When this board was just me and a few crickets chirping (you know who you are! :b ), it was easy to maintain board decorum. These days, after several hundred registered users, and a few fold more than that passing through as browsers, it can be a tough business to keep order around here. My philosophy about what this forum is about is simple:

To provide a place where people interested in comics and collected editions, especially those with a yen for classic comics and hardcovers, can get together and share thoughts, opinions and gather information about their interest. It's a place for comeraderie, collegiality, and authenticity. I even harbor illusions about making it a safe place for kids to come and check out the scene- the kind of place my mom might have felt comfortable allowing me to visit when I was a 12-year old young buck weaning himself on comics with Claremont/Byrne X-Men and Lee, Ditko and Kirby Pocket Books.

To that end, there are a group of forum rules I expect everyone to abide by. They're relatively simply, and I hope they are comprehensive. If I one day find the need to add to them, I will. But I'm pretty sure this group of people is well regulated enough...decent chaps all!

So...here goes, and in NO particular order!

1: REGISTERING IS MANDATORY

Since the forum began in 2002 and for the almost four years since, it was not necessary to be registered in order to post. As the forums have grown in popularity and activity, I have found cause to change that. I do not want to, but I must. Too many times, the ability to post as an unregistered user has been taken advantage of by people to engage in malicious, mean-spirited, or circumspect posting. Sadly, I must close the boards to posting by unregistered users, since it is becoming more difficult for me to deal with moderating such abuses.

You do not need to be registered to surf the boards and read, but you must be registered in order to start threads or reply to threads.

2: ONE REGISTERED ID PER PERSON

Every person gets one message board identity. Be yourself. Anyone found to be setting up multiple identities will be warned and have their multiple ids deleted by me.

3: POSTS MUST BE RELEVANT TO THE FORUM THEY ARE STARTED IN

If you're starting a post about a Marvel, DC or "other" book, the post belongs in their respective forums. If the post is more general in nature- comparing books or characters of different companies in equal measure- feel free to post the thread in the forum you think most appropriate.

4: NO PERSONAL ATTACKS

Heated and passionate debate- or what is known as classical argument- is NOT always a bad thing. Don't feel bad about stating opinions in any manner in which you choose. However, I will not abide heated discussion rising to the point where attacks of a personal nature are advanced. Do not call anyone derogatory names, insult their character in gratuitous ways, or seek to ridicule or embarrass your fellow boardmembers.

I will consider such events as actions hostile to a climate of goodwill. Goodwill is paramount to the integrity of this board- it doesn't necessarily mean getting along all the time, holding hands and singing around the campfire. But it does mean having the best interests of the board and your friends here in constant mind. There'll be minor eruptions here and there...we're all only human. The trick is can we return to being civil after we've made a butthead out of ourselves. Sure we can!

Please see rule #8 for further discussion related to this idea.

5: NO "CUSTOMER SERVICE" THREADS

There will be no threads allowed that are dedicated to complaining about customer service issues with comics retailers, especially current orders which are still outstanding. Please, work your problems out with the retailer.

From time to time, general discussions come up in which comparisons are made about the places where we spend our dollars. Sharing your past experiences with any companies is welcome then. Just be cautious not to be too personal, vindictive or defaming, please.

6: NO RETAIL HYPER-LINKS EXCEPT FOR SITE SPONSORS

I will make this short and sweet: the website and message board is utterly dependent on income derived from referrals made through sales from Tales of Wonder, Amazon US, Amazon UK and Amazon Canada. If you wish to post a link to a book on any of those sites, please cut and paste the appropriate SKU or ASIN into the following dummy links:

TOW: talesofwonder.com/product-exec/product_id/43085/affiliate_id/5

AMZ US: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1560976322/ref=nosim/marvelmasterw-20

AMZ CANADA: www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/1563896605/ref=nosim/marvelmaste03-20

AMZ UK: www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000657UB/ref=nosim/marvelmasterw-21

It is not in this message board's interests to allow free advertising or sales pitches for companies who do not have a hand in underwriting the board's existence. Please do not add hyperlinks or post URLs for them.

7: NO PROFANITY OR VULGARITY

On the main boards, there will be no acceptance of profanity or discussion of subjects which are vulgar in nature. What constitutes profanity? The major offenders...you know what they are. What constitutes vulgarity? I don't know exactly, but I'll know when I see it! :)

No links to spam or pornography.

8: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR POSTING

A) Don't insert a fellow board member's name into the title of a post. Imagine the title of your thread as if a newsboy was shouting it on the street corner. It would be unsettling to hear one's name shouted in such a manner, wouldn't it? :b

Amendments to this rule are if you're trying to reach someone for contact information, to wish a happy birthday or congratulate them for some kind of accomplishment. But threads in which you demand someone's attention...please, no.

B) Check the first couple pages of recent threads to see if your post might better fit into a conversation already undergoing. It's quite possible your thread will be redundant to one on the second or third page. Do the board- and my bandwidth- a favor and do a little homework before posting.

If I see an opportunity to tidy the board up, I may ask you to move your post to a different thread so I can delete the redundant one. If anyone sees me make such a request, please do not post in reply.

C) Borrowed from the Bendis boards, this sums up my feelings perfectly:
"Threads concerning a board drama or conflict will be immediately deleted. Nobody cares!! they are whiny and annoying! In fact, all threads and posts can and will be deleted by me at my discretion."

Threads which devolve into tests of ego or childish tantrums will be frowned upon. If I ask you to stop, it probably means you're embarrassing yourself without even knowing it. So please stop, suck it up, and move on.

9: DO NOT CHALLENGE REQUESTS FROM MODERATORS IN PUBLIC

If I or one of my moderators makes a request of you, please do not challenge publicly or try to draw the moderator into debate. All moderator requests will be made with a brief and concise explanation of the reason why. It will be up to you to comply to the request. If you still want further explanation, please privately email me or the moderator in question. You can also contact me via the ezboard inbox feature.

Please do not confuse my attempts to moderate as a "personal attack." If your behavior gets out of hand, as the owner and moderator of this board, I reserve the right to clarify my position on your negative behavior. When I step in to moderate, it is precisely because there are moments when people step out of bounds and engage in bad behavior. Articulating the exact nature of that bad behavior is perfectly reasonable for a moderator.

To put a fine point on it, I reserve to the right to say whatever I want, whenever I want, to whomever I want, on these boards, when I am moderating.

10: LEAVE THE MODERATING TO ME AND FORUM MODS

If you have an issue with a fellow board member, contact me or a mod and let us know about it. Polite, fair and even-handed correspondence will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

11: PERSONAL ICONS AND AVATARS MUST BE A CERTAIN SIZE

This is ideal:

Any bigger than that...it's too big, my friend! Downsize it or find one that looks good at that size.
Visit my website and message board: The Marvel Masterworks Resource Home Page!!!