If you have any questions, then message an online moderator. It is their responsibility to answer these questions. If you disagree with something that we do, then feel free to make a topic in this forum and we'll discuss it with you.

We realise there is a lot of information here, so if you feel like you need help finding something, one method is to hit Ctrl + F on your keyboard and type in a search term.  Alternatively, you could message a moderator that is currently online who can help you find the information you are looking for.

Please click the following for detailed information

• Due Process
  
• Pardons & Bans
  
• Topic/Reply specific information
  
• Image guidelines
  
• Support Leader Conduct
  
• Moderation Specific
  
• Moderator Conduct
  
• Abuse of Anonymous

• Sharing Private Messages policy.
  
• Public policy threads are now made in M2Mo that cross reference our discussion in the private moderator forum.  This increases transparency, and allows you to weigh in on how you're moderated.
  

Compiled by CrimSin and The Professional.
Last Updated: 5/27/2012

Post edited at 7:45 am on Nov. 19, 2012 by CrimSin

Informal Warning:
You will first be informally warned. Whether or not you are informally warned depends on a few circumstances. The intensity of the offense, how frequently you've done the offense, and which moderator sees it are all factors that relate to whether or not you will be informally warned.

An informal warning is a message from a moderator that informs you of the fact that you've broken a guideline, and that further breaking of that guideline will result in a formal warning. This message is noted on your membernotes for other moderators to consider in future decisions.

If a more serious guideline is broken, then depending on the extent to which you break the guideline, you may not receive this informal warning. It may just be a formal. These situations are the minority, and are for things such as posting porn or graphically encouraging harm in a support topic.

Formal Warning:
If you have already been informally warned for an offense, then you will most likely be formally warned upon your next committal of that offense. When you are formally warned, your membercolor will change to a Murky Brown. It will stay this way for a period of 1-4 days depending on what the moderator decides in regards to your situation. During this time, you will have limited posting capabilities and you will lose points.

Denial of Service:
If you still haven't gotten the picture, and do the same offense again, you will most likely be denied service. If your account is denied service, it will appear black and you will have no capabilities to do anything. Hence... denied service. If your account is denied service, you may make a new one after 7 days. For more information, please view our Pardon Policy.  

Please note:
As has already been implied, moderators have a lot discretion in making their decision. This general guide is what happens most of the time, but factors such as time since the last offense, intensity of offense, prior account history, etc. could mitigate (lessen) or aggravate (increase) the action the moderator takes.

Post edited at 8:18 am on Feb. 19, 2010 by CrimSin

A user is only permanently banned when they make it clear that they are a real and legitimate threat to LiveWire members.      

Pardons  
After 4 months of good behavior, a member may request to have their account pardoned.  Good behavior is defined as no official action taken against any account (formal warnings or DoS), and no informal warnings for the same reason you were originally banned.  You may submit your request via the Moderation Error Report system.  In the pardon request, these things must be included:  

   

• Explain why he/she wants the account returned.  
  
• Explain how his/her behavior has changed since the DOS.
  
• Explain his/her intentions with the new account.
  

Post edited at 2:44 pm on Feb. 20, 2012 by CrimSin

Pornographic Text Art:      
Things that lack detail such as "8==D" are allowed. However, large detailed versions (such as the Goatse text art) are not.    

Caps Lock Posting:        
The moderation team reserves the right to edit your topics and posts to lowercase overuse of capital letters.  
   
Torrenting sites
David has said that posting about sites that primarily are used for illegal things are not allowed.  (Such as thepiratebay or demonoid)  Legal websites such as hulu are permitted.

Account manipulating links
Please do not post account manipulating links (changes mood, changes avatar, etc.) so that it manipulates a member's account involuntarily. Please note that there are exceptions. If you place a good warning beforehand about what the link does, then it should be okay. (Provided it's within the guidelines.)

Replies
Posting "Fail":      
If the "Fail" post is just a general opinion towards something, such as an unfunny joke, "Fail" replies are permitted. If the OP attempts to post something, and does so incorrectly (such as a YouTube video), "Fail" posts are permitted.    
   
If, however, the poster manages to correct the failed coding through an edit, thus making the video or image appear, "Fail" posts can be removed.  This is the risk you must take if you decide to comment on someone's failed coding.    

1/4 Replies:      
We remove "1/4" replies as no contribution, regardless of if it is a poll option or not

Quoting Without Adding Text/Quoting Without Replying:  
You may simply quote a user without adding new text.  

Emoticon-only replies
You may reply only with an Emoticon, provided you aren't spamming them constantly.  

Posting in old topics
This is permitted, so long as it is contributive.

Topics
Suicide Topics:      
David has said posts/eHelps specifically requesting help with suicidal feelings, thoughts, or aspirations are to be deleted.      

Goodnight Topics:      
Goodnight topics are acceptable if they are posted in DTRM. Otherwise, they should be moved to DTRM, not deleted.          

Topic Copying:      
Copying other topics word for word are trashed for being repetitive.  Topics mocking support topics aren't allowed either.  Copying a social topic and making it funny somehow is fine, no matter the time span.    

I'd Totally Bang [member]:        
Topics about other members saying that they are hot, bangable, etc. are permitted, assuming the user it's about does not request deletion.      

Aimed to Attack:      
Topics aimed to solely attack another user are not permitted.  Permabans are not considered users, and as such, topics aimed to attack them aren't deleted.  Older banned/closed accounts could be spared as well, but recently banned/closed accounts may not.
   
Trend Spam:      
The original topic that 'spawned' the trend spam is always allowed to remain. However, trend spam that extends for too long will begin to be removed.  Exactly when that is (3, 4, 5 topics) and how many topics are left is discretionary based.    

Making Topics For Warned Members:        
Moderators will only trash topics created for warned members if the original non-warned poster specifically says that the topic is being posted for a warned member.    

Topics Requesting Conversation:  
Topics which are created which request conversation of any kind (through either the message system, msn, text message, etc.) are not permitted and will be removed, no matter which forum they are located in.

Anonymous topics in the Tech and School Forums
Topics using the anonymous system within the Tech and School forums are valid, and as such won't be trashed for abuse of anonymous as long as these topics are used in a reasonable, supportive manner.

Public "calling out" topics
"Call out" topics (e.g. topics 'exposing' a member's lies) are not permitted.  These are considered attacking, even if they are true.  It would be better if you report all evidence to a moderator and allow them to deal with it whichever way they see fit.

Why is this member not banned/should this member be banned Topics
Topics of this nature are removed as they are deemed to be aimed to attack.  However, topics asking who should be banned are okay as long as the original post is not attacking a particular user.

Topics asking for Attractive/Ugliest members
Topics requesting the most attractive members are acceptable. Topics requesting the most unattractive members are not.

"Rate me as a person" Topics:      
This is permitted.      

Topics Advertising Groups:        
This is permitted.      
   
Point begging
This is permitted.

Topics attacking non-members
This is permitted.

Post edited at 11:59 pm on Oct. 12, 2010 by CrimSin

Points of Clarification:            

• We moderate based on what an image looks like, not what the user tells us it actually is.  

• Not Allowed
       
  
  • Self harm images: Whenever, wherever, artistic, livesecret, etc.  None of these are allowed.          
  • Images containing personal information, or that lead to personal information.  (UltraSound pictures must be cropped, facebook accounts/url's must be blurred, for example)              
    
  • Pro-Anorexia images.
    
  • Nazi type swastikas
    
  • Genital fondling images
    
  • Members in bathtowels
         
  
• Nudity in art:
  Nudity in art cannot be uploaded onto LiveWire's servers. This means we will not accept an external image, or an addition to an image basket, if it is nudity in art. However, it is acceptable for you to hyperlink to an example of art or something in that regard if it's appropriate for the topic at hand and if it's in the Art Forum.
  
• Inanimate images of harm:          
  Things such as this are allowed. A man hanging from a tree is not.              
  
• Professional Scarification:          
  We allow scarification images if we believe they appear to be professionally done.
  
• Illegal substances:          
  A picture of an illegal substance is not against the guidelines. A picture of an illegal substance with the user present in the image is. A picture of an illegal substance with the caption of "Mine" or something to that effect is against our guidelines.      
  
• Edited porn images:          
  Meaning, images that were at one time porn, but were drawn over (typically in paint) to create a humorous or innocent image. The moderation stance on that type of thing is that it will be moderated on a discretionary basis. Each moderator will make the decision when they are approving images.
  
• Altered official LiveWire images:          
  So long as an image is edited enough to where it is not actively misleading, it is acceptable.
  
• Animal Genitals:
  Extreme close ups of animal genitalia alone are not permitted.
  
• Images aimed to attack:
  We do not allow images which BOTH:
  
  • are intended to demean, mock, or harass another LiveWire member
    
  • and display the name, username, image, or likeness of that member.
  
  
• Swimsuit Photos
  Photos of yourself in a bikinni are allowed, so long as it's apparent that it's actually swimwear and not underwear.  Other image guidelines still apply (Sexually explicit, nudity, etc.)

Post edited at 10:34 am on Mar. 20, 2012 by CrimSin

A note on Plagiarism:
Please cite the source of any writing that isn't yours.  This can result in demotion if not followed.    

Posting for Non-SL's in SL-restricted areas:    
Posting for non-support leaders in restricted areas (such as The Serious Forum) is acceptable.  However, the response must be credited appropriately, and it must be normal support leader quality.  If you decide to post advice for someone who is not a support leader, it is your responsibility to ensure it is up to par with what is expected.  

Transfer of Support leader status:    
You may request a transfer of your support leader status to another account.  However, please have a valid reason and refrain from making it a habit.

Messaging eHelp posters about a negative rating
It's inappropriate, in any circumstance, to message a member regarding a negative rating that they give.

Forcible Demotion
If any member is demoted forcibly from Support Leader, another application will not be considered for 3 months after that demotion. However, each time a support leader is demoted for a behavioral infraction, 3 months will be added on to the waiting period before he or she can be repromoted.  This does not apply to demotions due to inactivity. Example: One demotion, you can reapply in 3 months. Two demotions, you can reapply in 6 months. Three demotions, you can reapply in 9 months. So on and so forth.

Post edited at 2:23 pm on Feb. 20, 2012 by CrimSin

You may not use a second account to create a false sense of agreement (such as agreeing with yourself in a debate), and you may not use your second account to create a false persona (such as pretending to be male when you're female, or pretending to be black when you're white).    

Harassment Policy:

Livewire defines harassment as consistent and unprovoked attacking of a specific member by another.

Users who have harassed others will be given due process based on GENERAL harassment as opposed to user-specifc harassment. (If a user is formally warned for harassment, they are then able to be banned if they harass ANYONE else)

Moderators do not recognize private messages as proof of harassment because users are given the option of blocking another user if they feel harassed.  The exception to this rule is if a user switches accounts to continue messaging the member.

Clearing formal Warnings Early:    
Moderators may clear their own formal warnings early. A moderator cannot clear another moderators formal warning early unless it was determined to be made in error.

Posting Private messages:    
Users cannot upload images of private conversations or post private conversations. Moderators are also protected under this rule. The content of a moderator's private messages can only be shared if it relates to their moderation decisions, however this can only be shared so long as the privacy of another member is not compromised.

Email Address/IM in Signatures:    
This is permitted.

Encouraging Harm:    
Encouraging harm in any way to a LiveWire member is not permitted.

Personal Information:    
David has said personal information may not appear on LiveWire in posts or images. This includes full name, address, specific location, etc.

Locking topics
Topics will not be locked simply because the OP's question has been answered.  In addition, they will not be locked "by request" but only when there is a legitimate reason to do so.

Erotic Audio
Audio with the intent to sexually arouse is not permitted.

Fake genders
Simply setting your gender incorrectly is not against the rules. However, actively attempting to manipulate other members into believing you are that set gender is against the rules.

Moderators revealing who reported other members
Moderators are not allowed to reveal who reported who.  It is private and should be treated as such.

Topics made by permanently banned members and members in violation of the 7 day rule
Moderators are permitted to trash topics and replies made by permanently banned members and members in violation of the 7 day rule when they have been denied service.

Topics that have their OP edited out
If a member edits the content of their OP out, the topics shouldn't be trashed, as the replies to their topics could still be of some value.

Banning child porn posters
If a member posts child porn they will be formally warned for 4 days, then if they repeat that behaviour they will be denied service.  They will not be instantly banned.

Post edited at 7:44 am on Nov. 19, 2012 by CrimSin

Jurisdiction:
In the vast majority of cases, a moderator may only moderate on-LiveWire activity.  We do not moderate your activity off of LiveWire, and it generally has no weight on actions taken here. However, in certain circumstances off-LiveWire activity will be considered in our actions. These unusual incidents are normally discussed in detail by the moderation team before action is or is not taken.

Release of Mod-Sensitive Information:      

In short, there is only one requirement that needs to be met before you may use the anonymous feature. We require that you must be asking for support or help in some way that you wish to keep private. Simply wanting to post something embarrassing is not adequate reason to use the feature. If this stipulation is not met, then you're expected to either use your regular account, or a second account. Our goal is to limit the anonymous feature to only necessary circumstances, not for trivial purposes. It's important to note that if you continuously misuse the anonymous feature, or use it in a malicious way (attacking another user, encouraging harm, etc.), it's very likely it will be deemed an offense.

This rule is enforced only while a topic is newer.  Once it's archived, these rules don't apply and any topic can be marked anonymous.

For more information: What is the anonymous feature & how do I use it? (click here)

Post edited at 2:46 pm on Sep. 6, 2010 by CrimSin

Post edited at 9:09 pm on Jan. 19, 2011 by big mac

Post edited at 9:20 pm on Mar. 6, 2011 by big mac