Forum Moderator guide lines

As a moderator of Golden-Forums you are expected to perform certain tasks and to follow basic guidelines. We promote a friendly environment where members can freely exchange ideas in a non-offensive manner. Moderators should promote and demonstrate the principles of the forum and are not exempt from the general rules for the forum.

1. As a moderator, you are expected to be active on the forum. This not only includes logging in frequently, but posting and initiating new topics of interest as well, especially in the board(s) that you moderate.

2. As an active moderator, you are expected to help other members by offering knowledge that you have or providing links when necessary.

3. You are expected to conduct yourself on GF and other forums (if under the same username) in a way that represents the forum - no offensive behavior or arguments. We are the role models for the forum and members will emulate our actions.

4. Do not allow negative comments about members or vendors. Remove the post and post a comment noting the reason it was deleted in the Moderator Section. Send the original poster a personal message (PM) explaining why the post was removed and noting any applicable forum rules.

5. Notify a forum administrator of any violations that cannot be handled as a moderator and send a warning to the member. In an instance where a member?s behavior is so offensive that it requires a ban, contact an administrator.

6. If a thread is started in the wrong board, move the thread to the correct board.

7. If a thread begins to get off-topic, split the thread and all applicable posts into a new thread with an appropriate thread title.

8. Treat all members with respect. As a moderator of GF, you should exercise restraint when responding to an infraction. Try to keep your personal opinions regarding vendors and other members to yourself as it reflects negatively on the forum. The responsibility of being a forum moderator includes acting in a manner that is considered unbiased and level-headed.

9. Learn and be familiar with all of the forum rules and policies, including those specific to vendors. Moderation actions should only be taken in response to a direct infraction of these rules and for no other reasons. When in doubt, contact a forum administrator for advice on how to handle a situation.

10. All information in the moderator forums and sub-forums is considered CONFIDENTIAL and should not be shared with other members or non-members. If a moderator is found disclosing information from these forums, they will be immediately and permanently IP banned - no questions asked.

11. No moderator should EDIT anyone's posts. If there is a dispute regarding a post please send a personal message (PM) the original poster (OP) to discuss it or remove the post. Posts should only be removed when absolutely necessary - such as when maintaining the integrity of the thread or the forum and it's guidelines/rules.

12. Acting as a moderator of GF is done on a completely voluntary basis. Should you choose to stop moderating or plan to be absent from the forum for an extended period, please send a message to a forum administrator as a courtesy.

13. Moderators of GF should NEVER delete unban appeals OR reports, OR THEIR OWN REPORTS/UNBAN REQUESTS