Rules of the Park
Last Revised: 9/29/07

Please read the following and become familiar with the rules here at Welcome to Jurassic Park.



Posting Etiquette:


Posting etiquette is comprised of three basic rules that everyone must adhere to:
1. No Flaming.
2. No Trolling.
3. No Spamming.

I will provide a definition for the above, just to clarify and make sure everyone is clear on what exactly flaming, trolling, and spamming are.

Flaming:
Obviously, you cannot insult other people. You may disagree with someone's opinion, but you may not attack the person themselves for posting that opinion. Do not use offensive language in regards to other people - and this includes people involved with the Jurassic Park movies or any other real person. For example, you can't call Sam Neill a jackass, because that is both flaming and trolling. However you could say "I don't like Sam Neill because..." that would be acceptable.

If another member flames you, do NOT respond with a flame. If you do, you will also receive a warning along with the other member. You should either contact an administrator or a moderator through the Private Message system and request assistance, or, use the "notify mod" button found on each post. Simply click on it and follow the instructions. If, for whatever reason, you do not receive a response or the problem is not addressed, please contact an administrator.

Trolling:
Trolling is an internet term that means you're not posting to actually start or participate in a good discussion, but simply to anger a lot of posters and start a large flame war. This would happen, for instance, if you came in to the 'General Discussion' forum to post a message saying simply "JP/// sucks and anyone who likes it is an idiot!" instead of the appropriate "I didn't care for JP/// because..." Be considerate of the feelings of other people, and always remember that each and every person has different opinions. We won’t tolerate aggressive or offensive posters. No exceptions!

Simply put, don't post to deliberately annoy and provoke other members. If you start or are posting in a topic with a sensitive subject, remember to be considerate!

Spamming:
You can't post the same thread multiple times on the board, or post the same thing over and over in a certain thread or forum, or continuously make posts that have no real content or relevance. You can go off topic, but if things begin to really stray from the original topic, a moderator or administrator may decide to close the topic.


Consequences:


If you do happen to do one or more of the three above, you will get a warning or warnings. If the violation isn’t too severe and it is your first offense, you will be issued an “unofficial warning”. An unofficial warning is more like a friendly reminder of a particular rule or rules. If you commit another violation in the short time after you’ve received an unofficial warning, the basic warning system will then apply:

The Warning System:
1. First Violation - One Warning.
2. Second Violation - Second Warning + Seven Day Ban
3. Third Violation - Third Warning + Twenty-One Day Ban
4. Fourth Violation - Indefinite Ban.

You can get a warning removed only if your attitude and performance improve. Do not think that a warning will be automatically lifted every month, or even year. They stick with you. We try to give you as many chances as possible, but if you receive four warnings, it's pretty clear that you aren't here to contribute positively to the community, but only to cause trouble.

This community reserves the right to ban any member permanently regardless of the number of warnings should that member commit an offense that is excessively egregious. If at least three out of the five members of the staff consent to the banning, the ban will be put into place and it is highly unlikely the ban will ever be lifted. This is something a great majority of you will not have to worry about though as long as you are respectful towards other people and our rules.


Other Guidelines:


You will also get an automatic warning for advertising in The Helipad, or any other forum for that matter, if you have under fifteen posts. If you continue to advertise even after you've been warned, then you will receive an automatic ban. Simply put, do not advertise unless you have reached fifteen posts or more.

Multiple User Names:
Multiple User Names are not allowed. Especially if you've been banned. We have access to a variety of tools that can determine if you are using multiple user names or have returned under a new alias despite a banning, such as IP check. If you wish to change your user name, then just send an administrator a quick e-mail/private message or publicly post your announcement of change. Then, we have no problem. Just remember, you can't use that other user name on this board again, unless you contact an administrator, inform them of your decision, and switch over to the other one again.

Simply put, you can't use two or more user names at once.

Language:
This community is designed for and welcomes members of all ages. That being said, it is our policy to permit you with a reasonable amount of freedom when conveying your feelings in your posts. This reasonable amount of freedom includes language along the lines of: hell, damn, ass, and bastard. This allows for flexibility in posts and allows for casual conversation. Extreme language, including “bitch“, “shit“, as well as “fuck” are not allowed (with the exception of the use of the WTF and SOB abbreviations) and only appear here to ensure clarity in what language is acceptable and what is not. Any questions regarding what language is permissible and what is not can be sent directly to an administrator through the private message system or post a message in Nedry's Help Desk.

Please keep in mind though that any use of a hurtful or insulting word or words towards another member (such as calling another member a dumbass or telling them to go to hell) is considered flaming and you will receive a warning. Do not attack other members, with any degree of language. This is a strict rule that we have absolutely no tolerance for.


Personal Information and Expression Guidelines:


The Internet is not an entirely safe place. There are people out there that routinely exploit the Internet in order to satisfy themselves in some way, and this often times involves the hurting of others. Nowadays, it is incredibly easy to learn the private information of someone with very little information, including phone numbers and home addresses (with maps and directions to that address).

As a result, W2JP has a strict policy regarding the posting of personal information. We have this policy in place to protect you and ensure that your posting experience at W2JP remains safe as well as enjoyable. Please familiarize yourself with what is permitted and what is not:

Allowed:
First Name
Age
Gender
Personal Qualities and/or Attributes (hair/eye color, height, ethnicity, etc…)
Location (state or country name only)
Personal Pictures (although not "information", you are free to post pictures of yourself and elements of your life)

Not Allowed:
Last Name
Numbers of Any Type (phone numbers, numbers that appear on cards, etc…)
Address (no numbers of any type, no streets, no counties, etc…)

If you have any questions regarding what personal information is allowed and what is not, please contact an administrator or post a message in Nedry's Help Desk.


Personal Graphics and Signatures:


You can use avatars/photos/graphics and custom signatures, as long as they are reasonably appropriate for all ages.

If you choose to include some sort of picture or graphic in your signature, you must follow these guidelines:

*A maximum of two pictures are allowed in a signature. Each picture cannot exceed a width of 400 and a height of 100. If you choose to have just one picture in your signature, that one picture cannot exceed a width of 600 and a height of 200.

If you are in violation of one or more of these guidelines, an administrator or moderator will inform you of the changes that need to be made. If you do not make the changes, we will. Repeated violations will result in a warning.

If you have any questions regarding signatures, or require assistance in resizing your pictures, please visit this thread.


Other Guidelines Continued:


1. Account Sharing: You are not allowed to “share” your account with others. Everyone must register their own account.
2. Adult Content: We will not tolerate any type of pornographic imagery or discussions on the subject. Jurassic Park fans come in all ages - remember that.
3. Illegal Content: You cannot post links that lead to any type of illegal activity. This ranges from drugs to websites that allow you to download full length songs or movies (IE: Jurassic Park series).
4. Hate Speech: We here at Welcome to Jurassic Park are firm believers of the right to free speech, however, this community will not tolerate any hate speech/racial slurs. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender, etc. You don’t like how someone lives their life? That’s fine, but you most certainly cannot attack someone for who they are or what they believe. Discussions on one or more of the aforementioned items is permitted, but the conversations must be conducted in a respectable manner.

It is highly recommended that all members read this thread before participating in any discussion, no matter the subject matter.


These rules are in place to protect the community and its members. They will be enforced, and no matter how many posts you have, equal justice will be applied to all. If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact my staff or myself at w2jp_owner@yahoo.com or you can send me a Private Message, or if you prefer, post a message in Nedry's Help Desk.