Welcome to Gaia! ::

The Rules

1. INCLUDE A POLL WITH YOUR TOPICS
This is a POLLS Guild. Each thread made, no matter where in the guild it is made, must have a poll. If you do not have a poll, we'll add one for you and remind you.

2. DO NOT MAKE BUMP OR SPAM THREADS
We have an OFFICIAL THREAD for mindless BUMPING and one for SPAMMING. Please do not make any bump or spam threads, they will be locked and moved away and you will be warned.

3. DO NOT INAPPROPRIATELY BUMP A THREAD
If you wish to bump your thread, you may do so 24 hours after the last post. Explain why you are bumping it in your bump (e.g., "I'm bumping so I can get more opinions"). You may not bump more than three times in a row. This applies to YOUR posts. Even if someone posts between you, if you add nothing new to the topic, you may only bump three times in a row.

4. DO NOT SPAM
We also have an OFFICIAL THREAD for spamming. Spamming is posting only a picture or emoticon or just one word. Your posts should have a point. You can say much more than a simple "lol" or a smiley face.

5. NO NECROPOSTING
You may not post in a topic if it is more than two weeks old or past page "3" of the forum, whichever applies. An exception is if the post adds something new to the topic. If your post is the same or similar to another post already made, then it is still necroposting. If a topic is more than 2 months old however, it may not be posted in, regardless. Note that this rule DOES NOT apply to any topic in the Not-So-Stickies.

6. DO NOT DOUBLEPOST
Please refrain from double posting unless necessary. If you are adding new content and it has been more than a day, a double post is alright. If it has been less than a day, merely edit your last post to include the new info.

7. DO NOT FLAME
Do not harass, flame, annoy, or humiliate, etc. any member of Gaia, whether they are in APG or not. Even if it is meant in good faith or is a joke, this is not tolerated. Note that mods will only take into account what happens in the guild. Also unnecessarily insulting someone or something is not allowed. Instead frame your post as your opinion and refrain from using charged language.

8. STAY PG-13
Keep all material PG-13. Any excessive sexual, violent, or substance abuse-related content will be edited and you will be warned. You can still talk about sex, drugs, and violence, but try to keep it documentary style. Do not go into detail about your practices, but it is safe to have a serious discussion. (e.g., "What are the signs of chlamydia?")

9. MARK SPOILERS
If your topic talks about something that may spoil a major plot element of any movie, game, anime, etc. please put the word SPOILERS in all caps in your topic title. If the thread is not about spoilers, but you wish to include one, white out the text. This does not apply for things most people already know or should know (e.g., "Darth Vader is Luke's father")

10. RESPECT THE CREW
Respect Captain, Vice Captain, Mods. You may not agree with the Crew all the time, but please respect them and their decisions. If a Crew Member asks you to do something, please do it. If you disagree with what they want you to do...that's fine. PM them, another mod, a Vice-Captain or the Cap'n. Whatever you feel comfortable with. But don't just go right into disobeying, try to resolve the situation first.

11. DO NOT DUPLICATE OFFICIAL THREADS
Please do not create a duplicate thread about a topic if there is already an OFFICIAL thread about it. If in doubt, PM a mod or check the Not-So-Sticky Stickies. If there is not an OFFICIAL thread, you may make duplicates (but what's the point?).

12. NO DISCRIMINATORY COMMENTS/JOKES
Please refrain from making any racial, ethnic, sexist, etc. comments or jokes. They can offend people, even if they are supposed to be funny. So best to err on the side of caution and not do that. This also includes comments/jokes about countries, states, cities, etc.

13. NO SUICIDAL POLLS OR TOPICS
Do not, under any circumstances, make topics or polls concerning suicide or self-harm. If you need to talk to someone about any problems please go to the Counselling thread. If you are contemplating hurting yourself or committing suicide, please call 1-800-Suicide or otherwise get in touch with a suicide prevention center.

14. NO VIOLENT/HARM-THEMED POLLS OR TOPICS
Sure, we all love joke topics. And we can't resist popping a zombies head like a bad zit. But when it goes over the line...when you start talking about killing animals, or talk about harming, hurting, or killing a real person or being, that's when we take issue.

15. DO NOT CURSE EXCESSIVELY
When it comes to cursing, a little goes a long way. Excessive cursing can be disruptive to conversation and even offend some members. Please use it sparingly (it makes it more powerful the less you use it!) Cursing is not banned, we just ask that you don't overdo it.

16. FOLLOW THE TOS
Follow the Gaia Terms of Service. The rules of the site in general also apply here.

17. NO PORN/EXCESSIVE GORE
Posting porn, extreme gore, or anything of a similar nature will result in an Instant Perma-Ban. Be warned.

18. OBEY SUBFORUM RULES
Each subforum has a number of individual rules. Unless otherwise noted, the general APG rules (you're reading them) still apply.

Warning System Introduction

In short, our Warning System allows for warnings to be made, which can either add up to temporary bans and eventually a permanent ban, or expire over time.

Each offense is assigned a severity (Tiny, Minor, Major) as well as a Warning Point or WP value. WP add up to punishments.

Warning Points

When a member accumulates 4 WP at any one time, they are punished. This punishment depends on past occurences.

A Tiny Offense carries no WP value, but reoccurring infractions will incur a WP. A Minor Offense is worth 1 WP. A Major Offense is worth 2 WP.

Minor Offenses expire after two months. Major Offenses expire after three months.

If the same offense is committed three times (no matter when they occur), each following repeat of that offense will be worth 1 more WP than normal.

Bans

If at any one time, you have at least 4 current WP, you become Temporarily Banned or Temp-Banned. The length of your Temp-Ban is based the amount of Major Offenses that went towards it. It begins at 5 days, and for every Major Offense, the time period increases by 5 days. While Temp-Banned, you may not post in the guild or participate in guild events.

After the Temp-Ban expires, you are welcome to post again. All warnings you currently have remain, and will have to expire naturally. In addition, you are considered Marked for six months. If you commit another offense that raises your WP and brings it above 4 while you are Marked, you are permanently banned, or Perma-Banned. You will be removed from the guild and may not return.

If you have been Temp-Banned three times, then the next time you would be Temp-Banned, you are actually Perma-Banned.

If you ever want to know why you were Temp-Banned or Perma-Banned, you may request your records from a mod.

Offenses

1. NOT INCLUDING A POLL WITH YOUR TOPICS
2. MAKING A BUMP THREAD
3. INAPPROPRIATELY BUMPING A THREAD
4. SPAMMING
5. NECROPOSTING
6. DOUBLEPOSTING
7. FLAMING
8. NOT STAYING PG-13
9. NOT MARKING SPOILERS
10. NOT RESPECTING THE CREW
11. DUPLICATING OFFICIAL THREADS
12. DISCRIMINATORY COMMENTS/JOKES
13. SUICIDAL POLLS OR TOPICS
14. VIOLENT/HARM-THEMED POLLS OR TOPICS
15. EXCESSIVE CURSING
16. NOT FOLLOWING THE TOS **Varies**
17. PORN/EXCESSIVE GORE INSTANT BAN
18. NOT OBEYING SUBFORUM RULES **Varies**