Chat Conduct

[Gossamer]

Greetings Mizaharians! It has come to my attention that the chat rules are beginning to be ignored more and more. What's worse is that some individuals are starting to use chat as a medium for some sort of popularity contest and sounding board for their real lives. Chat exists to support Mizahar as a game and discussions in chat are supposed to be on topic - that topic being Mizahar. Chat Rules are clearly outlined in the wiki. Now, for your reference, here they are again. Chat Rules The Mizahar Chat Feature exists for the sole purpose of supporting of Mizahar as a writer’s roleplaying game. Chat provides a safe family friendly place for real time question and answer or planning sessions between both players and moderators, players and players, and to add an instant additional ‘help’ feature to the game that is very important. New players can drop into chat, get to know some of the existing players and ask for advice or help in getting started. Like all chats, there is no set subject matter or topic. The discussion can flow randomly between one subject to the next or have multiple conversations going on in a singular moment. Chat is open to just about any Mizahar-related topic or interest, including writing in and of itself. However, there is a need for a code of conduct within chat that includes rules and clearly outlines penalties for ignoring those rules. All Mizahar players are invited to join chat and actively participate within its boundaries. The following are the chat specific rules for the game: Ignorance of the Chat Rules is no excuse for not following them. All Rules and Terms of Use within Mizahar’s community will be followed. This is the condition one agrees to in order to receive an account here and being given permission to playing within our environment. These rules shall be firmly enforced to provide a safe and positive environment both within the game and within chat itself. Respect your fellow chatters. This means no vulgarity, disparaging remarks, arguments, or insults. We have a very low tolerance of this and you will be warned instantly if this is witnessed by an admin. Please use English in chat as it is the required language of Mizahar. All people who state they are 'bored' will be instantly excused from chat to go write. Avoid flames, flooding, trolling, and sensitive topics as outlined by the Terms of Use. The use of cryptic or innuendo-type language to 'skirt' chat rules is not allowed. All chatters will be treated equally regardless of their status as a moderator or player, length of duration on Mizahar, or knowledge level. Feel free to report chat abuses that occur when an Admin is not present. Do so by submitting a log to the help desk including a time and date on the report. Your report will remain anonymous and can be verified by reviewing the chat logs. All Administrators (denoted by red usernames) shall be acknowledged respectfully when they ask for a change in behavior. If an admin asks for a behavior change, they will expect these changes to happen immediately Noncompliance to Chat Rules We expect all chat rules to be followed. If they are not, there are consequences. Upon first incident, a chat user will be verbally warned and the rules explained. Upon second incident, a chat user will be kicked from chat for the duration of that day. Upon third incident, a chat user will be permanently uninvited from chat. Upon an additional appearance within chat after an uninvited has been issued, the player will be uninvited from the site. If an incident is serious enough, a chat user might be issued an immediate uninvite without warning. The Admins are keeping track of who has been warned where and why, and any interactions of kicking users from chat. If behavior shows a trend towards negative interactions, an uninvite to chat may be issued immediately. Also, if a Founder's word is ignored - aka you are told you are banned from chat and you do not obey this ban, you will be immediately excused from the game. It happened today. It will happen the very next time something like this occurs. Several others are very close to loosing their chat privileges as well. Please don't wear our patience thin. Use chat for what it was meant for, take all other things elsewhere. We are a professionally styled writing game. Please keep this in mind and keep your conduct in that manner.

[Gossamer]

Please be sure you read the chat rules thoroughly.

We've been getting a rash of HD tickets in the last two days of folks frankly behaving badly in chat. It's ran the gauntlet from cussing to skirting chat rules to bickering to bullying to bragging. And frankly, all of this is making me cranky again because online time is rare for me these days and I'm going to refuse to waste it all dealing with problems and rudeness in chat.

That means I confront immediately, shut down the problem, issue warnings, and sometimes just out right kick folks from chat (usually for 30 days) skipping all the warnings if its bad enough.

As soon as you act up in chat, someone will post a log in the HD. It always happens. There are a lot of people out there that want to keep our chat clean and friendly and fun. So remember that when you are having a bad day and please just log out or go do something else more constructive than cause issues.

Thank you.