Scroll Saw Workshop Message Board Bill of Rights

[BobD]

Scroll Saw Workshop Bill of Rights

This is a scroll saw related forum—so most topics should relate to scroll sawing or woodworking. It’s not a place to tout one tool (saws, blades, sanders). Feel free to offer your preference, but understand that others are also entitled to their own opinion.

Respect Other Members
Right: You have the right to read the information about scroll saw projects, techniques, and woodworking. You also have the right to share your ideas and opinions about scrolling and woodworking without fear of personal attacks. You have the right to a friendly forum where members respect each other regardless of skill level, opinions, or personal feelings. That means no name calling, questioning a person’s integrity, or openly trashing a person’s reputation online. For your first warning, you will be banned for a day, Second warning, banned for a month, Third warning, banned permanently.

Discussion: Act like an adult—plain and simple. The Internet is a funny place—it’s easy to type out a comment, click “Post” and sit back and let the fur fly. There are plenty of other places on the Internet where you can do this—but it won’t be tolerated on the Scroll Saw Workshop Message Board. When you are posting something, ask yourself if you would say that to a person if you were standing next to them and looking in their face—or better yet, would you like someone to say that to you? If you have a problem with someone, send a private message (PM) to BobD, Admin or one of the Moderators!

Give New Members A Break
Right: New members have the right to post specific questions. They may have little or no experience about scrolling—or posting on message boards—and it may be easier for them to just post their question rather than try to find the answer to their question in earlier posts.

Discussion: New members need a way to break the ice, introduce themselves, and get a feel for the other members. They also usually have legitimate questions—remember, we were all newbies once! Cut them a little slack if they ask a question that has been asked over and over. If you don’t feel like posting the same reply you just posted last week, post a link to your last thread. Everyone has something to add to our discussions because everyone brings different life experience to the forum—we wouldn’t want to stifle the next Judy Gale Roberts or Patrick Spielman, would we?

Off Topic Posts
Right: You have the right to post whatever you want in the Off-Topic area as long as it isn’t offensive. If you think it might be offensive, check with BobD, Admin, or one of the moderators.

Discussion: A general question about something happening in the world is one thing, but don’t write a doctoral dissertation on why one political party or race or religion is better than another.

Advertising On The Forum
Right: All members have a right to post their opinion, but no member has the right to use the site to promote his or her own business without permission from BobD or Admin. The exception is that designers are allowed to post links to their newest designs in the New Designs section.

Discussion: People will always post about their favorite tools—how else will people decide to try something new. But don’t post a thread about a sale or special you are having. If you have regular customers, PM them, or buy an ad in the magazine. But designers are welcome to post links to their newest designs only in the New Designs section.

Links to other sites
Right: You have the right to post links to other related sites. If it is your site, we would appreciate a reciprocal link back to our site. Please don’t post a site that is in direct competition to our site—that’s not fair! Directing people to a totally unrelated website (commonly known as SPAM) is not allowed. Spammers will be banned without warning.

Discussion: The forum is a great place to bring together a variety of information and resources. There should he a relatively free exchange of information. But don’t post a link to a magazine or website that is in direct competition to Scroll Saw Workshop. If you have a question about a link you’d like to post, PM BobD, Admin, or one of the Moderators.

Photos
Right: You have a right to post all scroll saw related photos. You do not have the right to post a copyrighted pattern for others to use without permission from the copyright holder.

Discussion: There are plenty of free pattern sites out there. The moderators of those sites work hard to make sure that the patterns posted are not copyrighted. Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts doesn’t have the time to police these patterns, so please don’t post patterns on the site without checking with BobD, Admin, or the Moderators.

Handling Complaints
Right: You have the right to complain to the Admins or Moderators if you have a problem with a post. If you have a problem with a person, use the Private Message function. You do not have the right to post a complaint about someone in an open forum.

Discussion: Please don’t take things into your own hands. Trust the Admins and Moderators. If you have a problem with a post, PM BobD, Admin, or one of the Moderators—we’ll ask the person to edit his or her post—or delete it outright.

[bronco]

Very good thank you Bob I think this was needed.
Bill

[William Young (SE BC)]

Bob D;
Thank you kindly for taking the time and effort to make that Bill Of Rights public. I agree with Bronco Bill that it was needed and hopefully will prevent the the site from being used as an advertising launch pad for certain products as start up topics by some individuals. Hopefully this will keep the site more of an informational site about scrollsawing and deter some of the comercialization as has been posted repeatedly in the past .
Best regards
W.Y.

[Old Mooner]

I think making these "rules"/"guidelines" public was a good idea Bob. I like your attitude and management style. Most folks can live with these rules and still have fun and feel free to engage in, as you say, "adult" give and take. There are always going to be some who take offense and feel put upon. As I have said before--be careful when you ask someone for an opinion because you may get one you don't like. Heaven forfend! Good on ya.
Moon

[Gill]

Well...

Okay...

I suppose...

<shuffles feet sulkily>


















So long as we're still allowed a little bit of irreverance and we can have a go at the Scots every Burns Night !

Gill

[Woodbutcher68]

Good idea Bob.
I found out this evening that I was banished for a month from another woodworking site. I think it had something to do with the poll I put up here. I didn't put it up to cause problems and I didn't argue with or bash anyone about it. I've never done that in any type of forum I've been involved with. (I've been a moderator on a few and am still an administrator on a Chicago area fishing forum even though I haven't done anything with it for over a year.)
Running any type of a forum is a major headache that I'm glad I don't have anymore and I hope you never have to deal with the same type of problems I used to deal with.
Thank you for your time and effort in creating the Bill of Rights for this board.

[3_M]

Boy did W.Y. hit the nail on the head.
Mike M

[William Young (SE BC)]

Thanks Mike;
Glad you recognized my intentions



W.Y.

[bearfretworks]

Thanks for your efforts on this Bob, very well done.

That said, I'm sorry that you had to even go thru the effort..... I've noticed the absence of a couple experienced, long time posters here who's input was very much appreciated on this end. My guess is they left for some of the reasons that prompted the need for this to be written.

I hope to see them back soon.....

[SharonW0111]

I miss them too bear -- nuff said.
Sharon