Forum Rules - Please Read Before Posting

[VoodooJoint]

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

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 "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.

Please do not post all in CAPITALS, bold, italics, colors or fancy fonts. It makes the posts very hard to read. Long posts should be broken up into seperate paragraphs to make them easier to read.

Smilies Rule: Smilies are a privilege, not a right. We do not want to see 3 or more smilies in every post. In fact, we still expect you to refrain from using them. They are NOT punctuation. Also please refrain from using symbols that are used to represent smilies. If you occasionally want to use a smilie, we have many to choose from. 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, most people should invest in a dictionary to keep next to their computer. Spelling is essential to writing. If you are bad at spelling, it makes it that much harder for others to try to figure out what you wrote. If you are using Internet Explorer, there is a spell checking software you can download from the posting block to help you with your spelling. Just click on the right side where it has ABC.

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. At least try to use proper capitalization and punctuation even if your native language isn't english.

Flouncing threads and posts are forbidden. A flounce is where a user feels that they have had enough of the forum and, rather than simply leaving quietly, decide to post a long public message detailing their reasons, usually in a new thread so as to get the maximum number of replies. A flounce thread may get deleted and the poster banned.

Please, don't swear, curse or use vulgar words on the forum. The really bad ones are *** out. We expect people to use language that they would use in front of their own kids. For some people, I guess that includes curse words, but it shouldn't.

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 bottom left of the post. If we feel a warning needs to be made--be it in public or private--we will deal with it. Do NOT retaliate and do not jump on the person.

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 and you will be issued a warning.

Avatars- You're avatar must be guinea pig related. No petstore cages or examples of poor care are allowed to be featured in the avatars. No animated avatars.

Multiple Accounts- You are allowed only one account per member on this forum. If you are found to have more then one username, especially if you use one or both names in an abusive manner, you are subject to being banned.

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