The Tag Fairy
Flitting around the DIS one sparkle at a time
- Joined
- Dec 31, 1969
- Messages
- 261
Hi everyone!
I know everyone likes to have fun, and this is a DISney fan site, so of course, fun is on the top of the list. However, I also want to talk to you about the type of fun that is encouraged and DIScouraged here on the DIS.
Tagging
Tagging sprees are great fun, and there are a group of us (Tag Fairies) who every now and then get the urge to make people smile, and we'll start tagging people for the fun of the surprise. However, the tagging adventure loses its fun when people swarm to a thread merely to get tagged, UNLESS it is a thread devoted to tagging.
TF's are also quite mischievous, and if DISers seem to be unhappy with their tags, start complaining, and even whining, there is a possibility that the TF will take those tags away. One of us has been known to say, "the TF giveth and the TF taketh away." I have to admit, we can be flighty, and SOME of us, not saying names (purple tag fairy) can get downright snarky. So, it's always a good idea to stay on the good side of the Tag Fairy (we do work pretty closely with the webmasters and some of the moderators). Having said that, sometimes we give a tag that is really not liked. If asked politely, we will, for the most part change the tag/color in question. Demands, pouting, petulance, and generally bad behavior will not be rewarded. We do remember the friendly DISers, though, and will visit more often.
Posting on other boards
The DIS is a pretty big forum, with boards covering a multitude of topics, themes. What works for some may not work for another. Everyone is welcome to post anywhere on the DIS.
However, you must keep in mind that if you are going to post on other boards, you really need to understand 'your audience' and post accordingly. Many teens here are actually regulars on other boards, and are welcomed for their insightful posts and other input. But, when a group of teens deliberately hijack threads with inane posts that boast about taking over, etc., well, frankly that just puts a bunch of people off, and those teens tend to lose credibility as having valid opinions. Having fun is great, but we all need to know where the "line" is and have the wherewithall to not cross it. The DIS is a friendly, family community, and posts that are disruptive are not welcome on any board, including here. (Many of you know that as we get a lot of reports from you when some outside person comes and disrupts your threads)
Acceptable/Unacceptable language & behavior
When Pete Werner (owner of the DIS) created this site, he decided that it would be family friendly. Anyone would be welcome to come to these forums and participate, as long as they respected others on the forums and complied by the site's guidelines. As the DIS grew, he got webmasters to help define/redefine rules and oversee the site (there is a LOT that goes on behind the scenes and beyond our discussion boards), and moderators to help enforce the guidelines. The idea behind it all is to maintain an environment where people can come and share, without the fear of being ridiculed, verbally abused, or otherwise mistreated.
Along with this, Pete decided that the topics here would also be family friendly, and the language be kept clean - somewhere between G & PG. So topics about sex, politics, arguments about religion are either discouraged or not allowed because either they are inappropriate, or because people are just unable to remain civil when their emotions engage and their brains disengage.
If the moderators see a subject that is not appropriate for the boards the threads will either be deleted or closed. If they are deleted/closed, then the rule is that that is a closed topic, and no one is to restart it. Restarting a closed topic is disruptive to the forum.
If the moderators see language that is inappropriate, the rule is to give an infraction, but moderators can also give warnings if they think DISers may not understand, and they just want to advise the poster that the language is not allowed on the boards.
The webmasters came up with a list of guidelines that everyone can reference to better understand what is/is not allowed on the DIS, and these can be found here: http://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm
I think that on this board, the vote for me posts would probably be more apt to happen than trying to sell anything.
We run into this a lot, and so I would like you to pay special attention to this. Inappropriate/vulgar words are not allowed on the DIS, ever. And, if a mod doesn't catch it, that does not mean that people can continue to post these words, abbreviations, creative spellings, etc. I will give some examples.
The following are NOT allowed, nor any allusion to them, and you will get an infraction:
LMAO, LMFAO, OMFG
witch with a b
beyotch (and other variations)
etc
Let's say grass was a filtered word, so that when I wrote it out I got *****
Then the following would not be allowed:
gra$$, gr*ss, gra**, gr@$$ etc. This is considered creatively spelling to bypass the word filter.
Do not start to spell a word and then substitute - example shh poop > That is considered creative spelling and you will get a warning or an infraction
Some words are not filtered, but they are still not allowed in the vulgar sense, and these include words like dick, balls, *******, etc. Just because they are not filtered does not mean that they are allowed. You really need to use better judgment.
So, what do you do? Spell the word out.
Hell is not in the word filter. So, if you write H E double hockey sticks or he!! you are not going to get a warning or infraction, but it's pretty silly to use different characters to spell out a word. If the word is filtered, then it will be asterisked out.
If you are unsure whether a word is allowed or not, then it is probably a word that shouldn't be allowed on the DIS - Example: frickin' / fricking -- It is pretty obvious what is meant here. Do not use it.
If you would like to ask for donations for a worthy cause (where you get no profit) or vote for someone, you must email Pete and get his permission first. webmaster@wdwinfo.com
It is really easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment. However, rudeness is never tolerated on the DIS. Just because a mod doesn't know about a rude post does not mean that it should be allowed, and really should be reported.
There used to be a debate board on the DIS, and people (well, some people) loved that board. But you know what, people took the hostility from that board and used it against posters on other boards. Some people were unable to leave the arguments at that board, and so it was discontinued. Some people try really hard to have a civil discussion, but someone inevitably gets hot under the collar, and all, well you know, breaks loose. It's not pretty, so these discussions are not allowed on the DIS. Period.
I think this one is pretty self-explanatory.
If you see anyone advertising, then please report the post. Some people come right out, and some will have these buried in their signatures. Don't go hunting for them.
Just let us know if you see something.I wanted to bring attention to number 9, too. When a moderator or webmaster gives a warning or infraction, there is to be no discussion of it on the boards. We have found that when this happens it causes a real ******* on the boards. The rules are the rules, and if you feel you have received a warning or infraction unfairly, then write to the admins at the address quoted. They will review it, and if they agree they will reverse it. It HAS happened before. Getting a warning is nothing really to boast about, it is one of the tools that the WMs and Mods have to keep the forums on an even keel.
There are other guidelines, as well as the list of infractions, with their associated points. You can see them at the link at the top of this particular section.
I hope you guys read the above with the intention it was posted. I think maybe some may not have known how the DIS works, and wanted to take this opportunity to help you out here.
May 2010 be the very best for everyone.
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