A couple of days ago 4 new rules got introduced to my favorite community -
TheColorless.net- Posting identical messages repeatedly is not permitted.
- Posting illegal, offensive, adult, racist and other inappropriate materials is prohibited.
- Let's keep our boards clean: No unconstructive poll-type posts, no forum games, no countdowns.
- Search the threads for answers before asking questions: The thread might have been already created.
Thread
Well, not really.
Most of these rules have been around for ages.
I'd like to call these rules 'Rules of Common Sense', if you allow so.The first rule says 'no spamming'. Good thing. Simple as that.
The second rule states that we don't want filesharing through the public boards, no other illegal material, no child porn, and, in general, to think about what we are posting.We should always consider that younger people visit the forums as well, so excessive hentai pictures are a no-go.
You wouldn't zap through Television and start watching porn when a child is around, right?Insulting doesn't mean 'stop cursing' either, though you shouldn't get overly excessive using swear words.Everybody uses them once in a while, they are strong words.
You just shouldn't get personal and insult other users.This is an elemental part of human interaction.Having different opinions and heated arguments isn't a bad thing, more like the opposite, but you shouldn't attack your opponent personally.
If you're not sure if what you're saying crosses a line, better don't post it.
If you do post it, apologize if it hurts the other person.Actually, I had an argument with some users about Console Controllers just yesterday.I'm all for Sony's DualShock, while
@teolandon is a fan of Gamecube and Xbox controllers.
When the discussion heated up a bit, he simply added this line to his post:
P.S. @DarkChaplain sorry if I abused you, that’s only my opinion.
I didn't even consider the situation bad, he didn't say anything wrong - but he was still being polite and didn't get all worked up.
We joked about it and things were fine, more talking.
The point I'm trying to make is:You can have your opinion, you can have your point, but don't force them onto other people and don't get insulting.
Be polite, consider your opponent's point of view and listen.This way, not only the talking people, but also all those who might read the thread will enjoy your discussion.Don't be a purple asshat, considering yourself the greatest thing of all time and your thoughts the only truth.
The third rule is actually the one most people argue against.Forum Games and Countdowns have never been clearly banned before, but people started posting just too many of them on the Games-board.
This sub-board was meant for Videogames, Cardgames, whatever real Games there are and people would like to talk about.The threads about Pokemon or Final Fantasy, for example, are actually quite interesting - discussions and recommendations everywhere.BUT Forum Games flooded the section; a lot of people excluded the Games-board completely from their front pages.The FGs actually flood the whole front page as well, making it hard to find the serious topics.
New threads have been on page 3+ right after they have been posted in the past.FGs actually don't have any value aside from boosting the spammers post counts.
"Counting to 3 and rape/marry/kidnap the person before you?"
That isn't even challenging!
There has been quite an uproar about the outstanding deletion of these threads and correction of post counts,
but most users agree with this new rule.The forum should be a place for everybody to enjoy, to talk to each other, to discuss.
There will be more relaxing topics, there will be real entertainment.
Don't worry, this change is for the better!
The fourth rule simply tells you to search for similar/doubled threads before posting something new.There is a nice search widget, using Google's engine.
Most threads are kind of unique anyway, but asking for DeviantArt-usernames or stuff like that is probably somewhere on the forums already.
Now people got upset about the 'unclear' parts of the rules, which frankly don't exist.'Inappropriate materials' are going to be judged by the moderators, yes.
But no moderator would simply remove threads or posts, or even ban you, without a good reason.While we have a strong banhammer-mod, I never experienced him banning without good reasons.
Maybe that's just me, but I respect his opinion, and I never had a problem with his reasoning.
Trust the mods, don't doom the community beforehand.
Now some users call our admin, @Gargron or short Gar, a God.
This is probably due to our old profile layouts,
where admins were called 'Gods', moderators 'Demi Gods' and normal users 'Proud Mortals'.I honestly don't care if he's called a God or not, but I highly appreciate his work.
Simple as that.We all know that Gar is just a mere mortal as well, no almighty god.
We all know that not even he, who is still working to make Colorless a better place for all of us, is flawless.I won't deny that he is more talented when it comes to coding than administrating the community itself, but still, he does great.
Colorless has been running for more than half a year now, from chat-only without registrations to a full fledged community.
It is still growing and evolving!Gargron pays the fees. Renting a server and all these things.Now he added native image uploads, which will cost him another bunch of bucks.
Yes, the ads are supporting him, but that is not nearly enough.
It's his money.
Considering this, do you think it would be wrong to at least appreciate his work?
To be thankful for this awesome community?
Critics won't hurt him, but please, stay polite and use facts.What I read yesterday, for example, made me wanna puke my guts out - Screenshot on the side.
Attacking Gar for finally 'enforcing' common rules is utterly wrong and disgusting.Also, he is not a totalitarian Fuhrer like Adolf Hitler.
Aside from the fact, that he owns the site and may do what he wants on there,
These rules have been APPRECIATED, ACCEPTED
and even SUGGESTED by the community.Just a few people stood up against these rules, or more like against Gar's leading style.
Not swallowing new stuff right away is a good thing, yes.
Think about stuff yourself, yes.
But don't forget that there are indeed things, you might accept.
Not everything you see is wrong, even if your sworn enemy might show it to you.Put personal differences behind and consider the matter of fact.
I believe in the value of The Colorless.
I believe that most of our users are good people, even friends.
I believe that it is now time to mature, even just slightly, as a community.
Once in a while, threads about 'making the world a better place'-projects come up.
We never really got to do something as a whole, mostly because of us being scattered all over the world.
But these ideas, these ideals, are something that inspires the community, that gives us some kind of identity.We aren't 4chan. We aren't facebook.
We aren't restricted to social fields, not to countries.
We are creative, thinking, loving men and women.
We are free people.
We don't choose a Color to gather under.
We are The Colorless
Today, the last part, Alien Breed: Descent was released for PC and XBox.
The digital range of BL-products, though, can only be accessed by buying them directly from 
