The short version is: Please don't do it. Or you won't be here.____________________________________
Here is the longer version:
Pool Hall Rules and Policies
Flaming, personal attacks on posters, threats of any kind, blatant racial slurs, and completely off-topic posts are not allowed. Our charter here is to discuss technology, sports, and the arts.
"Flaming" means posting responses or beginning threads that contain or consist of a disparaging personal comment about another poster.
The term also includes "petty bickering," such as an ongoing exchange, between two posters, of brief comments that are not related or only incidentally related to the topic of the thread, and that are clearly not intended to participate in the substantive discussion.
The term, "personal attack," includes ANY direct name-calling or other forms of attack, like "shut up," or "fuck you."
An "off-topic" post is one that is clearly not related in any genuine way to the content under discussion--which should be technology, sports, and the arts. Off topic posts include, for instance, speculation about multiple handles, guessing who's been banned, or complaining about the rules or policies. We welcome criticism or suggestions--but via inbox, please.
The moderator of Pool Hall will interpret the rules as narrowly as possible in the interest of preserving an open and unrestricted exchange of thoughts and ideas, but does have the authority to exercise discretion. No rule can draw a perfect bright line between posts that are within the guidelines and those that stray beyond them, and for that reason we will exercise discretion cautiously, with a presumption in favor of not disturbing posts.
The best way to improve and maintain the quality of discussion in Pool Hall is not enforcement by the moderator, but rather through voluntary compliance by the contributors to the forum. We ask your cooperation, and we ask everybody who participates in Pool Hall to take personal responsibility for staying well within the letter and spirit of the rules.
We will not in general attempt to regulate "good taste," but voluntary and good faith efforts to avoid gratuitously offensive language are always appreciated.
THOSE WHO REFUSE TO COMPLY WITH THE RULES WILL RECEIVE ONE OR TWO PUBLIC OR PRIVATE WARNINGS. AFTER THAT OFFENDERS WILL BE BANNED FOR ONE OR TWO WEEKS FOR A FIRST OFFENSE, AND FOR A LONGER PERIOD, OR FOR GOOD, FOR SUBSEQUENT OFFENSES.
Your understanding and cooperatiion are solicited and appreciated!
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FriscoJack (With thanks to Atticus for much of the wording)