How to Behave Properly on Forums

Forums, or message boards, are a common form of media on the internet where users can post information and replies organised into topics or threads. They are a very useful networking tool, but are most harmonious if all users behave appropriately.

Most forums have a multitude of features that can alter the text in a post including smilies, different colours, different fonts, different font sizes and the ability to post images. These features are designed to be useful, but if overused they become downright annoying.

From time to time, a forum will be discovered by a new user who simply does not know how to behave properly on a forum. Use this behaviour guide to ensure that you're not the user who everyone wants to ban and smack with a fish.

How to be a Good Forum User:

1. Don't spam the boards. Making multiple threads or posts which are all the same or a waste of time is considered spamming, as is double posting.
2. Write well in your chosen language. Normal people don't want to deal with 1337 and lolz all the time. It's cute on cat pictures, not in your posts.
3. Emoticons are there for a reason, use them wisely. They can help define the tone of your post, but if overused they are ridiculous.
4. Be relevant and actually read what the posts above you are saying. For example, don't talk about sponges if the topic is on soap.
5. Don't assume that people intended to insult you personally. Try not to get angry and remember that it's hard to judge emotion through forum posts so you may be misinterpreting their intent.
6. Don't use 'can't read emotion in forum posts' as an excuse for being offensive and causing trouble. The fact is you can put emotion into written words and people do notice this. The only difficult one is sarcasm.
7. Stay recent. Digging up threads that are several months old generally isn't constructive.
8. Don't make pointless posts like 'yes I agree' or 'no I don't'. Explain a little.
9. Keep yourself sensible. Bright colours, alternative fonts, different sizes etc look messy and should only be used with great care for adding some emphasis. If you don't have a good reason for them, don't use them.
10. Be considerate of other people's download limits. Label threads which you have posted lots of images in with [Image Heavy] or something similar so that they know. You may consider linking to them rather than posting to them.
11. If in doubt, be family friendly. Refrain from posting porn, and if it's just too irresistible then label the thread title as containing porn. Some internet users have children that they wish to shelter, or may be logging on at work and could get fired for viewing such things.
12. Keep your racist, offensive, bigoted, sexist opinions to yourself. Don't delude yourself that such opinions are acceptable.
13. Don't double post. The edit button if your friend, and can be used to add more information to previous posts. Some forums won't let you edit your post, so you don't have much choice in those situations.
14. Separate fact from your opinion, and if what you say is only your opinion then say so.
15. Give credit where credit is due. Acknowledge other sites, other people and other posts.
16. Remember to say thank you.
17. Instead of saying 'no offence' just don't cause offence in the first place!

These simple guides will help you be a well behaved forum member, and not get banned.