Friends Chat Rules and Guidelines (Updated)

[digi162]

// Welcome to the Friends Chat Subforum!
Last updated on 05.20.07

Looking to make some new friends? Want a place to hangout and just chat away? Well you've come to the right place! biggrin
Before you start posting, make sure to read through the following list of do's and don'ts for this forum to avoid getting in any trouble, as well as to get an idea of all the cool stuff you can post in this forum.

Make sure to have fun, and see you around!


// General Thread Recomendations

To avoid having your thread become mistaken as spam, we request that you follow some general requirements when making a new topic:

• Ask for friends somewhere in the first post.
  
  or
  
  
• Say that the thread is a hangout / chat thread in the first post.

Low content threads with short statements, such as, "yo!" "hello!" "what's up?" is not enough and will be moved out. However, conversation starters such as "How was your day?" "How is everyone?" "What's everyone up to today?" are welcomed.


// Threads Allowed in the Friends Chat subforum

The following list of thread types are permitted in this forum. If you are unsure whether or not your thread fits one of these categories, feel free to contact a helper or moderator of this forum to determine if it does. Also, for threads where you wish to have reserved posts on the first page, you may use the Test forum to create them and request they be moved into this forum.

• Friend Request Threads
  
• Hangout / Chat Threads
  
• Boyfriend / Girlfriend Request Threads
  
• Adopt Me / Adopt a Newbie type Threads
  
• Celebration Threads (for Birthdays / Anniversaries / etc.)
  
• Gaia Family Threads
  
• Hangouts in the form of Light RPs
  

[digi162]

// Threads NOT permitted in the Friends Chat subforum

Please avoid posting any of these type of threads in this forum:

• Requesting friends OFF Gaia -
  Please do not make threads asking for users to add you as a friend on another website. Also please do not make threads asking for users to chat with you or add you as a friend over your instant messenger service.
  
  These type of threads belong in : Chatterbox forum
  
  
  
• Private / "My Friends Only" threads -
  Threads where you wish to have private conversations with another person, or with only people on your friendslist, is not permitted in this forum. While this forum is for chatting, these types of threads are very disrepectful to those who are searching for places to chat or to make friends. However, you may use the ignore feature of the friendslist to keep people from posting on your thread, but specifically stating your thread is private and you don't want certain people in it is against the rules, and your thread will be moved out.
  
  These type of threads belong in : Chatterbox forum
  
  
  
• Discussion threads -
  This is a forum for casual chat. If you wish to have a structured conversation on a topic, try in another forum.
  
  These type of threads belong in : Discussion forums or Chatterbox forum
  
  
  
• Generic Party threads -
  Party threads, whether they are a sleepover, pool party, etc. are not permitted in this forum. However, party threads celebrating a specific event (such as a birthday / anniversary / etc.) are exempt to this rule.
  
  These type of threads belong in : Chatterbox forum
  
  
  
• Random threads -
  Threads where you request users to post random things either for fun or gold, are not allowed in this forum.
  
  These type of threads belong in : Chatterbox forum
  
  
  
• "I'm bored" threads -
  Please do not make threads that state you are bored. Ask for friends or state you wish to hangout and chat with other users. I'm bored threads belong in the Chatterbox forum.
  
  These type of threads belong in : Chatterbox forum
  
  
  
• "Rate My Avi" threads -
  Threads like these are not permitted in the Friends Chat subforum. If you want criticism and help in making your avi better, try posting in the Avatar Talk subforum of the Gaia Community Discussion forum.
  
  These type of threads belong in : Chatterbox forum
  
  
  
• "Meet me in Gaia Towns" requests -
  These threads are not allowed in the Friends chat subforum as the intent is not to stick around and chat on the thread but go into Gaia Towns.
  
  These type of threads belong in : Chatterbox forum
  
  
  
• Post your picture threads -
  These threads are not allowed in the Friends chat subforum. "Rate my picture" threads fall under this category as well and shouldn't be made in this forum either.
  
  These type of threads belong in : Chatterbox forum
  
  
  
• Leave a Comment on my Journal / Profile threads -
  These type of threads are not allowed in the Friends Chat subforum because it is similar to spam.
  
  These type of threads belong in : Chatterbox forum
  
  
  
• Misplaced Threads -
  Any sort of thread which would be better suited in another forum, will be moved to that forum. This includes donation requests, art shops, and anything else to which there is a forum specificially made for those types of threads. When your thread is moved, make note of the forum, and remember to make further postings of that nature in that forum to avoid being mistaken as spam.
  
  These type of threads belong in : Notified Upon Move
  
  

If you discover that someone has posted one of the these types of threads, feel free to use the button to report the thread so it can be moved to a correct forum.

[digi162]

// Additional Guidelines

• NO TROLLING
  Trolling usually consists of making posts aimed at provoking other users or upseting them. However there are a wide-variety of trolls out there it's hard to pinpoint a specific example to look out for. Either way, it is non-friendly behavior and is not tolerated in the Friends Chat subforum.
  
  
• NO FLAMING
  Flaming is when a user posts hostile comments meant to insult / harass another user. These types of posts are not permitted in this forum and will not be tolerated (please also refer to the Zero Tolerance of Flaming sticky posted in this forum). If a person flames you on your thread, please use the report post button on that post, and do not flame the person back as it can get you in trouble as well.
  
  
• NO CYBER REQUESTS
  Cyber activity is NOT permitted anywhere on Gaia. Do not make threads in this forum requesting cyber. This includes requesting / posting / distributing anything above the PG-13 level.
  
  
• NO BUMPING
  This forum is for casual chatting only, and if you do not get a good response in your thread, you can most likely find someone who is looking for a friend by looking around at other threads. There is no need to push your thread up to the top of the forum.
  
  
• NO ADVERTISING
  Do not post any advertisements in this forum. This includes posting them as threads or as replies on other user's threads.
  
  
• NO SPAMMING
  Often, threads are made in this forum with very little content, and at times, are simply just emoticons with no actual text in the first post. Even though the user might intend for the thread to be a hangout, it can confuse those not familiar with this forum because it looks like spam, and it's hard to tell if it's not by looking at the thread. If your thread doesn't include one of the general requirements, or it doesn't fit in any of the approved categories listed above, then your thread will be considered spam and will be moved out into another forum. Friends Chat is not Chatterbox. Multiple threads are discouraged. Please try to make a thread and stick with that thread. Users who are constantly making new threads will be considered spamming the forum.
  

If you notice someone doing any of the above mentioned things, please feel free to use the button or the button so it can be taken care of.

[digi162]

// Questions?

Have any questions regarding forum rules? Need a thread moved? Or just any concerns in general? Feel free to contact any of the following moderators and helpers for this forum and they can help you with what you need:

http://www.gaiaonline.com/forum/viewforum_moderators.php?f=151

[digi162]