The IGKT forum has been around for a while now.
Perhaps it's time for a sticky note that lists rules and guidelines.
One might expect as a rationale for Rules&Guidelines something
other than duration; given the duration, the need should thus
be evident rather than, as it appears to be now, conjectured!?
I.e., as the forum has existed for so long devoid of such things,
what is it after this (we might view it as a ...) trial period that
motivates the establishment of such rules?
Frankly, among those things that irritate me in other forums
-- i.p., rudeness and the stupid, wasteful copying of replied-to
texts (including .sig files and images) -- are pretty much absent
here. Yea!
So, what is our need?
>> Searching and compiling some common ones: Rules & Guidelines
>> Stay on topic.
We're pretty good. Nudges and stronger actions (moderator splitting
to new threads?) might be seen, I guess.
>> Messages posted to this board must be polite and ...
Again, we're largely bereft of this, and it might be even
understoodas a common rule of which violations can be enforced, irrespective of
there being some written notice.
> Personal differences should be handled through email or private messages and not through posts displayed to everyone.
> Inappropriate or harassing private messages are not permitted.
Dang, just when I go take my invective to PM and I'm nailed there, too!
Well, again, this sort of thing is not rising to the point of encoding it,
is it? -- or even needed to be encoded?
> Ignore spammers, or report them.
Ah, which reminds me of how SPAM-free we've been? I recall remarking
about some SPAM post about 3 months (?) ago, and it was removed; I
trust that other regulars are amply savvy and can smell trouble as it comes
up will act similarly.
>> Do not use someone else's thread for a private conversation.
>> Use private messages or e-mail for private conversations.
This is redundant of Stay On Topic.
(Btw, a good rule: keep the hyphen in "e-mail" !)
> Do not comment on moderator disciplinary actions.
This is an unlikely needed "rule".
> In order to be understood by most people, use correct spelling, grammar
> and avoid slang unless you know the word or phrase will be understood by other members.
The editor should be red-underscoring spelling violations, so one
might say that that part of the rule is established with immediate
enforcement (well, sort of). Otherwise, I must again wonder at what
of our history suggests that this needs to be elevated to the level of
a Rule? (I have at times stopped myself from using some shorthand
that is grounded in English, reminding myself that there are many users
who have other languages as their natural one. OTOH, such commonly
seen acronymic things such as "OTOH" can be seen to have enough
currency to be expected to be understood; and, if need be, explained
anew, too.)
>> Do not post new problems on someone else's thread and interrupt a topic of discussion.
Back to Stay On Topic, again. But I think we're pretty good on this.
(I recall remarking to someone about posts in Knots In The Wild as being
less *wild* than desired; also about posts finding the wrong forum,
which mod.s should re-locate.)
>> Write concisely and do not ramble.
Now you're going beyond a sensible rule. We lost Nautile for his flair for
indulging the universe in addressing topics; no extant "rule" I think could
have prevented that, but maybe some different method of urging focus
and presenting background.
> Search the other posts to see if your topic is already covered.
This is a common rule, commonly ignored. There can be some help
from the wise users, if the Search function is less than an immediate
hit -- often one sees (elsewhere) laments "and you know how bad
the Search is ..." . But, egads, yes, just yesterday I came upon the
near bi-monthly rockclimbing query about the "EK"/OffsetRingBend/Overhand
knot on UKclimbing, and I did the Search to find one already-hashed-out
thread on it, with ample information. -- though by the time I replied,
there were already the typical string of half-baked one-liners in reply
(and, there, esp., anything over three lines garners groans of excess!).
"Where ignorance is bliss, t'is folly to be wise." -- one gets flamed !!
> Use a meaningful title for your thread.
"Knot Question" isn't good enuff?
>> Material that violates the rules may be edited or deleted without prior notice.
>> Users who persistently violate the rules will be banned.
Eh, mechanics of redress on where need is likely so infrequent that ...
why Rule on it, now?
I did take some time to scan some threads to check on what has been
going on -- i.p., gratuitous copy of texts (nope!). We seem to adhere
to these suggested rules well enough as is.
--dl*
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