For those of you unaware, we have forum rules.
http://wiki.xbmc.org/index.php?title=XBM...orum_rules
The problem we've been running into lately is that there is also a fairly extensive list of rules that our moderators are working under that nobody actually knows about. For example, given our non-profit status, we can't really allow solicitation in the forum, which is why we've been fairly hostile to donation links, which is unfortunate, because some people really do deserve a beer or two for their efforts. So in an effort to clarify the XBMC forum policy, we've decided to try to make a more clear, official set of rules that allows users to do as much as possible without endangering our non-profit status or being overly spammy.
Below, you will find those rules that we think fulfill those goals. While Team XBMC is the ultimate arbiter of what rules do and do not get included on the official list, we'd like the community's opinions on where we could improve. So... have at it. Tell us what you like and don't like. And please be respectful of everyone while doing so. There's a big difference between reasoned discussion and a flame war.
General Forum Rules
Violation of any of the following General Forum rules will result in a preliminary warning. If violations continue, the forum user will be banned for one week with a note explaining the reason for the ban. If violations continue, the user will suffer a permanent ban. Additionally, if necessary, a Forum Moderator or Administrator may delete or edit posts or signatures at will and without warning. These enforcement policies are slightly different than the Piracy rules, so you are encouraged to read both policies thoroughly before posting.
General Conduct
Be civil.
Polite language is required.
Respect the coding efforts of XBMC devs and other coders. Calling a program or addon “worthless” will be automatically deemed as disrespect.
Respect the efforts of the forum moderators and those answering questions or writing guides. They are working for free in a fairly thankless job.
Make an effort to read any sticky threads in the forum you're posting in, along with FAQs and Online Manuals.
Be patient. XBMC's user base is global and there are many more forum users asking questions than writing answers. Please wait at least 24 hours before bumping your own post unless you have new information to add.
No Solicitation
No donation links directly to Paypal or any other donation collections website. Note: you may post links to other websites, even if those websites have links to donation sites (for example, Wikipedia requests donations regularly, but you are still welcome to post links to Wikipedia. Alternatively, if you’ve written a guide or created an XBMC addon on your site that’s applicable to a discussion, and your site includes a donation option, you are still welcome to post a link to your website.)
The only exception to the above rule is in the original post of an original work relating to XBMC created by the author of the work. For example, if the post author was the primary author/designer of an XBMC addon, skin, or useful guide, that author may include a donation link. The link must be written with this exact wording: “Donations for this [addon/skin/guide/etc] gratefully accepted.”
Users may not use company names or websites as usernames, unless those companies or websites are legal non-profits or XBMC sponsors, and then the user must include a personal identifier (e.g. XBMCSponser-Nate or Nonprofit-Nate).
Posting
One topic per thread for ease of management.
Choose a descriptive thread title. Descriptive thread titles are not only far more likely to be read, but will rank higher in searches and be more helpful to others with the same problem in the future. Use some of the terms you used in your search queries as a base for the thread title.
Be as descriptive and detailed as possible. Assume nothing, there are no mind readers on the XBMC Community Forum.
Post all the the information requested in forum stickies, everything you've tried so far, any suspicions you have. Show that you've made an effort on your own. And remember “the latest release” can mean many different things, so be descriptive in what version of XBMC you are using.
No cross-posting. Do not cross-post or double-post.
Don't misrepresent the work of others as your own.
Signatures
Don’t try to draw excessive attention to your signature through use of large characters, unusual fonts, or colors.
Signatures are to be limited to 4 lines of text plus 1 image.
Images and links advertising addons that violate XBMC's piracy policy will be removed.
Links in signatures are to be limited to XBMC.org domains and sites related to XBMC (For example, a site dedicated to a dev’s XBMC addon).
Forum moderators may, at any time, delete or alter your signature to be less distracting and spammy without warning.
Forums are not static entities. As need arises, these rules may be altered or added to. Exemptions to any of these rules may be granted by forum moderators.