Rules Office Outlaw Sitewide Rules

[Zwielicht]

We've created this forum with the goal of transparency in mind. Essentially, all of the rules should be viewable only on the terms and rules page. Not only are all of the rules listed on the terms and rules, but the reasons for these rules are alongside them.

Previously, the rules could be found here in this thread, but we found it was much simpler for there to be only one place where the rules are mentioned and less confusing to the community.

 

[Zwielicht]

We’re going to be expanding these out today and adding anything mentioned in these site guides to the TOS.

 

[Rem]

Rule 2: Hacking Is Prohibited
This means discussions and requests to hack are prohibited.

Discussions on how to protect your site from hacking are permitted (here come the loopholes... ).

Should this be more fleshed out?
How about
Botnets – Creating, distributing, or managing networks of compromised devices

RATs (Remote Access Trojans) – Sharing or discussing tools used for unauthorised remote access

Exploits and zero-days – Sharing methods for exploiting vulnerabilities in software or hardware or even websites...

Account cracking – Accessing or attempting to access accounts without permission

DDoS attacks – Discussing or promoting distributed denial of service tools or methods

Phishing – Creating or sharing deceptive methods to steal user information

Malware development – Writing, modifying, or distributing malicious software

and lastly everyone's favorite
Doxing - doxing..

 

[Rem]

How about Language?
Is it Strictly English only here or other language posts/threads are welcome too?

 

[back2form]

How about Language?
Is it Strictly English only here or other language posts/threads are welcome too?

I Guess,
English Only..
Other language contents are not allowed..

 

[Zwielicht]

I Guess,
English Only..
Other language contents are not allowed..

How about Language?
Is it Strictly English only here or other language posts/threads are welcome too?

Oh, I guess I never specified that.

English on the public forums, although you can speak another language over DM or in a private area like the Sapphire Section. I'll add that to the rules in a bit.

In regards to the Sapphire section, one thing I would consider were language-specific sections at some point. I still need to look into how to make that work without making it really complicated to keep things organised, though.

Edit: there you go.

Rule 12: Language Rules
As far as the public forums are concerned, we only allow English on them. However, you are free to write in another language over the direct messaging system or in a private section like the Sapphire Section.

 

[Zwielicht]

Someone asked me what would happen if a member did something to me specifically here. I'm going to use the description for the member abuse rule as an example.

Rule 7: Member Abuse
Abusing a member through excessive trolling or commentary regarding their race, age, gender, etc is prohibited.

To define this further, arguments are not considered member abuse. "You're stupid" types of comments are not prohibited, just discouraged.

So according to this rule, if a member gets into an argument and calls someone here stupid, that's not considered member abuse. But what if the situation occurred with me or another staff member?

Well, it's still not member abuse. We wouldn't like it nor would it be very nice, but it's not against the rules.

What I'm trying to say is that the staff are held to the same rules as members; there aren't separate rules for staff. It's why we don't specifically have a staff abuse notice, because any abuse that is prohibited is all just member abuse.

But while we're here, the only time someone would get a notice for that is if they were following a member around the forum and saying "You're stupid" to every post they make. At that point, it's just considered excessive trolling, and that's when it would become member abuse.

 

[Festinger Vault]

Someone asked me what would happen if a member did something to me specifically here. I'm going to use the description for the member abuse rule as an example.

So according to this rule, if a member gets into an argument and calls someone here stupid, that's not considered member abuse. But what if the situation occurred with me or another staff member?

Well, it's still not member abuse. We wouldn't like it nor would it be very nice, but it's not against the rules.

What I'm trying to say is that the staff are held to the same rules as members; there aren't separate rules for staff. It's why we don't specifically have a staff abuse warning, because any abuse that is prohibited is all just member abuse.

But while we're here, the only time someone would get a warning for that is if they were following a member around the forum and saying "You're stupid" to every post they make. At that point, it's just considered excessive trolling, and that's when it would become member abuse.

Sir we don't have warnings here, we have notices.

 

[Zwielicht]

Sir we don't have warnings here, we have notices.

Ah, sorry, I fixed that!

I'm still getting used to that as well.

 

[Zwielicht]

We've updated these rules again so that they're easier to go through. We've also added more clarification on the current rules.

Keep in mind we're still discussing what counts as political or religious content. I encourage all of you to participate in this thread so that we can clarify these rules.

 

[roydan]

Can we add racist comments somewhere under rule 2?

 

[Zwielicht]

Can we add racist comments somewhere under rule 2?

I was thinking rule 1.2 covers that, but now that you mention it, someone could just come on here and start posting racial remarks about someone who isn't a member and say that it's not against the rules.

All right, I'll add that in. Nice spot there!

Edit: Okay, I added 2.6 in to cover this loophole.

2.6 Discriminatory commentary
This is a multi-cultural forum where our members have a wide variety of backgrounds. Therefore, keep any discriminatory commentary to yourself.

I've also added a point in about when we move threads, just so everyone is aware. This was done as our team decided to move a more controversial thread to the Sapphire Saloon recently.

4.5 Moving Threads
Threads may be moved by our moderation team if they've been placed in the incorrect section. Additionally, if a discussion becomes heated, controversial, or otherwise negative, our moderation team may move the thread to the Sapphire Section so that the discussion may continue out of public view. These discussions must still abide by the other rules of the forum.

 

[MisterF]

Should this be more fleshed out?
How about
Botnets – Creating, distributing, or managing networks of compromised devices

RATs (Remote Access Trojans) – Sharing or discussing tools used for unauthorised remote access

Exploits and zero-days – Sharing methods for exploiting vulnerabilities in software or hardware or even websites...

Account cracking – Accessing or attempting to access accounts without permission

DDoS attacks – Discussing or promoting distributed denial of service tools or methods

Phishing – Creating or sharing deceptive methods to steal user information

Malware development – Writing, modifying, or distributing malicious software

and lastly everyone's favorite
Doxing - doxing..

Also include downloads of Viruses / Trojans.

Anyone found doing this on purpose should be instantly banned.

 

[Zwielicht]

Also include downloads of Viruses / Trojans.

Anyone found doing this on purpose should be instantly banned.

I think we can all agree that there are a few things that should result in an instant ban. Making the distinction of doing it on purpose is important

I added that in as rule 2.7.

2.7 Deliberate malware distribution is prohibited.
This means that if you're caught distributing malware deliberately, your account will be removed from our platform.

It'll also be mentioned in the Downloads section rules.

 

[Zwielicht]

A couple of new rules have been added in as a result of this suggestion thread: https://officeoutlaw.com/threads/posting-thread-derailing.1629/

I really do need to standardise thresholds as I will admit they are kind of random at the moment.

Yeah, we can consider this one approved.

I've added a couple of new rules in as a result of this discussion: rules 2.8 and 2.9.

2.8 is a common sense one just telling members to do their best to post in the right section. It only exists to mention that we simply move threads when they're posted in the wrong section.

Rule 2.9 is directly about this, telling members to stay on topic in serious discussions outside of The Saloons. The procedure we have for handling this is to simply have a moderator come in and tell everyone to keep it on topic. However, if a member begins resorting to what is essentially trolling with jocular posts in serious discussions, a notice (warning) will be issued a last resort.

• 2.8 Posting in the correct section
  Please do your best to post in the correct section. It's fine if you don't know what the correct section is, so long as you make an effort to post in the most appropriate section. If you post in the incorrect section, our moderators will simply move the thread to the correct section.
• 2.9 Thread Derailing
  This only applies to threads posted outside of any of The Saloons. Essentially, please do your best to stay on topic with the opening post and refrain from posting jocular responses in serious discussions. Our moderators will make an effort to keep discussions on topic should this happen, although if we note that a member excessively continues ignoring this, a notice for inappropriate content may be issued as a last resort.

 

[Zwielicht]

Rule 2.10 has been added in as a result of a lengthy discussion from the community on it.

Under Investigation - Clarification needed for what counts as political or religious

This is more of a discussion than a feedback or suggestion, but it's here because I think it's the most appropriate section for it. I read it a couple of times before I posted it, I know it "reads" like a rant, but it really isn't. A recent thread about May 1st was moved to the Sapphire section...

officeoutlaw.com

2.10 Political & Religious Discussions
These topics are prohibited on Office Outlaw, with the exception of the Platinum and Sapphire Saloons. Proselytising is strictly prohibited across the entire forum. Only major worldwide holidays are allowed to be mentioned in any of the Saloons (e.g., Eid, Christmas, Diwali, Chinese New Year, etc).

 

[Zwielicht]

I updated rule 1.3 to clarify that phrases are okay in other languages, it's just conversations in other languages that aren't allowed. You know, this way, you can say something like "à la carte" without worrying about breaking a rule.

• 1.3 Language Rules
  As far as the public forums are concerned, we only allow English on them. However, you are free to write in another language over the direct messaging system or in a private section like the Sapphire Section. Phrases in other languages are fine, it's discussions and conversations in other languages that aren't allowed.

 

[Zwielicht]

Rule 1.5 has been updated to prohibit buying and selling accounts on Office Outlaw, as suggested by @roydan.

 

[Zwielicht]

I've updated this thread to not be a duplicate list of what we have in the terms and rules. This way, the rules can only be found in one place and we don't have to keep updating the rules in two separate places.