Rule 1 - This Forum is Serious Business
It is for the purpose of thought provoking and serious discussion of issues and concepts. If we decide your topic is not in keeping with the spirit of this forum, it will be locked, deleted or moved to General discussion.
Rule 2 - Staying on topic is Serious Business
We generally take a pretty lax stance toward off-topic posts on the rest of the forum. The Serious Business forums are not the place for that. Off-topic posts will be deleted with extreme prejudice.
Rule 3 - Civility and Politeness are Serious Business
This is true of the entire Fora, but it bears restating here. Ideally, these forums will play host to a lot of discussions that can get people pretty fired up. We all have strong opinions about something or another, and it's easy to get over-excited when our beliefs are challenged.
That said, we're all friends here. We're here to discuss a topic, not to attack or browbeat each other. No matter what, try to keep things civil. If you don't think you can do that, don't post.
Flames, personal attacks, and general hostility will not be tolerated. Violators will be warned. If it's not reigned in, the Mod Team has the ability to ban users from specific forums. Specific bans from Serious Business may be dealt out for consistently poor behavior.
Rule 4 - Duplicating threads is NOT Serious Business
Before you post a new topic, check to see if the issue has already been discussed. If so, bump the old thread rather than starting a new one. It's only polite.
Rule 5 - Thread Titles are (somewhat) Serious Business
Thread titles should not contain *any* noticeable bias. They should also be descriptive and, hopefully, brief.
Rule 6 - The Report Post Button is your friend.
Please use the Report Post Button early and often to report problematic content (see above for what is considered "problematic").
Rule 7 - Moderation is Serious Business
Belial wrote:Ideally, the only response you should have to a moderator decision in Serious Business is a question of how best to follow it. For example, if they tell you to jump, you should, perhaps, request clarification as to the height of said jump.
However, if you find you want to argue:
First, don't.
Second, If you absolutely must, PM. If you think the mod in question is being unreasonable, PM another moderator. If all else fails, sit back and accept the ruling.
However, DO NOT turn the thread into an argument about a moderator ruling. The mods are trying to keep these threads on topic, and civil, and your argument with their rulings is definitely not the first, and may very well fail to be the second as well. It does not belong, and it *will* be deleted.
Red and Purple text came from a Moderator wearing their Moderator Hat. Do not edit or disrespect a Moderator when they're wearing their Moderator Hat. It should be noted that neither Red nor Purple text indicates anger. It's just a color.
Rule 8 - As Above, so Below
All other rules of the XKCD Fora apply here as well.
Rule 9 - Reading Threads is Serious Business
Knowing what is currently happening in a thread is the most basic of courtesies. Before posting, be sure that you're read the entirety of a thread. In the case where that is significantly long (5 pages or more) be sure to have read the first post and at the very least the most recent two pages. Egregious violators will be warned and their posts removed.
Rule 10 - Attributing Quotes is Serious Business
Context in written debate is crucial. When quoting another poster, it is courteous to only include the relevant portions of their post. However, quotes must be attributed so that the context of that short snippet can be adequately understood. When quoting several short snippets from one or more posters the first quote from each contributor should be attributed at the very least.
Rule 11 - Citing 'facts' is Serious Business
Anything stated as fact should be either entirely obvious ("a human will die") or be cited. Posts or threads that are particularly assertive of questionable 'facts' will be moderated.
Rule 12 - Links Are Not Enough
Posting or linking to any outside material (but especially youtube clips), no matter how topical it may be, without including any insight, commentary or thought of your own is not a Serious Business worthy post. It may be deleted.
Analysis of the linked page would be great; a brief summary should be standard; and at a bare minimum, explain how it ties into the current discussion (and what part of the linked page reflects that connection, if applicable.)
Please use this thread for discussion regarding the Serious Business Rules.