Hello,
These rules and regulations are mandatory to follow and are enforced by Simply Networked Staff.
Failure to do so can and will impair your ability to post, view, or participate on these forums.
Flaming
Flaming is a form of verbal attacks which can include, but is not limited to: sexual, discriminatory, racist, or bigoted comments. For an example, one is not allowed to call another user "f*king stupid", as it is a very negative and insulting comment. Instead of using such language or comments, explain your own position on the topic without focusing your post against the user in which you have deemed worthy of such a negative comment. It is unwanted in this community! Keep such comments to yourself as it forms a very disruptive situation within the community otherwise. Although profanity is permitted, it is frowned down upon, please limit your use of profanities. If you have an opposing view of the particular topic or situation, please post in a constructive manner; otherwise, you will be warned!
Trolling/Flame Baiting
Trolling is very much like flaming; but, instead, it's a comment that is deliberately posted to cause a disruption. Typically, these comments are made to make other members of the community upset, angry, or irritated. Some of these comments can be off-topic as well; this means, please be careful about going too far 'off-topic' as it could be considered as an attempt to troll the thread. While 'trolling' is a subjective term, there has been a basic definition given to you; so please be careful as to how you post or else it may warrant a warning (or ban, depending on how severe the comment is).
Illegal Discussions
Anything that would violate Nexon's Terms of Service (ToS) or User Abuse Policy (UAP) is considered 'illegal discussions'. This involves condoning hacking, third-party applications [for MapleStory or any other Nexon-sponsored game], botting, the selling of mesos and or accounts, or any cheating techniques. On top of the Nexon TOS/UAP, you must also follow International Laws; therefore, there can be no discussion of items that could be deemed as being illegal. This includes (but is not limited to): cracking, hacking, copyright infringement (for example: ROMs, emulators, and private servers), phreaking, and other particularly illegal things (please use your best judgment). Failure to comply with this rule will warrant a permanent ban in most cases.
Spamming
Spamming is the act of posting something that is completely unrelated to the topic, any posts within the thread or very brief responses which do not contribute to the thread whatsoever. Posting something that has no relevancy or usefulness to the thread in which you posted it in will warrant a warning. On top of the basic principle behind spamming, we also tend to agree that posts that have less than five words will be considered spam unless it is very relevant to the thread's original topic.
There are 2 forms of Spamming warning, Spamming I can be given out for a single offense, for repeat offenders a Spamming II or a stronger warning can be given.
Double Posting & Bumping
If the last post of a thread belongs to you, please do not reply to it again. Instead, you are more than welcomed to use the edit button that is seen within your last post on the thread. This is where you can add additional content without being warned for 'double posting'. By no means are you allowed to double (or triple, or quadruple, and so-on) post. Doing so will get you warned. There are no exceptions to the “double posting” rule, even if the thread in question is viewed as being of some importance.
As for bumping, the only forum that has particular rules in favor of bumping would be the Free Markets. Please see the Free Market Rules in order to get a better understanding as to how tolerant we are of bumping in Free Market threads. Outside of the Free Market, bumping is not permitted; you will be warned for bumping outside of the Market forums.
Although there are some area bumping and double posting are allowed such as in art, or if the individual wants to upgraded their guide and wants others to note that changes have been made or in other areas where the “edit” button cannot be used.
Objectionable Material
Any sort of Pornography is NOT permitted on these forums. We have a zero-tolerance policy in regards to posting excessively violent, racist or sexually explicit materials on these forums, you will be banned for doing so. Violent material may be posted as long as you insert it between spoiler tags, as it may be seen as inappropriate to other members. When using spoiler tags, please remember to include warning or disclaimer to warn users about what's contained inside. Otherwise, you may still warrant a warning for not doing so. If you are unsure if what you're posting is objectionable or not, just post a warning/disclaimer prior to the spoiler anyways (a staff member will remove it if it is, indeed, objectionable). Please use your judgement before posting an overly violent or explicit image, if in doubt ask a moderator about it.
Signature and Image Sizes
We do regulate the sizes of signatures. The largest one particular signature is allowed to be is 600x120 (in pixels, of course). As for images, the length should be a max of 700px (screenshots are excluded); if your image does go over this length, please simply link it.
Disrespect of Authority
This warning is considered similar to a “flaming” warning but is mostly centered on moderator actions, judgment or activities. Simply Networked staffs do not tolerate any form of verbal abuse from users and will assign this warning if this situation arises.
Warning Whining
If you make a post complaining or disputing a warning in which you've received, you will be warned again! While we understand that our staff members are not infallible, it is not something that needs to be discussed in public as it creates more drama than necessary. If you do wish to dispute your warning(s), visit the Warning Redemption forum and make a topic (please read guidelines prior to posting!).
General Broken Rule
This is a warning given out by moderators in lieu of other warnings or if a combination of forum violations has occurred. This warning is usually comes with a small description about the nature of the warning and is given out based on moderator discretion. Here are some (but not all) situations where this warning can be applied:
Acting as a 'moderator'
To summarize multiple violations of the rules
Necroposting, to some extent
E-Drama
E-drama is summarized as making a thread or post that incites a form of attention that is unnecessary. Posts that are about particular players, moderators, guilds, or persons are absolutely not allowed in any part of Simply Networked Personal problems such as 'relationship issues' should be posted in "Advice and Questions" forum; even at that, please keep the drama to the bare minimum.
Multiple Accounts
We do not condone any type of secondary account. If you wish to make another account, think otherwise. If you were banned, wait out your suspension duration. Otherwise, all accounts resolving to the source will be banned. This also includes accounts made for the sole purpose of drama in attempt to avoid a ban on your 'main account'. In other words: Having more than one account is not permitted and all [including the original] will be banned!
Also the registering user is held responsible for what goes on with their account! This means that if you let your friend/sibling/whatever post on it and they break a rule YOUR account will be punished accordingly.
Failure at Life & General Idiocy
These two warnings are given out to users who have posted incredibly offensive or insulting material. They are stronger warnings which can result in the user being banned. Failure at life requires an existing post in order to be awarded, but general idiocy can be given with or without the user posting.
The Search Function
As with any forum software, we have a search function. Now, while we understand that this community is rather large and searching manually would take eons, we also don't want repeating topics when there's one just a few pages away from the 'front page'. Therefore, we ask you to use the search function as much as humanly possible. This applies to before you make a thread or a post. Failure to use the search function and making a thread/post that could had been avoided will either result in the immediate closure of the thread or a warning.
"Necroposting"
'Necroposting' is reviving a dead (or old) thread. An 'old thread' would be considered anything older than two weeks without a reply. Now while there are some good topics out there, there are just as many 'stupid' ones. If you revive one of those 'stupid' ones, you'll most likely be warned. Now on the other hand, if you revive a good thread (but with a horrible reply or if you spam it), you'll also be warned. Finally, if you revive a good topic, with a good reply, it's all good. In other words, don't be petrified of necroposting; but try to be very objective in regards to what a thread would be considered prior to reviving it.
Hacking & Hacker Related Threads/Posts
We do not condone hacking or hacker related topics. With this being said, you should not post screenshots of hackers in any thread or post. Hacker-related threads may be objective and could survive for a period of time, but at the first sight of problems (revealing in depth details as to how hacks work, flaming, insults, or any other problems that violate our rules or Nexon's TOS) the thread will be removed permanently.
Other versions of MapleStory
Simply Networked focuses on MapleGlobal. This means we're not responsible for any support in regards to any other regional version of MapleStory (jMS, kMS,cMS,etc). As for 'support', we mean discussion topics or forums (i.e.: no kMS free market, no technical support on how to connect to jMS,etc). Screenshots are allowed from other regions in appropriate forums.
Advertising and Referral Links
Please do not advertise any site without prior approval from Simply Networked Staff. We do not have anything against other MapleStory fan sites, but please ask for permission first prior to posting it. This is to ensure that the site does not contain objectionable or harmful material. Advertising in your signature in the form of non linkable images is alright as long as it doesn't break any other rules (objectionable content, sizes, etc). Referral links WILL NOT be permitted in ANY circumstances! This includes referral links for Maple Story Mob. Simply Networked is not here for your own financial gain.
Illegal Exchanges
As already noted, we follow Nexon's Terms of Service and User Abuse Policy as well as our own rules and regulations. Nexon does not condone exchanging server to server mesos or items (trading broan mesos for scanian, for example). An illegal transaction (IE: one that goes against the Maplestory Terms of Service) will result in a BAN.
Reading the Stickies!
Check the threads that are stickied to the top of the forum within each section. This is because each section may (or may not) have their own additional rules to follow within that particular area of our forums. Failure to read the stickies do not make you exempt from warnings that would come from ignorance of the rules.
Temporary Ban & Account Ban
Moderators can, at their discretion, suspend an account at any time for an indefinite amount of time ranging from several days to permanently. Temporary bans can be either directly warned for or they can be the result of an accumulation of warnings (7 active warnings or a warning level greater then 100%). Account bans can occur based on the user's conduct, excessive warnings and bans can lead to a complete account ban, also participating in illegal activities that violate Simply Networked ToS or Maplestory ToS can result in a ban.
