Clarification on Forum Rules & Policies
96- Maddie Ruud
- 1754 posts
- HubPages Staff
- Joined: 3 years ago
- Hubs: 220
- Followers: 2818
There's been a lot of discussion of forum rules and policies recently, as well as criticism of the HubPages staff, so Paul and I agreed that a thread reiterating our position was in order.
The rules are very clear:
No personal attacks in the forums. Substantive debate and differences of opinion are okay. Name-calling, insults, threats, and passive-aggressive references to other users with whom you disagree are not.
Generally, HubPages likes to take a hands-off approach to moderation. We prefer not to get involved, wherever possible, and allow users to work out their own differences of opinion. We only step in where clear spam or personal attacks are involved. However, some users have expressed dissatisfaction with our supposed lack of action in certain instances.
In light of this, I hereby clarify our new policy:
Any personal attacks that are reported will result in a 3-day forum ban of the offending user. Repeated offences will result in a permanent forum ban. No exceptions for users "in good standing." No special considerations for context or provocation. (Paul's own father is currently serving a 3-day ban.)
In short:
1) Do not make personal attacks.
2) If you see a personal attack, please flag it. Do not retaliate.
3) If you are banned from the forums, do not take it personally. Wait it out and learn your lesson.Please note that moderating the forums is a very small portion of the work that needs to be done here at HubPages to keep the site running smoothly. Even if it is where you spend most of your time on the site, it cannot be where I or Paul spend most of ours.
I hope this satisfies everyone's concerns.
100- relache
- 2563 posts
- Joined: 3 years ago
- Hubs: 168
- Followers: 1621
That's nice and clear. Thanks, Maddie and sorry people are slinging mud at you just for trying to keep the peace.
91- Misha
- 11168 posts
- Joined: 2 years ago
- Hubs: 18
- Followers: 1919
LOL Cool.
I think more precise definition of personal attack, etc. will help too - considering many participants are not American.
98- Nelle Hoxie
- 1814 posts
- Joined: 10 months ago
- Hubs: 257
- Followers: 454
More than fair Maddie.
91- Colebabie
- 3585 posts
- Joined: 9 months ago
- Hubs: 20
- Followers: 206
Sounds fair to me
- 98
- Nelle Hoxie
- 1814 posts
- Joined: 10 months ago
- Hubs: 257
- Followers: 454
Misha wrote:
LOL Cool.
I think more precise definition of personal attack, etc. will help too - considering many participants are not American.Once they get their 3-day suspension of forum priveleges they'll figure it out.
92- ralwus
- 3241 posts
- Joined: 7 months ago
- Hubs: 77
- Followers: 445
Mind yer manner children. kewl! thanks Maddie. LOL Paul's Dad. hehe Someone got to him.
13- VOICE of CHRIST
- 3 posts
- Joined: 16 months ago
- Hubs: 0
- Followers: 0
Thank you Maddie - may you go in peace.
Just to clarify - cutting and pasting 2,000 words and filling the forums up with huge long posts stolen from other writers promising pain and eternal damnation for not following GODS TRUE WORD, does not constitute a personall attack.
But calling some one a f****** fruitcake does.
Maddie, could you also clarify the policy with regard to suspected spam? I am thinking of the case of a newbie who started a thread on a topic similar to the topic of her one and only hub. The hub was not commercial, and she didn't post a link to it. Is this a clear-cut case of spam, and if so, when can the person expect to be reinstated?
93- Pearldiver
- 2763 posts
- Joined: 7 months ago
- Hubs: 26
- Followers: 299
(Paul's own father is currently serving a 3-day ban.)
And What did Paul Learn about this?
Is there an upcoming No2 hub on 'The Benefits of Elder Abuse?'
- 96
- Maddie Ruud
- 1754 posts
- HubPages Staff
- Joined: 3 years ago
- Hubs: 220
- Followers: 2818
Aya Katz wrote:
Maddie, could you also clarify the policy with regard to suspected spam? I am thinking of the case of a newbie who started a thread on a topic similar to the topic of her one and only hub. The hub was not commercial, and she didn't post a link to it. Is this a clear-cut case of spam, and if so, when can the person expect to be reinstated?
Aya, please send me an email. I'm not clear on to whom you're referring. Such things do not normally get you banned from the forums.
93- RooBee
- 1044 posts
- Joined: 8 months ago
- Hubs: 32
- Followers: 443
Thanks for this and for being a voice of reason here in these fiery forums!
Some fantastic folks may disagree, but I think the HP staff is pretty great and have no complaints about the way things are handled around here.
Thanks for all you do, and for the reminder. Sometimes, I think we treat each other differently in the online environment than we would if we were actually speaking to one another. It's important to remember that we're all people with something in common (we like to write) ..even the -gasp- staff!
77- sneakorocksolid
- 3558 posts
- Joined: 7 months ago
- Hubs: 17
- Followers: 119
Dear Maddie, No name calling , period? I can't call someone a duck-butt, waddles the whale, a barnfart, cow flop, nose-picker, hairball, green hairball, road-kill or a naboob?(I don't actually know what a naboob is but I heard it here) Is there a list we can refer to and reference a number, like: You liberal #3 what the #7 is wrong with you #5!!!!! Maybe not?
Thanks for the clarification. I wouldn't call someone a #2 that would be rude but a #8 maybe.Maddie Ruud wrote:
Aya Katz wrote:
Maddie, could you also clarify the policy with regard to suspected spam? I am thinking of the case of a newbie who started a thread on a topic similar to the topic of her one and only hub. The hub was not commercial, and she didn't post a link to it. Is this a clear-cut case of spam, and if so, when can the person expect to be reinstated?
Aya, please send me an email. I'm not clear on to whom you're referring. Such things do not normally get you banned from the forums.
Okay. I sent the email.
Sounds good to me...thanks Maddie!
- 92
- ralwus
- 3241 posts
- Joined: 7 months ago
- Hubs: 77
- Followers: 445
Are we allowed to flip the bird anymore? just a little one?
- 96
- Maddie Ruud
- 1754 posts
- HubPages Staff
- Joined: 3 years ago
- Hubs: 220
- Followers: 2818
Aya Katz wrote:
Okay. I sent the email.Sorted and replied.
94- Mrvoodoo
- 1361 posts
- Joined: 9 months ago
- Hubs: 126
- Followers: 201
Just to clarify one point:
Are we allowed to pointlessly post links to our own hubs if we think there's a really really good chance that we might get away with it?
Personally I'd like to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony, that would be just lovely.
92- Michael Willis
- 560 posts
- Joined: 6 months ago
- Hubs: 16
- Followers: 74
Thanks Hubteam. I also sent an e-mail to you Maddie.
96- Crazdwriter
- 10325 posts
- Joined: 5 months ago
- Hubs: 111
- Followers: 368
sneakorocksolid wrote:
Dear Maddie, No name calling , period? I can't call someone a duck-butt, waddles the whale, a barnfart, cow flop, nose-picker, hairball, green hairball, road-kill or a naboob?(I don't actually know what a naboob is but I heard it here) Is there a list we can refer to and reference a number, like: You liberal #3 what the #7 is wrong with you #5!!!!! Maybe not?
Thanks for the clarification. I wouldn't call someone a #2 that would be rude but a #8 maybe.HAHA sneak you made me laugh....oh and yuo forgot one...you forgot meanie head my all time favorite lmao
