Guide to Forum Etiquette, Revised 2-27-09 Options

[Chicken]

Forum Etiquette 101 version 1:

Hello, everyone! I've noticed that some of our need members have a hard time adapting to our strict grammar standards, so I decided to put together a quick guide to good content. This is not by any means to insult anyone's intelligence. It is only an aide for anyone who is confused about what is acceptable and what is not.

Note: Please don't take person offense to anything I have written. I don't think hard enough to think of certain people's grammar habits. This is simply a list of common poor grammar habits. So, don't worry. Be happy. ^^;


1. Punctuation:

Punctuation makes sentences make more sense. Please try to refrain from run on sentences. Short sentences are fine.

- "..." is fine, but don't over do it. No one likes: So, I was like.......um.......yeah.....lol...

-Three exclamation points are more than adequate. Also, please refrain from "!!!!!1!!!!!1!!!111". Sometimes it's done on accident, but all we ask is that you put some effort into these posts.

2. Capitalization:

Always capitalize the beginning of sentences, your I's, and try to capital proper nouns, such as: names, cities, book titles, religious titles (such as referring to a personal deity as He, She, It.), etc.

In addition, don't tYPe LiKe ThIs. It's a bad habit and hard to read.

3. Abbreviations:

Abbreviations are best left to long words, marital status titles (Mrs., Ms., Mr., Mme, Mlle, M., etc.), Etcetera, organizations such as NASA, or commonly abbreviated words.

4. Here is another one:

hi th3r3 n00bz I''m s4m4nth4. :DDDDDDDD

This is known as 1337. It's fun to do, admittedly, but it is unacceptable for the simple fact that not everyone understands what you're saying. It can be used to be silly, but don't make a habit of using it.

This would be a better format:

Hi, there everyone! My name is Samantha, and I'm excited to see a Harvest Moon website! Hope I can enjoy a nice long stay!

5.The next thing I would like to address is brevity. Brevity means simply "short, sweet, and to the point". I myself have been known to be the exact opposite, and in my experience, frankly, I found out that no one wanted to read those posts. So instead of saying:

I like Bob, the hottest person in the world. He just makes me jump out of my skin. It's like so incredible and fabulous and amazing. I enjoy the thought of the day when I will go to his house and steal his hairbrush. I mean his hair is like so perfect. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!1!!!one!!!!1

Say something like this:

I think Bob is so cute! Sadly, I feel like a fan girl. I mean, I even think about how soft and beautiful his hair is. Maybe I should ask him for his hair brush. Heehee~

6. Something more annoying to people than a rant is a two-word post.

Again, instead of:

Yeah. Cool.

This would be more appropriate:

Okay, that sounds good. Should turn out well.

7. Don't just put a smilie in as a response, such as the popular "it is awesome." You can use them freely (just don't go over board), but please at least write a 5 word sentence as to offer a reason for your emoticon usage.

8. Spelling:

If you don't know how to spell a word, it is not necessary, but courteous to place "(sp?)" after the possibly mispelled word. Just try your best to spell the word. We also have a grammar check on the full reply (that little "abc" with a check mark), if you would like to use it.

9. Be careful with your words. Don't make statements without backing them up. Now, however you feel like doing this is up to you. (Etc. Science, human, personal, religious material, etc.) Just don't say something without a reason.

10. Don't feel that you have to write in complete sentences. If you want to say something that doesn't really count as a sentence, don't worry about it. We don't want you to have to take an hour per post. This isn't Language Arts. You're not going to be graded.

11. I am sure everyone has seen our rules as they joined the site. No racial, sexual, or discriminatory comments. Please keep your posts tasteful. So keep your opinions to yourself! There is no polite or proper way to verbally or mentally abuse another person.

12. If you are told that your grammar needs work, please do not make an issue about it. We just take pride in our boards and would like you to post on our board as if you were writing an assignment. Just try to improve your grammar etiquette, take it as constructive criticism (because it certainly couldn't hurt), and don't worry, no one is mad at you. If you really want to, you can always edit your post by pressing edit and choosing the"full" or "quick" edit options to change your post, followed by "complete edit".

13. Don't try to turn your post into an essay. We are fully aware that most of you are not "Edgar Allen Poe's", "E.B. White's", or "William Strunk, Jr.'s". Feel free to use phrases, contractions, or simple responses. We just don't want a bunch of IM speech or deplorable grammar.

14. Also, if you are not a native English speaker, less than perfect grammar is acceptable. We realize you are only in the process of learning English, and you are fully understood, and will not be warned, pestered, or etc.

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Please feel free to PM me, Jason, Saffy, or anyone able to change this post (administrators, global moderators, and moderators), if you genuinely think something should be added or changed to this list. Thank you.

-Chicken :)

[Lindstrom]

When do we get to meet Samantha?