Updated Message Board Rules & Guidelines

Listed in the General Discussion category.

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Per

online

Posted by PerSTAFF on August 14, 2007 at 4:19 AM

Thanks for all the replies yesterday on the message board topic I posted. Here is a slightly modified version of the rules & guidelines based on all the feedback I received in the topic and through private messages:

Rules:
- do not use inappropriate language, links or images
- do not post private messages you have received or sent
- do not post any sort of contact information for other members
- do not discuss specific blocks made by yourself or other members
- do not single out other members by name and discuss them in a negative context

These rules will always be enforced by us and will lead to deletion of the topic/reply, a warning and later a ban if necessary.

Guidelines:
- do not post the same topic in different categories (find the most suitable category and post it there instead)
- do not spam a topic with multiple similar replies
- do not go off topic intentionally, respect that others might be interested in discussing the given topic.

Unlike the rules, guidelines will NOT be enforced by us (except in some rare cases), they are simply meant to guide you to use the forums in the best possible way.

What do you think?
Am I getting closer to what you guys want here on the message board?

I hope so :)

Edited on August 14, 2007 at 4:24 AM

bipolarbetty

Reply by bipolarbettyFORUM-MODERATOR on August 14, 2007 at 4:46 AM

bipolarbetty still have bit of flu...but it's a friendly flu, no worries

What are the penalties for breaking specific rules?

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Per

online

Reply by PerSTAFF on August 14, 2007 at 5:42 AM

This:

"These rules will always be enforced by us and will lead to deletion of the topic/reply, a warning and later a ban if necessary"

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Mandy

Reply by MandyPATRON on August 14, 2007 at 5:56 AM

Umm...what is deemed inappropriate language?

A lot of us swear/cuss as a matter of course...I've never really seen anyone complain about it

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Per

online

Reply by PerSTAFF on August 14, 2007 at 6:10 AM

If no one has complained then it's probably not inappropriate :)

It's a tough question though, we hope that we over time will be able to tell what the community as a whole finds inappropriate. After all, we're trying to build the message board after your requests and not the other way around where we build a message board and force you to follow rules that the majority might not agree with.

I'm not sure yet how this will work in practice but one way could be that you have a "report" link on each topic/reply and if you regularly get plenty of people reporting you then you will know that you need to tone it down a bit.

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Breeze7

Reply by Breeze7 on August 14, 2007 at 6:14 AM

I WONDER IF YOU COULD CLARIFY IN YOUR RULES THE CORRECT AGE LIMIT ERMITTED WITHIN SINGSNAP OFFICIAL CHAT ROOM AS AT PRESENT THERE IS STILL NO ROOM FOR THE UNDER 18'S BUT YET WE STILL SEEM TO HAVE UNDER 18 MEMBERS ENTERING & PERFORMIN SO I FEEL THOSE WITH CHILDREN WHO ARE PRESENT AT THE TIME WITH THEIR CHILDREN MIGHT BENEFIT FROM CLARIFIED RULES ON THEIR CHILDREN BEING ALLOWED WHEN N WHERE 2 ALSO SING ETC. THNX XXXXXX

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Mandy

Reply by MandyPATRON on August 14, 2007 at 6:20 AM

Per wrote:If no one has complained then it's probably not inappropriate :)

It's a tough question though, we hope that we over time will be able to tell what the community as a whole finds inappropriate. After all, we're trying to build the message board after your requests and not the other way around where we build a message board and force you to follow rules that the majority might not agree with.

I'm not sure yet how this will work in practice but one way could be that you have a "report" link on each topic/reply and if you regularly get plenty of people reporting you then you will know that you need to tone it down a bit.

Ok thanks for that. I'll just carry on being me then, and assume that you'll tell me if I get enough complaints about my behaviour to start...err...behaving :)

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Novella

Reply by NovellaPATRON on August 14, 2007 at 6:28 AM

I think yer wonderful :)

Rules and Guidelines exist in every society and I hope we are all adult enough to abide by these! They are reasonable and reflective of most successful forums...

Cheers!

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baybeestar

offline

Reply by baybeestarGOLD on August 14, 2007 at 6:33 AM

thats so much better :))))))0

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MsMaryW

offline

Reply by MsMaryWGOLD on August 14, 2007 at 6:37 AM

I think it's pretty clear cut and reasonable. Most of it is common sense and common courtesy anyway!!! You all have done well!!

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peachygurl

Reply by peachygurlGOLD on August 14, 2007 at 6:43 AM

Per yer a genius! Okay, so that sounds like I'm a suck-up. LOL

Very nice compromise.

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Paulo

Reply by PauloGOLD on August 14, 2007 at 7:11 AM

Thanks for all the great efforts Per and SS crew! :)

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pedalsteel

Reply by pedalsteel on August 14, 2007 at 7:45 AM

They sound good on this end Tony !!

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LadyDi821

Reply by LadyDi821PATRON on August 14, 2007 at 8:50 AM

Sounds great to me.. Even adults need rules to follow to make things run more smoothly..

Now let's hope everyone reads these ...:)

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Per

online

Reply by PerSTAFF on August 14, 2007 at 9:19 AM

Well, they will of course be posted in a more visible place soon as well :)

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LadyDi821

Reply by LadyDi821PATRON on August 14, 2007 at 9:30 AM

LOL per you think of everything!! Ok let's still hope eveyone reads it even in a more visable place LOL

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LadyDi821

Reply by LadyDi821PATRON on August 14, 2007 at 9:31 AM

Oh but what about our non singing chat room? We would still love that... :)

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GuyC

online

Reply by GuyCGOLD on August 14, 2007 at 9:33 AM

Novella..... the strong voice of reason.......

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Jacqui

Reply by Jacqui on August 14, 2007 at 11:08 AM

Per, you are almost there!! Now if we get the search feature back............drat, I should have looked to see it it is there before I wrote this....

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TennLynn

Reply by TennLynn on August 14, 2007 at 11:21 AM

I think this is much better! Thank you for making them rules and guidelines. I also like the idea about the report link on the message/reply. That is a great idea.

I also agree with Breeze and LadyDi. A kids chat room and a non-sining chat room would be great :)

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Sultry

Reply by SultryGOLD on August 14, 2007 at 11:48 AM

Thanks for seeing the need and doing something about it, but most of all, thanks for asking for the user's input!
Awesome work!

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soundchris

offline

Reply by soundchrisGOLD on August 14, 2007 at 11:54 AM

Looks perfect now. Only need to set guidelines on what is considered inappropriate.

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lilmissjames

Reply by lilmissjames on August 14, 2007 at 12:43 PM

So the inappropriate language is a good idea, but what about in some songs? I have sang a couple of songs with swear words in it, but is that still OK? I hope so, cuz some of the songs would not make sense without them.

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Roger

Reply by RogerGOLD on August 14, 2007 at 1:02 PM

you could also add ' dont bite the hand that feeds you', ' dont cry over spilled milk', ' dont eat yellow snow',' dont spit into the wind', and ' dont pee on an electric fence' ... sorry lol can't sing for awhile so i'm bored lolol

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Lani

Reply by Lani on August 14, 2007 at 1:03 PM

Roger wrote:you could also add ' dont bite the hand that feeds you', ' dont cry over spilled milk', ' dont eat yellow snow',' dont spit into the wind', and ' dont pee on an electric fence' ... sorry lol can't sing for awhile so i'm bored lolol

LMAOPMP

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annie44

Reply by annie44GOLD on August 14, 2007 at 1:15 PM

Per wrote:If no one has complained then it's probably not inappropriate :)

It's a tough question though, we hope that we over time will be able to tell what the community as a whole finds inappropriate. After all, we're trying to build the message board after your requests and not the other way around where we build a message board and force you to follow rules that the majority might not agree with.

I'm not sure yet how this will work in practice but one way could be that you have a "report" link on each topic/reply and if you regularly get plenty of people reporting you then you will know that you need to tone it down a bit.

maybe exsesive swearing would mean a warning ? when its a lil over the top like "F" you and "F" off and "F" this and "f" that.... like when theres like least 5+swears in a sentence i think that exsessive.. who needs to swear that much in one sentence?

i

Edited on August 14, 2007 at 1:16 PM Permalink

candi_4687

Reply by candi_4687GOLD on August 14, 2007 at 1:52 PM

candi_4687 just needed to sing. :)

Oh I probably should have read this before I did that skin challenge!! o0o0ops!!!!! lol
Does it help that I stated NO CHILDREN OR PERVERTS??

I would just like to add this.... coming from a mom/stepmom of 6 kids... just remember that when you make rules you have to have someone to enforce them. Meaning the more rules the more time someone will have to spend enforcing them.

Btw as far as the age limit goes there will never be a for sure way to keep children out. Best suggestion is get a parental control setting with a password placed onto your computer. Trust me this helps TREMENDOUSLY and also helps if you have one that monitors what kind of sites your children are going to.

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Topher

Reply by TopherGOLD on August 14, 2007 at 1:59 PM

I like these standards. I think that language used in threads should only be acted upon if it's context is used to demoralize or attack another. Some songs have cursing, and some posts have curse words as emphasis. Not used to offend, demoralize, or attack another just emphasis. Just my two cents.

Topher

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BeerStalker

Reply by BeerStalker on August 14, 2007 at 2:06 PM

A site that asks, listens and acts .... what more can one ask for .... thanks to all ....

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cheryliana

offline

Reply by cherylianaGOLD on August 14, 2007 at 3:48 PM

Works for me :-)

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Sunshine

Reply by SunshinePATRON on August 14, 2007 at 4:05 PM

Sunshine need some happiness in your life...sunshine makes you smile!! lol

Sounds good to me......and thank you for this!!!!

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socalcountry47

Reply by socalcountry47PATRON on August 14, 2007 at 8:23 PM

YES!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU!!!!!!

you guys are awesome!!!!!!!!

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Steve-Mercenary

Reply by Steve-MercenaryGOLD on August 15, 2007 at 9:24 PM

Steve-Mercenary i would like gold with a blue name.....xx

Pretty much agree with most of this apart from this one below.....

- do not use inappropriate language, links or images.

this needs a lot of work, ie, clarification on what is not permitted, after all if I say ARSE, many may not find that offensive, whereas a minority might do or vice versa, and so on with other words, which then includes certain images or videos, and maybe the links, those like myself who do try to be respectful are getting our civil liberties crushed a little by a nanny state.

Now what we need is an adult rated area, where a member would select there post or account to be adult rated, not that this would allow for fall scale war or inciting racial hatred or prejudice nor would it allow pornography in, penalties for such would and should be severe.

Now if a member wishes to have an adult account they must take steps to satisfy the snap team that they are old enough to partake, I.E. credit card/debit card or copies of whatever proof they require.

Now those who do not have an adult account will automatically have these threads or songs filtered out, they will not see or have access to any part of the adult section!

so it would be a choice of the individual, and perhaps if an adult member is/was posting things in the non adult section then they can have any rules imposed on them, of course this would not mean that anyone is immune to the rules or guidelines, but a way forward to stop some of the petty shit that creeps in on the message board and detracts from a fabulos site.

Bottom line would still be that if SingSnap feels disciplinary action is needed for certain behavior they would still have that power and right to do so.....

Edited on August 15, 2007 at 9:30 PM Permalink

Per

online

Reply by PerSTAFF on August 16, 2007 at 3:49 AM

As I said above:

"we hope that we over time will be able to tell what the community as a whole finds inappropriate"

This topic can be debated forever but here is my view on it. I see two potential problems with having an adult area:

1) Age alone is not enough to determine if a person could get offended by something, culture & religion etc has a huge impact on that as well.

2) Having an adult area makes it seem "ok" to post just about anything in there. I know you said that this is not what you wanted but it will be very hard to avoid it.

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Steve-Mercenary

Reply by Steve-MercenaryGOLD on August 16, 2007 at 7:40 AM

Steve-Mercenary i would like gold with a blue name.....xx

Per, all fair comment's, bottom line is I am asking for an area with a little more leeway on the rules that I mentioned above with particular reference to language and an area with even more stringent controls, both easily identified, so if I want to say the cuss word for an Anus (or others cuss words(swearing)) in the Queen's English then I can without worrying to much(in that area) or just have a simple filter (not infallible I know) that over time can be built up with what is considered inappropriate? and even the ability to add words to to an individuals own account and overtime added to a main dictionary of filtered words, now this should also be able to be switched off, (so it is more personalised) but should be on as standard and a member physically has to choose to switch it off? just another helpful suggestion.....

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Steve-Mercenary

Reply by Steve-MercenaryGOLD on August 16, 2007 at 7:49 AM

Steve-Mercenary i would like gold with a blue name.....xx

Per also, have you had a huge response to this topic in private? I am just curious is all? how many members are really influencing these rules and guidelines? as on the surface it seems like very few?

Just thinking there has to be like 30,000 plus member accounts on here, and I just want to ensure that everyone has a voice in this democratic website, not all will know, how about emailing all user accounts to draw everyones attention and setting a deadline for opinions to be expressed, say 4 weeks or 6 weeks as an example, this will ensure that SingSnap has done all it can to make all aware of this topic,(whether they are involved in the message board or not) and given ample time to respond before anything becomes a little more set in stone, so to speak?

Just another helpful suggestion..... :)))))))))

Edited on August 16, 2007 at 7:51 AM Permalink

Per

online

Reply by PerSTAFF on August 16, 2007 at 7:55 AM

I got about the same amount in private as I got in public (on the previous post).

To be honest, if we got 30,000 members to say what they think we'd have no way of even reading through all of it.

Also, it's not like this is set in stone forever... as everything else on the site it will keep changing, I don't think we've ever made a "final" decision on anything ;)

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Steve-Mercenary

Reply by Steve-MercenaryGOLD on August 16, 2007 at 8:45 AM

Steve-Mercenary i would like gold with a blue name.....xx

I have seen your pm now Per and responded there, and yeah guess maybe I should volunteer to read all the replies on your behalf huh? NOT lol :-P

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Steve-Mercenary

Reply by Steve-MercenaryGOLD on August 16, 2007 at 8:48 AM

Steve-Mercenary i would like gold with a blue name.....xx

Per wrote:

Also, it's not like this is set in stone forever... as everything else on the site it will keep changing, I don't think we've ever made a "final" decision on anything ;)

A part of what makes this site the best in my opinion, open to debate and listening to members, and remaining flexible with how and what is done from the "start".....

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Ronsgirl

Reply by RonsgirlPATRON on August 25, 2007 at 1:39 PM

I agree with all that you have brought up. I think your guidlines are totally fair and reasonable and really needed to be initiated. Vicki

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Nillinora

Reply by Nillinora on August 26, 2007 at 1:14 PM

Sounds fair and simple to me...can't even understand that it needs to be brought up more than ones.
It really can't be that hard to stick with these rules. / Tina

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ShyLynn

offline

Reply by ShyLynnGOLD on August 26, 2007 at 10:27 PM

ShyLynn going to a self defense seminar. hiiiii ya!

From what I've seen the rules have been ignored completely from the first day they were put in place. As Candi said, if they are not inforced, they will be broken. As far as people not being heard or having their say, everyone has the same access to the boards and to management. If people choose to not make their opinions known, then they have to live with the consequences. I believe that's called a democracy. ;)

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Per

online

Reply by PerSTAFF on August 27, 2007 at 4:41 AM

Nothing has really been "put in place" yet. We will make some changes at the same time we open up the site to the public to better enforce the rules and make it easier to report anyone who doesn't follow them.

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friends

Reply by friends on August 27, 2007 at 3:11 PM

I have read the terms of use and I have found a 11 year old girl who has her own recording page.I feel no one reads the terms of use. In my point of view I wish the kids that can read to read the terms of use on here. I am NOT trying to start anything but I do want people to know

Edited on August 27, 2007 at 3:21 PM Permalink

annie44

Reply by annie44GOLD on August 27, 2007 at 3:18 PM

friends wrote:I have read the terms of use and I have found a 11 year old girl who has her own recordings.I feel no one reads the terms of use. In my point of view I wish the kids that can read to read the terms of use on here.

i found the same girl myself thru a thread dont worry about ti its being delt with :)

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friends

Reply by friends on August 27, 2007 at 3:43 PM

ty annie44 I have heard from a singsnap staff and the staff member thanked me.

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ShyLynn

offline

Reply by ShyLynnGOLD on August 27, 2007 at 4:25 PM

ShyLynn going to a self defense seminar. hiiiii ya!

annie44 wrote:
friends wrote:I have read the terms of use and I have found a 11 year old girl who has her own recordings.I feel no one reads the terms of use. In my point of view I wish the kids that can read to read the terms of use on here.

I have way more issues with some of the adults on this site and their behavior than an 11 yr old having their own page. (yes I know it's against the rules but then, so is nudity.)
Per, I really hope one of those features is my often asked for "flag as inappropriate content" button.

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Per

online

Reply by PerSTAFF on August 27, 2007 at 6:13 PM

Yes, we have not forgotten about that one, Monique.

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ShyLynn

offline

Reply by ShyLynnGOLD on August 27, 2007 at 8:32 PM

ShyLynn going to a self defense seminar. hiiiii ya!

Thanks Per, I'm glad to hear it. Have I mentioned how wonderful you guys are?

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walterweyburn

Reply by walterweyburnGOLD on October 10, 2007 at 3:54 AM

Monique wrote:
annie44 wrote:
friends wrote:I have read the terms of use and I have found a 11 year old girl who has her own recordings.I feel no one reads the terms of use. In my point of view I wish the kids that can read to read the terms of use on here.

I have way more issues with some of the adults on this site and their behavior than an 11 yr old having their own page. (yes I know it's against the rules but then, so is nudity.)
Per, I really hope one of those features is my often asked for "flag as inappropriate content" button.

I KEEP READING ABOUT ALL THIS NUDITY... WHERE IS IT I HAVE NOT SEEN IT.....WOULD LIKE TO SO PLEASE TELL ME WHERE IT IS...LOL...(HUGS)...SORRY

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rudedogtrev

Reply by rudedogtrev on October 22, 2007 at 4:17 PM

I am writing in response to the last rule on this quote which reads a deletion of the topic, then a warning, then a ban if necessary. What if a rule was broken, without someone being aware of the rules, because this thread was difficult for me to find...someone had to show me. If a rule was broken without someone being aware of it's existence, and without a warning, that person was banned from chats...what can that person do?


Rules:
- do not use inappropriate language, links or images
- do not post private messages you have received or sent
- do not post any sort of contact information for other members
- do not discuss specific blocks made by yourself or other members
- do not single out other members by name and discuss them in a negative context

These rules will always be enforced by us and will lead to deletion of the topic/reply, a warning and later a ban if necessary.

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