Bannable Offenses
Ban duration is entirely dependent on the context of the infraction and previous bans for the same user. Some bannable offenses are:

• Obscenity - Any posted material that is perceived as obscene, linked or not, will get you banned.
  
• Warez - Don't make any posts that link this board or its members to piracy. No links, site recommendations, or admissions of guilt.

Warnings
Warnings are issued for smaller-scale infractions that don't quite deserve a full-on ban. There is not a magical number of warnings that earns you a ban; everything is taken contextually, and it is entirely possible to be banned with no warning, or warned many times without banning. Some examples of warnable posts are:

• Making a post that doesn't contribute to the discussion (derailing, off-topic, just adding 'lol', etc)
  
• Word Filter Circumvention - If people wish to see the filtered words, they can opt-out of the filtering in the UCP. Don't force people to see your filthy words.
  
• Over-use of smilies, hard to read colors, or abuse of other formatting tags
  
• Using more than three YouTube tags in a single post (unless the extra videos are inside of a spoiler tag)
  
• Putting a YouTube video in your signature (unless it's in a spoiler tag)

Forum Avatar Guidelines
Don't use excessively flashy or annoying avatars.

Forum Signature Guidelines
Signatures are OFF by default. To enable them, click here.

Nobody wants to see obnoxious, long, or distracting signatures. Though signatures are always subject to moderator approval, these general guidelines will keep you relatively safe:
- Try to use only 1 small image vertically (or, horizontally spaced, a few images)
- Use less than 3 lines of text.
- You may ignore the last two rules, but only if the signature is contained within a spoiler.
- No advertising (includes referral codes and such) unless you created the product

Special Cases
Just because something isn't listed above doesn't mean it's alright to do. Use your common sense when posting - be respectful and try to keep a positive attitude and you'll be fine (eg: no trolling, no pushing the limits of the rules, etc.).

Appeals
If you have a problem with a moderator action, a single moderator, any group of moderators, or the moderating style of the board at large:

(1) PM the moderator(s) with which you would like to have a talk with, and hopefully resolve the conflict thusly. It is far more preferable for us to quietly resolve problems on a 1:1 basis, talking like civil human beings, than to have to lay down the law in a public and embarrassing fashion. Any issues brought up with moderators will be dealt with courteously and will not result in any bans or warnings.

(2) PM another moderator or group of moderators, and ask to have it brought up in the moderation subforum. The moderation staff is the final word. Rest assured, your complaint will be given due consideration, but you must accept the outcome. You can find a listing of the entire moderation team at this location, though note that Data, Scancode, and Weasel no longer actively participate in the community.

Please note some sub-forums have their own rule-set. Be sure to read all the appropriate material.

Small update and reposting of the rules since Weasel is no longer the community manager. Worry not, everything is the same save for #2 of how to appeal a moderator action.

Is being chill no longer a rule?

That's covered under "Special cases", really, but that is the best rule of thumb if you're not sure about your post. Be chill and everything will work out fine.

do you have to spell amazingly well with perfect punctuation as some people have told me?

Nope, but it helps in making people respect you.

ok but that other guy i was chatting with was complaining about my grammar a tiny bit too much

If you have an issue you want taken up with a moderator, either use the report button or PM a moderator.

Yeah i guess your right i'm just not very good anyone wanting to help me not get raged at would be welcome

Also I'd like to point out to the unwashed hordes that we, your moderators, now have new tools with which to further oppress you. We can now remove your signatures and avatars, among other things, at the flick of a switch. So uh, don't do anything stupid with either of those. Or we'll do something about it.

- The Mod Squad

these are excellent, its clear and not too strict

Are there any rules on nerco-ing?

If it's relevant, it's usually ok.

Unless your definition relevant is something like "zomg dis mod is 1337 haxxors", in which case it is not ok.

Ah right, i thought so, but i was just double checking.

Added a note about the new YouTube tags. Don't use more than three outside of spoiler tags in one post.