Etiquette for an Off-Topic world

I have seen some aftermath of some unrest in Evony OT and have pieced some of it together. I believe it is time for someone to lay out some guidelines of etiquette. These are not rules, and I don't expect them to be enforced. These are guidelines on which should be used as tools to ensure a more happy, balanced environment. I do not expect every single person here to use these guidelines, I don't expect everybody to support these guidelines.

I have created special etiquette guidelines which are tailored to fit Evony Off-Topic. These guidelines are based on the generally accepted "Netiquette", books written about etiquette, and research on acceptable behavior.

1. Don't Bite The Newcomers! They are new, they need guidance in order to find their way around while they get accustomed to Off-Topic!
2. Be helpful. If someone needs help, provide it willingly!
3. Don't say something to start a fight. Its wrong, and ugly.
4. Watch your mouth. If you have to say something obscene star it all out...
5. Don't flame. Nobody likes it. Nobody wants it.
6. Respect the Moderators! Their decisions are for the best!
7. Treat others how you want to be treated

Information on general online etiquette, known as Netiquette, can be found here: http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html

Additionally, you can find out more about netiquette, etiquette, and acceptable behavior by using your favorite search engine.

props for this!!
when i came down here all those months ago, OT was a relaxed, fun, and welcomeing place. a true haven from the bashing, back biting, hostile word of GD. the regulars were for the most part welcoming and friendly, patient with the mistakes of a "noob" (something i was never called, to my face or knowlegde).
i agree that we need to take a step back and look at our own actions, modifying them if nessasary.

thank you for this well worded, and thoughtfull reminder

Good rules, Rep given.

Excellent rules, acceptably easy to follow.

I like this,
thanks for posting it. :)

Your welcome! better response than I expected, thanks for the rep!

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Originally Posted by DeSalvionjr

Your welcome! better response than I expected, thanks for the rep!

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truly? we used to be a nice group. you have politly reminded us of that with out pointing fingers, given those who would pop in just to say "well i'm not gonna nd u cant make me" that option and made it clear that That kind of responce is not what you are looking for.
you have raised the bar for us and i think we are all, if not all i know i am, gratefull for the tact and grace you shown in doing so.

Alas DeSal, I too have seen how we have fallen. Thanks for telling everyone.

Good one DeSal, rep will be given tonight (for some reason it won't work from where I am now)....

Totally agree.... Although (because of time-difference) i've missed it entirely (perhaps for the better)...

Well said. My name is Logrus and I approve this message.

A carved oak table
Tells a tale
Of times when kings and queens sipped wine from goblets gold
And the brave would lead their ladies from out the room
To arbours cool.

A time of valor, and legends born
A time when honor meant much more to a man than life
And the days knew only strife to tell right from wrong
Through lance and sword...

A dusty table
Musty smells
Tarnished silver lies discarded upon the floor
Only feeble light descends through a film of grey
That scars the panes.

Gone the carving
And those who left their mark
Gone the kings and queens, now only the rats hold sway
And the weak must die according to nature's law
As old as they...







from TIMETABLE by GENESIS.

Perfect summation of what happened Wildor

I would also like to appologize for me not trying to stop them, even encoringing then a little at the beginning, that was inexcusable, and I'm sorry.

Kudos

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Originally Posted by bob19991

Perfect summation of what happened Wildor

I would also like to appologize for me not trying to stop them, even encoringing then a little at the beginning, that was inexcusable, and I'm sorry.

Kudos

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Another person I will have actual respect for for publicly apologizing and admitting fault.

Abracax, no, I do not deserve the respect, what I failed to do overwelms it all

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Originally Posted by bob19991

Abracax, no, I do not deserve the respect, what I failed to do overwelms it all

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I was just as bad Bob, anyone who watched it but didn't do anything was bad. But we're better because we're admitting it:)

Not sure exactly what happened but between the suspencions and a few guidlines to remind people i hope this can help get he OT as a good place to be.

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Originally Posted by bob19991

Abracax, no, I do not deserve the respect, what I failed to do overwelms it all

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Originally Posted by woody513

I was just as bad Bob, anyone who watched it but didn't do anything was bad. But we're better because we're admitting it:)

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The point is, the two of you are willing to apologize for not standing up and doing the right thing, the two of you have admitted that by not doing anything you are also at fault. That takes more courage than it does to attack someone without provocation. So yes, you do deserve respect for having the courage to apologize and admit you did not help.

The two of you have earned respect from me simply for having enough courage to step up.

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Originally Posted by abracax

The point is, the two of you are willing to apologize for not standing up and doing the right thing, the two of you have admitted that by not doing anything you are also at fault. That takes more courage than it does to attack someone without provocation. So yes, you do deserve respect for having the courage to apologize and admit you did not help.

The two of you have earned respect from me simply for having enough courage to step up.

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I must agree with Abracax. Admitting fault and striving to do better is an admirable human trait, not as widespread as it should be perhaps.

I will not play holier than thou. Had I been less self-centered on the little "joke-trial" I was trying to set up, I maybe would have been more aware of what was going on. logrus, though participating with me, certainly was. Others too.

A collective apology to the victim of such gross misconduct is not a bad idea in my view.

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Originally Posted by Wildor

I must agree with Abracax. Admitting fault and striving to do better is an admirable human trait, not as widespread as it should be perhaps.

I will not play holier than thou. Had I been less self-centered on the little "joke-trial" I was trying to set up, I maybe would have been more aware of what was going on. logrus, though participating with me, certainly was. Others too.

A collective apology to the victim of such gross misconduct is not a bad idea in my view.

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Wildor, I think you're right, but the problem is, how do we conatact her?

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Originally Posted by woody513

Wildor, I think you're right, but the problem is, how do we conatact her?

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The idea was abracax's to begin with.

I believe a public message from him on her personal page, on behalf of all of us, is the best we can do right now. Hopefully she'll return and see it.




(EDIT): Also, if someone here is friends with ESCALANTE, I want to make him a fellow " Chevalier Errant D'Evony" (Knight Errant of Evony). I left him a message, but I'm not sure he takes me seriously.

Rep given. Great topic. b^_^

You know what? I think we all know I'm a bit of a ******bag. But I'm not going to apologize for that. I do what I do because I enjoy it, and every now and then it makes someone laugh. I live for that. So if anyone has been insulted by my posts, if anyone thinks I've gone over the line a few times, fine. I like this forum, and I like how it works for the most part. Hopefully you all can deal with a few comedic insults.

On that note, I like the idea of trying to reform the off topic section a bit. I haven't been around as long as some people, so I'm not sure I can truly say I know exactly what people mean by "the way it used to be." Anyway, I'm gonna keep doing what I do.

I didn't actually have anything to do with what happened in the photo thread, which is what I expect this thread is actually about, but I just wanted to clarify a few things.

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Originally Posted by Harok

In what will probably be my last post on these forums I would like to explain my actions, or lack of actions yesterday. Much of what I post I have been discussing with FoxyBunny via PMs. I apologize for the length ahead of time.

The first online community I considered myself a part of was a fantasy football website. The start of each football season would bring in a ton of new people and then most would disappear when the season ended leaving a much smaller group of people. Inside that group was an even smaller group of people who had been around since the site opened and called themselves Old Timers. Eventually they became bored and came up with ways to try and entertain themselves.

One of the most common ways to do this was to create a new account just to start a fight or different personalities like a cute girl. They referred to this game as "fishing" since they were throwing out "bait" and would see who would "bite". After a day or 2 they would get bored or a mod would out them and they would all laugh at anyone who was "caught" by their trick.

Having seen it a few times you quickly learn the clues to look for and are suspicious of new members who start out with a bang. Cute pictures or instant arguing were two of the biggest clues. Ring a bell for any members yesterday?

So when I read the photos thread I took the cautious approach so as not to be "caught" if it was a fake account. In case it was a real account I tried to lighten the mood with a wise crack at Knuckles and a general comment about how the threads mood wasn't nice using sarcasm.

Should I have ignored the fact that it could be a fake account and accepted I could look silly by being tricked and standing up for it? Probably. I've been careful in the past when another user jumped on and put up a couple of attention grabbing threads (I can't find them now but I remember posting that I hoped for an IP check on them) and maybe that needs to change.

So while not offering a full apology I hope I've at least shed light on why I behaved the way I did. The entire ordeal has left a bad taste in my mouth which is why I will be taking a long break and probable retirement from here. Probably a case of addition by subtraction for the quality of the board. ;)

Anyway best of luck to all, I've enjoyed sharing some internet-space with all of you.

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There is a reason I gave respect to Woody and Bob. This earns no respect from me at all. The persons first post was pics of themselvs and saying hi, then was attacked nonstop and only after 4 pages of attacks did the person finally start to defend themselves as best they could. You try and turn it around and say even though you were active in the thread and were one of the ones that said "thats just zen", that you share none of the responsibility because you think it was fake.

Bully for you, for being so psychic that you know every account that is new is fake. Good job, enjoy your time away.

ok i have to get it off my chest befor the guilt gives me an ulcer. yes i feel horabull about what happend. yes i feel i should have steped up and done more then post sarcastic comments that no one seemed to notice in the first place. yes i feel cowerdly. yes i hope i can change. i have to go thro up, because i make myself sick.

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Originally Posted by CandleLite

ok i have to get it off my chest befor the guilt gives me an ulcer. yes i feel horabull about what happend. yes i feel i should have steped up and done more then post sarcastic comments that no one seemed to notice in the first place. yes i feel cowerdly. yes i hope i can change. i have to go thro up, because i make myself sick.

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Well it's good that everyone is putting it out in the open and apologizing for what they did.

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Originally Posted by woody513

Well it's good that everyone is putting it out in the open and apologizing for what they did.

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Almost everyone.

Thank you Candlelite for openly apologizing.


Here in OT we are given a huge amount of room to mess around and we get away with murder, why? Simple, we all in some way are helpful in the rest of the Evony forums. If we cannot behave ourselves and have to be policed like the rest of the forums, how fun does anyone think OT would be. We mostly police ourselves, and the mods stand back and laugh at us. This is the way a community should be, it should be a rare occasion that any type of authority has to step in.

Please in the future everyone think about this, how much we do get away with in OT because we do contribute to the rest of the forum and help as needed. I don't know about everyone else, I for one would hate to see this ruined and OT become like the rest of Evony forums.

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Originally Posted by abracax

Almost everyone.

Thank you Candlelite for openly apologizing.


Here in OT we are given a huge amount of room to mess around and we get away with murder, why? Simple, we all in some way are helpful in the rest of the Evony forums. If we cannot behave ourselves and have to be policed like the rest of the forums, how fun does anyone think OT would be. We mostly police ourselves, and the mods stand back and laugh at us. This is the way a community should be, it should be a rare occasion that any type of authority has to step in.

Please in the future everyone think about this, how much we do get away with in OT because we do contribute to the rest of the forum and help as needed. I don't know about everyone else, I for one would hate to see this ruined and OT become like the rest of Evony forums.

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That's what I call hitting the nail right on the head. Completely agreed.

wow! I thought less people would agree!

man.. following those rules would equate to a very boring online experience :(

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Originally Posted by drizztix

man.. following those rules would equate to a very boring online experience :(

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hmmmmmmmmmmm
I never said these were rules, I never said you need to follow them.

*runs through the thread on fire*

My hair is burning, my hair is burning!!!!!!! Yet I too agree with this thread. I also need to try to fit myself back into the OT crowd much more. And we should try to explain certain members to people as well, because they tend not to understand the way they work!

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH

*runs out of the thread*

(good post Desalv)

Shawawawa!
*Puts AB out*
Gosh AB, how do you get on fire so often... Have you been practicing "Shawawawa"?

let me see try.......
awawawachs.

*Breaks out in fire again.*

AAAAHHHHHHHHHHH everytime!!!!

Good thread :) Now to get the people who do this stuff ot read it....

yeah.........

Believe it or not, I like the OT. You guys do a good job of moderating each other in here, and that's why I and the mod team are a little easier on y'all.

Good thread.

Nice job taking care of business when a few people got out of line with a new member.

Keep it up.

Mike

*taps Valkirah on shoulder, making him invisible, probably for a second time or more, making him invisible*

I am bumping this thread because I think we all need a refresher... Even me.

[bump approved by the awesome foxybunny]

yes, you need a refresher....

It's still necroing.

Yeah, but it's "Approved Necroing"!