Signature Rules - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

***The Barrow-Wight*** · 08-31-2004, 08:00 PM

Signatures are a wonderful way to personalize your posts with a remark, quote, or saying that truly represents you or your current state of mind. I've always enjoyed the way our members express themselves with their signatures, but we have a few long-standing guidelines that I feel now need to be enforced.

Starting now (or very soon), signatures with political or religious statements or sentiments will incur the negative attention of myself. Those statements that I deem to belong to either category will result in a PM from me or my ever-vigilant moderators requesting, no, requiring, that the offending remarks be removed.

Political and religious opinions are freely discussed on almost every Tolkien forum out there, but not this one. We stick to Middle-earth. So, change your sigs now or I will be calling.

This is not an effort to censure opinions. It is a strategy to diffuse the situations that such potentially inflammatory remarks may create. No one comes to the Downs to talk about their deity or choice for political office, so I see no reason for us to share our opinions on those subjects here.

Thanks for your support.

Hookbill the Goomba · 09-01-2004, 04:01 AM

Quote:

signatures with political or religious statements or sentiments will incur the negative attention of myself.

Would that include a statement actually made by Tolkien? Tolkien was, as we all know, very religious himself, and many would argue that it played a large role in the inspiration for the mythology. InklingElf has this as a signature;

Quote:

"God is the Lord, of angels, and of men-and of elves."--J.R.R. Tolkien

Would that be benned?

HerenIstarion · 09-01-2004, 10:17 AM

slightly off to the side, but is the 3-line restriction still on?

Estelyn Telcontar · 09-01-2004, 10:29 AM

Yes, it is, HI. I don't always notice all signatures that are longer than three lines, but when I do, I PM the members, asking them to reduce the length.

Amanaduial the archer · 09-01-2004, 11:16 AM

Would quotes from religious scripture or concerning religious scripture be allowed? There are a fair number of Downers who have Bible passages in their signatures - some just poetic ones. Would they not be allowed, even if they didn't specifically mention God?

***The Barrow-Wight*** · 09-01-2004, 11:22 AM

There is nothing wrong with a moral message in a signature, but I'm not wanting to see any Jesuses, Allahs, Kerrys, or Bushes.

Gil-Galad · 09-01-2004, 12:16 PM

What about us canadians eh? but seriously, some people may take there ethical group very serious, but i myself will refrain from any religous sig, wait is Trogdor a religion?

Mithalwen · 09-01-2004, 12:38 PM

Well quite a number of people recorded their religion as Jedi Knight in the 2001 UK census ... enought o register as a percentage - albeit a fractional one....
So maybe........

***Sharkû*** · 09-01-2004, 07:48 PM

If you're wondering whether your sig would be against the rule, chances are it is (unless you're the cautious type, of course). Before worrying too much or trying to fight a battle for saving your sig, why not try to come up with a new sig that is definitely ok?
If you feel you can't part with your sig, or are really concerned about such things, try to message one of the admins, I'd say that's better than asking on this thread.

Just don't think of this as a big deal; it certainly isn't.

Oh, and that Jedi thing is an urban legend .

The Only Real Estel · 09-01-2004, 07:49 PM

Quote:

I don't always notice all signatures that are longer than three lines

I didn't even know that you were allowed to edit your sig to longer than three lines...

Legolas · 09-01-2004, 08:54 PM

If a member has a question/concern about his/her signature (whether current or prospective) after reading the guidelines and giving it considerable thought, the best thing to do is to private message an administrator. This thread is just a reannouncement of the guidelines - not a thread for the discussion of individual cases or general what-if's that the interrogator will never encounter personally.

Edit: Mm, yeah. What Sharku said.

Lush · 09-07-2004, 08:53 PM

Monsieur, does that also mean that I can't wear my headscarf at the computer anymore?

Seriously, I think this new rule might save us from a lot of off-topic head-bashi...discussions. Especially this fall.

***The Barrow-Wight*** · 09-08-2004, 05:59 AM

Exception: Lush may wear her headscarf..... ONLY her headscarf.

HerenIstarion · 09-09-2004, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BW

but I'm not wanting to see any Jesuses, Allahs, Kerrys, or Bushes

Just came up with a nice signature idea:

Quote:

Buddha, kerrying the Crucifix, walked the bushes surrounding Golgotha. From time to time, it could have been heard what it was he muttered under his breath: 'Allah Akbar', were his very words

That was kidding. If seriously, don't count the above cynical. I just want to make a point, that, if properly chosen and properly read, religious signature can underline our unity, not stress the differences between us.

cheers

Demloth of Dol Amroth · 10-04-2004, 07:17 PM

Ah... I haven't been here for a long, long time. My how things have changed... in appearance at least. Will scrub the siggy if it is offensive then... can we link to political sites or webgames though?

It also seemed like there was a lot more people here last time I came here.

**The Saucepan Man** · 11-06-2004, 10:07 AM

... it's probably worth *bumping* this up.

08-31-2004, 08:00 PM	#1
*The Barrow-Wight* Night In Wight Satin Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 4,043	Signature Rules Signatures are a wonderful way to personalize your posts with a remark, quote, or saying that truly represents you or your current state of mind. I've always enjoyed the way our members express themselves with their signatures, but we have a few long-standing guidelines that I feel now need to be enforced. Starting now (or very soon), signatures with political or religious statements or sentiments will incur the negative attention of myself. Those statements that I deem to belong to either category will result in a PM from me or my ever-vigilant moderators requesting, no, requiring, that the offending remarks be removed. Political and religious opinions are freely discussed on almost every Tolkien forum out there, but not this one. We stick to Middle-earth. So, change your sigs now or I will be calling. This is not an effort to censure opinions. It is a strategy to diffuse the situations that such potentially inflammatory remarks may create. No one comes to the Downs to talk about their deity or choice for political office, so I see no reason for us to share our opinions on those subjects here. Thanks for your support. __________________ The Barrow-Wight

09-01-2004, 10:17 AM	#3
HerenIstarion Deadnight Chanter Join Date: Sep 2000 Posts: 4,244	slightly off to the side, but is the 3-line restriction still on? __________________ Egroeg Ihkhsal - Would you believe in the love at first sight? - Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time!

09-01-2004, 10:29 AM	#4
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Yes, it is, HI. I don't always notice all signatures that are longer than three lines, but when I do, I PM the members, asking them to reduce the length. __________________ 'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth...'

09-01-2004, 11:16 AM	#5
Amanaduial the archer Shadow of Starlight Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: dancing among the ledgerlines... Posts: 2,347	Would quotes from religious scripture or concerning religious scripture be allowed? There are a fair number of Downers who have Bible passages in their signatures - some just poetic ones. Would they not be allowed, even if they didn't specifically mention God? __________________ I am what I was, a harmless little devil

09-01-2004, 11:22 AM	#6
*The Barrow-Wight* Night In Wight Satin Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 4,043	There is nothing wrong with a moral message in a signature, but I'm not wanting to see any Jesuses, Allahs, Kerrys, or Bushes. __________________ The Barrow-Wight

09-01-2004, 12:16 PM	#7
Gil-Galad Psyche of Prince Immortal Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Above a Parapet Obvious exits are: North, South, and Dennis Posts: 4,734	What about us canadians eh? but seriously, some people may take there ethical group very serious, but i myself will refrain from any religous sig, wait is Trogdor a religion? __________________ Love doesn't blow up and get killed.

09-01-2004, 12:38 PM	#8
Mithalwen Pilgrim Soul Join Date: May 2004 Location: watching the wonga-wonga birds circle... Posts: 9,458	Well quite a number of people recorded their religion as Jedi Knight in the 2001 UK census ... enought o register as a percentage - albeit a fractional one.... So maybe........ __________________ “But Finrod walks with Finarfin his father beneath the trees in Eldamar.” Christopher Tolkien, Requiescat in pace

09-01-2004, 07:48 PM	#9
*Sharkû* Hungry Ghoul Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 1,719	If you're wondering whether your sig would be against the rule, chances are it is (unless you're the cautious type, of course). Before worrying too much or trying to fight a battle for saving your sig, why not try to come up with a new sig that is definitely ok? If you feel you can't part with your sig, or are really concerned about such things, try to message one of the admins, I'd say that's better than asking on this thread. Just don't think of this as a big deal; it certainly isn't. Oh, and that Jedi thing is an urban legend .

09-01-2004, 08:54 PM	#11
Legolas A Northern Soul Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Valinor Posts: 1,847	If a member has a question/concern about his/her signature (whether current or prospective) after reading the guidelines and giving it considerable thought, the best thing to do is to private message an administrator. This thread is just a reannouncement of the guidelines - not a thread for the discussion of individual cases or general what-if's that the interrogator will never encounter personally. Edit: Mm, yeah. What Sharku said. __________________ ...take counsel with thyself, and remember who and what thou art. Last edited by Legolas; 09-02-2004 at 05:52 AM.

09-07-2004, 08:53 PM	#12
Lush Fair and Cold Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the big onion Posts: 1,770	Monsieur, does that also mean that I can't wear my headscarf at the computer anymore? Seriously, I think this new rule might save us from a lot of off-topic head-bashi...discussions. Especially this fall. __________________ ~The beginning is the word and the end is silence. And in between are all the stories. This is one of mine~

09-08-2004, 05:59 AM	#13
*The Barrow-Wight* Night In Wight Satin Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 4,043	Exception: Lush may wear her headscarf..... ONLY her headscarf. __________________ The Barrow-Wight

10-04-2004, 07:17 PM	#15
Demloth of Dol Amroth Wight Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 105	Ah... I haven't been here for a long, long time. My how things have changed... in appearance at least. Will scrub the siggy if it is offensive then... can we link to political sites or webgames though? It also seemed like there was a lot more people here last time I came here. __________________ One by one the Free Lands of Middle Earth fell to the power of the Ring-but there were some, who resisted... Last edited by Demloth of Dol Amroth; 10-04-2004 at 07:36 PM.

11-06-2004, 10:07 AM	#16
The Saucepan Man Corpus Cacophonous Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: A green and pleasant land Posts: 8,390	In light of recent events ... ... it's probably worth bumping this up. __________________ Do you mind? I'm busy doing the fishstick. It's a very delicate state of mind!