Journal of Other Forum Analysis (Volume II, Issue 1)

[Besticus Maximus]

I'm surprised Mark is even discussing Monster Hunter again after he got completely humiliated by the MH fandom last time because he made it obvious he knew fuck all what he was talking about (aka complaining about a trailer... He hadn't even watched and then got massively mocked for).

[benji]

As an American, I'd just like to say: as far as I'm concerned, say what you want about us. No qualifiers are necessary. Those of us who are against all this shit are supposed to be the reasonable ones. We shouldn't need a ridiculous aside of "not you guys, of course, you're awesome" every time someone says "Americans have lost their fucking minds", or something.

Maybe some people need one of those little browser extensions that just adds it for them automatically. Every post calling out America for being a violent imperialist hellhole just gets "not you, though, you're cool and you deserve a high-five" tacked on.

Like, there's something to be said for the temperature getting too high, and I get the impulse to defend oneself. It's natural. But it's virtually indistinguishable from the "not all men!" and "not all cops!" defenses. Everyone knows there are decent individuals under those umbrellas.

The point is that at a collective, institutional level, the group being referred to is broken. If the shoe doesn't fit when someone calls out those groups, you don't have to desperately try putting it on and then protest that it's too tight. Keep your head down and keep putting in whatever good work you can to change the group from within, and thereby the perception.

People here loved to throw ACAB around, but now that it's about them, suddenly it's all about the nuance and the 'bad eggs' while entire nations are at stake.

                    dismissing concerns in a sensitive thread?

[benji]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/do-you-feel-like-this-community-here-is-getting-smaller.1122636/

Well I mean there's been multiple large exoduses from the site. AsianEra, SalesEra, the entirety of NintendoEra.

That's gotta affect the user count.

What went on with those if you can answer

Just now? Nope, people been leaving era in droves over the years. Most consistent member seems to be PSera so might be hard to notice people leaving if you part of that community.

For a long time now. Not enough new people to offset bans and people leaving

I also want to know this. I used to be part of sales stuff on the old site, but had to move on because of personal interest. What's happening there?

Guys, we get tons of new accounts pretty regularly. If you only ever hang out in your OTs then you'll never see new people, but I promise they're there.

Not open for further replies.

[Nintex]

security guarantees from the US
this dude is delusional

Yep, Zelensky is brave and all that but he still wasted $350 billion on losing a war and probably up to $500 billion if you add the money he got from the EU countries. 
Even the highest estimates put Russias defense budget at only $75 billion to $100 billion a year and between Syria, Africa and their borders they had a lot of ground to cover.

But now Zelensky said he never got all the money. So "Where is the money Zelensky?". From Maidan, "Fuck the EU", Hunter Biden, walking away from the first deal, leaked counter attack plans, an assassination attempt on Trump by a volunteer recruiter and missing billions... even though Russia is certainly the invader there is no denying that this whole thing stinks. Maybe like with the Wuhan lab Trump knows more than he's telling us.

[benji]

Also on Bluesky, we're cancelling holding RetroArch accountable:

[Potato]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/do-you-feel-like-this-community-here-is-getting-smaller.1122636/

Well I mean there's been multiple large exoduses from the site. AsianEra, SalesEra, the entirety of NintendoEra.

That's gotta affect the user count.

What went on with those if you can answer

Just now? Nope, people been leaving era in droves over the years. Most consistent member seems to be PSera so might be hard to notice people leaving if you part of that community.

For a long time now. Not enough new people to offset bans and people leaving

I also want to know this. I used to be part of sales stuff on the old site, but had to move on because of personal interest. What's happening there?

Guys, we get tons of new accounts pretty regularly. If you only ever hang out in your OTs then you'll never see new people, but I promise they're there.

Not open for further replies.

I love this emote. Especially when it's so relevant.

[Gameboy Nostalgia]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/do-you-feel-like-this-community-here-is-getting-smaller.1122636/

Well I mean there's been multiple large exoduses from the site. AsianEra, SalesEra, the entirety of NintendoEra.

That's gotta affect the user count.

What went on with those if you can answer

Just now? Nope, people been leaving era in droves over the years. Most consistent member seems to be PSera so might be hard to notice people leaving if you part of that community.

For a long time now. Not enough new people to offset bans and people leaving

I also want to know this. I used to be part of sales stuff on the old site, but had to move on because of personal interest. What's happening there?

Guys, we get tons of new accounts pretty regularly. If you only ever hang out in your OTs then you'll never see new people, but I promise they're there.

Not open for further replies.

We have fun here

[Gameboy Nostalgia]

Also on Bluesky, we're cancelling holding RetroArch accountable:

the ghost of byuu strikes again!

[Besticus Maximus]

I'd love to know why so much of the emulator/piracy scene is dominated by jedi and sith trans factions

[Polident]

I'd love to know why so much of the emulator/piracy scene is dominated by jedi and sith trans factions

Respectfully: extreme autism.

It’s true for fan translators as well. Who else can you rely on to translate a Sega Saturn game in 2025? Let Lilith do her thing.

[Snoopy]

Oh Jeez. Nep's Brazilian headmate has arrived -

I have a few minutes to summarize I suppose.

The frustration and anxiety from Canadians is understandable given Trump's rhetoric. I myself take everything he says at face value as well so I get it, despite contextualizing it within whatever I think is most likely to happen (or not happen).

Canadian response from members on this forum, and general venting is a way to direct said emotions in a manner that there's feedback, which will be from Americans on this American video game forum.

Which is fine, but the sentiments are waged mostly lacking context of what passive or active protests are occurring in America. Hundreds of lawsuits, civil and labor unions protesting, scattered demonstrations and local communities organizing, economic embargoes, massive volume of calls to representatives, government departments adhering to past practice, etc.

Many people - Canadian or American - won't be privy to a lot of this because it isn't sexy. Not headline grabbing, mostly battening down the hatches type stuff. Not gonna jump off the page. But it's meaningful checks to a hostile administration.

I can understand if that's not enough to people. If you feel Hitler redux is readying the war beast, Americans engaging in civic protest might not feel sufficient. But if every legal and civil measure is being exhausted, the only thing left is the illegally disruptive.

Which brings us to civil disobedience: widespread protests, disruption of services, hacking, harassing officials. If we're dealing with Nazi Germany fascism, that won't be sufficient. The only thing left is violence. "Punch Nazi."

So when folks in the same breath say that Americans are allowing another Reich to take power and proliferate, and that Americans should "do something more," the only recourse to address that face value level of threat is violence.

https://www.resetera.com/threads/white-house-official-threatens-to-redraw-canadian-border.1120662/page-12#post-136415592

[MMaRsu]

Honestly who is meloney malds and why should we care? Are they on Resetera? Or are they just a retarded twitter user?

Is this thread going to be all about politics and Bluesky instead of funny posts we find on Resetera

The last two pages of this thread are absolute dogshit

[Snoopy]

MAGA will only learn after they suffer from the consequences. Each one of them has to suffer directly by the hand of Trump.

The only way to not lose it all is to kill them before it is lost. But since that isn't an option or is too risky we will lose almost everything before being able to gain it back again.

That is probably what needs to happen. Things will heat up until the pot finally boils over. Stay diligent, be ready, get in shape, prepare.

Stay diligent people


 

[benji]

Honestly who is meloney malds and why should we care? Are they on Resetera?

Yes.

MAGA will only learn after they suffer from the consequences. Each one of them has to suffer directly by the hand of Trump.

The only way to not lose it all is to kill them before it is lost. But since that isn't an option or is too risky we will lose almost everything before being able to gain it back again.

That is probably what needs to happen. Things will heat up until the pot finally boils over. Stay diligent, be ready, get in shape, prepare.

FACT CHECK:

edit:

[killamajig]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/do-you-feel-like-this-community-here-is-getting-smaller.1122636/

Well I mean there's been multiple large exoduses from the site. AsianEra, SalesEra, the entirety of NintendoEra.

That's gotta affect the user count.

What went on with those if you can answer

Just now? Nope, people been leaving era in droves over the years. Most consistent member seems to be PSera so might be hard to notice people leaving if you part of that community.

For a long time now. Not enough new people to offset bans and people leaving

I also want to know this. I used to be part of sales stuff on the old site, but had to move on because of personal interest. What's happening there?

Guys, we get tons of new accounts pretty regularly. If you only ever hang out in your OTs then you'll never see new people, but I promise they're there.

Not open for further replies.

I love this emote. Especially when it's so relevant.

Damn, dudes still alive  Maybe?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Saeed_al-Sahhaf#Post-war_life

His fame quickly evaporated as the war continued into the insurgency phase; from the middle of 2003 onward, he faded from the public spotlight, and was no longer a figure in the war. Al-Sahhaf said that he had surrendered to United States forces, had been interrogated by them and then released.[13][14] He was not charged for his role in Saddam Hussein's government.[14]

In March 2008, it was reported by The Times that al-Sahhaf was living in the United Arab Emirates.[15]

[Alpacx]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/do-you-feel-like-this-community-here-is-getting-smaller.1122636/

Like.... And maybe I'm just tripping here but ... It kinda feels like I know everyone on here. But, like, that can only happen if the community is really tiny? Like, I feel like it's the same people having the same discussions over and over again. Like, It doesn't feel real. It's the same 4 or 5 people. In every thread. Like WTF? Like I'm wigging out over this frfr rn.

Spoiler:  (click to show)(click to hide)

It's because they fucking ban everyone

[Polident]

I know it’s hard to believe, but gaf and era were forums about video games. All they need to do is allow open discussion about video games. Somehow that’s too difficult for their brain trust.

[Alpacx]

I know it’s hard to believe, but gaf and era were forums about video games. All they need to do is allow open discussion about video games. Somehow that’s too difficult for their brain trust.

You're putting staff at risk with this suggestion!

[HaughtyFrank]

https://www.resetera.com/threads/cbs-news-talk-of-a-%E2%80%9Cfeb-28-economic-blackout%E2%80%9D-is-spreading-on-social-media-what-is-it.1118142/page-9#post-136414896

Nah… this is bullshit. You cant talk to people like that.

Yes, I can. We still got a First Amendment.

   She outlawed talk of AI and the most popular video games.  She thinks certain books and movies should be banned because the wrong people might watch them and not understand it like she does.  

 I can't get over nepenthe of all people defending freeze peach.  What a two-faced book burner.

Any time you think the hypocrisy cant get worse she drops one of these

[JoeBoy101]

Meanwhile Dubs Neeson is back on drugs -

Honestly, blaming each other for shit does absolutely nothing. We're not Congress, we're a videogame forum. We aren't deciding any of this shit. We're here to talk about things we find important and interesting and fun. Blaming each other, attacking each other, standing up on a soapbox and demonizing and preaching to each other, this shit does nothing.

A few years ago Hecht shared this story about a homeless shelter and the bathroom in said shelter. The people who used the shelter would totally destroy the bathroom every single day, regardless of how much the people who ran the shelter asked them not to do so. They did this not because they hated the people who ran the shelter, they very much appreciated the people helping them, but because it was literally the only thing in their lives that they could control. They had zero control over their lives. They couldn't decide what to eat or when, they couldn't decide what to wear, they couldn't decide what color their bedsheets were. They were homeless and had no control, so they fucked up the bathroom every chance they got because that was the only control they had over their lives.

That's what you guys are doing by blaming and attacking each other, you're messing up the bathroom. None of it has any real effect on anything going on in the world, but the way you treat each other is the only real control you can express, the only control any of us can express, and so people act like jerks and attack each other relentlessly. Standing up on a soapbox feels good in the moment because it feels like you're actually doing something, but in the end it amounts to nothing. Most of you guys agree with each other on everything! Hell, everyone agrees this is beyond fucked. Nobody thinks this is a good thing and yet here we are, demonizing and attacking each other over this because it makes us feel better in the moment.

The absolute truth is that we can lower the temperature, we can stop attacking each other like we're the enemy, and we can still say what we want to say about what is going on. Being respectful of each other and expressing a strong opinion are not mutually exclusive, you can do both.

Literally tone policing how marginalized people speak to their oppressors.

This is an amazing analogy when you consider the prevalence of mental health disorders in the homeless population. Dubs, the homeless in your analogy are ERA posters, right?

[killamajig]

Embid banned. No reason I casn see. Maybe a self ban before he pops off on Neppy?


edit nope

User Banned (5 Days): Thread derailment over multiple threads

Because I think it's important to call out performative, slacktivist bullshit. If you think boycotting your Filet-o-fish from McDonald's on February 28th, 2025 is gonna get a damn thing done, we're absolutely cooked.

So what's the answer? What's the solution to that? I don't fucking know, and that's why I participate in these exchanges. I legit want to learn and figure it out, but all I've heard in response to what's happening in our country is a bunch of performative bullshit. That's my line.

https://www.resetera.com/threads/cbs-news-talk-of-a-%E2%80%9Cfeb-28-economic-blackout%E2%80%9D-is-spreading-on-social-media-what-is-it.1118142/page-9#post-136408311

[Nintex]

I know it’s hard to believe, but gaf and era were forums about video games. All they need to do is allow open discussion about video games. Somehow that’s too difficult for their brain trust.

True but all that video game stuff also hinged on the console war (over), sales numbers (console sales don't matter anymore) and this thing called video games that are being cancelled left and right. Most of what I was excited about for the Xbox Series like Mass Effect, Perfect Dark etc. never came out, is still in development hell or was a big dissapointment.  

Had a fun talk with the barber girl who is into RPG's like Final Fantasy. Final Fantasy 10 being her favorite. She has cut my hair for at least 8 years now and I had no idea she was into videogames. 

And no, she has kids and all, just a friendly convo between 90's kids.

But tell me who on ResetEra can you have a fun conversation about videogames with. 

They're just homeless people trashing bathrooms and smearing poop on the walls.

[JoeBoy101]

Neither is launching into each thread with Fuck America, fuck Americans, I hope X becomes a battleground, I hope you get what you deserve, etc.

Trust us, those of us on this forum fucking know. You'll never hate us as much as we hate ourselves. We live in this shithole.

That book cover needs another font or two on it.

[imsotired]

Embid banned. No reason I casn see. Maybe a self ban before he pops off on Neppy?


edit nope

User Banned (5 Days): Thread derailment over multiple threads

Because I think it's important to call out performative, slacktivist bullshit. If you think boycotting your Filet-o-fish from McDonald's on February 28th, 2025 is gonna get a damn thing done, we're absolutely cooked.

So what's the answer? What's the solution to that? I don't fucking know, and that's why I participate in these exchanges. I legit want to learn and figure it out, but all I've heard in response to what's happening in our country is a bunch of performative bullshit. That's my line.

https://www.resetera.com/threads/cbs-news-talk-of-a-%E2%80%9Cfeb-28-economic-blackout%E2%80%9D-is-spreading-on-social-media-what-is-it.1118142/page-9#post-136408311

His basketball career is over and he can't even post on era.

[Nintex]

Embid banned. No reason I casn see. Maybe a self ban before he pops off on Neppy?


edit nope

User Banned (5 Days): Thread derailment over multiple threads

If you think boycotting your Filet-o-fish from McDonald's on February 28th, 2025 is gonna get a damn thing done, we're absolutely cooked.

You know a McDonald's boycott might actually be a more effective path to the impeachment of Donald Trump than they think.

[kaleidoscopium]

No. You're hoping for an easy out. But the opening for the easy way out has passed years ago. You want out? There's only the hard way left. The painful way. The bloody way.

https://www.resetera.com/threads/public-should-now-call-for-impeachment-and-removal-of-trump-and-vance.1122303/page-5#post-136439802

Friendly gaming site you’ve got there b dumbs, seeming more like a radical terrorist site though…

[Straight Edge]

Spoiler:  (click to show)(click to hide)

In October 2001, Poundstone was charged with felony child endangerment in connection with driving while intoxicated with her children in the car. She was also charged with three counts of lewd acts upon a girl younger than 14.[4][19] The charge involved inappropriate touching of a 12-year-old girl.[20] In a plea bargain, she changed her earlier plea of not guilty, and in exchange prosecutors asked for the court records to be sealed, dropped three counts of committing lewd acts against a child, and added a misdemeanor count of inflicting injury upon a child.[19][20] Poundstone also pleaded no contest to one count of felony child endangerment.[20] She was barred from taking in foster children again, sentenced to five years of probation and six months in rehabilitation, and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service, attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and a child-abuse program, and receive random drug and alcohol tests.[20] In 2002, Poundstone talked about the events that led to her arrest and the steps she has taken, including a six-month treatment program for alcoholism, but she said that she did not commit any lewd acts or child abuse.[20]

[Daffy Duck]

Gotta mention it at every opportunity 

Transphobia and the mass promotion of transphobic views in the past couple of years have played into this in a big way.

https://www.resetera.com/threads/republican-men-and-women-are-changing-their-minds-about-how-women-should-behave-nyt-guest-essay.1122426/page-2#post-136431192

[killamajig]

BTW, has B-Dubs or any mod/admin read this? Since more Era employees read The Bire than their own forum rules I thought I might repost some of the Guide here. 

Here is a challenge......
Read this without your brain exploding from the hypocrisy.

https://www.resetera.com/threads/general-guide-to-resetera.9777/

General Guide to ResetEra

Last updated on May 3, 2021.

Mission Statement

Since its founding in late 2017, ResetEra has been an inviting bonfire at the crossroads of the gaming industry. Our goal is to provide a modern platform where enthusiasts and industry professionals alike will want to talk about all kinds of video games -- and everything else under the sun. Safeguarded by technology, a vigilant staff, and some of the toughest registration screening of any public forum, ResetEra has been able to cultivate a highly active and passionate community while keeping most trolls and bad actors off of the site.

Today ResetEra is the most popular independent gaming forum on the internet as measured by traffic. It is also an inclusive space that proudly welcomes members of every gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Respect and decency towards each other, regardless of background, is nonnegotiable. Posters are expected to enter discussions in good faith.

In order to maintain the community that we all cherish, moderators are tasked with upholding this mission statement. The following document aims to provide guidance that can help members be successful posters over the long term. Please note that attempting to use the following text as a shield while violating its spirit (or the mission statement) will not protect you. We include as much detail here as possible, but it is impossible to cover every subject that might require moderation or every exception that might be made.

How Moderation Works

An explanation of the roles and responsibilities of our staff, as well as our approach to moderation in general.

The Team

Our international staff is made up of dedicated individuals spread across five continents, with wildly diverse backgrounds and interests. Women, people of color, LGBTQ, and religious minorities are all well represented on our team. That team consists entirely of volunteers drawn from the community they seek to serve. A comprehensive Active Staff Roster is available to the public and updated regularly.

The team processes hundreds of reports daily, and every one of those reports is handled by multiple moderators. We also receive dozens of emails and private messages, and manually approve dozens of new registrations each day. This work is endless, stressful, and often thankless. Many staff members put in countless hours each week towards maintaining the forum; this is a responsibility they take on because they care deeply about the community and want it to be the best that it can be.

It is important to note that we take a team approach to moderation, and no single moderator will ever be solely responsible for a given decision. All moderator actions are automatically logged and visible to the rest of the team; it is therefore impossible for an individual member of staff to go rogue. Every action is discussed as a team and signed off on by multiple staff before it is carried out. The diversity of our team is a strength -- we always seek insight on any given issue from the staff members who know the most about it.

Like all members, individual staff have strong opinions on any number of topics and are free to express those opinions as posters. Those opinions and posts are their own and do not represent official policy. Moderator actions are always driven by consensus from multiple staff and by our written guidelines and policies. Official staff communications will be marked as such.

Moderators

These are the volunteers charged with enforcing our mission statement and our policies. They are on the front lines when it comes to keeping the peace on the forums. Moderators process the bulk of the reports, provide guidance through written warnings, and try to make contributions as posters along the way. Many were pillars in the community even before they became staff. Without their efforts, there would not be a community to inhabit the site.

Administrators

The administration is responsible for keeping the site healthy and operational in all areas. This means coordinating with tech staff on maintenance and new features, verifying industry members, screening new registrations, and responding to emails. Administrators also lead internal policy discussions and are often called upon to provide guidance to the moderation team.

Certain administrators (designated as "Mod Captains" on the roster) are specifically in charge of managing the moderation team. These Mod Captains are required to approve any ban over 2 weeks in duration. They also process appeals and are available to answer any questions you might have about moderation.

Moderation Approach

We aim to articulate our policies and expectations as clearly as possible, in this document and in all our official communications. Whenever a user is warned or banned for a post, the reason is provided in a public banner attached to that post. In addition to ensuring transparency and accountability, these banners are helpful for other members to understand where the lines are and what our rationale is. Every staff member is expected to follow the same rules as the rest of the forum.

Due to our heavy workload, a large moderation team is required to ensure timely coverage around the clock. The size of the team can make it very challenging to ensure consistent moderation. To address this, we have Mod Captains and internal moderation guidelines based on precedent and publicly available policy. Some flexibility is required to account for new or unexpected circumstances.

Our team moderates to the spirit of the rules and our mission statement. Multiple factors are taken into account before coming to a decision. We weigh past infractions, post history, and the severity of the post(s) when determining penalties. We also consider whether a member doubled down on their behavior.

Staff members are required to avoid any involvement in moderating disputes that they have personally taken part in. This means that a moderator will never moderate a user for an argument between the two. Instead, any relevant reports are handled independently by other moderators on the team. We do our utmost to ensure that moderation is impartial, objective, and not driven by emotion. On the other hand, when it comes to community threads that might each have a unique culture, we always seek to consult staff members who are familiar with that community in order to avoid potential misunderstandings.

Please bear in mind that due to the highly active and fast paced nature of discussion on ResetEra, it is impossible for our staff to be everywhere. Even if you notice staff presence within a thread, there is no guarantee that they have read every single post before or after their own. Do not assume that moderators are ignoring rule violations. If you see an issue, report it.

Posting Guidelines

This section will outline some of the general guidelines that you should follow to be an outstanding contributor to discussions.

The Importance of Being Respectful

Please be respectful when posting in threads. This includes when you post about the topic at hand and especially when you address other members. Do not make unfounded and inflammatory accusations to discredit and/or antagonize your fellow members (such calling them a shill, astroturfer, etc). Do not shame users based on their post count, avatar choice, or what community they belong to. Avoid hurling insults or making disagreements personal. If someone else is causing trouble, report them rather than trying to reciprocate.

Do not send hostile or confrontational private messages to other members, especially if such contact is unsolicited. This kind of behavior, if reported, will result in a ban. If a member you have privately contacted indicates that they do not wish to continue the conversation, disengage. If you receive an unwanted and hostile message, report it so that moderators can investigate.

Respect a Diverse Audience

What might seem harmless or funny to you can be hurtful to others. Exclusionary behavior, casual or otherwise, is not tolerated. Be mindful at all times that your posts are not only being read by men; you should be considerate of women members and how your words might make them feel. We specifically discourage inappropriate or vulgar objectification of women. You should also remember that we have members from all over the world. Be considerate of all nationalities, cultures, and ethnic groups and avoid making jokes at their expense. Do not mock accents, ethnic names, or languages.

Do Not Engage in Platform/Console Wars

Many posters will have preferences and favorites when it comes to video games and the platforms they appear on. It is important to keep in mind that there's nothing wrong with other members having different tastes. Platform holders are multi-billion dollar corporations that do not need cheerleaders or champions to defend them. Do not be bitter if a console you like sells less hardware than the alternatives, if a competing platform enjoys success, or if a title is announced for other platforms. You can have favorites without being obnoxious or disruptive about them.

Use Text Options Responsibly

We presently allow members access to a variety of text options including size, color, and font. Unicode and therefore emojis are also fully supported. Please do not abuse these options to make obnoxious or visually distracting replies. Do not make posts that consist of nothing but emojis. You are encouraged to always post as articulately and coherently as possible.

Read the Thread Before Replying

When you enter a thread please ensure that you have read beyond the title before you respond. The absolute minimum effort you should put in is to read the original post (OP) in its entirety, along with any threadmarks or staff posts. Asking questions that have already been answered in the OP or threadmarks adds nothing to a discussion. If it is clear that you have not read the thread and missed important information that was appropriately highlighted, you may be subject to moderation.

Do Not Argue in Bad Faith

Honest dissent and debate is generally encouraged. However, we do not welcome disingenuous arguments, deliberately ignoring or refusing to acknowledge counterarguments, or arguing for no reason than to upset other members. If your contributions to a discussion are clearly unproductive or lead in circles, it is time to stop.

Do not deliberately misrepresent the opinions or concerns of other users. Posters who enter a thread and drop a hot take (especially on a sensitive or controversial topic), only to never follow up, may be moderated for drive by posting. It is also not okay to enter a thread solely to whine about its existence or to deliberately derail it. If you have nothing of substance to contribute to a thread it may be best to avoid it.

No Trolling

Trolling, or posting with the intention of provoking a negative response from other members, is prohibited. This is especially true in serious and sensitive topics. Trolling is often disingenuous, but posting your honest opinion can still be trolling if you do so with the intent to inflame. Sincerity is not a perfect shield from consequences.

Please also keep in mind that the onus is always on you to make sure that your meaning and intentions are clear when you post. If you make a statement that appears to be inflammatory, moderators will judge it based on the text you have made available. Staff and other members cannot read minds. If you feel that your post or intentions have been misunderstood, you should quickly move to clarify what you really meant.

Hate Speech and Groups

We do not allow behavior or rhetoric that attacks or discriminates against users based on race, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion or disability. We also do not tolerate 'slut shaming' including the demeaning of sex workers. This policy extends to support of hate movements, online or offline, that are dedicated to the promotion of the above. We ask that you not use slang or terminology coined by or associated with hate movements.

Dismissive and Disruptive Behavior

Low effort, inflammatory, or insensitive drive by posting is always unacceptable. However, it is especially inappropriate in serious and sensitive discussions. Threads involving race, gender identity, sexuality, sexual assault or harassment, sexualization of minors, or any marginalized minority groups should be approached with sensitivity. Dismissive or disruptive behavior in these threads will be usually be met with a ban. The following are examples of such behavior:
Dismissing the importance of issues that concern women or minorities and/or denying the experiences of users affected by these issues.
Lamenting or mocking the sensitivity or "outrage" of others in reference to legitimate concerns, or claiming that members are pretending to be offended.
Condescendingly talking down to people who are affected by sensitive issues.
Trying to derail the discussion such that it is no longer about the group of people that are affected by the issue.
Attempting to shut down the discussion altogether.
Framing support or defense of abhorrent views as questions in order to make them seem acceptable, and/or as a means of shifting the burden of proof on to others.
Please note that dismissing, downplaying, or making light of sexual assault allegations will lead to a lengthy ban.

Inflammatory Generalizations

Context and intent will matter here, but take care to avoid making inflammatory generalizations that are likely to cause offense. This includes generalizations regarding gender, race, sexuality, nationality, and ethnicity. It can also apply to inflammatory accusations made against large groups or communities of people. Always try to make nuanced points rather than broad and sweeping statements.

Inflammatory Defense/Support

Defending heinous behaviors (especially those related to bigotry) or supporting individual public figures who are guilty of the same can constitute inflammatory posting, even if the tone of your post is otherwise mild. Note that members found trying to abuse this policy to bait others into bans will instead be moderated themselves. This policy is intended to guard against provocation, not encourage interrogation.

Inflammatory Comparisons

Inflammatory points of comparison and false equivalences can needlessly escalate or derail an argument. You should not, for example, equate bigotry with intolerance of bigotry. It is usually best to avoid extreme comparisons in general, such as those involving loss of human life or serious issues like human rights. If you must make such a comparison, please make sure that you're doing so for a very good reason.

Body Shaming

Health and economic concerns regarding obesity are legitimate topics of discussion. Not all comments at the expense of obesity will be moderated. However, members should not go out of their way to be cruel or dehumanize a person solely because of their physical appearance. If it is determined that such behavior had no other motivation or basis besides looks, a ban will be issued. Inflammatory generalizations on this subject are not welcome.

Personal Attacks and Vitriol

On this site our members include video game enthusiasts, industry professionals, and members of the press. All members deserve certain courtesies. Do not engage in personal attacks or insults against other users. It is perfectly fine to challenge a poster in a civil and constructive manner, but ad hominem should be avoided and can get you banned depending on the situation.

This policy extends to game developers as well. While it may be frustrating that a game did not meet your expectations, it is not constructive to attack developers in personal terms or claim that they are lazy. This kind of vitriol is not only disrespectful but has a negative effect on discussion.

When it comes to journalists covering the video game industry, critique of their work is welcome and often important. However, personal attacks and unsupported accusations or conspiracy theories do not generate good discussion. Please also avoid dismissing or vilifying entire outlets for petty reasons.

NSFW Content

Many of our members browse from work or school, in settings where the wrong image on screen can have potentially serious consequences. As a result, content that is 'Not Safe For Work' is not allowed on this site. Do not post any material that would be too explicit to be aired on network television. Material that excessively highlights or focuses on sexual or secondary sexual characteristics should also be avoided. Try to be tasteful and considerate if the option exists.

You are encouraged to make use of spoiler tags or off-site links to hide images or other material that you believe may be borderline. These spoiler tags should be clearly marked as 'NSFW' so that other users know what to expect. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the staff beforehand.

Do not post images, artwork, figurines, or any other material, no matter how stylized or fictional, which clearly fetishizes or sexualizes characters under the age of 18.

Child Welfare

Do not attempt to rationalize violence against children, disciplinary or otherwise. Advocating for or defending any kind of child abuse is not tolerated. Your own upbringing is not relevant to this policy. Attempting to dismiss or condone the sexualization of minors, fictional or otherwise, will lead to a lengthy ban. We do not tolerate any pedantry (such as nitpicking over definitions) on this topic.

Prohibited Games

As a general measuring stick, if a game is not appropriate for broadcast on Twitch it is unlikely to be appropriate here. Games that Valve hides on Steam by default due to "adult only sexual content" are also explicitly prohibited. Do not discuss these games or create threads about them. Other games will only be considered for this list if the staff receives a direct complaint about their contents. After review, the following games have also been prohibited:
Azur Lane
Dungeon Travelers 2: The Royal Library
Gal Gun
Gal Gun 2
Hatred
Huniepop
KanColle
Mary Skelter 2
Monster Monpiece
Negligee: Love Stories
Omega Labyrinth Z
Saya no Uta
Senran Kagura Burst Re:Newal
Shinobi Refle: Senran Kagura
Super Seducer: How to Talk to Girls
Super Seducer 2
Tits N Tanks
Advocating Violence

We do not allow advocacy of violence, explicit or otherwise. This policy can encompass posts with a wide range of severity, depending on the context and contents of the post. The penalty for breaking this rule can therefore vary greatly, all the way up to a permanent ban. Advocating murder will always result in a permanent ban.

Obituary Threads

We generally do not welcome celebration or cheering the death of public figures. Members that appear to be using an obituary thread solely to post about how glad they are that person is dead may be moderated. This does not preclude sober criticism of a person's legacy or mistakes in life. We simply do not want to celebrate death. Context will matter, and some individuals have done things so heinous that rare exceptions may need to be made.

Israel and Palestine

Threads about the Israel/Palestine conflict are some of the most contentious and difficult to moderate. While we have tried being more hands off in the past, these threads have tended to escalate out of control when they are not tightly moderated. As a result, we now enforce four primary rules to keep these threads as civil as possible.
Do not conflate civilians with their leadership: This means you should not conflate all Palestinians with Hamas or attempt to paint all Palestinians as terrorists. You should also not hold all Israelis responsible for the actions of their government.
Do not condone violence or killing: This goes for both Hamas and the IDF, especially with regard to civilians.
Do not deny the right of either Israel or Palestine to exist as independent states.
Due to historical considerations, the term "Nazi" is not appropriate or acceptable when used in reference to Israel, Israelis, and Jews. This includes comparisons between the Israeli government/IDF and Nazi Germany. You are welcome to criticize Israel in all other ways, but that specific analogy is off-limits, period.
Copyrighted Material and Piracy

Encouraging piracy, admitting to piracy, threatening to commit piracy, and linking to piracy websites is strictly prohibited. This policy also applies to links to torrents, direct downloads, pirated reproduction cartridges, streams of pirated content, and unauthorized releases of any kind. More information on this policy and DMCA takedowns is available in our terms of service. Do not embed copyrighted material such as magazine scans. Copying and pasting entire articles or reports for redistribution is also prohibited.

Homebrew and Emulation

While software piracy is never acceptable, emulation is legal and discussions about it are welcome. As long as a hack can be used for legitimate homebrew and/or legal emulation it can be discussed here, and those discussions should not be derailed by piracy concerns. Do not enter a thread about homebrew or emulation and conflate the subject with piracy.

Offering Advice to Members

You will be held responsible for what you post, especially when you are offering advice for another member to follow. Advice that is illegal or harmful will result in a ban. Consider all the possible consequences if your advice were to actually be put into action. Do not misrepresent your qualifications. The more serious the subject, the more strictly this will be enforced.

No Self-Promotion or Spam

Do not create threads featuring links to products or services that you have a direct involvement in. Members are instead welcome and encouraged to post in already existing threads about a product or service that they are involved in (including links that are specifically relevant to the thread) so that they may engage with the community. If you are involved in a product or service that you are linking, please disclose that fact upfront.

Spam of any kind is not allowed. This can include malware and phishing content, referral links, and abuse of the reply or private message system. Do not send unsolicited messages promoting any product, service, or website to other members.

Doxxing

We have zero tolerance for doxxing, which refers to publishing private information about individuals (address, place of work, private phone, etc) as a means of retribution or to encourage harassment. Doing this will likely result in a permanent ban. Encouraging others to do this will also result in a ban.

Offsite Drama

We have no interest in hosting discussions that fuel drama between our community and others. This sort of metacommentary tends to be petty and unproductive. Please do not derail threads with drama about other forums and websites, do not encourage comparisons or competition with other forums, and do not create threads about them either.

Members are highly discouraged from pursuing other members off the site, and staff will generally not adjudicate disputes that happen offsite. Do not post offsite material that you suspect to be from other members, whether from social media or elsewhere, in order to attack or embarrass them. If you believe such material is of serious concern, bring it to the attention of the staff through the appropriate channels described below.

Offsite Activity

We do not monitor offsite activity and will not usually action an account for solely offsite behavior. However, there are some circumstances where a member's actions offsite can lead to consequences here. This will only happen if the accuracy of the evidence, and the member's involvement, are verified to our satisfaction.

If we are made aware of offsite material that directly sheds light on an infraction or malicious activity on this site, that context will be taken into consideration. In extremely rare cases, information is uncovered that makes a member's presence itself disruptive or potentially harmful to others -- this can result in account closure.

If you wish to provide information to staff that you believe is relevant to this policy, you must submit it directly so that its authenticity can be verified and appropriate action taken. You can do this via the Contact Us form, by reporting the member in question, or by sending a private message to an Administrator. Do not post the material on the forum.

[jooseloose]

SHOCKED that Embiid has been banned again after arguing with mod Nepenthe again.