Mod. Notice Rules for the St.Kilda board - PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING!

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SITE RULES

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Specific BigFooty Rules
Updated May 2019 by Chief.

The Commandments of BigFooty
Breaking these rules can lead to anything from a warning with no other consequences, a ban from a single thread, a single board, or a temporary or permanent suspension of your account.

If you are not sure of a rule, please ask.

These rules are very flexible...in our favour. Don't invent new and interesting ways to get around them. If we think you are messing with the site, its users, their threads or moderators your account will be banned or suspended.

AFL Board: We like to keep it a bit more straight-laced on the main AFL board so everyone can have a go. Trolling and flame-baiting is treated less kindly by mods on this board. But don't be too sensitive about negative opinions of your team or players.

Bay 13: This board is for general trolling and good-natured banter with other footy supporters. Enjoy yourself but you can still get pulled up if you go over the top. Lots of memes and local etiquette to get your head around. Don't take anything seriously. Don't use it as a board to bully and harass other users.

  1. Don't be a pest.
    • Remember these are real people you are talking to. Don't bait or provoke negative responses.
    • Likewise, don't feed trolls. Report posts instead of taking the bait.
    • Don't create new sock-puppet user accounts just to back yourself up in an argument or bully other people.
    • Publicly complaining about, ranting over and criticising moderators and their actions is not accepted. Take it up with the moderator privately, then with Admins if you still have a problem. Contact Admins on this form or via email directly.
    • Insults are particularly repugnant to many moderators.
    • Club boards are places for club supporters to gather. Respect the team and its supporters when you visit. Liking posts is useful for users to rate posts without needing to post "good post" and "LOL" messages. But running rampant through opposing club boards liking negative posts is a form of disrespect of the club on their own board.
    • Don't be a cyberstalker: Following people around from board to board to hassle them is just weird. Don't do it.
  2. Don't be a spammer.
    • Posts with the sole aim of directing traffic to other sites are not allowed, whether commercial or non-commercial.
    • This includes drumming up readers for your own blog or other online content - post the full content of your own stuff with a link, and only in a relevant thread.
    • Posting the same thread across multiple boards is also not allowed.
    • Our general test is to ask whether the user is here to partake in the community, which is good, or to get traffic for their own site or product, which is bad.
    • If in doubt, just ask.
  3. Don't be a stalker.
    • This includes tracking down and posting social media images, names, addresses and so on.
    • Exceptions will include information for contacting firms, government departments and politicians through their publicly listed details.
  4. No illegal content; respect copyright owners.
    • No hacks, torrents, file swapping, or requesting of same from us or other users.
    • No illegal match video or audio streams, or requesting of same from us or other users.
    • Articles from other sites should be limited to a relevant paragraph or two and a link to the source.
    • No drug use talk or similar. You might get away with contextual mentions or relevant discussion but otherwise leave it out.
  5. No sexually suggestive content, swearing, bikini and lingerie images, racist material, gore and injuries etc.
  6. Don't break the site or do anything that interferes with normal use of the site.
    • Using scripts or bots to scrape content or hammer our database, like posts and so on is forbidden.
    • Don't manipulate or beg for likes to get your post on the home page.
  7. Don't be a whinger.
    • If you get a warning or a suspension don't fly off the handle. You'll only get yourself in deeper.
    • Make your case clearly and respectfully and you will be listened to. Chuck a tanty and you might get the flick.
    • Creating new user accounts to get around bans or restrictions WILL increase your suspension or get you booted off the site.
    • If you are not happy with your response from a moderator, contact Admin here.
  8. Keep in mind rules in regards to your avatars. Signatures are hard limited to a max of four lines of maximum Size 4 text. Don't make your sig overly big or bright, it interrupts the flow of discussion.
  9. For Premium Members: Your financial support is appreciated but does not entitle you to special treatment if you break the rules. Your membership fee is not refundable if your account is banned.

All warnings (also called 'infractions') attract points.

Infractions:
Warning: 0 points.
Minor: 1 point.
Regular: 3 points.
Serious: 5 points.

If you accumulate enough points in a 12 month period you will lose privileges:

5 points - 1 week account suspension.
10 points - 2 weeks account suspension.
15 points - 3 weeks account suspension.
20 points - Your time is up. Permanent ban.

You can see how many current Warning Points you have in the left column of Your Profile page.

Day Off: Mods can also suspend your account for a day if they think you just need a day off to cool down.
Thread Bans: You can be banned from a thread for a day up to permanently if you're making a nuisance of yourself, derailing the thread and so on.

How do moderators decide on infractions?
First up - a moderator considers whether your post caused any harm. If the moderator thinks it did, they look at:
  • Intent. Trolling? Simple annoyance? Attention seeking? Just a contrary position?
  • Severity of the action/content itself. A bit salty vs Porn pictures? General talk vs directed at an individual?
  • Trouble caused - Context? Was it reported or just spotted by a mod? Did it derail a thread? Is it generally toxic to the community? Inciting an immediate flame war vs long-term, incrementally bad for the board?
  • History of the poster. Known troll or flame-baiter? Known feuds with other members?
We think this is a fair process, but we know people have different views. Admin will try to mediate if there is a disagreement.

Board Rules Rule
Some boards have slight variations of these rules (e.g. allowing mild swear words in context). It is better to ask permission than seek forgiveness, because some moderators aren't all that forgiving.

Final Say
The administrators and moderators reserve the right to remove or alter your posts and threads at any time for any reason. We also reserve the right to suspend, restrict or completely block your user account at any time for any reason. If you don't receive a reason or notification of an action please ask.

When you see something that isn't right.
To report an objectionable post to a moderator, use the "report post" link under each post.

Rule Changes
These rules are subject to change without notice. Please check this page on a regular basis for changes, additions and deletions.




By registering you agree to abide by these rules.
 
BOARD RULES


The St Kilda board is a safe house for St Kilda supporters.

It is a privilege to post here, not a right.

St Kilda supporters are asked to be courteous and respectful to/of each other and the club, its players & coaches.

A higher standard is expected of visitors. We generally enjoy having visitors adding to our discussion. We also enjoy some controversy and pregame banter - as long as it is all done respectfully. Use common sense and apply normal social skills. The rules are just meant to keep the board enjoyable for everyone and not just a few. So have fun and remember that this is a shared community and certainly not a platform for your gripes, grievances or opinions. So take it easy, get to know people, build a rapport and your experience will be so much better as you will become part of our community.

If you post here you are agreeing not to use content that is defamatory, hateful, threatening, offensive, racist, sexist, contains adult or objectionable content, encourages dangerous or unlawful activity or can be interpreted as spam.
  1. Always make new posters feel welcome.
  2. The Saints board is for football related discussion - keep it footy related or take it to the Random Discussion thread.
  3. No swear filter evasion. There are underage readers and other readers who are offended by swearing or explicit language
  4. Trolling from opposition supporters is not tolerated. Infractions are likely to be extensive.
  5. Topics that have been done to death. Moderators will merge multiple threads dealing with the same topic. Please check for existing threads before starting a new thread. If you have something genuinely new to add then feel free to start a new thread.
  6. This board has been set up for supporters of the St Kilda FC. Please refrain from excessive or exaggerated criticism of St Kilda players, club personnel or the St Kilda FC itself. This board has a variety supporters who all hold individual views on how important or talented our players are. Posters have been known to exaggerate to stress their point. It is a common practice that will no longer be tolerated. We will edit or delete posts describing players as "useless" or "talentless" or any other exaggerated negative criticism. Similarly do not use excessive criticisms of club personnel (such as a coach or board member) or imply corruption or incompetence without significant proof. Do not unduly criticise the club. These actions can be hurtful to the individual involved or family members / friends thereof. Further they can result in legal action by the slandered person. Repeat offenders risk being permanently excluded from this board. Reasonable criticism is perfectly OK - especially when made in an immediate post match context.
  7. Saying you were only joking after you have been infracted = bad luck. If you are not sure and don't make it clear, then don't post it.
  8. St Kilda supporters are perfectly entitled to be arrogant on our own board. Opposition supporters criticising our supporters for arrogant posts on the Saints Board will probably be given an infraction. :eek:
  9. If a St Kilda supporter has been trolling your board then please inform your moderator to deal with that individual. If opposition supporters think that coming to the Saints Board to revenge trolls committed on their own board is a valid excuse for trolling our Board, then think again. Serious Infractions will be given to all opposition trolls regardless of provocation. You have your own mods to deal with that.
  10. If you are not sure about making a post, don't post it. Or at the very least ask a moderator

    It is your responsibility to know and abide by site rules and these specific board rules. Playing the "I didn't know the rules" card is NOT an excuse.

    For some tips on how to do a bunch of things see here: How do I .....?
 
*NEW*
POSTING AND BEHAVIOUR POLICY


We have noticed over the last few years a certain attitude on the board at times that has seen more than a few valuable contributors drift away or even stop posting altogether. What follows is how we have decided to deal with it for this coming season and beyond. It has been heavily borrowed from our friends on the Essendon board with their blessing. They have had similar experiences which just goes to show it's nothing unique to this club board in particular.

I think we can all see it. A great divide and much tension lingers like an undercurrent on our board. The ones who want the right to be critical are getting frustrated at a perceived push to censor them. The ones that hate negativity are getting frustrated at the repetitive nature of the negativity. One side thinks the mods are censoring free speech, the other side thinks that the mods are not doing their jobs.

We have tried hard to please as many people as possible and to continue what should be an amicable bonding experience for all of us, but as the seams begin to fray, we may have to take a step back and just do our jobs regardless of what you may think of us. In the end, it is the continuation of quality on the board that is paramount. I would've preferred to keep private discussions private, but after having received death threads and police involvement (by different users and not just once), it is better for you all to understand what the moderators go through and have to deal with. We are not your personal punching bag. At the end of the day we are St.Kilda supporters and regular people.

We will make unpopular decisions but if you enquire with respect, we will endeavour to explain our reasons. We may respect your opinion as posters but as moderators, what is good for the majority of the board and what keeps the quality posters on the board will always receive a higher weighting.

I am hoping we are all mature enough to know none of it is personal and if you disagree with our actions, our hearts are in the right place.

We will have zero tolerance for posting that is designed to make other posters time here less pleasant or generally bring the tone of the board down.
This can include:
Any kind of abuse/denigration of a fellow St.Kilda poster (even if in retaliation).
Bullying.
Disruptive posting.
Undermining mods in doing their jobs.
Trolling other posters by way of either posting or reacting ("like", "laugh", "wow", etc) to their posts.

In short, treat others the way you wish to be treated even if you feel they are not treating you that way.

We are aware that a very small number of posters continually denigrate either players, coach or club on a regular basis and rarely, if ever, make a positive comment when contributing to discussions. The moderating team will identify and take appropriate steps to deal with those posters who consistently post derisory content without offering any constructive contribution. This board is not a dumping ground for your negativity. If you want to relentlessly post negative content and are always looking for the negative angle to any discussion point about the club there are plenty of other boards on BigFooty where you will be welcomed with open arms. Take your schtick there.

A note about "negativity"/"positivity". There is nothing at all wrong with being critical of the club, the team, the coaching staff, the playing group and/or individual players. The inverse also applies. You are fully entitled to heap praise too. Freedom of speech however is not free of consequences. This freedom needs to be understood to apply within the following context:

* Your right to express an opinion in a public forum such as this comes with the equal right of anyone else to criticise that opinion. If you are offended or insulted by having your views questioned consider whether posting on a forum is a good way to spend your time.
* Criticism of opinions or views is fine. Personal criticism is not. Telling people to piss off etc is not on. Play the ball not the man.
* Relentless or belligerent negativity OR positivity will not be tolerated. In assessing this issue mods will ask the question "is this poster genuinely interested in discussing or debating the issue?" If the answer is no, expect some action to be taken.
* Circular arguments that go nowhere and clog up threads are not pleasant reading. When something is a value judgement anyway it is okay to agree to disagree. Different people have different opinions. Don't make it your mission to convince everyone that your opinion is the right opinion. Chances are nobody really cares but you. Once arguments and positions start repeating themselves don't be surprised if a moderator asks you to move on. Also, don't take it personally.

If your posting is deemed by the moderating team to conflict with the above guidance it will be dealt with through the infraction system. First your post (or posts) will be deleted and you will be notified as to why that was the case. If the behaviour continues, you'll get a warning and these warnings will increase in severity over time. If it keeps continuing you may be relieved of your posting rights on this board altogether. Please keep in mind this is not the process for people who have a history of bad behaviour on our board - they will be treated more harshly and some of these steps will be skipped (going straight to more severe infractions) based on the users history. Also, if you find yourself on the receiving end of action from one of the moderating team, know that it has more than likely been discussed privately by them as a whole before the decision is made. The moderator handing out the action is rarely, if ever, acting alone.

Furthermore, know that the moderators don't necessarily read every single post on every single thread as soon as it is posted. If you have a legitimate problem with something that has been posted USE THE REPORT BUTTON and it will be dealt with in due course. Don't assume that because the moderators have not taken any action that the content is approved and also don't assume because your report was not dealt with within 60 seconds of you making it that you are being ignored. Moderators are people too with lives and families and stuff going on. They are not here 24/7. There is no need to report posts multiple times. In fact doing so, or indeed reports that are considered frivolous time wasting by moderators, may have unintended consequences for the reportee.

If you have an issue or a query about the moderation of the board in general or something we have done or not done, please feel free to approach us PRIVATELY and we will be happy to discuss it with you. Please also note though that our decision is final and once we reach that point if you are still unsatisfied you are more than welcome to contact a Super Moderator or an Admin if you feel you haven't received a fair hearing. Public commentary of board moderation decisions will not be tolerated under any circumstances. This always has and will continue to be the rule.

The guiding principle with all of the above is that our job is to make the BigFooty experience as enjoyable as possible for as many as possible.


Thank you,

Kildonan Hubnester George
 
Most of our new rules are the same as before with just some minor additions.

Please have a read of the new posting and behaviour policy we have introduced however. This is important.

I'll leave this unstuck for a day or two so it's more visible on the board.

Any questions feel free to get in touch with any of us.
 
May 29, 2012
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Good stuff.
I've found the St Kilda members 2020 Facebook group that the club itself set up is even full of this sort of 'unsocial' behaviour.
I had drifted away from even reading BigFooty as it seemed there was an influx of new members arrived from another board a couple season ago, and continued what seemed a long-term feud.
Most of us just want to talk footy. I don't live in Australia, so I can't have a casual chat at work about AFL or the Saints. Boards like this, especially at these covid-affected times, are a lifeblood of some semblance of social interaction.

Just wondering though, the 'terms' type stuff in the first two posts - as that's more of an agreement for use, don't you need to get members to reverify their agreement to these terms in using the platform? Or at very least be able to prove that all users have seen these terms (such as the frequent emails or notifications we all get of updated user agreements from likes of PayPal etc)?
 
Good stuff.
I've found the St Kilda members 2020 Facebook group that the club itself set up is even full of this sort of 'unsocial' behaviour.
I had drifted away from even reading BigFooty as it seemed there was an influx of new members arrived from another board a couple season ago, and continued what seemed a long-term feud.
Most of us just want to talk footy. I don't live in Australia, so I can't have a casual chat at work about AFL or the Saints. Boards like this, especially at these covid-affected times, are a lifeblood of some semblance of social interaction.

Just wondering though, the 'terms' type stuff in the first two posts - as that's more of an agreement for use, don't you need to get members to reverify their agreement to these terms in using the platform? Or at very least be able to prove that all users have seen these terms (such as the frequent emails or notifications we all get of updated user agreements from likes of PayPal etc)?

The aim is to make this exactly that kind of place, where you can just talk footy without the drama. You're not the only one that feels that way, and we have lost some good contributors for the same reasons, so we are intent on making this place more pleasant for everyone.

As for the 'terms', they are displayed upon every registration with this handy little note. That's not something we've written or modified.

Rule Changes
These rules are subject to change without notice. Please check this page on a regular basis for changes, additions and deletions.
By registering you agree to abide by these rules.
 
Hey George , how will this affect the player advocates . Should we not include interviews , photos etc from various web sites and instead just give stats and a brief review of how the player performed? I’m quite happy to abide by any rules , no doubt at some stage i may have to help with some of the players as people come and go throughout the season .


On iPad using BigFooty.com mobile app
 
Hey George , how will this affect the player advocates . Should we not include interviews , photos etc from various web sites and instead just give stats and a brief review of how the player performed? I’m quite happy to abide by any rules , no doubt at some stage i may have to help with some of the players as people come and go throughout the season .


On iPad using BigFooty.com mobile app
I don't think any of that is against any rules?
 


"We don't talk to one another like that"

Now that we're midway through another season I wanted to revisit this thread to ensure that everyone has seen and is familiar with the Behaviour Policy.
(While you're here - a good time to review the rules if you haven't in a while).

The gist of it being that this should be an enjoyable place for people to talk about the footy.

We will have zero tolerance for posting that is designed to make other posters time here less pleasant or generally bring the tone of the board down.
This can include:
Any kind of abuse/denigration of a fellow St.Kilda poster (even if in retaliation).
Bullying.
Disruptive posting.
Undermining mods in doing their jobs.
Trolling other posters by way of either posting or reacting ("like", "laugh", "wow", etc) to their posts.

In short, treat others the way you wish to be treated even if you feel they are not treating you that way.

Please be mindful of how you talk to people. Share opinions, debate and disagree - but do it respectfully.
There is not often any good reason to need to be rude or insulting, or to attempt to make fun of or antagonise somebody to get a response.

"Play the ball, not the man" - discuss the opinion but don't insult the individual for having it.

  • Your right to express an opinion in a public forum such as this comes with the equal right of anyone else to criticise that opinion. If you are offended or insulted by having your views questioned consider whether posting on a forum is a good way to spend your time.
  • Criticism of opinions or views is fine. Personal criticism is not. Telling people to piss off etc is not on. Play the ball not the man.
  • Relentless or belligerent negativity OR positivity will not be tolerated. In assessing this issue mods will ask the question "is this poster genuinely interested in discussing or debating the issue?" If the answer is no, expect some action to be taken.
  • Circular arguments that go nowhere and clog up threads are not pleasant reading. When something is a value judgement anyway it is okay to agree to disagree. Different people have different opinions. Don't make it your mission to convince everyone that your opinion is the right opinion. Chances are nobody really cares but you. Once arguments and positions start repeating themselves don't be surprised if a moderator asks you to move on. Also, don't take it personally.

Although winning generally lifts the mood here, we've still had several instances where threads have derailed into petty arguments. Nobody enjoys reading that and nobody is here to see it; it doesn't belong here.

In short;
  • Continued posting that is perceived to be trolling, arguing in bad faith or fishing for responses will be penalised.
  • "Debate" - don't "argue". Emotive bickering leads nowhere, and personal attacks don't belong here.
  • Please report posts that you take issue with. Responding or replying to 'call out' the poster doesn't help anyone, and is often just giving them what they want.
  • If you have a query about a moderating decision, PM a mod respectfully to discuss it. These discussions don't belong within footy threads.

I'll unsticky this temporarily for visibility. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.
 
Hi everyone,

Due to recent activity both on our board and around the site, I wanted to post a quick refresher on a few rules for the benefit of our posters and newcomers to the board.

I encourage you to read the official Bigfooty Terms & Rules for a clear understanding of what is and isn't acceptable across the site.

  • Opposition Trolls
    • Will earn an instant serious infraction, particularly in match gameday and autopsy threads. I wouldn't bother. Please don't respond to trolls, just report them. It makes our jobs so much easier and gives attention seekers less attention.
  • React trolling
    • Not advised, here or elsewhere. Don't do it, and don't encourage others to do it. You will initially lose your reaction privileges and then potentially face further penalties. If you see or experience react trolling, please report it to a mod (via a PM).
  • Provocative or sexually-motivated images
    • Such as lingerie, cleavage, or otherwise suggestive content are not appropriate for Bigfooty.
  • Private Message Harassment, abuse or trolling
    • Not acceptable. Please report to a mod if you experience this or are made aware of it happening.
  • Discussion of illicit drugs
    • Discussing the use, purchasing or effects of illicit drugs is not allowed, neither is making baseless or random accusations of drug use.
  • Discrimination
    • Racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination are obviously not OK - even when it's a genuinely hilarious joke your granddad told you. Just don't go there.
  • Complaining about moderation or moderators
    • Complaints should be handled privately, not posted in a thread. This is a site-wide Bigfooty policy. If you have an issue, discuss it with the moderator privately and respectfully, and if you aren't satisfied, you can make contact with site admin directly here.

Thanks
 
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