Forum Guidelines

1. The Terms of Use must be respected in full. If you need to refresh your memory, you can see the Terms of Use agreement at http://www.hotcopper.com.au/termsofuse and the User Code of Conduct at http://www.hotcopper.com.au/codeofconduct.

2. Low content posts. Please do not make posts containing no content (e.g., "first post," "hello, I'm new here," etc.). As a general rule, write as if you were speaking in real life to another human being. Do not use any catchphrases, memes, internet slang, or any other stuff that makes you look like a 12-year old.

3. Stay on topic. If your reply isn't relevant to the thread, post a new thread.

4. One person per account. Only one person may use a forum account.

5. One account per person. A person may only register one account.

6. Your signature and you. Please don't use overly large signatures or include large images or any videos (links to videos are OK in posts, but don't embed them). Not everybody has as much bandwidth as you might and they don't need to wait all day to download your image, as amusing as it might be. Large signatures will be restricted to a scrolling display to prevent them monopolising people's screens in thread view. If you have images in your sig please keep the total under 30KB in size.

7. Profanity/harassment. Personal abuse is not allowed since it falls under harassment. Profanity in posts is not normally tolerated. Please avoid profanity in general. Repeated or extreme profanity will most likely get you suspended. You should know some words that aren't profanities - use them instead. See below for the guidelines we use to deal with profanity.

8. Complaints about posts or users. If you have a problem with a user's post, use the TOU violation reporting link, rather than flaming them in the thread. In particular, if you think somebody is using multiple identities, don't tell them, tell us and we will investigate. Accusing people in error is embarrassing for everybody.

9. Name your source. If referring to or pasting an article in your post, please include a reference so people can check it out themselves. This is polite to the original author and your readers and saves you being accused of making it up. Note: Copyright material should not be posted on HotCopper.

10. Company representatives If you have a significant role (director, senior management, PR, etc.) in a company and you are posting in a discussion that is related to your company then you must disclose this. you don't have to disclose who you are, or your exact role, but we do you to disclose that you have a role and broadly explain the kind of role. We would ask you to become an authenticated company representative, (especially if you are claiming to be authorised to speak on behalf of the company) to prevent any misunderstandings.

Probation Offences

1. Harassment against another user. If you feel another user is an idiot, that's your business. No-one cares. Don't post about it in the forums. Add them to your ignore list if you feel strongly about it. If you feel the user has violated the terms of use, report it via the TOU violation function.

2. Mod Sass. Flaming moderators or admins also falls under harassment of another user. Also, it's more likely to be noticed by moderators and, if you think about it, isn't going to make them any better disposed towards you. Moderators try to be fair and reasonable and are trying to make the forum better. They may listen to reasonable suggestions or questions but not to aggressive rants. Multiple or serious offences will get you banned.

3. Don't feed the trolls. It just makes the situation worse. If a user abuses you or your friends, use the TOU Violation button and they will get suspended anyway. You don't want to join them do you? Ditto if you think the user is using multiple identities - tell us, don't accuse the user in the thread.

4. Derailing the thread. Don't post about how you like bunnies in a thread that is all about people who like beer, make a new thread. Just don't make a post anywhere that is (intentionally) worded so as to disrupt the constructive discussion of the current subject.

5. Profanity against a user. Similar to harassment, but will probably get you suspended for longer. See below for guidelines used to deal with profanity.

6. Obscenely large signatures. It's nice that you like that 1024x768 picture that you have on your desktop, but we don't want to see it every time you post a message.

7. Low content posts. A good measure is to ask yourself, 'Is this post funny, informative, or otherwise interesting?' if you can answer 'Yes' to any of those, then post away. If not, take your finger off the Post button.

8. Copyright Infringement. Upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any Content that infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other proprietary rights ("Rights") of any party.

Instabans

1. Saying "I'm never posting here again" or phrases along these lines. If you are never going to post on HotCopper again, we will deactivate your account so it's not hi-jacked by someone else.

2. Multiple accounts. Don't register multiple accounts. When we find out, all of the accounts will be suspended.

3. Multiple users on one account. Don't let your friend use your account to post messages. It's free to register, so make them create their own account.

Profanity

1. General Profanity - other than personal attacks

   Level 1 - General profanity in body of text:
   1st offence: Warning
   2nd offence: 1-3 days temporary suspension
   3rd offence: 7 days temporary suspension
   4th offence: 30 days temporary suspension
   5th offence: Permanent suspension

   Level 2 - 'f' or 'c' words in body of text:
   1st offence: 7 days temporary suspension
   2nd offence: 14 day temporary suspension
   3rd offence: Permanent suspension
   

2. Personal Attacks - The tone of your post towards other users on HotCopper is also considered to be very important. Personal abuse or attacks that are directed at specific users are not tolerated. If profanity is used and directed at a HotCopper user or users, the following guidelines are used.

   Level 1 - General profanity as personal attacks:
   1st offence: Warning
   2nd offence: 3 days temporary suspension
   3rd offence: 7 days temporary suspension
   4th offence: permanent suspension

   Level 2 - 'f' or 'c' words as personal attacks:
   1st offence: 14 day temporary suspension
   2nd offence: permanent suspension

Please note that substituting symbols for letters in profanities or using abbreviations will still be considered as profanity and treated using the guidelines above.
* The offences listed above will be judged over a six-month period.