Rules and Policy Changes - Please Read

[Stu]

Hi Guy's,
We have altered several of our rules and policies in recent weeeks and we are also getting a few questions about the features of this site, can you please take a moment to read though the FAQ section (http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/faq.php), where you will find the updated Rules and Policy and also the answers to many Frequently Asked Questions.

You can find the FAQ link towards the top of all the forum pagesAt the top of the forum pages.
FAQ section (http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/faq.php).

I would also draw your attention to this addition in particular HERE (http://www.thedibb.co.uk/forums/faq.php?faq=vb3_board_faq#faq_dibbinfractions)

[ursula]

I know it is serious and that you need to find ways to clamp down on the few people who spoil it for the majority but I love the 500 points for spamming!!! Luckily I do not know how to spam, or even what spam is (apart from it comes in a tin) so I think I should be ok there. Do not know abut filters and links either and would never say anything about anyone else so think I can keep a clean license.

[Stu]

LOL Ann :)

Spam is unsolicited advertising, in our case, it's the posting of messages on the forums that have been made for the sole purpose of advertising something.

This also covers advertising sent via our PM system.

FILTERS: We have various filters on the DIBB that prevent certain words, phrases or URL's being posted. These are replaced with ******* however it is possible to avoid these filters by using special keyboard characters or numbers, you could use a 1 in place of an i for example, this would be classed as a Filter violation.

We don't allow the posting of URL's by new members but again the URL could be broken up or changed like hot mail dot com instead of hotmail.com

Inappropriate Link: would be where a link to a webpage is posted and that webpage contains unsuitable content for the DIBB, such as pornography.

Signature violation: just means adding things into your signature that shouldn't be there. This could be a Link, comment or picture for example

[gala]

Stu - a few questions. What is a filter violation (Im sorry, I just dont know) and what are inappropriate links?I can imagine what is definitely out but what about other links? I know that I used to post links to a certain company that I use to organise my trips through and that links like that are out, but sometimes I often have to stop and think twice as to whether a link is allowable. I occasionally post youtube links as long as there arent any insults or bad language. Are they OK? I also presume if the link appears to promote the commercial interests of a site (non Dibb advertisers) , they are out?

Margaret

[welshwiz]

Stu please can you tell me what a 'Filter Violation' is I think I understand the rest......?

Not noticed a 'reputation icon' either ...... :erm:

Thanks in advance ........Ka. x :wave:

[mousse]

Hiya Stu, sorry if I'm thick but what's a signature rule violation, haven't a clue what a filter rule violation is either. Thanks.
You've put a lot of hard work into this.

[Vabeth]

FILTERS: We have various filters on the DIBB that prevent certain words, phrases or URL's being posted. These are replaced with ******* however it is possible to avoid these filters by using special keyboard characters or numbers, you could use a 1 in place of an i for example, this would be classed as a Filter violation.

Stu, now you're just giving people ideas! ;) :pgig:
But i must admit i didn't know what the filter thing was either!
I've had a look through that list and promise to be a good girl from now on! :)

[Vabeth]

I also post the occasional link if Dibbers are looking for specific things (i posted one today about a suitcase someone was looking for) are those sort of links still ok?

[KINGPIN]

How do I know if I have points on my dibblence

[Fizzy Fish]

I took filter violation to mean when you try to get around a banned word filter as in exchanging a letter for a number say in a swear word.

Signature violation - is this to do with having forbidden links in your sig?

[Stu]

Guys read my post above..... Post 3

[Petalsoftly]

Sooooooooo I can send 3 rude pm's and be horrible in a major way and get to go in the Dibb dungeons for a month.... hmn................ and do infractions hurt... will we need ointment afterwards?

[welshwiz]

Guys read my post above..... Post 3

Thanks Stu I have read Post 3 & I understand :o:....all I need to do now is learn to type faster LOL :d:

[Stu]

I also post the occasional link if Dibbers are looking for specific things (i posted one today about a suitcase someone was looking for) are those sort of links still ok?

Links are ok providing the content of the site being linked to isn't unsuitable for a family site.

[Andre]

.... but I love the 500 points for spamming!!!

I liked that one too - as the "permanent ban" total is 31 point though, it seems a bit overkill! :)

On that subject Stu, would it be worth adding a points value for an offence of creating a fake/dual DIBB identity for the purpose of defeating the system?

Andre

[Stu]

would it be worth adding a points value for an offense of creating a fake/dual DIBB identity for the purpose of defeating the system?


I'll probably add a few more eventually, but I just wanted to cover the ones I think we are likely to come across.

We have other methods to deal with multiple accounts, and as the account would be deleted, email and Ip blacklisted there doesn't seem much point in having an infraction for it, they would never see it :)

I would hope that we can use these as reminders of our rules rather than a way of dealing with persistent offenders. I'd rather remove persistent offenders from the site.

[lausan]

thanks for the info ..........hope i dont get points i will go over all the policy/Rules 2mrw

[Leanne1977]

Lets hope that the new infractions system makes it a little fairer then. As I received a 24 hour ban for something that would only have given me 1 point on the new system.:confused2 The one and only thing in 3 and a half years may I add.

[Stu]

This is why I have intoduced it, to hopefully let members know where they stand and make it a fairer system.
Also it gives the Moderators guidelines to use. Before they haven't really had a way of warning someone, so it use to take time for a decision to be made and by then things had sometimes got out of hand.

This isn't going to solve everything and I'm sure it's not perfect which is why we reserve the right to still take whatever action we deem necessary on a case by case basis.

Luckily the forum runs without problems for 99.9% of the time.

[Fiona]

Are we still allowed to put this symbol * instead of a letter please? For example, if I was going to talk about the very famous American TV show set in New York about four ladies which has now been made into a film, I would say, S*x and the City, as I wouldn`t want to type the first word in full. Thanks. :-)

[Stu]

The word Sex isn't blocked but if a word is blocked and someone uses different keyboard characters, numbers or different letters so that people can still understand what the word is then that would be a "Filter Violation"

There would be no point in us blocking certain words if members are just going to get around the block by substituting different letters.

We block the words to keep this site suitable for family reading, there is no need to use the words we block which are mostly swear or racist words.

There are only a handfull of words that are blocked, at last count I think it was 17 with variants of the same word

[Fiona]

I thought that particular word wasn`t allowed on here and that`s why I would always put a * in the middle of it. Thanks for the info. :-)

[Lesley_Perschky]

Am I the only one that is frightened by all these new rules and regs? I thought the DiBB was a friendly place to be. Its getting a bit like the care industry with the CSCI regulations.

I do appreciate that guidelines have to be in place for a family site, but cant we just all get along and work together with Stu and the mods?

[Stu]

Lesley,
Nothing has really changed, the Rules and our policy are still basically the same as they have always been. However few people actually read the rules of a site and so often fall foul of them without realising.

The Infraction system has been added for two reasons,

1. is to introduce a fairer system to remind members of our rules and that certain things are unacceptable here on the DIBB.

2. is to give Mods and Admin guidelines on how to deal with any indiscretions and a method of doing so.

In the past we have always had to discuss each problem on a case by case basis which has lead to inconsistency in the way we have dealt with some things. Hopefully this new addition will help address that.

It's rare on the DIBB that we would have to use these, thankfully, but I consider it better to have something in place to cover any problems and the point of this thread is just to make members aware and be open about how we will deal with any problems.

[Lesley_Perschky]

Sorry Stu, didnt mean to cause any offence.

[Stu]

No apologies necessary and I haven't taken offence :)
If it makes members aware of our policies then I'm happy to explain :)

[ceri]

Hi Stu, I wonder if you could clarify something for me please.
In the general rules, sub heading contributions to thedibb.co.uk

you state
When you submit any contribution to thedibb.co.uk (including any text, photographs, graphics, video or audio) you agree, by submitting (posting) your contribution, to grant the theDIBB and it's associated companies a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive, sub-licensable right and license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform, play, make available to the public, and exercise all copyright and publicity rights with respect to your contribution worldwide and/or to incorporate your contribution in other works in any media now known or later developed for the full term of any rights that may exist in your contribution. If you do not want to grant to theDIBB the rights set out above, please do not submit your contribution to thedibb.co.uk.

does this granting of copyright extend to ALL photographs i.e. any that members may upload to their galleries etc, and All posts.Or does it only apply to articles specifially submitted to you for publication on the site.
thanks Ceri x

[Stu]

Hi Ceri,
This statement is to cover us against any copyright infringements.
By uploading anything anywhere on our site you are agreeing to allow us to use what you have uploaded.
An example of this is might be if we wanted to use one of your uploaded photographs on one of our web pages or in our Newsletter, we wouldn't need to ask your permission to use it (although we probably would) as you have already agreed to allow us to use it when you uploaded.

The copyright still remains with you though, you are not giving us copyright just permission to use it.

[ceri]

Thanks for clarifying that for me Stu :)
Ceri x

[highlander447]

To be honest the infraction system is fair, how many always complain about mods being inconsistent, on the DIS the infraction system has been in place for awhile now, just remember points ain't prizes;)

[brody-maddison]

Thanks for that Stu, I think it sounds like a fair system and I hope it makes your job a little easier.

[coombsyl]

I've just caught up with this Stu :blush:

What a great idea. Now everyone knows where they stand and what penalties they face if they infringe the rules.

I was grinning to myself imagining us having to declare our Dibb points on the green card when entering the USA!!! :d:

[dopey.rules]

Hi Stu

Excellent idea, anything to keep the site as friendly and fair as possible, and to make all your jobs a lot easier. Keep up the good work:wave:

[Goofy's Mate]

A quick question on the "filter" point. What happens if you innocently place a banned word in your post? By innocently, sometimes a swear word etc. may appear in the middle of a genuine word - for example, there is a footballing town ending in "thorpe" that 'contains' a swear word.

[Stu]

If you mean scunthorpe then Nothing :)

[Dawn]

Hi Ceri,
This statement is to cover us against any copyright infringements.
By uploading anything anywhere on our site you are agreeing to allow us to use what you have uploaded.
An example of this is might be if we wanted to use one of your uploaded photographs on one of our web pages or in our Newsletter, we wouldn't need to ask your permission to use it (although we probably would) as you have already agreed to allow us to use it when you uploaded.

The copyright still remains with you though, you are not giving us copyright just permission to use it.

So if I have a trip report posted on this forum that I then post on another forum somewhere that doesn't cause any copyright problems because I own my own writing? Is that correct? I have a trip report posted in 3 places I think and I don't want to start a forum war over who owns it. :pgig:

It's mine, all mine yes?

[Stu]

Yes it is your trip report so you can do with it what you want.
The copyright license that is granted to us by you posting it here doesn't remove your copyright, it just means you give us permission to use it.

[Treacle44]

Hi Stu is it okay to link to other Disney sites for menus etc?

x

[Michelle]

Tracey, we have menu's here on the DIBB. http://www.thedibb.co.uk/dining-menus.php

[bigcol300866]

Ive just court up with this, it all seem's pretty fair, i was just upset that i had my hand slapped for what i thought to be inocent, but rules have to be put in place and i spend alot of time Dibbing so iam trying to be a good boy, but in the mean time, being helpful aswell to other Dibbers.
Keep up the good work and thanx once again for the Dibb.

[stevey]

Well done Stu.Lets keep this site the "friendliest" out ther.
I was grinning to myself imagining us having to declare our Dibb points on the green card when entering the USA!!!
Now that is a good idea, could you have a word with immigration Stu?;):grin:

[tazman]

Links are ok providing the content of the site being linked to isn't unsuitable for a family site.

So. Youtube links are out then........

[disneyvisit]

I think its a excellent idea it will help keep the DIBB a brilliant and friendly site.