As most of you are aware, our little site has grown by leaps and bounds. New members are joining our community faster and in greater numbers than ever before. Due to this exploding population and greatly increased rate of new posts and threads, it is becoming necessary for the Staff to adjust how we enforce our TOS/Rules.

We are now implementing a new method that we're calling the Infraction System. This is a set list of Infractions, each with a pre-determined number of points associated with it. When a member breaks the rules, they will be assigned an Infraction for that post by a Staff member (mod or admin).

There are no consequences for an individual infraction, but an accumulation of points will lead to a 30-day ban, and eventually to a permanent ban. The details of this System are spelled out in the Announcement at the top of this forum. Please read through that.

The Staff has worked tremendously hard to find ways to adjust to our rapid growth, and for now, this is what we have determined to be the best method. Please bear in mind that this is a completely new tool for us, and we will have to learn to use it. Our staff is human, and may make mistakes as we learn to work with this. Don't get angry if you feel you've received an unjust Infraction. ALL Infractions are subject to appeal. Send a PM to any admin (iceman25, JLC, rabernet, mlededee) and we will look into it. The Infractions, their points, and the penalties associated with them are subject to change as we see how they work.

The faster we grow, and the larger we grow, the harder it is to maintain that open, friendly and welcoming environment that we all hold dear. A consistent and firm application of our TOS/Rules, will be essential in keeping up. But even more important than that, will be the community itself...each of us willing to hold ourselves to a high standard and not be inclined to turn this site into a personal playground or venue for petty vendettas. It's our community that makes us so special. Not our rules.

A note on QT:
Most of you are familiar with the Quaratine Room. (If not, shoot a PM to a staff member and ask!) The original intent of the QT Room was to allow a place for heated discussions without interfering with the friendly atmosphere of the public forums. It was never intended to be a "free for all" place with no rules. The rules of the site still apply in there. Infractions can and will be assessed in there, as needed. More details about how the Infraction System works in QT will be added in a stickied thread there soon.

A note on Moderated Members:
A few members have been placed on "Moderated Status" due to either negative reps, or a consistent inability to follow the rules. While this allowed the staff to keep consistently inflamitory or offensive posts from appearing from certain members...it also put the burden of THEIR behavior on OUR shoulders. Once on moderated status, the only consequence to an infraction of the rules was having their post edited or deleted.

This will no longer be the case. Each and every member will be responsible for their own behavior. If a member simply cannot abide by the rules they agreed to when registering here, then they will not be able to participate here.

Those on Moderated Status will no longer be so....but they will receive a "head start" of Infraction Points, based on their past history of participation and inability to follow the rules.

In Conclusion:
I know this has been a very long post to wade through. I'm sorry. I'm almost done! Just a couple more misc points I want to make.

-- The Infraction System only works with posts made in the forums. Abuses of the rep system will continue to be handled as they always have been. Abuses of the PM system will be handled separately as well. The Infraction System is not the only means of enforcing the rules.

-- The System is still "in the works" and will continue to change and evolve as we work with it. But the basic foundation of it is solid and ready to go.

-- Members will NOT receive retroactive Infraction Points (except as listed for moderated members above). No posts made before this announcement will be hit. But once this announcement "goes live" every member, no matter how long-standing, no matter their post count or reputation score, is accountable for their own behavior and abiding by the rules of the Site.

-- While it may seem similar in some ways, our Infraction System is NOT like Fauna's.

-- This thread will be left open for the time being, for technical questions or any needed clarification. Our methods are not open for debate, though. We have thought long and hard about this and discussed it until our fingers were falling off from typing so much and eyes bleeding from reading it all. This is what we will be doing for the foreseeable future.

I'm sure there's more to say on the matter, but I've already said more than most will read, I fear.... THANK YOU for taking the time to do so and for taking a commited interest in the well being of Ball-Pythons.net.

--Judy