Welcome to DFW Green Scene!

You're now a part of the newest online community dedicated to Green Living for those of us in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. We're glad you're here and we hope that you'll enjoy sharing with and learning from your neighbors!

While you're here though, we ask that you abide by a few guidelines that will help make DFW Green Scene a pleasant place for one and all:

1. No flaming or trolling. Flaming is being unnecessarily aggressive to someone who you may disagree with, and trolling is purposely attempting to anger people in your posts by using personal attacks, threats and racial/religious slurs. We're all supposed to be friends, right?

2. No posting of links or discussion of illegal media is allowed on the forums. This includes mp3s, ROMs, BitTorrent links or any other "bootleggy" stuff. Posting of links to official media is permitted. Any questions about this can be directed to the Admin. (hey, that's me!)

3. NO RACISM. I can't even imagine a world where I have to explain myself any further than that, but just in case someone here is from that world, let me make it clear: any racially inflammatory comments, words, or allusions are not in any way shape form or fashion condoned by any member of the moderating team. Any member posting anything remotely racist will be suspended immediately. Not kidding. Not even a little bit.

4. Please, no religious or political debate. We understand that politics and the green lifestyle are related in some ways, but be careful when talking about it, DGS really isn't the appropriate forum for political arguments, and most political debates invariably turn into political arguments which then spiral into political fights. I don't like fights. Religious discussion is right out. We respect any religious viewpoint you may have, but since its an even touchier hair-trigger than politics, and since it isn't related to Green Living as respects this forum, we ask that you please refrain from talking about it.

5. If a personal issue between yourself and another member or staff comes up, it doesn't belong on the forum. PM them to deal with any issues you have, and if you cannot control it then contact a moderator to have it settled.

6. Images are permitted in your signature, but lets keep it reasonable. We're all about self-expression, but we also dig a user-friendly and uncluttered forum. If your signature looks too big, we'll let you know.

7. Avatars must be hosted on your personal space and cannot be larger than 110 x 110 pixels. Animated avatars aren't allowed.

8. Any and all pornographic material is strictly prohibited. This includes links to pornographic material, pornographic signatures and avatars, and posting pornographic images. I mean it. This is a zero-tolerance offense and you will be banned immediately. A good rule of thumb here is this: If you're not sure about posting something that might be construed as pornographic, just don't post it at all.

9. DFW Green Scene is an English language board. Posting foreign material for reference or asking for translation of material into English is permitted, but discussions in a foreign language are not. Also, please avoid Netspeak. There may be members who do not have English as their native language and try their best to get their points across in English anyway. Do not disrespect them with insults or belittling comments. We all live on the same planet, right? Let's show our neighbors some respect.

10. Multiple accounts are prohibited. If you forget your username or password, we can help you recover it, all you have to do is ask!

11. Use the search button to see if a topic already has a thread before starting a new one. Also, please read a thread if you plan to post in it. One-line posts are generally frowned upon (i.e. 'lol cool'). In addition, don't double post or bump threads without posting new material or information pertinent to that thread.

12. If a forum has a stickied "Official" topic, all posts relating to that subject must go in that thread for as long as it's stickied. For example, if you wanted to post about, say...a current hot topic like the 2009 IRS tax incentives for green home improvements, and there is already an "Official 2009 Tax Breaks" thread stickied at the top....please don't make a new thread about it.

13. If a topic has been closed because of some problem, don't start another thread about the exact same thing. The original thread was closed for a reason.

14. Again, let's keep it civil folks. You can have a discussion and make your points without swearing. We've got a word filter to fuzz out your foul-ups, but I hope we never have to use it. Also, typing words like: a**hole, sh*t, etc is the same as swearing and may result in a warning or suspension. Please, no potty mouths.

15. Listen to the Moderators and Admins. These are people who are *volunteering* their time and energy to help make this a better forum for *you*. They'll never go above or beyond what is written here in the rules (we don't dig power-trippers) and they'll always do their best to be as helpful as they can when you need them. Have you hugged a Mod today?

16. No spamming. Spamming (as far as DGS is concerned) is posting inappropriate links to websites unrelated to Green Living for the sole purpose of driving traffic to said site. Again, if you're unsure if you should post a link, please feel free to ask a Moderator.

17. While some of the subforums here may have their own specific rules, these rules are universal, and are to be followed in every subforum and thread, no exceptions.




That's about it for now. It's all pretty basic stuff and if we all work together, show a little courtesy, and follow the rules, DFW Green Scene can be a fun and enjoyable place for everyone!

Cheers!

taylor