and advice given within these forums is to be used at your own risk. By following or using any of this information you give up the right to hold automaticwasher.org liable for any damages."

That will protect you and everyone else. You know as well as I do that it is very easy even for the experienced to loose a finger, an eye or even your life if you do something wrong or touch a live wire.

 

[surgilator_68]

I almost forgot.....

Make sure that people either have to log in on the rules page or at the very least have to check a box stating they read the rules. Otherwise it all goes to waste. Yes, I know no one really ever reads the rules, but you need to CYA in todays world.

 

[turquoisedude]

It all makes sense to me.

As always, Robert, your guidelines are appreciated! The rules are clear and fair - everyone should be able to abide by them.
Thank you again for the time and effort you put into this site and for creating this community.

 

[maytagbear]

Sounds good, Robert!

All your points are very sensible.

Here's one to consider: Any photographs taken by AW.org members may not be used at any other website, or for any other purpose without asking the original poster/photographer.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[Unimatic1140]

Good points Jason and Lawrence. Thank you, I've added both.

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Thank you Robert! Now I have a good idea of what is appropriate and not appropriate.

 

[sudsman]

Robert

What about bogas e mail address on profiles? ther are a number of those now? Is that ok?

 

[surgilator_68]

It would be nice to have a real address for members. Maybe there could be an option for to make the address visible only to members?

I think it should also be a requirement for people to fill out a profile, at least a very basic one with a name and location.

On some sites they will send out an e-mail after a while and if it bounces or does not get a reply their membership is canceled.

 

[maytagbear]

My interpretation, and this is only MY

interpretation, is:

"Try not to be a jacka..., and make an effort to respect each other, particularly in Imperial, Deluxe, and Super. Respect each other's privacy, especially their 'real world' privacy. Use reasonable care when following repair/mechanical, or chemical advice given here. Content poaching--pictures, original writing, for example, is uncool. If you want to use another member's photos or words, ask them first. Just try not to be a deliberate idiot, try to show some respect, and have some fun."

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[supremewhirlpol]

Perhaps only make the pictures viewable to people who are logged in. How hard would it be to program this?

 

[redcarpetdrew]

I like what I see. I also agree wholeheartedly with Jason about protecting us against visitors with no idea of what is safe! Make a page with the final rules and disclaimers and each visitor must click 'agree' to view anything anytime they login. Of course, Members would only have to click 'agree' once...

I also applaud the loose but "still there" controls on the Dirty Laundry forum. Thank you Robert!

RCD

 

[Unimatic1140]

eMail address must be accurate at time of sign up as a confirmation email is sent. If people do not wish to be contacted outside of the forums I see no reason to force them, they can simply remove or fake their email address in their profile as some have done.

You pretty much got it Lawrence. Melvin it would be a relatively easy code change to not display pictures to non-members, but at this time I don't think that is something I would want to do.

As for the check-box to agree with the rules, that is going to be a much bigger change as it will have to tie into the database. Not something I'm planning on doing at first, but will incorporate it after the donating system goes live.

 

[toggleswitch]

Robert:

A HUGE "thank-you" for keeping this resource alive, despite all the hassles it brings you.

We all need to bow down and kiss this man's feet for the sh-- we have put him though!

But as it has been said before, when one puts so many "girls" in a room together their spin-cycles ultimately synchronize and it gets nasty sometimes.

For me, the politics and religion and egos displayed get to be a bit much. Most scary to me is the rigidity of thought, and perhaps the lack of thought and selfishness that one sees.

Similarly, when one tries to get others banned or make ultimatums, it gets tiresome. You don't like it here? LEAVE and STFU. You are replaceable, as we all are. Don't let the door hit you in the @$$! NEXT!

Whatever Robert desires is OK by me. Now let's all just cut the drama and the B/S and be nice to one another! [this post was last edited: 7/28/2010-12:19]

 

[mistereric]

Instead of faking an eMail address-

I would hide all members email addresses for site visitors. Spambots, ya know?

Then, how about having a checkbox that says something to the effect of "Hide my address..." so that you could even hide your address from other members.

This way you are still making sure you can send administrative emails and allow people to not publish their address if they don't want to at the same time.

 

[foraloysius]

I think the rules are good. No suggestions from me. I think it would be nice to not suggest all kind of options, a lot of those will mean more programming for Robert. And IIRC he does this all from scratch, so ladies and gentlemen please take off your hats for a moment and look at how this website and the Vacuumland one were designed.

 

[a440]

Sounds Great Robert!
Thanks!
Brent

 

[petek]

Does wearing socks and/or a hat but nothing else consitute nudity?

 

[maytagbear]

Pete-

Leave your hat on.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[earthling177]

The rules sound great to me.

As for email: I put a valid Yahoo! email address in my profile. It's not my main address, but I check it often enough that people have been able to contact me. I usually then give them my actual main address and that's that -- it cuts on the spam I get in my email and Yahoo! is also pretty decent in sifting spam apart from people I want to interact with. YMMV, but for people who want to cut on spam it might work well to provide your profile with an alternate email address. I strongly suggest this option because I wouldn't want to have missed the friends I made this way.

As for privacy, each country/state/city has its own needs, so I won't poo-poo people who don't want to provide their real name (or full name) or date of birth or exact location. Some areas have more identity theft problems than others and, while it might not be a big deal for some of us to provide a complete profile, it might be a very big deal for people who are already battling identity theft, so I prefer not to judge. (Also remember that minors are in general discouraged from providing too much personal info by all kinds of authorities in US.)