3
Dispatch → Meta → Reference
⚖️ Regional Rules: RMB Etiquette & Policies
Members of The Local Cluster tend to consider themselves a fairly laidback bunch; a history of fairly few bans/ejections tends to prove that as true. Most people can get along with one another just fine, and those who can't have the common courtesy and sense of knowing when it is best to disengage and pull away, rather than barrel head-long into intransigence. This is good, and something we're quite happy with, all things considered. Even so, there are always outliers, and always will be, whom necessitate a rubric by which to enforce decorum and etiquette. This dispatch contains the complete accounting of The Local Cluster's rule set - including rules for specific enforcement on the RMB, other prohibitions regarding objectionable content in general, and how one may file an appeal in the event a curator ruling has been made in error. Most of these are fairly straight-forward and common sense, and more than a few are outright re-wordings and re-configurations of rules found across NationStates, including in the OSRS itself. Regardless, they require re-stating and additions for the uniqueness of this platform (a region), and the circumstances of its precise moderation protocols. New members and those looking to possibly join the region are strongly encouraged to read this dispatch. The Local Cluster has a fairly streamlined moderation process, given how infrequently it is needed; it would be a shame to find yourself banned from the region for breaking a rule that was clearly posted, making yourself one of the few "privileged" to experience such a uniquely rare occurrence. In short: if you get banned because you didn't read the rules, you have no one to blame but yourself. "TLDR" may fly for some; it doesn't here. Consider yourself duly disclaimed. ⚠️ Note! If you see something that you feel may violate the NS Rules or Terms & Conditions, do not wait for a curator to handle it. Please report such to the NS Moderation Staff by filing a Getting Help Request. It does not matter what you select from the dropdown menu, as they all end up in the same place for Moderators to review. 1. Don't be disruptive. 2. Use common sense when posting. 3. Please use English when posting. If English is not your native language and you are struggling with conversing, you may consider using Google Translate to help make yourself clear. While it's not perfect, it is better than not being able to communicate, and will allow you to converse more easily with your fellow region members on a regular basis. 4. Don't spam. Seriously. If you simply must post a long screed or epistle, make use to the spoiler tag. It's your friend. Become well-acqainted. 5. Always post in good faith, and assume the same. 6. Don't troll, flame, bait, or harass others. This includes not posting bigoted content. Transphobic (to include prohibition against deliberate misgendering), homophobic, racist, sexist, classist, etc. content is not welcome here; if you post such, you are not welcome here. A fuller accounting of this specific policy can be found below. 7. Don't be malicious. 8. Keep things PG-13 or below. The use of profanity is not de jure restricted, though it is de facto due to the NS wordfilter gameside. Just be reasonable. 9. Plagiarism is strictly unacceptable. 10. Don't post spoilers. 11. Discussion of current affairs and political discourse is prohibited. Otherwise, we're not here to discuss whomever the Head of State/Government is of $some_country, what is going down in $some_region, or what the latest political talking point is in the media. If you'd like to discuss that, feel free: somewhere else. 12. Anything prohibited by the NationStates rules is also prohibited here. No rule or policy implemented in The Local Cluster is intended to supersede or otherwise override any NationStates rule, when such cover similar occurrences or circumstances; any conflict which may exist is unintended, and should be resolved in favor of the NS Rules and Terms & Conditions at-face-value by all players. 13. Bigoted content is prohibited. Due to the unique eccentricities and circumstances that arise from roleplaying, it need be noted that The Local Cluster does not de jure ban nations which have fascistic, communistic, authoritarian, totalitarian, homicidal, or otherwise psychotic philosophical and ethical positions; "playing the bad guy" is a time-honored traditon of roleplayers (some to better or worse effects). This is particularly noteable in a community where anthropocentrism cannot be assumed; alien and otherwise non-human civilizations exist, and other civilizations may want to harm them simply for the reason of their difference - or vice versa (non-human vs. human). This means there must be leeway for the roleplaying of political and philosophical ideologies which may otherwise bear some superficial similarities to highly objectionable beliefs found in the real-world. To say that "art" is not inspired by reality would be a farce. That being said, players found to be expressing beliefs which inherently call-for, endorse, advocate, celebrate, or glorify such atrocities as ethnic cleansing, genocide, mass murder, extra-judicial murder, forced euthanasia and sterilization, beliefs otherwise noted herein, or similar are not welcome. This includes players whom, by use of their iconography, symbolism, and In-Character behaviors are believed to be using the shield of roleplaying as a thin veneer to write their bigoted fantasies and wish-fulfillment; such players, too, are not welcome. Beyond this, as is more explicitly outlined in our Embassy Policy, The Local Cluster does not, and will not, open or maintain embassies with regions which have the "Fascist" tag or append it, any region which is believed to have a fascist or Nazi theme, or any region which otherwise tolerates (much less advocates and makes safe a space for) such behavior as otherwise prohibited herein (offsite or onsite). This prohibition is not subject to discussion; players have no "free speech" on this platform. 14. Don't rules-lawyer. Fool around, and you'll find yourself in The Rejected Realms just the same. ! Suppresion. Due to its relative lack of severity, post-suppressions cannot be appealed. You can read more about The Local Cluster's appeals process here. Curators (and any other regional officer with the power to suppress posts) are empowered to execute post-suppressions at-will and by their own judgment. !! Warning. Formal warnings can be appealed. You can read more about The Local Cluster's appeals process here. Curators are empowered to issue warnings at-will and by their own judgment. !!! Ejection or Banjection. Conversely, banjection are reserved for when a player has made it clear they will not (or are incapable of) correcting their behavior, or has otherwise committed such an egregious offense(s) as to make them permanently unwelcome in The Local Cluster. All banjections are considered permanent once enacted, and have special provisions for appeals as outlined below. Due to their fundamentally temporary nature, ejections cannot be appealed. Banjections are considered permanent once executed, and may only be appealed no less than six (6) months after their execution (under the presumption the original act was justified). Any appeal lodged after that will be dismissed. Curators are empowered to execute ejections and banjections at-will and by their own judgment. The Local Cluster intends to have a streamlined moderation and administration process. Curators can suppress posts, issue warnings, and eject/banject of their own best judgment in the event they encounter someone offending the rules, or otherwise have rule-breaking content brought to their attention. Consensus among the curators is not required to do such. Each curator is trusted to know the rules and be able to effectively enforce them using the tools provided. Even so, mistakes happen. In The Local Cluster, the appeals process consists of mentioning (or telegramming) a curator other than the issuing curator and making it clear you are requesting an appeal. It is up to the mentioned curator to determine if the appeal is frivolous at face value; if it is, the appeal is dismissed. If it is not, both of the remaining curators must agree a mistake was made in issuance of a warning or execution of a banjection; if they do not each agree a mistake was made, the ruling stands. If they do agree that a mistake has been made, the ruling is overturned. Post-suppression and ejections may not be appealed. Warnings may be appealed. Banjections may be appealed no less than six (6) months after they have been issued (under the presumption the original act was justified), otherwise they are dismissed immediately. Using another account to evade a ban disqualifies someone from appealing their ban in perpetuity. All appeals are considered final, whether the ruling is overturned or upheld. Players are not entitled to appeal more than once any ruling. Third parties are not permitted to appeal on the behalf of another. Attempting to stir up problems or otherwise behaving as a malcontent due to a ruling constitutes disruption under Rule #1. ⚠️ Note! The local cluster administrator and curators alone are empowered to interpret, amend, and create any rules or policies. In certain circumstances - to include severe rule infractions or instances where the presence of a player is determined to be an undue risk to the region and its members - The local cluster administrator may overrule, veto, overturn, abrogate, amend, and/or otherwise supersede any ruling(s) made by one or more curators; such cannot be appealed. The local cluster administrator may further create, abrogate, remove, amend, and execute any (in)action deemed necessary to ensure the continuity of the region and safety of its members under Founder fiat; such cannot be appealed. |