READ BEFORE POSTING - Rugby Forum Charter [28/12/2024] *** UPDATED ********

Common Threads (e.g. Ireland / General)

In common threads (i.e. all threads except the provincial threads) we are seeing an increasing amount of attacking the poster, rather than the post. This is stifling discussion. Not all posters here are going to have the same views, we're not a hive mind, a breadth of opinion is a good thing and avoiding every issue being reviewed through the exact same lens is something we are going to work hard to avoid.

We are making this post to make it clear how we will deal with this going forward.

Discussion of topics of interest is to be welcomed. Why was player x picked. Is player y good at z. What if we paired player a with player b instead of c? Did Andy Farrell get this decision wrong? What's going wrong at club x. Why is club z doing really well? Should player a get a new contract? Should this other player get a central deal?

Most of these topics will have posters with varying opinions, and many of the topics will be controversial. When these topics come up in the common threads:

Do:

• Discuss the topic at hand in good faith
• Attack the post, not the poster.

Do not:

• Make the same point over and over again. This is spamming.
• Attempt to shut down the discussion by dismissing it as crazy / stupid, or by suggesting that posters here aren't qualified to talk about the topic (e.g. the we aren't involved in training camps so don't know stuff).
• Make jokes / jibes about a poster or an opinion they expressed in a previous topic, no matter how indirectly or coy you are about it
• Question the motivation of the poster
• Make comments suggesting the poster is not a real supporter or anything like this.
• Backseat moderate.

If you think in any given topic you will struggle with this, then avoid the topic. If you think a topic or post is trolling, report it and don't post.

Provincial Threads

The provincial threads will be moderated slightly differently. Each provincial thread is obviously going to be skewed toward that province. Naked provincialism, within reason, is permitted in here by supporters of that province.

Do:

• Feel free to discuss any topic in any of these threads so long as you are not deemed to be trolling or griefing the thread.

Do not:

• Troll or grief the thread.
• Turn the thread into a province vs province argument.
• Become a time sink or a pest by feeling the need to explain why the posters in that thread are wrong repeatedly
• Do not use YOUR provincial thread to moan about any poster or group of posters in any other thread. Do not goad other posters thinking you'll be safe.

If Leinster fans want to post in their thread that they believe Johnny Sexton is the best rugby player ever, Munster fans are welcome to discuss this but dropping in with a "ROG was way better" is not going to be tolerated.

Fans of any province are welcome to post in any provincial thread, but when you post in the thread of a province other than your own you must accept that if you are deemed to be trolling or griefing you will be dealt with more harshly. If it comes down to it, the mods will side with the posters of the province that the thread is for.

Threadbans

If mods deem you to be derailing a thread, a thread ban will be issued. This will be for 2 weeks initially, but if you cause more problems in the thread after the 2 weeks is up further thread bans will be issued for a longer duration, up to a permanent thread ban. Posting in a thread while you are thread banned will result in an automatic 6 month thread ban and 2 week forum ban. Any further posting while Thread banned will lead to a permanent thread ban and a 3 month Forum Ban. Any post while Permanently Thread Banned will lead to a 6 month Forum Ban.

Note that the boards software doesn't stop you posting in a thread you are thread banned in. It is up to you to keep track. When you are thread banned you'll be quoted and mentioned in the thread by the mod, and the date of expiration of your ban will be posted or PM'd. Ignorance won't be accepted as an excuse.

Sanctions for issues:

Mods have the option to give a 0, 1 or 2 point warning. A 1 point warning expires after 1 week, a 2 point after 2 weeks. 0 points do not impact your record, they are a warning. Mods can use their discretion depending on the severity of the problematic post.

Note that on Boards, a user accumulating 5 active points (active being points that have not expired) at any point will trigger an automatic 5 week site ban.

Accumulation of sanctions (only accounts for sanctions worth at least 1 point, 0 pointers don't count):

2 sanctions: 1 week forum ban

3 sanctions: 1 month forum ban

4 sanctions: 3 month forum ban

5 sanctions: 6 month forum ban

Every further sanction: 6 month forum ban.

Disputing Mod Sanctions

If you are unhappy with a decision a mod has taken, you are welcome to appeal. The appeal must follow these steps:

1. PM the moderator who took action to discuss the issue. This can lead to sanctions being reversed.
2. Open a thread in the Dispute Resolution forum. A Sports Category Mod will review. They will look at the post in question, and the sanction, and decide if it was warranted or not. They could decide to reverse the sanction, or downgrade it, or they can uphold it.
3. If they uphold it, you have the option of an Administrator reviewing your case.

Obviously, one of the current Rugby mods is an Administrator. They won't be involved in any disputes for the Rugby forum.

Thread bans are discussed in Help Desk, not Dispute Resolution.