Forum decorum

[Harvey]

We welcome everyone to this forum, from newbies to tech warriors. No complicated rules here.

General Rules

Tone and culture of KindleBoards. KindleBoards is our home. To make it an overall enjoyable place to be, we have to set expectations about the behavior of everyone who enters our home.

The tone of conversation in our forum is important to us. If you are a new member, browse around the boards for a while to get a feel for our culture. Look at the flow of our conversations to get a sense for what we consider to be acceptable in posts and topics.

If you're new and immediately start posting with provoking or inciting comments, don't be surprised if you're banned. In the past, we've spent time trying to coach new members who get started on the wrong foot here. It rarely works, and we've now grown to the point where it's not possible for us to do that. So, seriously: figure this part out on your own if you wish to join this forum.

If the above guidelines irk you, and you're ready to get on your soapbox about free speech on the web... this is probably not the place for you.

If, on the other hand, you enjoy respectful and engaging dialogue, and have a sense of courtesy to others... welcome! Enjoy!  


Specific Rules

- No bad words please. (Don't test our filters.)

- No flaming, no insults, no name calling. Your post will be deleted.

- No yelling. (Don't do ALL CAPS..!)

- No excessive punctuation (e.g. strings of exclamation marks or question marks)

- No posting of pictures that are not "parent-friendly". Use your judgment. The mods get the final say - but please accept that we want every page on this site to be viewable by all ages.

- Sometimes newcomers ask questions that have been asked and answered before. That's okay. Help them out, and politely show them where the answer can be found. The forums are a big place and though we try to make information accessible, it takes a little while to get used to where everything is. If a newbie question really bothers you, just skip by that post and move on. Someone else will probably help.

- No trolling. This includes posts that seem designed to incite angry responses, or posts that seem designed to dissuade Kindle enthusiasts. This is a Kindle forum! If you prefer other readers, you are still welcome here; but don't try to turn this into an anti-Kindle forum.

- Posts related to Kindle books. Authors, we do allow you to post about your Kindle book, but only in the Book Bazaar board. See detailed author rules below. Do not post links that use non-KindleBoards Amazon affiliate links. We will delete your posts, or update your Amazon links to the KindleBoards affiliate link.

- Use of affiliate tags. We reserve the right to add links, or update links, in your KindleBoards posts with links that contain KindleBoards affiliate codes. We may delete or modify posts that contain outside affiliate links. Posting of outside affiliate links is against forum rules and may result in banning.

- Links to your website. We don't allow posts that are designed to get people to go to other sites to make their Amazon book or Kindle purchases. You may have a discrete link to your site in your signature, subject to the signature guidelines below.

- Accessory Makers: Posts promoting your Kindle covers, lights, or other accessories are allowed through our promotions program - contact us for details via email. Posts that are not cleared through our promotions program may be locked and/or deleted. We reserve the right to remove or replace external sales and affiliate links. Overbearing, off-topic, or repeated posts about commercial products will be deleted. If you want regular presentation of your commercial product, email us at admin@kindleboards.com about our programs for advertising, giveaways, or other promotions.

- DRM (Digital Rights Management): We do not allow threads or posts that include instructions, or links to instructions, on ways to hack, crack, or otherwise get around DRM protections. The term 'DRM' refers to access control technologies used by publishers and copyright holders to limit usage of digital content. Kindle books, e-books in general, purchased music, and other published digital content typically contain DRM controls. It is acceptable to post about DRM in general, e.g. to discuss DRM-related issues and benefits.

- PID tools: Utilities that derive personal identifiers (PID) for your Kindle reader are considered by Amazon to be in violation of their terms of service. We do not allow posts that provide how-to instructions, source code, or links for obtaining these scripts.

- Chat: Follow the above rules when in the 'public' rooms in our chatroom. This includes the Lobby, the Book Klub room, and the Tech Support room. You can set up your own subroom for your own chat topics or for spirited discussion that may be offensive to others. Just clearly label those subrooms when you name them, so that members have fair warning before venturing in.

- Usage: Text and photos that you post in KindleBoards may be used by KindleBoards in other media settings; for example, in our Kindle blog or in guides or other publications that KindleBoards may assemble from time to time.

- Signatures: Generally, you may have text and/or graphics in your signature, including hyperlinked text and graphics. Excessive use of images in signatures is discouraged, and graphics may be removed or resized at the sole discretion of the moderators. Do not post embedded videos in signatures. Graphics or words that are offensive, distracting, or otherwise detract from the forum may be removed at the sole discretion of our moderator team.

A signature, in length and height, can be no larger than the area X'd off below. It is 89 default font characters wide, and 10 default font characters high. That's about 800 x 140 pixels. This is enough for book covers (which, when made through our Link-Maker, are 125 pixels high) plus two lines of plain text. Keep your signature to that size or smaller; otherwise it may be changed or removed.

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- Empty posts: Members who make repeated short-phrase posts may be viewed as posting simply to bump their post count or to make their forum signatures more prominent. Those posts may be deleted and repeat offendors may be banned, at the sole discretion of the moderator team.

- Web tracking bugs: Members who use web tracking images in their posts, signature, or avatars will be banned.

- Authors: We are fortunate to have quite a few authors who have joined KindleBoards. Here are some guidelines about getting the word out about your books:
     - You may post one thread about your book, in the Book Bazaar board. You can use that thread to introduce your book, include a brief review, etc.
     - Do not post about your book in other boards, or in the Book Bazaar's Free Books or Bargains Books threads.
     - We have a Link Maker (see the top of the screen). Authors are strongly encouraged to use the link maker to include a link with a cover of their book, which takes interested folks directly to Amazon where people can read reviews, sample the book and buy it if they want.
     - Do not "bump" your thread with the word "bump" or through similar tactics. You are welcome to keep your thread "lively" by posting information about your book (reviews, author interviews, etc.) - but do not do so more than once per week. Of course, you can always reply to comments from others in the thread. After you've replied, you may not bump the thread for 7 days. The simple rule to remember for your book thread: no back-to-back posts from you that are closer than 7 days apart.
     - Do not engage in "quid pro quo" bumps in which you bump threads of other authors in return for them bumping yours.
     - No setting up of multiple accounts ("sock puppets"). We have ways of identifying these, even when attempts are made to disguise those accounts through IP-cloaking tools. (Note: if you're using an IP-cloaker or IP-blocker, you're probably high on our watch list.)
     - Do not send unsolicited private messages (PMs) or emails to any members to promote your books or other wares.
     - Do not re-post Amazon reviews here. If you do have reviews of your book at other sites, you may include a link (don't repost the whole review) to that site.
     - You may list your book, and a small graphic if desired, in your forum signature.
     - Some authors have had contests or promotions to publicize their book. If you are interested in doing that, please PM a moderator to make sure the promotion is in line with forum guidelines.
     - If you are interested in leading a "read with the author" book club, please PM Betsy to discuss.
     - We have two threads which are pinned to the top of the Book Bazaar: "Official Master List of KindleBoards Authors" and "Official List of KB Authors by Genre."  If you would like your name to be added to either or both lists, please see this post for instructions. Note that posts made directly to either thread will be deleted without response.
     - For more author-related tips and guidelines related to these boards, see this excellent post: http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php/topic,6405.msg132546.html#msg132546

Thanks for sharing your questions, opinions, expertise, and passions. Have a good time and we'll see you out in the boards.

- Harvey
KindleBoards Admin

[RovingSoul]

Is d*mn a cuss word? It gets through the filters. And it's really the only American cuss word I use. When it's more serious, I use different languages. And they would get through the filter anyway.

[Teninx]

Good, nothing in here about me having to keep my pants on.

[Leslie]

Good, nothing in here about me having to keep my pants on.

Just don't post a picture! Family friendly, Teninx, family friendly...   

[Susan B]

d*mn! Err..My avatar has that word in the caption. Hope I don't get kicked out out of the forum.

[Leslie]

d*mn! Err..My avatar has that word in the caption. Hope I don't get kicked out out of the forum.

I think you are fine, Susan. Glad to have you here.

L

[admin]

Yes, I agree that we can accept "d*mn". My rule of thumb is, to try to maintain the tone such that I would feel pretty comfortable with my 11-year old daughters going to any page on the forum. And I think "d*mn" passes that test.

Not that they ever hear that at home. 

[Celeste]

d*mn sounds fine . . . . as long as we don't venture over to hell. Heaven forbid.
But reading our Kindles should expand our vocabulary in such a way that we needn't use barbaric curse words, right??!!

[Harvey]

Updated the OP with some additional guidelines for authors.

[MarthaT]

Just wanted to thank you for all the time you put in here, this is an absolutely great place!

[OmnivoreInk]

Is it acceptable to post a link to an external site that prosletyzes the Kindle?

I have a blog called The Kindle Blog Review (http://thekindlereport.blogspot.com) in which I review blogs available for subscripton on Kindle. And of course I accept requests from people who want me to review their blogs.

Can I plug my blog here, perhaps in the Authors section, or are such things not allowed?

[Ann in Arlington]

Omni, as Book Bazaar moderator, I'd say you can have one thread about your blog. . .there are a few others who do as well.  AND you may put a link to your blog in the signature section of your profile so it appears in each post.  But please follow the rules of the Bazaar and don't artificially bump it more than once a week.  (The top post of this thread has the forum guidelines, including a section for authors.) 

If you copy any links from your blog to KindleBoards for books at Amazon or anything, please make sure they are either generic or KindleBoards links.  In other words, if they're affiliate links for your own site, please convert them to KB affiliate links.

If you have any other questions, just ask. . . . .the guidelines above were developed with the purpose of allowing writer members exposure, and without making non-writer members annoyed with too much advertising!  That doesn't help anybody.

[OmnivoreInk]

>>>AND you may put a link to your blog in the signature section of your profile so it appears in each post.

Hi, Ann

Thanks so much. Will do!

[egh34]

Good, nothing in here about me having to keep my pants on.

I love this forum!

[Rasputina]

Thanks for posting these!

[Harvey]

We've updated our Forum Decorum rules (in the original post of this thread). The two added sections (copied below for your convenience) are intended to address concerns about excessively large signatures, and "empty posts".

Thank you for reviewing these and for respecting our rules for Forum Decorum.

-Harvey


- Signatures: Generally, you may have text and/or graphics in your signature, including hyperlinked text and graphics. Excessive use of images in signatures is discouraged, and graphics may be removed or resized at the sole discretion of the moderators. Graphics must be "reasonably sized"; graphics with a height of over 125 pixels are discouraged and may be removed. Do not post embedded videos in signatures. Graphics or text links that are offensive, distracting, or otherwise detract from the forum may be removed at the sole discretion of our moderator team.

- Empty posts: Members who make repeated short-phrase posts may be viewed as posting simply to bump their post count or to make their forum signatures more prominent. Those posts may be deleted and repeat offendors may be banned, at the sole discretion of the moderator team.

[911jason]

- Empty posts: Members who make repeated short-phrase posts may be viewed as posting simply to bump their post count or to make their forum signatures more prominent. Those posts may be deleted and repeat offendors may be banned, at the sole discretion of the moderator team.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for this one... so annoying when you click on a thread and see a one word post like "Nice" or something similar, and it's a thread that's a year old. Even worse when the post makes no sense in the context of the thread.

It's easy to spot these offenders too when you're browsing the unread topics list, because the last poster on 20-30 threads in a row will be the same person.

Thanks again Harvey and Mods for continuing to keep this the best and friendliest site in the world!

[Cardinal]

Hope this doesn't apply to me in the K3 review section.  I just thanked the people over there that wrote a review because they took the time to do it.  Not trying to run up my post count; I just think it would be discouraging to write a review and get little to no response. 

I love the signature rule!  I haven't noticed a problem here but I've stopped going to other boards when I was on dial-up because threads would take so long to load because of super large signatures.

[911jason]

It wasn't directed at you, it was posted more than 2 months ago!

I love the signature rule!  I haven't noticed a problem here but I've stopped going to other boards when I was on dial-up because threads would take so long to load because of super large signatures.

Most forum software gives you the option to "turn off" signatures. Click this link: http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php?action=profile;u=10550;sa=theme and you can check or uncheck the 4th option down "Don't show users' signatures".

This link will only work for Cardinal, as it's member # specific. Other users who want to use the link can copy and paste it into their browser, then change the member # (10550) to whatever yours is. You can see your own member # by hovering your mouse over your username in a post and looking at the URL at the bottom of your browser, it will be the # at the end.

[Ann in Arlington]

Or. . . . Just go to your profile via the link in the menu bar at the top of every page and click on "look and layout". . . .there's a box to check to turn of signatures. . . . . . .

[911jason]

Or. . . . Just go to your profile via the link in the menu bar at the top of every page and click on "look and layout". . . .there's a box to check to turn of signatures. . . . . . .

...or do that.



I was trying to make it easy for Cardinal, but then I realized that if other people tried to click the link it was going to cause confusion. Guess I made it more difficult in my attempt to make it simple.

[Cardinal]

Thanks!

[Devin O'Branagan, Author]

Please...I need some help, and wasn't sure where to ask.  I noticed a discussion here about signatures and thought I'd jump in.

I'm new here and I want to add to my signature a thumbnail-sized image with live link to my books in the Kindle store.  I've noticed other authors doing it, so I presume it's permitted. (Please correct me if I'm wrong.)

How do I accomplish this?  I'm very technically-challenged!

If this isn't the place to ask, would someone please direct me to the appropriate resource?  Thank you!

[pidgeon92]

How do I accomplish this?  I'm very technically-challenged!

This thread is sticked at the top of the Writer's Café, and has all the instructions:

Signature Book Cover links and Profile (avatar) pics - A Tutorial

[taufour]

Hi Harvey I am a new author and KB member and am worried that my posts in Intro are not according to the rules -- I have been welcoming authors but also letting them know I am a sci fi author and new to the Boards. I have not yet gotten onto the Book Bazaar to post as I am trying to learn how to build a page that will show more of the books to their advantage. Can we NOT cut and paste reviews for the first Bazaar post? What am I not supposed to have on my initial Bazaar thread. Please don't ban me if I have screwed up on Day One  I don't want to do this inappropriately !  Please advise?
very best
Victoria
VJ WAKS
TAU4
HAMMERSPACE