- * Signal Traffic Forums is a collector community. Proactively seek to give of yourself and bring only benefit to your peers and community.
* Personal Topics/Rants - Rants and complaints are frowned on and may be closed as they are discovered. Posts of this type are much better suited for a blog or other personal web space and are unwanted on STF. Public posts should be open and inviting to all members. Discussions among a select group of users should take place in private message.
* Be Responsible - If an interpersonal issue arises, please be open-minded to the possibility that your behavior may have contributed to the problem. Taking responsibility for our actions is often a good first step toward a peaceful reconciliation.
* Respect Other Users - Simply put, respect other users and their views, even if you disagree with them.
* If you have a question, PLEASE do some research utilizing the SEARCH window, if you can't find what you are looking for start a new thread and link to the old if relevant. If you have something to add and judge that your information is related, but more up-to-date, start a new thread and link to the old if desired, but avoid duplicating effort by posting information already covered. Follow up on the answers provided. When offering help, be as patient and tactful as possible.
* Forum Member Accounts - Please limit your forum membership to one account only. Having multiple accounts is an unnecessary use of resources. Further, it will be interpreted as trolling behavior.
* No Trolling - A "troll" is a person who intentionally attempts to disrupt, cause controversy, incite an argument, and/or receive negative attention by deliberately posting provocative content. The term may also refer to the act of posting such content, or the content itself. Trolls are generally deceitful and often use ambivalence as a method of covertly insulting, intimidating, or inciting a person or persons for their own sadistic pleasure. They often pick their words very carefully and are therefore able to defend their masked attempts at creating unrest, frequently redirecting the blame onto the community and its supposed failure to understand them properly. Trolling is strictly prohibited.
* Avoid Controversy/Controversial Topics - There is no explicit list of topics considered to be 'trollish', controversial or provocative,(except for the 'eBay Rule') but in the past, threads with posts pertaining to Religion, Sports, Race, Nationalism and Politics have invariably been closed. Therefore, specifically avoid these divisive topics on STF! The forum staff certainly realize that such issues are deeply ingrained human realities. However, this is a traffic signal and sign collector's forum and is not intended to facilitate such commentary nor the resulting unrest.
* No Power-Posting/Empty Posts - Power-posting is best described as posting empty and worthless messages. It is not tolerated. People may have two reasons to do this: to increase their post count meaninglessly, or to lend support to an idea (as if it were a vote). Examples of power-posting include, but are not limited to, replying with '+1', 'lol', 'me too', 'I agree', or ':)'. When posting or replying to messages, make sure you have something to say. These empty posts clutter up threads and discussion, invalidates the 'Show New Posts' function, and wastes bandwidth and server space.
Threads that degenerate into a series of '+1/-1' or 'me too/I agree/I disagree' with no content will be locked. Individual power posts may also be deleted.
* Life is a Two-way Street - A simple, yet profound and undeniable truth. Ensure your thread includes details and information that others will find useful. Share your findings with the community. Share your failures as well. Posting the equivalent of 'Nevermind, I fixed it.' in your thread or abandoning your thread all together is not only selfish and useless to the community, but a complete waste of resources and everyone's time. Also, demanding help or showing an obvious impatience toward getting it is unwanted here. STF is provided by a community of volunteers. STF users are strongly encouraged to do research, make an effort, report back in the thread, help others, get involved, and contribute to the community.
* Cross-Posting - Cross-posting is posting the same question multiple times in different subforums (for example, posting in both Signal Restoration and Signal Talk). This is a waste of resources and is not permitted. Any cross-posted topic will be immediately locked or deleted.
* Trim your replies - Do not quote the entire content of the message to which you are replying. Include only as much as is necessary for context. Remember that if someone wants to read the original message, they can; it is easily accessible. A good rule of thumb is, don't include more quoted text than new text. There is always a need for some trimming - either a salutation, a signature, some blank lines or whatever. If you are doing no trimming whatsoever of the quoted text, then you aren't trimming enough. Also, when quoting, do not include any photos in the quote unless absolutely necessary for reference.
* Misplaced Posts - Try to place your posts in the correct forum for the topic. Our forums have been carefully categorized so that most topics fit in one logical location. Any post that is deemed by the staff to be in the wrong forum will be moved to the correct location without warning. Most users can find these on their own but if you lose your thread, it is acceptable to contact one of the forum advisers asking where it has been moved.
* Thread Hijacking - Thread hijacking is the process of replying to an existing thread with a different topic. This is generally discouraged. It is better to start a new thread if you have a problem that is related to an existing posted issue but clearly different. On the other hand, it is better to respond to the existing thread with additional information if you have what appears to be the same problem. Posts that hijack a serious thread with off-topic discussion are also tolerated but generally discouraged.
* Spam - Spam is not allowed. Spam is a blight upon the face of the net. Please report the offending post with the forum report function and a moderator will review it for removal. Offending spam accounts and associated IP addresses will be banned. Do not reply to spam posts as it increases the amount of work required to clean them up.
* Do Not Flame - Flaming, in the most common sense definition, is directing negative and/or insulting comments toward someone. An equally or more negative response is often a consequence, further resulting in a cycling exchange of insults. Flaming fellow members (including the STF team) will not be tolerated. Never resort to personal insults and please avoid sarcastic and patronizing language. Discussions can be productive, but arguments are always destructive.
* Respect The Staff - Members of The Forum Team have been chosen for their ability to exercise consistently good judgment and shall have the final say. Note that this forum is not run as a democracy. The forum staff shall always attempt to implement universally peaceful solutions, but in the end, are charged with the responsibility of maintaining peaceful, civil order for the forum majority. Therefore, they cannot always please everyone with the decisions made. Please do your part to contribute to a healthy community and environment. If you feel that an egregious oversight has been made, do NOT post complaints in forum threads - they will be quickly closed. Alternatively, use the forum report function, email or PM a member of the moderator group.
* Warnings, User Locking, Banning - If the STF Moderation Team feels that a member's behavior is unacceptable and warrants intervention, a private warning will typically be issued (unless the occurrence is judged to be especially flagrant, in which case a ban may become imminent). Warnings will not be discussed on the SignalTraffic Forums or chat. by the Moderation Team. If the warning goes unheeded, further action will be taken. This may range from locking the offending user account, to deletion or banning of the user. Action is generally on a case-by-case basis.
If a user is apologetic, interested in a peaceful solution and wishes to have their account reinstated, a general consensus will be formed by the moderation team for, or against, such a request.
* Legality - Criminal solicitation is strictly forbidden on this website. In this context, 'criminal solicitation' shall mean, "To actively or passively inform about, or facilitate, incite, move, or persuade others to some act of lawlessness or illegal activity.". Therefore, do not post discussions about or link to criminal solicitation in any form. This includes, but is not limited to, information or links to theft, prohibited software copying, prohibited use of copyrighted/patented material, etc.. Illegal content will be removed swiftly and dealt with in full accordance with known applicable law.
* Freedom of Speech -The free and open exchange of assistance, ideas, and opinions is highly regarded and encouraged on the forums, but it must be noted that the freedom granted to forum members is relative freedom. It exists within the boundaries and constraints of the above guidelines and principles. Complaints of 'censorship' are therefore baseless and unfounded, since this necessary framework must simultaneously provide reasonable limitations.
