Forum Rules

Registration to this forum is free! We do insist that you abide by the rules and policies detailed below. If you agree to the terms, please check the 'I agree' checkbox and press the 'Register' button below. If you would like to cancel the registration, click here to return to the forums index.

Site and Forum Rules: TheBreakaway.Net (TBN)

Welcome to the site and our forums. The Breakaway Network is a fairly large and diverse community spanning several languages, countries and culters. Our community allows for free discussions of various topics while at the sametime keeping respect for one another. The following set of rules have been put in place to keep our community and civilized and an enjoyable experience for all. If you want to be a part of this community, you are to abide by these rules. Having an account on the website site means being a part of this community. If you have an account and do not abide by site and forum rules, you will be subject to losing your access and priveledges.

Since we know you look forward to them, here they are:

General Rules:

• Debates and discussions are not only fine, but encouraged. Insults and harrasments towards other community members will not be tolerated. If you aren't sure, don't post it. Familiarity with the community and board you are posting on will help you determine whether or not the message you are sending is appropriate.
• Certain topics and In TBN's "Unalaska" these kinds of posts can run rampant. Understand where you are posting and if the nature of your post fits with the nature of the forum.
• Just don't bother posting one word replies and meaningless threads ("post padding"). Your forum contribution should serve some purpose, and if it's not funny, informative, novel, helpful, or remotely interesting... why would you post it? This goes for threads and replies.
• If an argument or flame war is going on, depending on location, staff may allow it (or direct it somewhere where it will be allowable). The "spilling over" of this conflict into other areas and threads is prohibited.
• Members are not to intentionally incite hate, ignorance, or strive to make others feel unwelcome. Friendly joking is allowed however if you are unsure if a certain post would be considered as harassment, do not post it.
• Don't spam. Don't advertise. For the most part, don't troll. This goes for use of private messaging and email features of the forums, as well as using other member contacts in fellow users' profiles. There's no need for spam in really any capacity.
• Links in posts can contain no illegal content. They can also not directly take a user to porn, viruses, spyware, or any other kind of "ware" that anyone would find annoying on their PC.
• Discussion of (and posting links to) illegal activities is a no no. Software piracy, warez, cracks, other illegal programs and keygens. To a lesser extent, we include music, film, and television in this rule.
• For any posts that may contain non work safe links, images or topics, include "NSFW" in the thread title (NSFW posts are not permitted anywhere on the forum except Unalaska).
• Do not post pornographic or disgusting images (if it makes you feel unpleasant, nautious, or altogether bad, why would you post it?)
• Admins and moderators have the right to remove or edit overly offensive material without notice. We don't like doing it, and to get us to do it you're going to have to have stepped far over a line. Don't do it.
• If an image/post/thread is removed, do not try to repost it again. Let's try to make sure that it's only the image or post that is removed and not your access to post and/or you. It was removed for a reason by the TBN Staff. Feel free to read over the rules again to see why it may have been removed. If its still unclear, feel free to discuss it with a staff member.
• Posting issues or problems that you may have with any particular staff member public will result in infractions that will not be reversed under any circumstances and will result in your posting privileges being taken away. Harassing a staff member regardless of whether its done on the forums, MSN, phone call and/or any other means of communication will result in an automatic ban. There is a way to communicate and discuss an issue you may have, harassment is definitely not the way
• "Shepherding" is not permitted on the forums (this is when you create a post/thread with the intention of gathering other members to argue and agree with your cause with the sole purpose of creating unrest on the boards). Both you "the shepherd" and the "sheep" will receive infractions. This applies mainly when a particular member is banned or is on restricted access due to something they have done. Regardless of whether it was done with just or unjust reasoning in 'your' eyes, your opinion should not be made public. The 'offender' should contact the TBN staff directly and discuss the issue, you can however offer your opinion either via MSN or using the PM system with any of the staff members as well. Creating a thread/post where you create protests or any other post that creates more unrest in regards to this particular issue will result in infractions and possibly even being banned for a time period.
• These forums are English, and moderated by English speakers. The only place non English discussions will be tolerated will be in the Unalaska & Lounge section of the forums.
• Be aware that although certain topics are permitted in Unalaska and the Lounge, they may not be acceptable in others forum sections (If unsure, feel free to contact any Admin or Moderator for more information).
• There is a filter available for TBN members to block out certain words on the forums, these are in place to allow everyone to enjoy a family safe/work safe environment without missing out on many of the daily forum discussions. By passing the filter is prohibited. (A non filtered skin is also available for those that prefer not to use the filter as well)
• One account for one user. Multiple accounts will only be permitted under certain special circumstances (for example for BHL, ISHL, VIHL and any other league or special event/occasion). Ask a staff member prior to creating any account, regardless if its for an acceptable cause/reason. All duplicate accounts have to be pre approved
• Seem spam? harassment or any other type of post/thread that is offense and breaks the site rules, report it. You can report posts using the "Report Post" icon located next to every single post (the triangle icon with the exclamation mark) on the left hand side (right before the next posters user details are listed)
• We will ban or punish anyone who is it is deemed is a problem.
  
  The "unexpected" rule. If something's not covered in these rules, and a situation occurs, the staff of the site will deal with it in the best way possible.

Punishment:

• Breaking rule will result in infractions and possibly banning of your account.
• Infractions can be looked upon as tickets (similar to those you would receive for having a driving license). Get/Commit an infraction, pay the fine (in this case would be a certain number of points added to your account that will remain there depending on the offense). Collect enough points and have your license revoked (aka your posting privileges). Get/Commit an excessive amount and you're in the slammer (banned account for a certain time period ranging from a week to several months and it could even be a year)
  
  
  Description of infractions that you may receive, their point value and their length:
  • Signature Rule Violation (5 points): 1 Month
  • Insulted Other Member(s) (10 points): 1 Month
  • Trolling (10 points): 2 Month(s)
  • Piracy Talk/Linking (10 points) 2 Month(s)
  • Polluting Threads With Flame War (15 points): 3 Month(s)
  • Racial/Sexual Harassment (20 points): 3 Month(s)
  • Abusing Post Reporting System (20 points): 3 Month(s)
  • Adult/Inappropriate Content (25 points): 3 Month(s)
  • Ignoring Several Warnings (25 points): 3 Month(s)
  • Spammed Advertisements (100 points): Never Expires
  
  * *Do note that the point value and length may be updated at anytime without prior notice. Sometimes you may only receive a warning if you were tethering close enough to warrant an infraction (warnings will remain on your account for that particular time period however the point won't be added to your account). TBN Staff may even hand out custom infractions, points and time period as well when deemed necessary.
  
  
• Anyone with 50 points and above on their account will not be able to post on the forums. You will still have read access to view everything you were able to before and still be able to participate in the shoutbox.
• Having above 70 points will result in an automatic 3 day ban. 90 points will give you 2 weeks. Having 100 points will be an automatic permanent ban. TBN staff may change your permanent ban to a specified time period instead (anywhere between 1 week to a year. Unfortunate you don't get to choose, it will be chosen for you instead)
• Every user banning is reviewed and discussed by the staff, and the banning of your account is agreed upon and finalized. If you are "sorry" it will not lift your ban, though the staff may reconsider length and possibly reduce it to a shorter term. Think about the consequences of your actions; your sorrow or regret of the past does not change the need for punishment. If you do not understand what you did wrong, feel free to ask the staff. You should find your questions answered.
• DO NOT EVADE BANS. Do not make another account. Do not have multiple accounts. Evading a ban will result in permanent banning.
• If we feel it necessary, we reserve the right to take further action than banning if possible or necessary.
• Everyone has the same rules to abide by. Some will be prone to different punishment based on where they did something, what they did, and who they are. Keep in mind our punishment guidelines are as fair to everyone as we care to be. If you feel something is unfair, feel free to contact a staff member and they should be able to at least explain to you.

Specific Rules:

Add-Ons

• Add-Ons for NHL games are made available to members as free downloads to enjoy. These files are to enhance your gaming experience. You must never claim another's work as your own. Modifying someone's work without their permission is stealing. Even worse is releasing it as an original work without crediting them for the original file. Taking any piece of anyone else's work and including it in your own without credit is considered stealing.
• Outright theft and lack of credit are considered forms of add-on theft and will be dealt with harshly.
• Templates are easy-to-manipulate add-ons that allow you to make your own add-ons with ease. If you release work done with, based on, or used from a template in any way, without crediting the template maker, this is also add-on theft.

TBN Trader:

• TBN is not responsible for an exchange of products or services in this area. The issues and problems that may arise from an interaction for an exchange or a sale of an item(s) is an issue that is between those two members and is to be kept private amongst themselves. We will not mediate and/or participate in any way for any business conducted here unless it goes against our general wide site rules.

Signatures:

• Signatures are to contain no more than 50000 bytes in total image file size. People who have "sponsored" on TBN can have 100000 bytes in signature file size.
• Please keep text to a minimum. There is no definite "allowable" specific number of lines of text, because of factors of size and length. If a staff member finds a problem with your signature, you will be informed. Please be courteous and fix the problem, and if you feel the need to argue your case, do so after fixing the problem (we will be more willing to listen).
• Links in signatures can contain no illegal content. They can also not directly take a user to porn, viruses, spyware, or any other kind of "ware" that anyone would find annoying on their PC.

Thanks for your time!
-- Management