GBMWolverine Blog, Message Board, and Rules

Posted at 10:00am -- (Updated) 2/21/2010

GBMW BLOG AND MESSAGE BOARD RULES

Mission Statement:
The overriding mission is to create a fun and comfortable environment of the highest quality for Michigan fans to discuss topics regarding University of Michigan athletics. We mostly cover Michigan football, but will dive into basketball, hockey, recruiting and any other sport at the University of Michigan.

Keep in mind GBMW is a small community composing articles for this blog page as a hobby, and we all strive to willingly share information with other readers that enjoy the same passion we do -- Michigan.

Before we begin, in order to better serve you on GBMW, we ask that users do not pass on shared message board information to sites that are not part of GBMW.

Please keep this message board University of Michigan related.

1) PROCEDURES

All rules should be treated with equal importance:
Please take the small amount of time needed to read over each and every rule, and take them seriously. All rules mentioned in this message will be enforced.

We want everybody to enjoy their visits at GBMW, and we seek a Holy Grail of message board and blog sites: to put into place a web environment where people respect each other while posting as part of the GBMW community, making the site a” better place.” We have every right to edit, delete, or make changes as GBMW sees fit to any post/ thread that is on our board. Yes, it is a fine line between “institutional control” and attempting to avoid a chaotic mess where inmates run the asylum.

2) RULES OF COMMON SENSE

A. Think before you post:
Some of the most problematic posts on sites are made without taking a "time out" to think about it first, that is raw, pure emotion instantly rules. If you are upset or frustrated about a game, a recruit, or something else, posting in this state of mind will not yield the best results.

B. Treat posting as a conversation:
Chances are, if what one is posting is not something that would be stated when having a conversation in person, then a reader is better off not posting at that particular moment. If a reader is posting simply because things can be stated as an anonymous person behind a keyboard, it is likely to be a post that stands a chance of being upsetting.

C. Treat fellow members as you would like to be treated:
The "Golden Rule" might (or might not) be overused or overstated, but this cliché is still valid. If everyone is respectful of all reasonable opinions, regardless of individual agreement, the forum will be a much more welcoming, “civilized” place to visit. If there is a problem with a poster's comments that is truly (warranted) upsetting and a reader believes a comment should not be allowed, please e-mail GBMW and explain why you believe this post/thread should be deleted, locked or edited.

D. Please do not put names/initials in the subject line:
Doing so allows onlookers from other sites to obtain information from GBMW message boards. We want to keep this a private message board.

E. No finger pointing, direct insulting, or personal attacks:
Avoid calling out an individual poster, or posters, with insults or name-calling. Points and counter-points can be friendly and respectful. Do not make any comments that are derogatory in nature about another poster or GBMW. We do not anticipate and cannot accept lengthy squabbles or disagreements from members. This board seeks to be different, to be better. This is fun stuff and never should be made personal.

F. Opposition is fine; stereotyping can be bad:
One product of a good message board is expanded opinion-- well at least here at GBMW.

G. Supporting your position with facts and plausible thought is useful:
This is one reason we wanted to start a message board to get more people involved talking Michigan. We can handle everyone not totally agreeing on everything.

H. If you don't like it, don't read it, this may be better for all:
While forums have rules, a simple form of moderation is self-moderation, filter what you read and any response. We do this as a hobby and might not be around 24/7.

I. Everyone loves quality, but do not sell yourself or others short:
Consider that while you might not think a certain comment or question is insightful, or of value, someone else might.

J. If you are responding to another poster, please state their name:
This practice provides clarity and avoids confusion.

3) VULGARITY & OBSCENE MATERIAL

A. Absolutely no profanity, vulgarity, or obscenity is allowed on the forums:
For intelligent adults this is self-evident as to what constitutes offensive material and why it cannot be allowed.

B. No obscene or pornographic material is permitted in a post or signature:
Additionally, no links to pornographic or hardcore websites are allowed in a post or signature. Posts of graphic sexual content are also not permitted. In our current society such disclaimers are a must.

4) SIGNATURE PICTURES

A. Pictures in a signature of reasonable size are permitted (not large enough to interfere with the forum
The GBMW staff will have the final say on whether your picture is acceptable or not. Do not get upset if you are asked to remove it or change it. This is a Michigan board so keep the pictures relative to what we are talking about.

5) COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT (Copying/Pasting)

A. Do not post message board information from this site on other sites:
We consider the information as ours as well as anything that is transferred from the GBMW blog to the message board.

B. Do not post premium information from other sites on the blog or message board:
We respect other sites and want most or all of the discussion to be generated from content within the GBMW site. This board is for dispersing GBMW information and not for promoting or denouncing other sites and their work.

C. Please do not "copy and paste" an entire article:
On the GBMW message board site (free or paid subscription). All articles should be linked, and readers may use one quote, provided it's sourced properly.

6) FLAMING

A. Flaming:
Posting with the intention of causing trouble will not be tolerated and given a very short leash, including baiting others, intentionally upsetting others, name-calling, etc. Frankly, with the posters GBMW has on board, we anticipate minimal problems, simply practice respect.

B. Please do not denigrate other teams, any coach or player:
Do not tear down the opposition in order to build Michigan up. Dignity and sportsmanship still matter at GBMW. Excessive verbal abuse of coaches or players will not be tolerated. We prefer to keep personal problems and lives of players and coaches in line with common decency and respect for privacy. There is such a thing as common knowledge (reported as legitimate and truth), but this is different from rumor. The two should be differentiated between. The performance of players is a frequent topic of discussion. It is one thing to say that so and so gets to the flat a little late, but another to say that a player cost Michigan the game and should never play again. Players need reasonable support, at the very least.

C. Discussion of coaches should be directly related to the state of the program:
Please be compassionate about the pressure coaches are under and the decisions coaches make. Disagreeing with a decision and being a Monday armchair quarterback are common practices. Lobbying for dismissal or public ridicule of professional staff is not part of the message board mission.

7) COMPLAINTS OR CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM

A. Legitimate questions about GBMW or general knowledge concerns are reasonable:
And will be responded to accordingly, in which case we ask readers to e-mail GBMW and not “stir up” the membership. Private inquiry works best.

8) SOLICITATION

A. SPAM or soliciting for another website or service:
especially for personal gain, is not permitted.

9) BANNED USERS
We expect, with the conditions put in place, few if any problems. Anyone whose actions result in a temporary, or permanent ban should not attempt to circumvent the suspension by posting under a different identity, from a different computer, or by any other means. Violators may be subject to permanent bans by IP Address. Please let us never get to this point where anyone is banned, that is not the intent of the message board. It will be up to the blog administrator as to any action taken, and hopefully the common three-strike policy will not have to be enforced.

10) FINAL THOUGHTS

A. Follow the rules and everything will be fine.

B. None of the above conditions are meant to be ominous, but many of you have visited sites that frequently must go into meltdown-lockdown mode. The purpose here is to proactively set up a preventative environment and not an environment that flames controversy or anger. Michigan athletics are to be enjoyed and followed with pride.

Thanks for visiting GBMW blog and the GBMW message board hopes to see you again here for your daily Michigan reading.

Written by GBMW Staff

Go Blue -- Wear Maize!