Forum Rules and Guidelines

[Spenny]

Ladies, Genties, and Inbetweenies,

Welcome to the forum!

I originally created this forum so that a I could collaborate with a few different people on a project that isn't even going to be around until 2009, however, my good friend Richard had been noting that we also need a forum for all of us for several other reasons as well. While perusing the web and my favorite hangouts I realized there was a certain air to some of them that I didn't like but had to put up with if I wanted to participate in the community. One of those things was arrogance. Whether it was a group of people in general or just that one shatty wanker, there was always some for of douchebaggery that just didn't sit well.

So, while in the end I created this forum for several reasons, the main catalyst was needing somewhere my friends AND my artistic friends, my peers and colleagues could go to share our work, network, participate in general discussion, and otherwise network on equal terms, without worrying about dealing with douchebaggery in all its usual splendor. Sure, there's a VC forum, there's an ACAD forum, there's facebook, there's deviantart, there's this, that... but there are also certain ideas and politics that go along with those things as well. Merely serving to an ACAD community, or a Visual Communications community is too restricting for me, and so this forum was born.

So, without further delay:

The Guidelines:

General:

Equal Treatment
No Spam
Arrogance Not Tolerated
Ignorance Not Tolerated
Sharing of Opinions and Discussion Encouraged
Please Report Abuse
Offensive Material

Regarding Art:

Critiques and Constructive Commenting Encouraged, without being a douche
Images Hosted Elsewhere
Quality of Images in the Finished Section
Quality of Images in the Unfinished Section

And, below they are elaborated upon:

[Spenny]

Equal Treatment
Whether someone is amazingly talented at art, or just stepping into the forum and you don't even know them, or whether you generally know someone or don't know someone, treat them equally.

If someone introduces themselves in the Introductions thread, then welcome them. Make them feel like this is a good place to be.

If someone critiques your work in the artwork sections, look at it first as helping you, because that's what critiques are intended for. However, if that critique is also speckled with colorful language and is more hurtful and disrespectful than helpful then there's a problem!

If you're treated like crap, report it.
I don't care if its Mister Rogers on here and everyone loves the man, if he turns out to be a dick he's getting his Bum warned, reprimanded, and possibly banned!

Treat others as you would be treated, and all that. Unless of course you're into S and M and you like being treated like crap. You guys get it.

[Spenny]

Regarding Spam and Spam Commenting
This simply means replies or posts consisting of "LOL" or even "LOL, NICE!" type of content are frowned upon.

No super short messages that serve no purpose. Feedback and actual opinions are encouraged.

This helps keep the forum clean and easy to read!

[Spenny]

Arrogance and Ignorance
Arrogance is one thing we really don't want here.

Some of the artistic types don't quite understand this.

There is a difference between "arrogance" and "confidence."

Don't call people down or otherwise act like a jerk.

Ignorance is also extremely frowned upon. Just because you didn't read the rules doesn't mean they don't apply. You're expected to understand the forum guidelines, just as much as you're expected to actually read someone's post before commenting on it. If you don't know what people are talking about then you should possibly try and find out before blindly commenting! If there's a linked article or image suggested for viewing before discussing, chances are you should read it, and there's no pity for you if you haven't!

[Spenny]

Reporting Offensive Material
You are encouraged to be an active part of the forum community and to report your problems as they come to you! Whether its site bugs or racism, admin speling mistakes or someone calling you a dirty hoe, if you think something should be said then say it...

but say it to the appropriate people. Don't be a drama queen, you silly monkey.

What is offensive? Bigotry in any form, racism, prejudice, hate, slander, lies, goatsy, 2girls1cup, etc.

People should generally use their own discretion. If a thread, artwork or otherwise, contains nudity or other material that could offend people then you should mention so in the subject header.

[Spenny]

Crits and Comments on Artwork
You can give a critique without being an Bum.
You can also take a critique without whining.
Critiques are encouraged on unfinished pieces of artwork. If you don't want a critique... please say so. Otherwise people are going to give them.

There is a difference between critiques and opinions, preferences or personal tastes. Keep that in mind!

This also ties in with the no Spam comments. Please do not reply to people's posts with "Oh, pretty," "Wow, neato," "lol," and so on. Please express an opinion. If you like something, say why. If it reminds you of something, say what. If you don't like it, say why.

[Spenny]

Image Hosting and Linking
Upload is not, and will not, be available at this time.
Please host your images elsewhere. When posting, do not post links to the images, use the image tag to show your actual images. If your site does not allow you to do this, then you need to upload the image to somewhere like photobucket.com, or flickr.com to solve your hosting problem.
If your image is what appears to be oversized, do not worry.
Oversized Images are OK!
The forum will shrink your image and make it so that when clicked on people will see the full version!

[Spenny]

Quality of Images and Artistic Content
Its expected that if you're posting artwork at all you have a basic understanding of the fundamentals of art/design or are clearly looking for help. Random doodles of crap on lined paper that never lead to anything probably won't looked happily upon... although they have their places.

The quality of images in the finished section are as per follows:

No unfinished work... Obviously! What is finished though? If you don't know if it's finished, chances are it isn't. If you aren't being modest, could the piece be published? Did you implement any helpful critiques given to you?

If it's a drawing on lined loose leaf paper or a photo you took with your camera phone, chances are it doesn't belong here. While arrogance isn't tolerated, neither are people who aren't serious about their artistic practice.

In the unfinished section, please provide good scans or photos of whatever it is you are showing. No blurry images or hard to see images. In this section its very much possible no one will have any clue what it is you are showing at some times, so please if that's the case then explain it. Take note that people will give you critiques and constructive feedback unless you explain otherwise.

In both areas: If you create more work quickly after the rest was already posted, either wait to post the new stuff or edit your last post to add it. This keeps the forums clean!