Scratch

Please remember that this is just a guide. Sure, you should try and follow what's inside, but use your common sense as well. 

The guidelines aren't in any special order, though they're sorted into sections so you know where to find them. The numbers are only there so you can refer to different guidelines.

The forums with plenty of guidelines have a section to themselves, while the forums with not many guidelines have their etiquette in Other forums.

Contents
1 - 12: The general etiquette
13 - 17: Show and Tell
18 - 21: Suggestions
22 - 24: Troubleshooting
25 - 28: Miscellaneous
29 - 33: Other forums
The Report button
Tips from others


The general etiquette

1. When you first visit the forums, get to know it well. You should be familiar with it. Browse the different forums and read several topics. Get an idea of what the Scratch forums are like before you start posting; it helps to get a feel of what the community is like before joining in.

2. Post topics in the appropriate forum. In case you ever get confused: The name of the forum tells you what it's about, and in the forum index, below each forum's link is a brief description of it. Be careful with Advanced Topics - if your topic isn't about technical features or modifying Scratch, post in All About Scratch. (If you happen to post a topic in the wrong forum, a moderator will most likely move it to the appropriate forum.)

3. Always read the topic post before you post in the topic. The name of the topic gives some information to you, but the topic post is normally very helpful in informing you about what's going on. It's always good to know the base discussion before you post; you might confuse people otherwise.

4. Post helpfully. Don't be annoying. After all, how would you like it if you wanted help on something, and someone just posted a silly thing without helping you at all? It's not very nice... Try and make your posts generally helpful.

5. Don't stray off the subject of the topic. Straying off is rude and quite unhelpful. Of course, if you have a good reason to change the subject, and you're sure that no one will mind, go ahead... but think first. Use your common sense here.

6. If you're going to give your say in discussions, read the discussion first. Without reading the discussion, you might have missed something, which means that you may be confusing if you post. Use your common sense here - if you want to join a discussion that has been going on for pages and pages, you might not have to read the whole topic (just reading the last bits would probably work). But if the discussion keeps on changing and the topic post doesn't help, read plenty of the discussion, possibly the whole thing - just make sure you read enough until you know what's going on. Use your common sense.

7. Don't post topics that have the same subject as a different topic. Duplicate topics simply confuse people and makes discussions inefficient (there will be two smaller discussions instead of one larger one). If you see a duplicate topic, use the Report button to alert a moderator.

8. Don't bring back old topics unless you have a good reason to. Use your common sense - if you're just bumping up a topic to say thanks, don't bother. If you're bumping something up because the topic was a useful one that more people should see, or if you want more opinions on something, go ahead. However, don't bump topics too often, and always explain why you're bumping the topic when you do. Apologizing is great; it shows that you know what you're doing.

9. Try and be helpful to other users if you can. If someone wants help on something, and you know the information they need, why not help? It's a very nice thing to do - and as a bonus, that person (and possibly others) will like you for it.

10. If you are confused on a project and want help, use All About Scratch. Advanced Topics is for technical features (modifying Scratch is a very good example), and Troubleshooting is for reporting bugs with the Scratch program or website. If you simply want project help, use All About Scratch. Keep topics in Advanced Topics advanced, and don't clutter the forum with non-advanced subjects (ie. scrolling help, timer scripts, layers).

11. Keep your signature as low as possible. A signature's height should not be far more than 150 pixels. Try and keep your signature's height below 150 pixels, including images and text. If you go far over the limit, a moderator may trim your signature. (Tall signatures should be reported - to do so, report a post with the signature and explain the problem.)

12. Do not be rude. No profanity, referencing to inappropriate subjects, insulting other users, or simply being plain rude. Placing asterisks or deforming letters in swear words is not acceptable, and will give you more trouble than merely leaving the swear word untouched. If you see any swear words (this includes partially censored ones), report the post.


Show and Tell

13. Don't advertise in other topics - make your own topic for the advertisement. Sometimes people advertise a project or gallery in other topics instead of creating a new topic for it. That's quite rude, and very annoying. (As a matter of fact, you'll get more views if you post a topic for your advertisement.)

14. Include a link to whatever you're advertising. It really helps - and as a bonus, more people might view the project or gallery, instead of being too lazy to get to it themselves.

15. Don't boast in your advertisement too much. Sure, good advertisements mention nice features, and informing people about them will interest them - after all, advertisements are supposed to get people to look at the stuff! However, over-boasting is really rude - and as a bonus, people will think you're exaggerating or lying, which might ruin your advertisement.

16. Tell the truth in your advertisement. Don't lie.

17. Only advertise Scratch-related material in Show and Tell. If you're advertising a project, gallery, Scratch-related website (some Scratch companies have their own websites), or anything else Scratch-related, use Show and Tell. However, if you're advertising something unrelevant to Scratch (say, your new adoptables series, new signature, or website that isn't Scratch related), use Miscellaneous.


Suggestions

18. Don't suggest something that has already been suggested. Of course, if the other topic is past the tenth page or something like that, go and post your suggestion. But if the topic is still active (or recently active), don't post yours, as it will just confuse people (see guidelines 7 and 8).

19. Don't suggest something that has already been resolved. Suggesting something resolved will just annoy people and waste their time. For a list of resolved suggestions, see the sticky in Suggestions (you can click here to jump there).

20. Be reasonable with your suggestions. Only suggest reasonable ideas (such as adding show/hide list blocks), not wild suggestions that are practically impossible or entirely unreasonable (such as a block that would exit the Scratch program). Suggesting crazy ideas is simply going to annoy people.

21. Think before suggesting something. Is the suggestion unreasonable (see the previous rule)?


Troubleshooting

22. Don't report a bug that has already been reported. See rules 7, 8 and 18.

23. When you report a bug, make your report clear and informative. See the sticky in Troubleshooting (you can click here to jump there).

24. Before you report a bug, think about if your problem is really a bug, or something else. Did you accidentally press something on your keyboard? Was that supposed to happen, anyway? Just have a think.


Miscellaneous

25. Don't post topics that involve religious, political, or inappropriate content. Religious topics can offend some people, political topics can cause arguments, and inappropriate topics are simply not allowed. If you see any of these topics, report it.

26. Be careful around controversial topics. If there's a topic that looks like it'll explode, be careful around it. You might not want to post, either; you might set it off. Topics often burst into flames - please be careful and respective.

27. Text-Based Games go in their own forum, not in Miscellaneous. See the sticky for more (you can click here to jump there). The Text-Based Games forum is here (http://scratch.mit.edu/tbgforums).

28. Don't start a flame war. Obvious, but it happens way too often.


Other forums

29. New Scratch Members: Try and be helpful to the new Scratch members. It's really nice, and they would greatly appreciate it. After all, wouldn't you like it if you were them?

30. All About Scratch: Keep things Scratch-related in there. If it's not really Scratch-related, post in Miscellaneous.

31. Advanced Topics: Keep things advanced in there. Often people post topics in there that are not advanced - that just ruins the point of the forum. Keep the topics in there to technical features (such as modifying Scratch).

32. Sensor Boards: A Sensor board is a device that helps Scratch communicate with the outside world - don't mistake the forum for something else. More information can be found here.

33. Language forums: Keep things in the appropiate language. Posts in the wrong language may be removed.


The Report button

The Report button is found at the bottom-right corner of posts. It is always there, even if the topic is closed or the forum archived.
To report something, click on the Report button of that post. You will then go to a page where you will be asked to explain why you are reporting the post. Simply submit your reason, and you're done! The moderators will receive the report and sort it out...
The Report button is for anything that needs a moderator's attention. It's not just for reporting rude or inappropriate stuff - if a moderator should see the post, report it. Please use your common sense - if you're going to report a post to say something like "Hey, this post should interest you", stop - the Report button is not for casual talk. (If you want one of your topics closed, report the topic post - it's easier for everyone and makes sure that a moderator sees your request.)


Tips from others

Contributors (in alphabetical order):
Blade-Edge
Chrischb
Greatdane
LS97
Mr_X
scmb1
somelia
Vista4563

Please note that jokes are allowed, so don't worry about silly pieces of etiquette.

Blade-Edge (at spammish posts) wrote:

For posts like that, you should hit the report button and type in spam. Make examples of them.

Chrischb wrote:

Don't post your thread in the wrong forum for extra views.

Greatdane wrote:

To tell you the truth, there really is one rule:

#1: Use common sense at all times and don't make yourself look bad.

Actually, maybe more: I'd say in general:

Don't act like a mod if you aren't. Yes, no more "This should be in I&M" because that is not helpful AT ALL.

Don't act stupid. It really ruins your look.

Making references to your projects if they are related to the subject is okay. Some people have taken it too far, though.

Don't be annoying and post spam by spam I mean:

Person #1: wrote:

I think we should improve Scratch by adding more options on the front page.

Person #2: wrote:

Good idea. Maybe a 'User of the Month?'

Spammer #1(Conventional Spammer): wrote:

go lok at mai projects! They are cool! (link) (link) (link)

Spammer #2('Hidden' Spam): wrote:

Hey, can you please look at my projects? I'd like some feedback, thanks.

Spammer #3(Off topic Spam): wrote:

GO SPARTA!

LS97 wrote:

don't post new replies to update an old post, click edit or delete your old one (better to edit, but use your common sense).

scmb1 wrote:

Don't post a topic in multiple forums even if it fits.

Don't feel bad or get angry if your topic is moved or closed.

It is usually better to just report a rude, inappropriate, or spam post than to lecture its poster because...
1) If you report, the mods can get to it faster.
2) Posting will make the thread go to the top and more people will see it.
3) Lecturing may embarrass or anger the poster.
4) Many spammers are commercial spammers and won't go back to look for posts anyway. See Lightnin's topic about spam.
5) Lots of people don't like it when we normal folks act like mods.

Mr_X wrote:

Don't pretend to get hacked by someone.

somelia wrote:

Respect Admins and Mods.

The below tip is outdated - it was submitted when Inspiration and More was a single forum and people posted a lot of games there.

Vista4563 wrote:

Forum Games belong in the Text-based-games forum, not in I&M. The inspiration and more forum no longer covers forum games. If you would like to play them, or add your own, click here.

Hope you enjoy the etiquette! 
Jonathanpb

Last edited by Jonathanpb (2011-04-11 02:58:15)