STOP! READ THIS CUSTOMIZED TEXT:
IT CONTAINS SPECIFICS TO YOUR PARTICIPATION ON SWORD FORUM INTERNATIONAL
Registration to this forum is free! We do insist that you abide by the rules and policies detailed below. If you agree to the terms, please check the 'I agree' checkbox and press the 'Register' button below. If you would like to cancel the registration, click here to return to the forums index.
Although the administrators and moderators of [ARG:2 UNDEFINED] will attempt to keep all objectionable messages off this forum, it is impossible for us to review all messages. All messages express the views of the author, and neither the owners of [ARG:2 UNDEFINED], nor Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. (developers of vBulletin) will be held responsible for the content of any message.
By clicking "I AGREE" you hereby acknowledge and accept and state you will abide by our:
1. Rules and Code of Conduct
2. Legal Disclaimer - http://swordforum.com/legal
3. Legal Information and our Arbitration Clause - http://swordforum.com/legal
User IDs must be real names.
1. This is an educational environment, and therefore User ID's must be real full names. The only acceptable formats are J. Smith, John S., or John Smith. You may abbreviate your first OR last name, not both.
2. NO NICKNAMES. No anime names. No fake Japanese names (if you are Caucasian, please use your birth name.)
3. No single names, e.g. just "John" is unacceptable; it is not a full name.
Code of Conduct
1. Be warm and friendly to all.
2. Be humble and respectful; conduct yourself as if you were in a Museum or a Dojo.
3. You may not represent SFI as a "member" or in any official or implied capacity/association. The forum system is commercial software programmed by Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd., and their usage of the term "Member" simply means one who has simply registered a user I.D.
No Advertising for Medium-Large Sized Businesses
1. SFI was established to protect the traditions of individual bladesmiths, blacksmiths and individual artists against the mass production machine. Such individuals hardly have an advertising budget, and therefore SFI allows them and them only a certain degree of discretionary promotion.
2. Conversely, SFI is NOT a free promotional tool for medium-large businesses, retailers, wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers -- and such are encouraged to invest in advertising. If you are a dojo and if you sell swords, you fall into the retailer category. Generally, only individual artists or small business are exempt from this rule. If you are a small business (e.g. you as a sword maker and an apprentice, under 5 individuals) it is your responsibility to make sure the Moderators are aware of this.
3. Live links to business websites or forums are prohbited. "What do you think?" posts with photos -- whether done by the business owners or friends/associates of the business -- are seen as disguising a publicity post as informative. That will get you blacklisted and banned.
No Politics / No Baiting / No Trolling / Flame Wars
1. The politics of another website stay on another website ("What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas"). If there is a political backstory or history you have with an individual, it stays off this website.
2. Further, do not politicize SFI in order to make your point or to have your way. Hence, "You allowed so-and-so to post XYZ, therefore you endorse this viewpoint" is the quickest way to get you branded as a manipulator and you will be banned.
3. No trolling. Do not start arguments and upset people. Do not bait people.
