Thread: Attention Rival Fans....

Here it is. It was inevitable. A million words to further define that which has already been defined. From this point on, each and every person - RIVAL FAN or BEAR, who posts in the rival team area will be assumed to know, understand, agree, and be aware of the rules.

Again, as originally discussed above.... we have rules in this place. We have had some rival fans, as well as Bear fans, get a bit off the "civility" train when in this forum. Misunderstanding the intent of this forum is also a cause of some recent angst and is CERTAINLY the cause of a recent staff interaction.

-This is NOT a place where Bears fans may talk smack with full impunity. You get some leeway... after all... this is Da'Bears. But please don't confuse "leeway" with "tacit permission".

-This is NOT a place where rival fans may talk smack with impunity. RIVAL FANS.... pay attention. You have a much shorter rope than Bears fan when it comes to talking smack. Sorry, that is the way it is. If that's difficult to swallow, I'm sure there are some fan run boards for the team you do support.

-The INTENTION of this forum is to give any member rival fans a place to discuss their team. This IS a place where a supporter of team "X" may compare his safety to the safety of the Bears. But, as put above, it better be factual, statistical and comparable. As should any responses. Once the conversation becomes less statistical and more emotional.... STOP.

And do it ALL with a very basic sense of CIVILITY.

Somethings to realize:

- Yes - you may mock another team or another teams players, on here. If, however, the entire POINT (100% of it) of you creating a thread is to mock a team, or bait a rival fan into a "pissing contest".... you lose. Remember - this is a DISCUSSION forum. There is no discussion when the intent is to mock or insult. If, however, a discussion actually is occuring and a small jab or mock is laid out... that is OK. BUT IT MUST BE DONE IN FUN. Once it becomes serious.... STOP IT, or one of the staff will. And no matter how valid your point MAY be, staff intervention is at the judgement and discretion of the staff. None of the staff, NOT ONE, will ever override the decision already made and implemented by another staff member. It's not gonna happen.

- DON'T assume that everyone responding to you is combative. If you do, you're likely to misread the intention or point, and inadvertently start a flame-war. If you do... DON'T be surprised if someone fights back. If they fight back, DON'T play the victim. You started it... you live with it. BUT... since you started it, don't be surprised if the hammer comes down on YOU, but not them. We DEMAND civility in this forum, and while everyone is accountable to keep it that way, the instigator is gonna get called out and that shall serve as a reminder to everyone involved.

- DON'T forget... if everyone around you treats you rudely, obnoxiously, abruptly or with an attitude of disdain, it might very well be (and most often is)... YOU that is the root cause. Either find another flavor of friends, or examine your own behavior.

Now, enough "don'ts"... here are some DO's.

If you want to be combative, misread posts, do nothing but mock, try and correct an administrator or moderator when they remind you of the TOS, cry about bias or double-standards, bitch or complain about a PM/Infraction/Reported Post/Banning or anything other than have a civil debate about a rival team - DO send a private message to the
administrators involved (sending PM's to other staff complaining about another staff doesn't win you any points) or DO take it to the "bar scene" where combative behavior, incorrect assumptions, mocking, belittling and all around chaos are not only allowed..., but encouraged, taught, graded, and allowed to blossom into full-blown anger. PM Loki for the password to this area.

There is, however, one exception to the "mocking"... #4 himself is open to mocking 24/7/52/365. Mocking season is always open for Mr. Farve.