Board abuse categories

The message boards are a place where we encourage open discussions on a variety of topics (mostly film and TV related). We realize that some topics lend themselves to more heated exchanges of opinions and that animated discussions are to be expected and, to a certain extent, welcomed. However, we want our message boards to remain a fun and stimulating place for everyone, and we will not tolerate it if the level of discourse falls below a certain point.

Due to the size of our message boards, our administrators do not actively monitor every single post. We rely on our users to bring to our attention any messages that fall afoul of our Terms and Conditions (T&C) via the 'Report Abuse' link attached to every post.

Please remember that the Report Abuse feature is NOT a tool to get rid of dissenting opinions or points of view. Before clicking on the Report Abuse link, please stop and think about the reasons why you believe the message violates our T&C and whether it's really necessary to remove it from the boards.

If you disagree with someone's point of view or his/her choice of language and prefer not to be exposed to it, you should use the Ignore feature. Attempts to use the Report Abuse feature to silence opponents or to have non-abusive messages deleted will result in sanctions against your own account. Do not use the 'Report Abuse' feature lightly. Also consider the context of a message: posts that may be considered off-topic or inappropriate in certain boards may be acceptable in others (e.g. the Soapbox or the Sandbox).

The following are some of the categories you can choose when reporting an abusive message. Once again, the Report Abuse feature is not a censorship tool: please be objective and tolerant of other people's viewpoints.

  • This post contains Hate Speech
    This category should be used to report messages that constitute actual egregious examples of hate speech (i.e. discriminatory with regards to race, religion, sexual orientation etc.). We realize this definition is a bit vague; just like pornography, hate speech is hard to define but reasonable persons can usually recognize it when they see it.

  • This post contains swearing/foul language
    Our board system includes filters that attempt to eliminate most common swear words. We are not prudes but we believe that it's possible to carry on an intelligent, even heated, discussion without resorting to insults and offensive language. Posts that include foul language (or that feature attempts to circumvent our filters) should be reported using this option. Please note that we also look at the context of a message: language and dialogue that may be borderline acceptable in a discussion of a R-rated adult-oriented movie is definitely out of place in the message board linked to a G-rated family film.

  • This post is libelous/unlawful
    Please be aware of what constitutes libel. Using this category to report messages that are not actually libelous (according to the legal definition of the term) and/or whose content does not violate the law in any other way will result in immediate action being taken against your own account. Expressing an opinion about the quality of a film or about an actor's abilities as a performer or about their looks may be in bad taste but does not usually consitute libel per se, regardless of what his/her fans may think.

  • This post is obscene/pornographic/indecent
    Graphical description of sexual acts, bodily functions and other activites that can be considered obscene according to normal community standards are not tolerated.

  • This post contains a link to pornography
    This category should be used to report posts that include links to other sites with pornographic images or content. We're sure we don't need to provide examples here.

  • This post promotes pirate DVD/illegal downloads
    Asking where to illegaly download films/TV episodes or other copyrighted materials or providing link to such downloads is a violation of our T&C and should be reported.

  • This post contains advertising/spam
    Our Terms & Conditions of use specifically prohibit unsolicited promotions, advertising or solicitations for funds, goods or services, including junk mail and spam. Our boards are not meant to be used to sell used DVDs or any other products, to solicit responses to petitions, to promote websites or to draw traffic to your short film posted on YouTube.

  • The poster is flooding the boards with the same message
    Reposting the same message multiple times in the same board (or in multiple boards) for the purpose of annoying users or making threads hard to read is considered 'flooding' and should be reported using this option.

  • This post is a chain letter
    Posting or reposting chain letters (click here for an example) is expressly forbidden. Users who post chain letters are usually banned from the site without warning.

  • The poster is using a copycat name/impersonating someone else
    Claiming to be a celebrity, or using a deceptive username to make people think you are someone else are both violations of our T&C that should be reported using this option.

  • The poster is a troll
    For a definition of who are trolls and how to deal with them, please read this informative guide. If you think someone is trolling, please report their post using this option and then add them to your Ignore list. Once again, just because someone has a different opinion about a movie or an actor doesn't make him/her a troll.

  • This post violates the Terms and Conditions in some other way
    For any other violation of our rules that doesn't fall within the above guidelines, please choose this option and enter an explanation of why the post should be deleted. This category should be chosen as a 'last resort'. As a rule of thumb, if you have to choose this option, chances are that the message is not really in violation of our T&C.



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