Omnimaga => News => Topic started by: Deep Toaster on December 09, 2011, 12:30:34 am
Title: Rules and positions update
Post by: Deep Toaster on December 09, 2011, 12:30:34 am
After weeks of editing by the managers, the Omnimaga rules page (http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=ezportal;sa=page;p=2) has finally been updated. The new changes are designed to make the rules more comprehensive and readable. The ideas behind the rules are the same for the most part, but we still encourage everyone to take a look at the new rules.
Remember that although the new rules are currently available only in English, they apply to everyone—which means we'll need translators! In particular, we're looking for people fluent in Dutch, German, and possibly Portuguese to help translate the new rules into these languages. Please tell us if you can help!
Another major change we're making on the forums is that the groups/titles such as "Coder of Tomorrow" and "Anti-Riot Squad" have been rearranged. ARS members are now to have full global moderator status, like CoTs currently do. The CoT position will be changed to have moderator rights only on their own project subforums, and the right to post in News. Members can hold both ARS and CoT positions from now on. Look for these new changes soon!
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on December 09, 2011, 12:49:23 am
I like the change, I wondered when this would happen since I heard about it a long while ago but then it seemed dormand. The rules seems to be pretty clear and I think "intolerance" being disallowed sums up what has always been my goal about Omni prior my retirement. More importantly, however, I like how the bit about a site free of hostility was kept and integrated in the new rules.
As for the group update this is a good move, since this will make it easier to accept new CoT members in the future I think (in the past, some applications were rejected because a member had good behavior in general and coding skills, but didn't seem mature/stable enough yet to moderate (partly a reason why I removed my own mod powers anywhere))
Will there be any special secondary group so people like Adriweb and Critor can post directly in news btw? Or is that already done via CoT as secondary group?
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: calcdude84se on December 09, 2011, 12:52:16 am
Finally. I was beginning to wonder if this was ever going to be finished! But now it's done, and that is excellent. :) I've voiced my support for this before, and agree with what's being done here. Now to stand by to receive full mod powers (including the staff board, I hope) ;D
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on December 09, 2011, 12:54:32 am
Yeah I got worried for a while. Also the rules are well layed out I think. The listing I had was patched update after update and it made it confusing, while the new one is more organized. The thing is the old rules made it seem like double posting was as bad as flaming, so when we were lax on double posting, some people might have thought we were lax on flaming too.
EDIT: Suggestion: Add the disclaimer about all programs/music being property of their respective owners
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: aeTIos on December 09, 2011, 01:04:22 am
I can translate to dutch.
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: Juju on December 09, 2011, 01:54:13 am
I already volunteered to translate the rules in French :) They look pretty good and clear.
And the positions change is a rather good idea.
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: Jonius7 on December 09, 2011, 01:58:27 am
These new rules look much simpler. However, maybe it would be a good idea to include the section that was in the previous version of the rules about how long should users wait in order to avoid double posting.
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: Michael_Lee on December 09, 2011, 02:02:18 am
Huh. I like these new rules. They're definitely a lot cleaner then the old ones.
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: ElementCoder on December 09, 2011, 02:56:24 am
I can help with the dutch translation if it's needed.
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: harold on December 09, 2011, 03:50:50 am
Not clear enough yet - I assume "illegal content" refers to "content illegal in Canada"? Probably better to explicitly state that. But even if that's what it means, I (and I assume many others) have no clue what's illegal in Canada.
- is direct linking to copyrighted material allowed? - is indirect linking to copyrighted material allowed? - is describing how to find a specific piece of copyrighted material allowed? - are movies & music exempt from those rules? - will there be a black unmarked van parked in my street if I do it anyway?
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: Juju on December 09, 2011, 03:55:41 am
Thanks for the feedback guys, we'll update the rules with needed clarifications and suggestions :)
The rules for double posting should be the same and anything illegal under Canadian and American laws should be illegal, so yeah, no copyrighted material, such as the TI roms.
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on December 09, 2011, 03:57:37 am
Not clear enough yet - I assume "illegal content" refers to "content illegal in Canada"? Probably better to explicitly state that. But even if that's what it means, I (and I assume many others) have no clue what's illegal in Canada.
- is direct linking to copyrighted material allowed? - is indirect linking to copyrighted material allowed? - is describing how to find a specific piece of copyrighted material allowed? - are movies & music exempt from those rules? - will there be a black unmarked van parked in my street if I do it anyway?
Unless things changed after my time as staff:
Linking to copyrighted songs hosted on Youtube is tolerated on Omnimaga, but providing download links to the songs or videos is not.
Discussing how to pirate softwares and asking how to is not allowed, same for linking to tutorials on it.
Linking to sites that primarily offers copyrighted content such as SNES ROMs is not allowed, although we tolerate links to sites that mainly provides freeware material. Eg TI-Planet has GB/GBC ROMs available in TNS format, but we still allow linking to other content on TI-Planet.
If you want to link directly to a copyrighted file, the file must be hosted directly on the company's website, such as TI-OSes on education.ti.com.
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: harold on December 09, 2011, 04:05:36 am
Ok thanks for clarifying so far, but I still have some questions.. How about linking to a torrent? A site where you can download that torrent? The SHA1 describing the contents of the torrent? A magnet url? What if the work is copyrighted, but known not to be enforced by the copyright holder? Does "just google it" constitute "discussing how to pirate software"? What if you use the name of a popular torrent site instead of google?
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on December 09, 2011, 04:12:48 am
In such case it's best to host the .torrent file on a non-torrent site, such as Mediafire.
As for unenforced copyrighted material/abandonware, we do not take chances. While the owner of the material might not care anymore, the hosting company on which Omnimaga is hosted could freak out and delete the entire site without warning, accusing us of providing illegal material, with no way to argue otherwise. An example was the TI RSA keys DMCA matter two years ago. If TI decided to send such DMCA notice to Omni's host instead of me directly (since I do not live in USA), then 1and1 (our hosting provider at the time) might have freaked out and simply shutted the site down, along with our domain name. And in 1and1 case, nobody in their staff speak English as their native language, so they would probably have misinterpreted the DMCA notice as something extremely dangerous for them.
As for pirating discussion, we generally tell people to google it.
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: Eeems on December 09, 2011, 09:17:56 am
Not clear enough yet - I assume "illegal content" refers to "content illegal in Canada"? Probably better to explicitly state that. But even if that's what it means, I (and I assume many others) have no clue what's illegal in Canada.
- is direct linking to copyrighted material allowed? - is indirect linking to copyrighted material allowed? - is describing how to find a specific piece of copyrighted material allowed? - are movies & music exempt from those rules? - will there be a black unmarked van parked in my street if I do it anyway?
I think it's more what is illegal for the country for which the server is on. So basically what is illegal in the US. I would say Canada, but some things are legal in Canada that aren't in the US. What DJ has said has all been applicable btw. Maybe we should add a subsection on some specifics but mention that it is not limited to those.
Thanks for pointing that out to us :)
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: Scipi on December 09, 2011, 09:31:07 am
I like the new rules. Clear, simple, and seemingly effective (only time will tell on that one though).
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: Kjelddy on December 09, 2011, 09:56:17 am
I could also help with the translation to dutch. and a really nice job guys , simple but efficient :P
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: Juju on December 09, 2011, 11:12:24 am
Torrent files should follow the same rules as normal files, even if it's hosted on sites like The Pirate Bay, I have no problem for non-copyrighted torrents.
And what DJ said, can't say it better. :P
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: yunhua98 on December 09, 2011, 12:07:29 pm
I like the new rules. They're also categorized now. Very clean looking. Nice job.
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: shrear on December 09, 2011, 12:09:48 pm
I think I will translate to German. I won't (probably) have results till Sunday evening thought, so anyone who can do it faster, feel free to do so ;)
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: squidgetx on December 09, 2011, 03:30:13 pm
Nice.
Do current CoT get to keep their mod powers (aka auto upgrade to ARS) or do we have to file an additional application or whatnot?
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on December 09, 2011, 04:25:33 pm
From what I remember, all current CoT members keep their ARS status too. Only future CoT's won't get mod powers right at the start (kinda like on the old board from August 2006 to December 2007)
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: ztrumpet on December 09, 2011, 04:53:23 pm
Do current CoT get to keep their mod powers (aka auto upgrade to ARS) or do we have to file an additional application or whatnot?
You guys will probably all be upgraded, but it will likely be reviewed on a case by case basis.
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on December 09, 2011, 05:08:48 pm
Oh so it changed then? I think the current staff can be trusted well, though, especially the ones who have been in the team for a while, although i understand if you don't want to take any chance due to what happened with a long-time staff in August or if you prefer that CoT's that didn't do much moderator works no longer has mod powers.
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: ruler501 on December 10, 2011, 08:52:33 am
ONe thing I noticed when reading the rules is that the rule for double posting has changed to one day of inactivity. I thnk one day might be a little short.
Otherwise though I think the new changes are great.
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: Deep Toaster on December 10, 2011, 01:42:37 pm
ONe thing I noticed when reading the rules is that the rule for double posting has changed to one day of inactivity. I thnk one day might be a little short.
It used to be 6 hours (or 3 or 1), so this is actually longer.
And Kjelddy sent in a Dutch translation (thanks!), so if no Dutch speakers out there have any corrections or suggestions, this will go in the Dutch rules (http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=ezportal;sa=page;p=10).
Spoiler For Rules in Dutch:
Quote from: Kjelddy
Omnimaga en OmnomIRC
Omnimaga is een site gewijd aan rekenmachine en computer programmeren en muziek creaties van elke soort. Ons doel is om een discussie omgeving vrij van vijandigheid te creëren waarin alle programmeurs kunnen leren, elkaar projecten te laten zien , te discussiëren over de onderwerpen van deze gemeenschap. Om dit te kunnen waarborgen hebben we een aantal regels die u in je gedachten moet houden , straffen wegens overtreding van deze regels kan leiden tot waarschuwingen tot en met permanente verbanningen
Merk ook op dat OmnomIRC het forum shoutbox is gekoppeld aan verschillende IRC-kanalen in handen zijn van Omnimaga , samen met paar gerelateerde kanalen. Het is een voorrecht van gebruikers met ten minste 40 posts. Spam de forums niet om deze 40 posts te behalen. Waar van toepassing, de Omnimaga forum regels gelden ook voor OmnomIRC en de gekoppelde kanalen en misbruik kan leiden tot zowel forum als IRC verbanning.
Regels
De volgende dingen zijn nooit toegestaan op de omnimaga forums in welke vorm dan ook.
Opjutten , overvloeden , intolerantie , en provocerende reacties.
De volgende zijn toegestaan maar worden sterk in de gaten gehouden en gestopt indien nodig.
Religieus en politieke debatten.
Inhoud dat is "NSWFW / C" (niet veilig voor werk / kinderen) , moeten in spam met de gepaste waarschuwing in de titel geplaats worden.
Vloeken is toegestaan tot op een zekere hoogte, maar word een strafbaar feit in overmatig gebruik.
Misbruik de "post-rating" systeem niet.
Beoordeel berichten op kwaliteit , niet op mening.
Alle "post-rating" word opgenomen en is zichtbaar bij managers en misbruik zal tot verbanning leiden.
Zeur niet over elke negatieve rating die je krijgt . je leven hangt niet alleen af van rating scores.
Dubbel posten (twee posts snel achter elkaar in een onderwerp) word afgeraden.
Dubbel posten om een thread te "bumpen" waar een dag lang geen reactie op is geplaatst is toegestaan.
Voor speciale gevallen (zoals een grote project update), gebruik je eigen verstand.
Vergeet niet dat je altijd de "MODIFY" knop kan gebruiken om je post te veranderen.
Managers mogen op elk moment naar eigen goeddunken zelf optreden.
Om een ongepaste post/ privé bericht(PM) te melden , gebruik de "Report to moderator" link aan de onderkant van de post of PM.
Je kan een keuze gemaakt door een manager aankaart bij andere manager als je er niet mee eens ben.
De inhoud van deze regels kunnen door de managers op elk gewenst moment gewijzigd worden , met of zonder waarschuwing.
Disclaimers
Alle posts , downloads , en tutorials zijn geschreven door individuele gebruikers die niet Omnimaga vertegenwoordigen as geheel. Wij zijn niet aansprakelijk voor enige schade of verlies van data veroorzaakt door software gepost bij een gebruiker.
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on December 10, 2011, 02:38:12 pm
I believe it was probably changed from 6 hours to 24 because someone could just bump his topic asking "Any help?" every 6 hour and this might turn into a quadruple/quintuple posting fest. For project updates it's still shorter, though.
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: shrear on December 11, 2011, 03:05:22 pm
Ok, I posted a German translation (http://ourl.ca/12099/270270). But I'd prefer to have first some feedback from other german speakers before they get "official".
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: AngelFish on December 11, 2011, 03:08:17 pm
Can we get a Lobjan or Esperanto translation? :P
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: aeTIos on December 12, 2011, 09:41:02 am
ONe thing I noticed when reading the rules is that the rule for double posting has changed to one day of inactivity. I thnk one day might be a little short.
It used to be 6 hours (or 3 or 1), so this is actually longer.
And Kjelddy sent in a Dutch translation (thanks!), so if no Dutch speakers out there have any corrections or suggestions, this will go in the Dutch rules (http://www.omnimaga.org/index.php?action=ezportal;sa=page;p=10). *snip*
I am translating it too. I do not want to bash but the first part looks a little like a GT translation :\ No offense though.
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: Kjelddy on December 12, 2011, 12:54:35 pm
I used google translate to make it a bit simpler indeed :P(for me to translate and I thought sometimes GT did quite well(prob never gonna say this again). and ofcourse I am no pro at english :P . it was sometimes quite hard wheter I leave the english word or replace it with the dutch word. I am fine with you translating it too :P and suggestions are always welcome :). how about combine the 2 translations and make one perfect translation :P. KJ btw I couldn't post it in a sepparate forum for checks so I am glad that someone checks it here, my thanks for that :P
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on December 20, 2011, 05:38:47 pm
I can no longer access the French, Dutch, Portuguese and German rules pages ???
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: Juju on December 20, 2011, 06:06:21 pm
I thought I fixed it this morning?
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: DJ Omnimaga on December 20, 2011, 06:13:14 pm
Apparently nope. Now it is, though, although it still shows up the old rules :P
Title: Re: Rules and positions update
Post by: Juju on December 20, 2011, 07:13:54 pm