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Common Infractions and How to Avoid Them In order to help users naviguate the sometimes tricky waters of posting in accordance to the rules, we have provided a brief overview of why we have some of these rules and in which situations they are enforced. While most of the rules are self-explanatory, the following three can lead to some confusion that we wanted to help clear up.
1- Wrong/Banned Topic
The reason we stress the importance of topic is two folds. First or all, a thread's purpose is to allow users to gather their opinions on one topic in one place, and from that to discuss each other's opinions. By derailing the thread's topic, it makes it impossible for users to contribute to the discussion of the thread's original topic and drowns their opinion. Second, derailing a thread to talk about a topic that already has a thread dedicated to it means losing all the opinions and contributions of the users in the original thread. While it's perfectly acceptable for a discussion to evolve and branch out, it should never completely deviate from the original topic of the thread.Originally Posted by The Rules
Posts should have something to do with the topic of the thread they're in (or the topic of the forum they're in, for new threads). If a thread is user specific (fanfic/art/trades), it's also for that user. Posts also should not be about banned topics (what topics are banned depend on individual forum rules).
Making a post about a banned topic that's likely to start a flame war can be a severe violation, as can deliberately hijacking someone else's thread.
This rule specifically applies to three situations: disobeying moderators warnings, off-topic posts and hijacking threads. The first part is again very self-explanatory. If a moderator asks to drop a topic or if a certain topic is banned in a section, don't bring up that topic in that thread or section.
This is an example where a thread with a very specific purpose is derailed into a discussion about a different topic, but off-topicness can also be about deflecting criticisms about aspects and characters of the show towards other aspects/character.Thread Topic: Did you like the Gym Leaders' personalities when playing the Black and White games?
Post: I just think the Sinnoh Gym Leaders had the best personalities. They were vibrant and quirky, like Fantina, or broody like Volkner. They each had their own little story going on. I love the Sinnoh Gym Leaders.
This post qualifies as off-topic because it doesn't relate the criticism to the topic of the thread which is the appreciation of characters in specific game. The poster here doesn't even talk about the Gym Leaders in Unova, but rather expresses their appreciation of the gym leaders in the previous generations which, if picked up, can lead to the trail derail into a discussion on the Sinnoh Gym Leaders, which defeats the purpose of the thread itself.
Finally, the Wrong/Banned Topic rule also applies when hijacking a thread based on user-created works, for example fan fiction, fan art, etc.Thread: Did you like May's role on the Animé?
Post 1: I really didn't like that she just seemed to pull wins out of nowhere and didn't really train for her goal. Everything was just handed to her on a silver platter.
Post 2: Well, Dawn's wins were just as bad. No way her Piplup that she just got should've been able to beat its evolved form in its second contest appearance, and that's just one of Dawn's cheap wins, that is when she did win cause she lost a lot and that was so boring.
Poster 1's post is totally within the rules, as it respects the topic while Poster 2 is derailing the thread by making their post solely about Dawn. Poster 2 should've either posted this in an Dawn discussion thread OR discussed how he disagreed with Poster 1's thoughts on May by bringing up examples from May's time on the show.
Therefore, it's always important for users to make sure that their posts directly pertain to the thread's topic, and to obey moderators requests to drop particular subjects, out of respect for other users so that their voice can be heard as well.Thread: Sunsets over Sootopolis, a fan fiction by Wallacefan19324
Post: I just think that your latest chapter could have been so much better like what I did in my fan fic Joy's Johto Journeys when in Chapter 4, she captures the legendary Suicune, cause in that scene I was able to show Joy's personality so much by exploring her tragic background as an orphan that touched Suicune and moved him to allow himself to be captured by her. You should all come and check it out, cause it's so much better than this.
This post is obvivously not talking about the fan fiction at hand, and instead hijacks the discussion about someone else's work. When commenting on user-created work, it's important that the comments always apply to the work or artist that's the subject of the post. Comparaisons to other works, in moderation, are permitted (for example, saying that an author's style is reminiscent of another), but the bulk of the post should always be commenting on the work at hand.
2- Pointless Post
That really means two things: no mini-modding and no censoring other users. Enforcing the rules is something that should be left to the staff, which is comprised of users who have proven to have a good understanding of the rules, in order to avoid confusing other users as to whom they should or shouldn't listen to.All posts have to say something useful. That can be as simple as quoting a post and saying "I agree" (so long as you don't do that too often), but it has to contribute to the thread somehow. Generally, posting to point out rules or to say "we already have this thread!" is pointless (unless a mod is doing it); report it to the staff instead.
Posting to say a thread is useless, boring or uninteresting can be a severe violation.
Mini-modding isn't just regular users telling other users that they're breaking the rules, but can also border on censorship. It should be noted that as moderators, our job is never to censor people's opinion but rather to moderate the discussion, i.e. making sure that those opinions are in the right place and contain no personal attacks on other users.Post: We already have this thread so this one's pointless.
What's actually pointless is this post. If a thread is pointless, then the best thing to do is report it using the report button in the lower right portion of the opening post. The same applies to any post that users feel breaks the rules.
Mini-modding and censorship have therefore no place in any section of Bulbagarden. If a user feels like another user's post is breaking a rule, they should report it or contact an Animé moderator.Thread: In the Animé, which male travelling companion had the worst interactions with Ash?
Post: Why is Cilan even in the choices? We don't know how their friendship will evolve. We don't have enough episodes to judge him upon so I don't think he should be there.
If another user feels they have enough material to compare Cilan with Brock, Tracey and Max, and make a post including Cilan, they shouldn't be censored in their opinions, especially in a post like the one above that adds nothing to the discussion at hand. In that case, the user should have said that personally they felt that they didn't have information about Cilan to include him, and then proceeded in expressing an opinion on the topic without trying to force the OP to ban Cilan from the discussion.
3- Flaming & Baiting
The reason we have this rule is to make sure that our users are able to contribute as much as they can with their opinions on the various topics covered by the sections of Bulbagarden without having to fear to be personally attacked in retaliation. Here are some examples of the different forms of Flaming & Baiting covered by this infraction.Posts, avatars, signatures, user titles and visible profile information may not contain attacks or insults against other members (this include picking on them because of their grammar and spelling, or the content of their posts). They also may not contain threats (including threats to report them, or even saying you have reported them), attempts to anger them (gloating, mockery, etc) or attempts to pester them.
Threatening to hurt or kill another member is generally a severe violation.
- Flaming
Flaming is to personally insult or attack a specific user. This can be as simple as making fun of their posting style, to mocking their opinions, to full-on attacking them.
2- BaitingThread: What is your opinion of Cheren's role in the Black and White games?
Post 1: I hate Cheren. he was way too stuck up and quite frankly he was like way too whiny. His pokémon were crap, his personality was boring and his designs leaves to be desired. He was the worst thing to ever happen to the games.
Post 2: Oh cut it out. We all know you're a Cheren hater and that your blind fanboyism of Blue makes you unable to say anything nice about the other rivals, so just stop bashing him.
Poster 1 took a strong stance against the character, but did so in a thread where it was relevent and in a way that doesn't personally attack other users. Even if Post 1 can be seen as bashing, character bashing is not against the rules. Poster 2 on the other hand is directly attacking Poster 1, and therefore would break the Flaming and Baiting rule. What Poster 2 should've done if they disagreed with Poster 1 would be to address the criticisms themselves, not the person making them, i.e. saying why they feel that Cheren was interesting or compelling as a rival.
Baiting is a milder form of flaming directed not at an individual but at a group. It should be noted criticism or even "bashing" a character is not considered baiting as long as it is relevent to the topic and doesn't personally or collectively target users by name.
3- Making assumptions about other usersThread: What is your opinion of Brock in the Animé?
Post 1: I hated Brock, he was so boring and bland. He was the worst part of the show.
Post 2: He was still better than Misty. Misty was always just there holding Togepi, she never battled and once we got to Johto, she lost all personality. The very few battles she had were really boring. The only way she could win a battle was with Psyduck, shows how horrible she was at Water Pokémon Training.
Post 3: Well, seeing as we didn't see that much whining when he left like those pathetic Misty fans did when she left, I'd say the fandom doesn't give a crap about Brock.
Post 1 is totally within the rules even though it takes a harsh stance on Brock. Post 2 would not be flaming and baiting, but rather an off-topic post that would fall under the Wrong/Banned Topic rule since it would be acceptable if the thread's topic was Misty's role in the Animé. Post 3, on the other hand, is definitely baiting as it specifically targets Misty's fans in a thread where it isn't relevent, to ellicit some reaction from them.
One of the golden rules of the forums in general is to always assume that other users are posting in good faith, that they are solely expressing their opinions with no ulterior motives to get under other people's skins, unless they are obviously flaming & baiting (for which they should be reported without answering them in thread).
Thread: Which male traveling companion had the least interesting interactions with Ash?
Post: You can't compare Cilan with the others cause he hasn't even been through one region with Ash yet. This thread's just designed to piss off and troll Cilan's fans.
Assuming that another user is trolling or trying to get under people's skin is entering the forums with a combative attitude, and will create drama. Unless the user is directly attacking another user or mentioning a particular group of users in their post, users should always assume that the user posted in good faith, with no ulterior motive, because in 99% of the cases, they are posting in good faith. In doubt, users should report the post they feel is problematic and let moderators judge the situation.
To avoid Flaming & Baiting infraction, it's important to always assume that other users are posting in good faith and to always debate/discuss the idea and not the person expressing it.
In short, we encourage users to always be mindful of topic, to report posts they see as problematic rather than mini-mod or censor in threads, and to always attack the opinions, not the person expressing them. If you have any questions on this subject, feel free to contact one of the moderators; we are there to help you!
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