Since the new rules were rolled out a couple of weeks ago, it's become pretty obvious that there are some areas that need slight tweaking because a lot of members are taking them far too literally and are stretching the limits of reason to the extreme. Therefore, there will be a couple of changes being made that are going to start to be applicable during the next few days. I'll post here again when the rules are *actually* changed, but just so that you're all prepared for it and it doesn't come as too much of a shock when it happens, I'm posting this warning.

The minimum length of posts is being increased. People are really taking the mickey a bit over this five word thing. So, the rule is being expanded to say that we are no longer going to be allowing any short, meaningless, one-liner posts that contribute nothing to a discussion and any posts must be, at the very least, two sentences long. We ask that people please be sensible about this - if it's obvious that the mickey is being taken, you will likely receive a warning for it. By this, I mean the type of posts that are, 'I like Harry Potter. I think he's cool' - that's not on - not when this place is getting so incredibly busy and the bandwidth is limited. Unless you all feel like digging into your pockets to help out with running costs, I hope you'll all work with us on this to make sure that the forums stay to the standard they have always been in the past. We all feel that this is a reasonable request, particularly as it affects the overall quality of the forums for everyone so please, think of the other users and your fellow HP fans and work with us on this. This limit is not new or strange and has been applied on many other forums in the past, so VTM members are not getting a raw deal over this - if anything, the limit should improve the debates that go on here.

Secondly, the rules regarding signatures are being reviewed. We are really tightening up over this because, again, people are taking liberties with the current rules and stretching them to extremes too. The limit is, always has been, and shall remain 400 x 150 pixels for images MAXIMUM. We've been flexible over this before as long as the overall size is no more than 60,000 pixels, but with the format of the site being changed, we have less space than we used to.

Hence, the limit for signature images is 400 ACROSS by 150 pixels DOWN - and not the other way around. Images should not be spaced out down the page, if you choose to have a collection of images, but should be grouped together as close as possible or in a line. The moderators will reserve the right to alter any members signature that they feel is unreasonable with regard to how much they are spaced out. Signatures shouldn't take up half the page - people come here to express opinions and discuss HP - not to look at how flashy the signatures and avatars are. The five line rule for text will also still be applicable - not ten lines as it has been in the past.

Reflected in these changes, it is very likely that the current 'Rate my' threads will be locked soon, which encourage meaningless one-liners, are often repeated posts anyway and are far too easy a way to encourage people to make pointless, post-padding posts to increase your count. The current batch of game threads (trivia duelling excluded) are also likely to be locked and new ones won't be opened - we need the bandwidth for HP and the HBP related discussions instead - of which there'll be a lot pretty soon. We're not ogres though - we know you guys like your game threads, so what we're probably going to do is allow HP-related game threads only that do not encourage people to make one-liner, pointless posts in an effort to increase their counts.

These changes are not being made quite yet - but they will come into force sometime during the next few days, so, in the meantime, I would ask that people please review their signatures and make sure that they are within the limits set by the revised rules.

For those of you who are sitting there groaning about the mods and the changes, I'd like to say that these changes are for the benefit of everyone using this forum, not because we enjoy setting rules. I know from speaking to some of you privately that its felt that some of these changes are well overdue, so I hope that we're going to get some support over this. Rules are often subject to change - laws and bills in congress are often reviewed if it becomes clear that they are inadequate or simply don't work, so rules here are often subject to change too. Way of the world, guys.

As usual, time will be given for people to adjust - within reason. Hence this warning. As I said, I'll post again when the rules are actually up and running.

I just wanted to make a comment about the game threasds being locked. I agree that most of them, like Celebrity name game and word association and the like, encourage posts too short, but IMHO Trivia Duelling doesn't. When you're asked a question and have to answer, normally answers are long, or relatively long.
What I mean with this is that I see what you mean for other types of game threads, but not as much for that one.

Hallia mate, you've misread.

Yeah, sorry, I read included instead of excluded, that's the problem with reading so fast. Sorry, mods.
Then I quite agree with what you've said. I'm fond of those games, I post there a lot, but I understand the problem and I also think it's just to make the forums better. And that's what we all,specially you, want.

Well, I can completely agree with all the rule changes. If we want to save bandwidth, this is probably the only way to do so. But I am just a bit bummed out about the sig pic changes... Back to the drawing board with me... You see, I take pics of running trailers because all the other pics stink at the moment and aren't likely to get any better. This takes a bit because I can't take pics of videos I've downloaded already for some reason. I have to download the video and watch it in an internet browser and take pics that aren't always to my liking from there. Then it's to photoshop to crop 'em down to size and then posting them on a image hosting site. In other words, it's an annoyingly long process. The reason I can't take pics off of my own videos is because when I crop them, the entire desktop shows up behind the pic. If anyone knows how to fix that or shorten my process above, I'd be glad for the help. You could PM me or something. But other than that, 'tis a fine new set of rules!

Read the rules. I agree with them all; especially the game threads. Although I have posted in them before, I find them kind of annoying to have to go through three pages of game/celebrity threads every time you come in here to get to some good discussions.

And though I probably am one of those legalistic people that was taking the five word minimum to the mat, I agree with that one too. It will spark more interesting discussions, instead of people just saying "Yeah, I agree with that."

Good changes, mods.

I agree too. I like the game threads and post in them quiter a lot, but this place i to discuss HP. Does that mean the WHOLE of Get Away From life be deleted?

No, of course not the whole topics in there JD. Don't worry! Just the games threads cause they're promoting one-liners and aren't exactly a discussion, you know... We *do* allow for discussions outside the HP world (we're not that mean! ), but it has to be within some limit, you see... not when people joining in only to want to play the games (I'm speaking in general here) or that the most popular threads are the games!

We thought most of the bandwidth should reserve for the upcoming discussion and theories on HBP. There'd still be games, most probably... but they have to be HP-related.

I just wanted to say that I am glad the new changes are coming out...personally I cant stand it when you are in the middle of a great discussion and someone says "yeah I agree with that too" in teh 5 word limit but POINTLESS...and I want to say I have been looking at some other HP sites lately...just becuse I am super bored mostly however I have not found one other site that is as well organized as veritaserum is...even the ones that JKR herself has given awards to..although there layout and news is ok..main site stuff mostly... the forums are hard to work with..disorganized...and on some I cant even find where to go to post in them..so I am now sticking totally to Veritaserum when it comes to forums at least...I find they are very organized and the rules make the place a lot more enjoyable...so Thank you to Matthew..Morton and all the mods for making this place my #1 HP site keep up the good work

Nicole/pigwidigon

oh very well done Mods! i have to say this is the best HP forum on the internet and everyone should know you are doing all this to make this forum immediately better and more easy to roam about(im not sucking up either! lol). The signatures, i have to say, are indeed getting too long and that is the best of all the rules. The second best imho is the game thread deleting. They are defintely for boosting post counts so people can get to the next year and take the focus away from what this forum is meant to discuss. But yes, some are needed (i hope they all end up relating to HP) even though im not really too fond of any of them except Trivia Dueling. and the where are you from and how old are you should be said in the introduction thread shouldnt they? so they dont really need to be there either

So the sooner these rules come into play the better!

eeeek! gotta fix my signature! lol

Thanks for the support, guys...we really do appreciate it.

I've updated the rules today - there aren't major changes really - just to rule 1 concerning abuse, rule 5 concerning the minimum lengths of posts and rule 2 for the signatures regarding their size. It's for the benefit of the whole forum and for everyone who uses it, particularly with the release of HBP getting closer all the time and all the new threads/members that we're likely to be getting.

The masterlists for the game threads will stay for the moment until those threads are locked.

Again, your co-operation is really appreciated and on behalf of all the mods, I'd like to say thanks.

Oh... I'm wearing an Invisibility Cloak as of this moment but the temptation of posting a reaction/ message in this thread is really powerful.

So, we have new rules. I agree with these new rules. Because sometimes, some (well, include me there, a self- confessed one- liner) are posting short, meaningless and not related messages (oh, my posts are related to the topic!)

And I will really miss the game threads... Umm... can you let the word association function but the rules will be change and we'll do it on JD's way.... Because it's not meaningless if we'll use it **Just trying my luck.. **

But in the trivia duelling, can we join there? I mean, there are points that you had gain which are impossible for us to reach but is it still ok to join?

Anyways, my support is with you, our dearest mods. *nods*

So, I'll wear again my Invisibility Cloak. I'm supposed to be here every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday because I'm back to school. (Here in the Philippines, our classes starts every June) Chao!

Supporting VTM mods all the way,
GH88

It's good that someone is sorting this out. I also think that you should delete some of the old posts... It's so many! And as you said, many are the same... I know this would take a lot of time..but I really think this forum needs some tidying!

But don't think I don't like this forum! 'Cause this forum is the best!!! I love it...

are you guys going to lock the what do you look like thread? Because that's a particular favorite of mine. I hope it gets saved.

Lol and get the chance to eradicate my mug off the face of this forum?! Hmm...

No that threads definitely going to stay. Its only those threads which encourage one-liners which are up for the chop.

The get away from life section will be very much as it was, save a few alterations.

I understand the need for rules. I am an Admin for a forum for a game. I understand the bandwidth problems and how irritating it can be to wade through pages of nonsense. However, the rules and to do not to do lists , posts must be this long etc. make it difficult for some of us. I don't mean to say that you aren't doing a great job, because you all do. With a site this large with a member base so young, I understand the rules. But for your older members, like me, this is just a little too much.

First of all thank you very much for the complement, we do our best! (I always love a bit of praise)

i think the rules are fair and easy to abide by if you so choose to put forth the effort. I'm proud to be a part of this site because it keeps it the cleanest and easiest to surf through and undertstand, the mods do so much for us. Also, i am so looking forward to the 'Just Get Away From Life' section (i think thats what its called) because of the reasons stated by the mods. Also the 'What do you look like' thread can be put into the Introduction section imho, it would fit there enough to not look werid.

sorry if i sound like a mod because im really not trying to be, im just giving input...and of course compliments lol

To avoid sounding like a broken record and a parrot (), what Shane said, Brandi.

Luke, thank you for your support towards these new rule changes. I assure you, us mods, truly appreciate it.

Brandi, Shane said everything I would have said, so, like Ashleigh, I won't repeat it all. Forums are for discussions - chatrooms are for one liners. End of story, really. That's why the two systems exist.

I really don't see what's difficult, to be honest, but there we go...we're all entitled to our opinions. Nonetheless, those *are* the new rules I'm afraid.

I think that what Brandi means is that older people will abide by the rules even if no one has set them, as if they were implicit? Is that right? I guess it may be so, but then, what does it matter that there are rules if you're going to abide by them anyway? And it's not bad to have someone reminding us how to do things sometimes.
As I've said before, I agree that these rules are needed. As emma_isHOTT has said, they make the forums easier to surf, it's way easier to find the topic you want when things are so well organised.
Hats of to you, mods!

i really understand. the 'rate ______' threads are really pointless, even in the general realworld area. i was going to plead for the word association thread, but gryffin_hauz_88 beat me to it. i would just like to say though the 'JD style' posts and researching to make them have shown me new connections that i hadent seen before and helped me create therioes and clear up some missinterpertations, as i'm sure it has helped others with aswell. i'm just very sorry to see that one go.
also, what are/ when are the new 'HP related' game threads going up?

Well that all depends on you guys, actually. Dana has set up a thread in the Suggestions forum (this one here) for youse all to put in your suggestions on what games y'all would like. There hasn't been any replies there thus far, so the longer it remains that way, then the longer it will be before any new games come into existence...

Okay, this being said, I have an announcement to make as I am not allowed to make a new topic....I have to Leave VTM, since I dont have the time, and since something big just happened, my sister mimicks me and makes a site, then her friend does and they get all of the people from my site to join theirs and now there is low attendance so I am leaving all of my Forums except for a selected few...I'll miss you all!!

The rules are very fair and pretty much prefect. I agree with all of them and the rules are just there to make sure everyone feels comfortable.