Proposed Forum Rules Modification (inc Rule 6 Clarification)

[SeeMoreDigital]

In the interests of clariying Rule 6 somewhat... Might it not be prudent to add a link at the end of rule 6 to Killingspree's announcement: -

http://forum.doom9.org/announcement.php?f=6


Cheers

[setarip_old]

I previously made a similar suggestion (to consolidate all rules at one location)...

[SeeMoreDigital]

Well in-case anybody is interested, here's a draft proposal suggestion: -


Welcome to Doom9's forum. In order to make your stay as pleasant and constructive as possible please take your time to read through this document, it will help you navigate the pits and traps this community has created for new members ;)

These rules can be changed without notice though normally we announce changes via announcement in all the forums.


1 - FINDING WHAT YOU WANT
A - READING UP
Please read up before asking. There are tons of guides (http://www.doom9.org/guides.htm), FAQs (http://faq.doom9.net/). Plus each forum section has a dedicated Q&A thread with additional info.

B - USE SEARCH
Please use the search function (http://forum.doom9.org/search.php?s=) before posting. Chances are your question has already been asked and answered.

C - FAMILIARISATION
Respect the netiquette: Lurk and get to know the forum before you post.


2 - HOW TO POST
A - THREAD TITLES
Use a title that describes the content of your post. Don't use all caps or special characters to draw attention.

B - KEEP THE FOCUS
Questions outside the scope of a certain forum section will either be moved, locked or deleted.

C - CROSS POSTING
Do not cross post. Post your questions once, within the appropriate forum section and nowhere else. Cross posts will either be locked or deleted without warning.

D - PERSONAL IMAGES
Keep the size of personal images down to a minimum please

E - MEANINGLESS POSTS
Don't post just to increase your number of posts. If you don't have anything relevant to say - don't post. (The number of posts on this board has no direct relation to the experience of a member).

F - PM's (Personal Messages) and E-MAILS
Do not send questions pertaining to topics of discussion on this board via PM or e-mail to Moderators or Admins - They will be ignored.


3 - HOW NOT TO POST
A - WHAT'S BEST?
Please do not ask "what's best" because this question cannot be answered objectively!
Each and everyone of us has their own point of view about what's best. In short, what's best is what works best for you!

B - PATIENCE
Please be patient. Don't start bumping or replying to your own post (5 minutes after your initial post) with comments such as: "Why is nobody helping me?" or "I'm sure you know the answer?"
And should somebody reply to your post/thread but not give you the answer you have been expecting - Do not insult them!


4 - RESPECT EACH OTHER
A - YOUR CONDUCT
Please be nice to each other and pay special respect to our moderators. Profanity and insults will not be tolerated and will result in strikes.

B - UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR
If you have a problem with another forum member, turn to the respective moderator. If the moderator can't help you, send a private message to Doom9.

5 - WHAT NOT TO POST
A - SPAM
If you are in the business of selling software - Do not blatantly advertise your products.

B - POLITICAL DISCUSSIONS
Political discussions not directly related to DVD backup issues are prohibited. As is any discussion on religion and religious matters

C - COPYRIGHTED FILES
Due to situations that might arise in regard to the mentioning of downloaded files (such as: software, media files, warez, cracks, serials and/or other types of illegally (or legally) obtained files) and the negative attention this might bring to the forum and the board in general, here is a set of do's and dont's for our members to follow: -

No help will be provided in regards to downloaded files. We won't walk the extra mile to clarify the legality of your files. We believe that this is unproductive and the members shouldn't put Doom9’s Forum in this position. Yes, we know that there are plenty of perfectly legal downloadable movies available.....and there are also plenty of illegal, copyrighted ones. To keep us from having to decide which is which, we request that you not mention downloaded movies. Never. Also, don't mention any bootleg DVDs that you got from E-Bay or an Asian DVD/VCD Retailer, or anywhere else.


Any thread in which it may be interpreted that the writer has acquired the material in question through illegal channels will be closed immediately after an explanation is issued by a member of the Moderation Team.


No member may issue help on illegal files. Any individual post to an existing thread, that subsequently mentions such illegal files or offers help on illegal files, will be edited or deleted in order to maintain the integrity of the original thread.


We will and can help to the full extent on any other occasion.


In the same spirit, no help will be given on DVD movies that you do not own and are not making a legal backup of.


Do not ask for IFO or chapter files that, if you owned the DVD, you could easily get.


This board only supports conversion under "Fair Use, we do not support piracy or any insinuation of it.



6 - STRIKES AND SANCTIONS
A - STRIKES
If you don't comply with the above mentioned forum rules, you will be "striked".
Typically forum rule violations carry one strike. However, rule 5c violations carry two strikes. Three strikes and you're out of the forum for 30 days

B- SANCTIONS
For more information about the forums striking procedure and the "sanctions" they are based upon, please look here (http://forum.doom9.org/sanctions.htm).


7 - GENERAL FORUM INFORMATION
A - OFFICIAL FORUM LANGUAGE
The official written (spoken) language is English. Please don't feel be embarrassed if you feel your English is not very good.... We are all here to help.

B - MULTIPLE REGISTRATIONS
Multiple registrations are prohibited and are grounds for immediate account deletion.

C - MODERATOR INSTRUCTIONS
Instructions by the moderator team are to be followed.

D - YOUR ATTACHMENTS
Each attachment has to be validated by a moderator to ensure no unwanted content is being posted on the forum. Please be aware that this might take some time, so don't panic if/when your attachments are not immediately accessible.


8 - FORUM RULES "OVER VIEW"

Last but not least there's a thread in the DVD2SVCD forum that you should read. It can directly be applied to the whole forum: Welcome / How to post a question (http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=19566)


EDIT: Sources: -
Current Forum Rules (http://forum.doom9.org/forum-rules.htm).
Killingspree's Newbie Announcement (http://forum.doom9.org/announcement.php?f=6).
Forum Sanctions (http://forum.doom9.org/sanctions.htm).


Cheers

[mod]

Could the 3-A be changed with:

ASK WHAT'S THE BEST AND YOU WILL BE SNIPED

?

[neuron2]

ASK WHAT'S THE BEST AND YOU WILL BE SNIPED I don't know what "sniped" means, but actually, what will happen is that you will first get a polite request to follow the forum rules and to edit offending thread titles, etc. Often, the latter request is ignored and usually that's as far as it goes. It's only when someone fails to accept the correction gracefully that the hammer comes down.

[mod]

sniped: A shot, especially a gunshot, from a concealed place

I just wanted to say playfully that a LOT of people seems not to care of that rule, or doesn't even know that.

[setarip_old]

@SeeMoreDigitalFor more information about this subject please look hereI believe it would be clearer yet, if the "ANNOUNCEMENT" was specifically detailed right in your proposed Section 5, rather than simply linked - in a manner that may not even be understood by some members as being a live link to be clicked on...

[SeeMoreDigital]

Okay....

I've amended my original post to include Killingspree's info regarding downloaded files.... :)


Cheers

[spuddog]

Hi, I find everyone's input into clarifying the rules very interesting. One thing about rule #6 has always botherd me. Under Killingspee's announcement section 2. "To keep us from having to decide which is which, we request that you not mention downloaded movies. Never. " I total agree with this, but more than once I have seen people request to know where a file originated. If people are advised to not state what the source is, then people should not ask.

[SeeMoreDigital]

" I total agree with this, but more than once I have seen people request to know where a file originated. If people are advised to not state what the source is, then people should not ask.Indeed...

If we were to follow Killingspee's announcement "to the letter" we should not be giving people the benefit of the doubt. In essence we should be dealing with such transgressors in much the same way we deal with people who keep asking "what's best" ;)


Cheers

[setarip_old]

@spuddogmore than once I have seen people request to know where a file originated. If people are advised to not state what the source is, then people should not ask.Such questions are tantamount to entrapment - and I believe that members should be advised not to do so.

On the other hand, legitimately suggesting that a poster revert to using his/her original source material (a purchased commercial DVD, a camcorder-generated or other-source captured video) in order to resolve the stated problem, often elicits a statement that, "I no longer have the source material", "I returned the DVD to the rental store", "I downloaded the file", or similar. I believe this is very different from the entrapping postings you refer to - and should be viewed as totally acceptable...

[spuddog]

I agree that going back to the original source (purchased dvd, captured dv, Etc.) in most cases can help in solving problems. But it seems that some people are more concerned with the source of the material. I believe that this forum is about helping with dvd conversion. So maybe we should just "Don't ask, Don't Tell"

[setarip_old]

But it seems that some people are more concerned with the source of the material.You're probably right. Unfortunately, I believe you'll see that type at most similar forums...

[dani82]

unless there's a thought in our minds that questions whether or not the material was obtain illegally, we should offer help to those who ask

i don't know if any one have notice, look up, higher, right there:

Welcome to Doom9's Forum, THE in-place to be for everyone interested in DVD conversion

pretty much anything besides "DVD conversion" is outside of the forum's scope, and help shouldn't be offer otherwise

[SeeMoreDigital]

...i don't know if any one have notice, look up, higher, right there:

Welcome to Doom9's Forum, THE in-place to be for everyone interested in DVD conversion

pretty much anything besides "DVD conversion" is outside of the forum's scope, and help shouldn't be offer otherwiseThat's a good point.... The forum has certainly evolved to include conversion of all types of audio and video formats....

Maybe the forums tag-line should be changed to something like: -

"Welcome to the Doom9 Forum. THE in-place to be for everyone interested in audio and video conversion".

Or: -

"Welcome to the Doom9 Forum. THE in-place to be for everyone interested in converting audio and video sources you personally own".


Cheers

[castellanos]

Originally posted by spuddog:
But it seems that some people are more concerned with the source of the material.
I totally agree!!
As far as the person who ask does not give information about from where the "original source" was taken, there is no argument to think that source is illegal. Unless the person say: "I downloaded a film from..." or "I don't have the DVD anymore..." etc... like many times happened.
I've seen many times people asking:
What is the title of your original, PURCHASED DVD?
when this is really not necesary to ask.
This is a DVD convertion forum with very nice rules. But no the police.

[mpucoder]

What the mods need to keep in mind is the intent of rule 6, and that is to prevent blatant illegal activity. Keep questions focused on the technical aspects of your problems, and refrain from disclosing illegal activity, and the posts are fine. Challenging the poster as to the source when it is irrelevant to the question is not, IMHO, necessary and is a form of entrapment.
What the rule is designed to do is prevent some organization from gathering up posts from here and saying "See, they are permitting and/or promoting illegal activity"

[setarip_old]

I've seen many times people asking:
What is the title of your original, PURCHASED DVD?Why would you take offense at this (which is a quote of a question I myself have posted several times)? It's intended to elicit neceesary information (Title) as well as to only be a very gentle reminder of what the rules stipulate, without in any way accusing anyone of violating the rules...

[setarip_old]

@mpucoder

You post is very similar to this one I made on 2/09/06:

http://forum.doom9.org/showpost.php?p=783264#post783264

[castellanos]

Originally posted by setarip_old:
Why would you take offense at this (which is a quote of a question I myself have posted several times)?
Who ever said or thought it was you?
Don't take it personal, I find your posts very good and helpfull... my quote was may be a coincidence. :)
Greetings!

[FlimsyFeet]

This board only supports conversion under "Fair Use, we do not support piracy or any insinuation of it. You are missing a closing " mark.

[Mug Funky]

Why would you take offense at this

the rules say "we will not go the extra mile to determine legality of the source" (well, words to that effect...). i guess it goes both ways. also, sometimes people might be embarrassed about the source of the disc... i remember one thread where there were lots of questions about the origin of a particularly ugly source, and the OP just caved in and said "OKAY! IT'S PORN!"... though that's kind of funny, it might not always be worth putting people in that position...

also, a situation i often find myself in at work, is that one's been supplied with a screener DVD from god-knows-where, or even just a couple of unidentified assets on a DVD-R. stuff like that doesn't sound too good when you explain it on a forum, but it happens all the time legitimately. one can't have purchased a DVD themselves if a project manager or some other colleage has simply handed it to them. same goes for downloaded movies - often downloaded trailers get recompressed for use on web sites, or EPKs, or to be used as stubs for when a better source of the trailer comes in.

even bootlegged tapes/DVDs can often have a legit use (i've said this a couple of times here already actually. mainly because i've had to resort to bootlegged audio/video on a few occasions as no better source existed anywhere), but of course one could easily get struck for talking about it here, and probably should (please don't strike me for this :))

so yeah... don't ask, don't tell (or perhaps "plausible deniability"?) seems to be the most useful option - after all, a helpful post usually helps more than one person. that's the point of a public forum. but so long as there's no flagrant copyright violations, it should all be fine.

i guess it's a very fine line that is walked. my preference is to err on the side of being as helpful as possible to the OP. doesn't always happen in reality of course :)

[Stone Knife]

I understand the forum's position on fair use as it pertains to purchased DVD's...

...and how rented DVD's don't qualify as being in that group; -so where do the DVD's that you've purchased from a rental store fit in the rule 6 guidelines?

I have searched for a prior post on this topic and so far no luck, please excuse if this is a beat-dead horse or so obvious nobody needed to ask!

I buy a fair amount of used ex-rentals and have wondered about them.

:confused:

[setarip_old]

@Stone Knife

I really don't think it makes a difference WHERE you've purchased a commercial DVD (even if you purchased it from a shop that both rents and sells DVDs or an individual) - what counts is that you've PURCHASED it and not RENTED or BORROWED it...

[SeeMoreDigital]

Indeed ;)


Be seeing you....