Note: The thread currently has a limit of one post every two hours for non-mod users. Currently, this is hard-coded by the admins, but there are plans to give mods the ability to toggle it without admin intervention. After mods are given the ability to do that, the time limit may be further reduced or removed entirely.
This thread is for discussing the following topics:
- Questions and clarifications about the site's rules and policies pertaining to wiki editing, forum posting, trope launching, and so on.
- If you have an idea for a thread on another part of the forums but aren't sure if creating it would be allowed, feel free to ask here.
This thread is not for any of the following:
- Reporting complaints or concerns about specific moderation decisions (e.g. suspensions and thumps). Report these directly to the admins via the contact form. Selecting "The Staff" sends your message to the admins only, without making it visible to moderators.
- Queries about thumps applied to your own forum posts (reply to the relevant moderator via PM).
- Ban appeals (use the "Edit Banned" thread in this forum).
- Reporting problems or requesting moderator action in the wiki or forums (use Ask The Tropers or Hollersnote or specialized threads such as "Locked Pages").
- Queries about locked On-Topic Conversations (OTC) threads or banned discussion topics. OTC has its own moderation discussion thread here, and the latest statement on the locked US Politics thread and other banned OTC topics is here. Bluntly, when certain OTC threads and topics have repeatedly caused problems, we're not going to provide forum space to discuss them again until the moderation toolkit is equipped to handle those conversations.
- Cut List challenges and queries (they have their own thread here).
- Requests for changes to the site's code or discussion about such changes', as mods cannot change the code; only the admins can do that. Please direct tech requests to Query Bugs or Query Wishlist, and take other tech-related discussion to the Changelog thread.
- Crowner actions. Please use the holler function instead.
- Discussion about changing or implementing policies. Please use Wiki Talk for that. (Asking whether it's OK to make a specific thread is acceptable; using this thread in place of such a thread is not.)
- Asking about the whereabouts of inactive mods (or other inactive users) before they return, if they return at all. Use the Absent people thread for discussing inactive users.
Posts that use this thread in place of the sections listed in the bulleted list above are off-topic.
We're aware that the Edit Banned thread has a Non-Indicative Name, due to it also covering non-editing suspensions. We're not sure whether the name for that thread can even be edited without breaking the special coding that keeps posting restricted to mods and suspended users, so we're leaving it alone for now, because better safe than sorry.
(Edited Mar 28 2024, adding bullet about OTC and amending layout a little)
Edited by Mrph1 on Mar 29th 2024 at 10:55:20 AM
A couple of related forum moderation questions -
Is there a standard thread/route to agree and request a mod pinned post for an existing forum thread?
We've got some recurring issues on Media/Comics threads with unmarked spoilers, and I don't want to mini-mod or holler these posts, but if we had pinned post guidance it would probably be easier to keep things in line with the wider rules.
And, given that we don't trope content leaks, does the same rule apply to forum posts about content in leaks? E.g. is it appropriate to holler them?
If you and others agree that a thread's OP should be pinned, you can go ahead and make a holler.
As for content leaks, according to this post on the forum rules thread, improperly spoilered material for unreleased works are grounds for a rules thump (admittedly I think I either didn't know this until now or forgot). So, yes, you can holler unspoiled content leaks.
Edited by MacronNotes on Feb 2nd 2023 at 7:11:25 AM
Macron's notesThanks! But, to be clear, folk are fine to discuss detail of leaked content (but not trope it), as long as it's spoiler tagged?
Yes, that would be acceptable as the rules stand right now.
Macron's notesYes, you can discuss leaked content, as long as you spoiler it.
Edited by Redmess on Feb 2nd 2023 at 1:43:52 PM
Optimism is a duty.I think the "no rickrolling" bit should be removed from the forum rules. Not only is it not something seen as negative these days (especially in comparison to shock sites, which it has no right being mentioned next to), but it's often looked back on fondly (look up how a link to it became the most upvoted post of 2020 on Reddit). Plus one of the most relationship statuses is a shortening of the link, and that is acceptable. At the very least, it could probably be removed for becoming far less relevant and common than it used to be, just like discussion of Mass Effect 3's ending was removed a while back from the video game forum rules. That said, it should only be kept to the less serious forums only, but that's probably common sense.
Edited by Piterpicher on Feb 2nd 2023 at 1:57:50 PM
Currently mostly inactive. An incremental game I tested: https://galaxy.click/play/176 (Gods of Incremental)Regardless of whether or not rickrolling is as common as it used to be, people still do it every now and then. Also, misleading people with unrelated video links is seen as a violation of the links/videos context rule.
Maybe we can incorporate "rickrolling" into the link context rule instead of it having its own rule though.
Macron's notesI like the idea of combining it with the link-discuss rules~
Something like "no prank/shock links" could work combined with that link context rule. Definitely not singling out rickrolling, because there are (debatably) worse modern forms like stickbugging out there.
Edited by Piterpicher on Feb 2nd 2023 at 2:42:14 PM
Currently mostly inactive. An incremental game I tested: https://galaxy.click/play/176 (Gods of Incremental)stickbugging?
New theme music also a boxLook up "Get stick bugged lol". It's another meme music video used to trick people. In any case, rickrolling should not be singled out as a form of prank linking when there are many (especially ones that are more mean spirited or likely to be seen as annoying).
Edited by Piterpicher on Feb 2nd 2023 at 4:01:44 PM
Currently mostly inactive. An incremental game I tested: https://galaxy.click/play/176 (Gods of Incremental)I think it all can be wrapped by "accurately describe what the link leads to" rule. Also unsure if wording of the forum rules is covered by "moderation" topic.
TroperWall / WikiMagic CleanupThe wording of the forum rules is covered by this thread. As long as the concerns regarding the forum rules aren't nitpicky in nature, people can voice them here.
Macron's notesWhile I feel like "no rickrolling" is a pretty pointless rule altogether (outside of serious forums), if doing so is violating a more general rule, then it's probably better to mention it there. I think it'd work like this:
- Referencing external content: When referencing external content (a news article, a social media post, a YouTube video, etc.), you are required to put in the effort to generate engagement, while also complying with copyright rules. Do not drop links and expect people to talk about them (we refer to these as "link, discuss" posts), but also do not dump the entire contents of an article into a post, and especially do not post links intended to shock/prank people.
- Link to the source. If the source is a document format like Word or PDF, state that so people can be informed of what they're clicking on.
- Identify the source. This can include the title of the publication (Reuters, Washington Post), the name of the social media site (Twitter, Facebook), and/or the identity of the person being cited (Bill Nye, Markiplier).
- Summarize the content. Write, in your own words, a description of what you are linking to so that someone doesn't have to watch or read it to understand the context. Include your rationale for posting it.
- Minimize excerpts. Where appropriate, you may include an excerpt of the content, clearly embedded in [quoteblock] or [folder] markup. However, you may not copy the entirety of the content (save for short-form posts like tweets). Copy only the amount necessary to emphasize the points you are making.
- Clean it up. Remove image captions and interstitial text. Place [=escape markup=] around any text that creates unwanted Wiki Words. If the article text contains links, embed those same links.
- Exception: If the forum thread is about a specific content creator or work, the link is to an expected, periodic installment, and everyone in the topic understands the context already, this rule may not apply. That said, it is still courteous to add at least a comment or brief note of explanation.
With the "Shock sites and rickrolling are not permitted." line removed from another point. I even included what escape markup looks like so people can tell more easily.
Edited by Piterpicher on Feb 2nd 2023 at 10:25:39 AM
Currently mostly inactive. An incremental game I tested: https://galaxy.click/play/176 (Gods of Incremental)Could I get some feedback? As far as I can tell, the suggested writeup is clearer, more encompassing, and more future-proof than what's currently there, but there may be some flaws I'm unable to see. And for the record, it's mostly the "Referencing external content" and "Clean it up" bullets that are changed.
Edited by Piterpicher on Feb 3rd 2023 at 10:37:00 AM
Currently mostly inactive. An incremental game I tested: https://galaxy.click/play/176 (Gods of Incremental)I suppose it's fine.
Macron's notesI was wondering whether you kept a record of the content of thumped posts, and if so, whether it might be possible for me to be privately sent some of mine (specifically those of Jan 13)? Only I'd rather have another look at them, to have a better sense what I shouldn't do again?
Edited by TwinBird on Feb 3rd 2023 at 6:53:29 AM
My posts make considerably more sense read in the voice of John Ratzenberger.You can just look at those thumped messages from your inbox. Click the link it gives and then go into the editing screen (if you have access to that).
Macron's notesI was adding Star Trek recap laconics to the cut list, when I accidentally added one of the recaps itself. Please decline that request.
Done.
Patiently awaiting the release of Paper Luigi and the Marvelous Compass.Just posting to say that I updated the forum rules regarding external links to what's been suggested by Piter here
Macron's notesOK. Thank you for the consideration.
Currently mostly inactive. An incremental game I tested: https://galaxy.click/play/176 (Gods of Incremental)Hm, isn't the part about cleaning up the formatting to avoid wiki words etc. a little overzealous as a rule for making forum posts?
Avatar SourceI thought it was more of a guideline. People don't get thumped for messing up on link formatting.
Macron's notes
^ Restored.
Macron's notes