Posting Etiquette

[CavySpirit]

This forum is run by a guinea pig rescue and is a rescue-friendly board. Intentional breeding and/or showing "how-to" discussions are not welcome in this forum.

At the top of the Post New Thread page:

Please use proper English: NO CHAT-SPEAK, spell out your words ( for example, do NOT use "u" for "you"), use proper punctuation and capitalize the beginning of each sentence. In this international forum, please use slang with restraint. Easy to read and understand posts get faster and better replies.

This ALSO means:
no "u" for "you" or "ur" for "you're"
no "i" for "I"
no "2" for "to"
no "2" for "too"
"2" means "two"--thank you very much.

The moderators thank you all for making an effort in this world of chat speak and chat short-hand or whatever it is they are calling it these days. This forum is for us old fogies who prefer plain English.

If you see someone NOT using this board's proper posting etiquette, please don't jump on them. The administrator and moderators will catch it and remind the person to post properly. Some people have been getting very offended at the way they are being jumped on for this.

Please don't overuse LOL. If you find a post you consider so funny that you cannot help but laugh then its fine but use it in moderation. Don't end all your sentences with LOL.

Smilies Rule: Smilies are a privilege, not a right. We do not want to see 3 smilies in every post. In fact, we still expect you to refrain from using them. They are NOT punctuation. Smilies should only be used in approximately 10% of your posts. Abuse will result in temporary suspension of posting privileges!

If you are quoting someone else's post, PLEASE put it in italics or use the quote feature to set if off so people can see that you are quoting something and only quote just what you need to. So many posts are filled with quotes that don't necessarily need to be.

If you don't have one already, it's a good idea to invest in a dictionary to keep next to your computer. Spelling is essential to writing. If you are not good at spelling, it makes it that much harder for others to try to figure out what you wrote.

It's understandable if English isn't your first language. That's usually pretty clear from some posts. But if it is, then you are expected to sound like it is.

Please post in the appropriate forum. Examples: if your questions relates to cozies, put it in accessories, if your post relates to how to make a cage, put it in cage chat. Also, refrain from posting the same post in multiple forums. If duplicate posts are found, they will be removed.

We have instituted the policy of moving controversial and heated discussions to the kitchen forum. If you don't like it there, don't read it. It's as simple as that. The rest of the forum stays nice and friendly that way.

The goal of this forum is to provide people who want more info on bettering their cage environment a place to get ideas and information and a place for those who have already done it to show off, exchange, and get additional ideas. It's grown into more than that, but the mission of this site and forum is virtually accomplished by a person's first visit to the site in general. The forum is just there for backup. So, it's also become a place where cavy people can 'commune,' but it's not just another pretty forum. It's one that's willing to stand up to the tough issues. Tough love.

Please, don't swear, curse or use vulgar words on the forum. The really bad ones are *** out. Unlike some other forums, such as GL, we have a higher population of young people. We expect people to use language that they would use in front of their own kids. For some people, that may include curse words, but it shouldn't. The very occasional damn or hell is ok, but that's about it.

Racial slurs against members or calling members Nazi's or Hitler-like will earn you an immediate (no warnings will be issued) minimum of a weeks' banning and possibly a permanent banning.

Please use tact when posting. Tact is defined as consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offence and Acute sensitivity to what is proper and appropriate in dealing with others, including the ability to speak or act without offending. Those are two good definitions of what we all should be doing whenever possible.

Things can get a bit high spirited around here sometimes. At the end of the day, message boards exist so that several different opinions can be sought in an environment where others can add in with their views at any stage. There isn't always a right or a wrong answer to questions or problems, often just an opportunity for advice and opinions which the person can listen to or ignore as they see fit.

If everyone can just contribute without having a go at what others have said or the way they've said it, I'm sure it'll make a much nicer atmosphere for us all!

If anyone has comments about rudeness or name-calling. You can report the post to the moderators by clicking the Exclamation Point Icon (!) at the top of a post. If we feel a warning needs to be made--be it in public or private--we will deal with it.

If you are under the age of 18, please do NOT post your age on the forum for internet security reasons. If you do post your age and you are under 18, it will be removed.

Avatars: ONLY non-animated avatars will be allowed. You're avatar also must be guinea pig-related.

If everyone will just take the time to use the above rules and comments when posting, it will make the forum a much better environment for everyone. Yes, there will always be heated discussions. Yes, there will always be people who don't get along. But in the best interest of us all and our pets we want to have the BEST forum out there when it comes to our cavies environments.

Last but certainly not least, if you are BANNED from cavycages forum under a temporary ban, signing up under a new name to post while your old name is banned will automatically earn you a permanent ban from the forum. There was a reason why you earned a temporary ban, please respect our decision. It's over relatively soon and you can come back and post. If you are BANNED permanently, that means don't come back. Everytime you TRY to rejoin or even manage to sneak past us and rejoin, you will be caught and banned again.