Forum Rules versus No Forum Rules

[Shawn Gossman]

Forum Rules - they're often the guidelines that must be met in order for all members to be able to enjoy the community.

Some feel forums without rules will result in chaos and toxicity.

Others think forums can easily survive without rules.

Where do you stand? Vote and reply!

 

[JoelR]

This isn't a direct answer to your question, but I wanted to bring up a topic that I think we're going about our forum rules in entirely the wrong way.

There are usually two levels of forum rules:
- Terms of Use that are binding and legal - This is usually a wall of text that nobody ever reads, filled with technical legalese.
- Social Conduct that are more of guidelines - We usually bury this in a pinned topic in an Announcements board that new members will never know how to navigate

Forums totally miss the proper opportunity on how we present, where we present, and when we present the Social Conduct rules. We really need to present them at the point of engagement

 

[Shawn Gossman]

This isn't a direct answer to your question, but I wanted to bring up a topic that I think we're going about our forum rules in entirely the wrong way.

There are usually two levels of forum rules:
- Terms of Use that are binding and legal - This is usually a wall of text that nobody ever reads, filled with technical legalese.
- Social Conduct that are more of guidelines - We usually bury this in a pinned topic in an Announcements board that new members will never know how to navigate

Forums totally miss the proper opportunity on how we present, where we present, and when we present the Social Conduct rules. We really need to present them at the point of engagement

So by that, do you mean as a response to new comers or as a response "as needed" as members violate the guidelines?

 

[JoelR]

So by that, do you mean as a response to new comers or as a response "as needed" as members violate the guidelines?

Either? Both? But the main point is that we need to present them at the point of engagement, not bury them in some footer links or put up a wall of text. It needs to be short, easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to implement.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Either? Both? But the main point is that we need to present them at the point of engagement, not bury them in some footer links or put up a wall of text. It needs to be short, easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to implement.

I'd love to know more about your ideas of presenting them during engagement.