Andrew
Oct 1,2008
In: Blog

Terms of Use

[I’m a] PC Site Terms of Use
1 October 2008 :: last updated
by Andrew & Artis Oracle

We, the staff, would like to welcome you to [I’m a] PC Site! We hope you enjoy your time spent here as we try to keep it a fun and enjoyable place on the internet for users from all places to interact and communicate. We do however have a bit of rules we’d like you to know about and follow. Though we like to keep things fun, there also has to be some sort of order along the line otherwise we’d just have pure chaos. So please, take a moment (or two) to read through and understand this terms of service.

This terms of use extends across [I’m a] PC Site, [I’m a] PC Forum, and all other networked websites and all areas of user interactivity within those sites. This includes, but is NOT limited to: [I’m a] PC Site (referred to as “PCS” in this terms), other sites’ blogs, shoutboxes, guestbooks, all comment systems, member profiles, and the community message board. Everything posted in these areas is collectively referred to as a “post” or “posts”. You, the end user reading this document, will be referred to from here on out as “you” or “your”. While browsing on [I’m a] PC Site or one of its network sites, aka PCS, you are liable under these terms of use and can be held for your every action according to said terms.

1. Accounts

a.) You must be age 13 or over to participate in PCS. [I’m a] PC Site is based in the United States of America. Because of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998, anyone under the age of 13 is not allowed to register an account. If you are found to be underage, your account will be suspended until you reach the appropriate age or can prove otherwise.
b.) You cannot register for a PCS account using an AOL email address. AOL uses spam filters that prohibit PCS from sending messages, and the AOL browser has difficulty displaying community sites correctly. Please use another email host and browser for registration.
c.) You cannot register more than one account unless there are special circumstances. In this case, administrative permission must be sought in order to register two accounts. If a second account is discovered to have been registered on the same IP address with no permission, the second account will be terminated, and the first account will be suspended until a review by an administrator.
d.) You cannot share your account with anyone else, even if it is on the same computer. Per rule 1c, notify the administration before registering a second account if you need to create two accounts on one computer.
e.) You cannot register a new account after you have been banned or if your account was terminated. As silly as this sounds, some people think that this “ban-dodging” works. If you do register a new account after a previous banning, your grand prize will be an IP ban from all of PCS.

2. Posts, Comments, and Any User Input

a.) Proper grammar is required. This is not a cell phone SMS/text message, not a quick IM, and not a hangout for remedial English students. You MUST use proper spelling, capitalization, grammar, and so on, or at least put effort into doing so. This is no different from writing an English paper.
b.) Please use English unless called for otherwise. A well-known phrase in another language will not violate this rule. Threats found in other languages will result in account termination.
c.) Do not attack someone because of their race, religion, gender, orientation, political stance, patriotism, or otherwise. Using words like “nigger” and “faggot” will not break this rule if it is accepted as a joke. If someone is offended, you WILL be punished accordingly.
d.) Do not fill messages with excessive exclamation marks, question marks, emoticons (”smilies”), letters (i.e., “heyyyyy…”), or other grammatical marks.
e.) Excessive profanity is not allowed. You can say “fuck” as long as it’s not 20 times over.
f.) Do not intentionally start fights, flamewars, or fuel tensions. This is called “trolling”. Remember not to feed the trolls, kids.
g.) Do NOT cyber or post X-Rated fan fiction in the boards.
h.) DO NOT SPAM. This includes: posting advertisements besides ones in signatures, unrelated/off-topic discussion, posting to increase counts, bad grammar, one-word/effortless posting, porn, trolling, overusage of profanity, emoticons, exclamation points, or other objects, bumping and/or double posting (without good reason). What is deemed as spam in a particular situation is up to the staff member viewing the post in question. Some spam is allowed in designated areas - do not abuse the privilege.
i.) Do not abuse the private message system. If you are found to be spamming or otherwise harassing another member through this system, you will be punished accordingly.
j.) Do not play the role of policeman. If someone is acting up, do not take the matter into your own hands. Contact a staff member or use the message board’s “Report” button feature. Abuse of the report button because of a personal bias or using it as a way to chat with staff will result in punishment.
k.) Do not make irrelevant posts, like discussing your lack of a love life while making a post in the Sonic World forum or website.
l.) Do not post content of an upcoming or newly released game in order to spoil it for everyone else. Spoiler tags MUST be used.
m.) Posting of HTML, Javascript, or other code must be within code tags. Any malicious code posted that causes adverse effects on PCS is treated as hacking. As such, it will be removed and the offending member will be IP banned.

3. Images and Other Media

a.) Do not post pornography or hentai ANYWHERE on PCS. Nude art is allowed on the message board under the following conditions: it is in a tasteful manner, there is CLEAR warning on the topic title, and the art itself must be liked offsite. Do not upload this to any PCS servers.
b.) Stealing images, layouts, or other items from other members or PCS sites and claiming them as your own will result in punishment as it constitutes as copyright infringement. Obtain permission from the author/owner FIRST before you use anything. Failure to do so will result in a cease and desist followed by legal action.
c.) On the message board, you cannot post or upload images over 600 pixels (W or H), and you cannot post images larger than 500 KB, unless a special exception is made for either (or both) case(s). This is to save page space and to keep PCS viewable by users with small screen resolutions.
d.) No images are allowed in non-message board posts. You must use a URL link in this case.
e.) Do not post illegal material. This includes illegal ROM or ISO images, pirated software, music, or movies, warez, and so forth.

4. Profiles

a.) You cannot use someone else’s avatar or signature without their permission.
b.) Avatars must not exceed 150 x 150 pixels and 500 KB in size.
c.) Signatures are limited to a maximum 600 (W) x 350 (H) pixels to save page space and to keep PCS viewable by users with small screen resolutions. Signatures larger than this will be removed.
d.) Do NOT post any audio clips, videos, YouTube videos, music players, or any other flash application in your signature or profile, even if paused by default.
e.) Do not a link to a hate, porn, racist, or otherwise offensive website anywhere in your profile.

5. Additional Terms

a.) This is NOT a democracy. Your account can be terminated at any time by a staff member without prior notice. Use of PCS is a privilege, NOT a right.
b.) If you wish to make an appeal on a moderator’s decision, please contact an administrator with all points of relevance. You may not appeal an administrator’s decision.
c.) You can be held liable for every single interactivity with PCS - posting, leaving comments, modifying your profile, etc. These terms aim to extend across ALL of those mediums of interactivity in order to keep them safe and working properly.
d.) PCS Staff reserves the right to modify or remove your posts, avatar, images, signatures, and anything posted or uploaded by you without prior notice.
e.) Staff members have the FINAL decision on any moderation taken, EVEN FOR REASONS NOT COVERED IN THESE TERMS OF USE.
f.) The severity of a punishment you receive for breaking these terms will depend on your particular situation. Per rule 5b, you can appeal a moderator’s action to an administrator. The final decision will come pending a review of the situation as well as the quality of your argument.
g.) No one is above these terms, including ALL PCS staff (administrators, moderators, etc.) and all misbehavior and their following punishments will be weighted the same across all members.

6. Liability and Disclaimers

These terms of use seek to facilitate safe and fun interactivity between members, but also seek to limit PCS’s liability. PCS including all websites under the [I’m a] PC Site umbrella cannot be held responsible for any content including text, images, or other multimedia posted. PCS does not guarantee any factual accuracy, completeness, usefulness, or relevance in any message, and we cannot be responsible for any of the content posted within this network’s mediums of user communication and interaction, including copyrighted, illegal, sensitive, undocumented, or otherwise offensive material. Content found within these messages do not necessarily reflect the values or beliefs of [I’m a] PC Site and its staff members.

You, the reader of these terms and perhaps user of a PCS account, are responsible for all content you post. As stated in the previous paragraph, you cannot hold PCS responsible for any action taken against you from any website, organization, or legal body outside PCS as a result of content found in any of your posts, messages, or profile on PCS. Additionally, you agree not to hold PCS liable for any damages inflicted, direct or indirect. Any existing legal or other troubles of yours can neither be absorbed by PCS nor be blamed on PCS. PCS does not condone illegal activity and will not act as a refuge for illegal activities or persons.

By registering and using a PCS account, you automatically claim to have read and understand these terms and conditions. You will accept punishment as a result of breaching these terms. The PCS staff reserves the right to modify your punishment in any matter without prior warning. Punishment within PCS includes: a warning, suspension, revoking of privileges, banning from posting rights, removal/banning from areas of PCS, account termination, and permanent ban from all PCS. Participation in PCS automatically means you agree with these terms and conditions. If this is not the case, please exit the site now.

These terms of use are subject to change at anytime, for any reason, with or without notification. If you have any questions regarding these terms, please contact an staff member immediately.