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View Full Version : BEFORE POSTING IN THE PROVING GROUND - EVERYONE READ THIS AGAIN!


cockyhoskins
07-12-2007, 02:13 PM
Welcome to CockyTalk!

We are glad to have you as a part of our community. After reading the below guidelines, please introduce yourself to the board (http://www.cockytalk.com/showthread.php?t=2521).

The essence of CockyTalk is intelligent, mature speech about everything Gamecock. With the influx of new members, we want to make sure everyone is aware of our culture here.

The following are some guidelines specific to CockyTalk. All of these rules are backed by our membership and enforced by our moderators. If you have any questions, please send cockyhoskins a private message (http://www.cockytalk.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=212). We are not eager to moderate, but we are eager to encourage good habits so that the free community we have grown continues to be enjoyable to all. Please check back from time to time to see if these guidelines have been amended.

If you have questions about software specific questions, such as "how do I post?", go here (http://www.cockytalk.com/faq.php).

If you would like to discuss these guidelines or suggest an addition to this FAQ, go here (http://www.cockytalk.com/showthread.php?t=41150).
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GOLDEN RULE OF COCKYTALK

Healthy debate is encouraged. CockyTalk prides itself on being a wonderful place to hold a civilized conversation. Please do your part to keep it up to code. Disagreement can take place without rudeness or disrespect. For your own sake, if you wish to continue enjoying CockyTalk, learn how to disagree respectfully. If you do not like a post for its content or its author, it's best to hit the back button on your browser rather than giving your heated two cents. Since you are expected to act like adults, any allusions to immaturity will draw the attention of our moderators.

No player, coach or potential recruit bashing - This is a Gamecock site. We have players and player parents who read and participate on this board. If times are tough on the field of play, the last thing they need is to read insulting comments about it on this board. Let's leave the player personnel decisions to the coaches. We don't want anything we do on CockyTalk to potentially hurt our University.

No personal, racial or religious insults (flaming) - They have no place here. When in doubt, err on the side of good taste. Treat others on this board the way you would treat them at a tailgate. Don't hide behind your computer, just so you can act like a smartass.

No baiting (trolling) - Posting comments with the intention to draw the ire of your fellow board members is just as bad as insulting them directly.

Do not post another member's personal information (full name, phone number, address, email, pictures esp. in smack) without their permission. No exceptions.
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THE MODERATORS

Who are the people that will be enforcing all the rules you are about to read?

cack (http://www.cockytalk.com/member.php?u=1809)
CockADoodalDoom (http://www.cockytalk.com/member.php?u=1942)
cockyhoskins (http://www.cockytalk.com/member.php?u=212)
Cuck Flemson (http://www.cockytalk.com/member.php?u=2040)
keliann78 (http://www.cockytalk.com/member.php?u=214)
khosk (http://www.cockytalk.com/member.php?u=217)
Lord Sponge (http://www.cockytalk.com/member.php?u=524)
morgan n' 7 (http://www.cockytalk.com/member.php?u=636)
Snake (http://www.cockytalk.com/member.php?u=3193)
Spur (http://www.cockytalk.com/member.php?u=264)
Spurticus (http://www.cockytalk.com/member.php?u=254)

These guys (and gal) work hard to make sure this board stays the fun place we all enjoy coming to to talk Gamecock sports. If they delete or move a post, they will often send you a Private Message explaining why. Sometimes they don't just because of time constraints. If you disagree with what they do, send cockyhoskins a private message (http://www.cockytalk.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=212). He will address it with you.

However, if you have a post deleted or moved, etc., DO NOT post in the open forum asking why your post was deleted. This will draw the ire of the Admins. It was deleted because in the discretion of that mod, it didn't follow the rules. If you disagree with that, it can be discussed via the private messaging system. Feel free to send cockyhoskins a private message (http://www.cockytalk.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=212) if you disagree.

How do I become a moderator?

The mods are always watching for those posters who exemplify the culture of CockyTalk. When the decision is made to add a new mod, we take nominees from amongst the mods. Then we vote for who is the best poster.

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RULES OF POSTING

1) Follow the Golden Rule of CockyTalk.

2) Put it in the right forum. Each forum has a description under it. The biggies are:

The Cock Pit - Gamecock football (and other major Gamecock news not related to another sport)
Fowl Shots - Gamecock basketball
The Sarge - Gamecock baseball
The Proving Grounds - Gamecock recruiting
Other Gamecock Sports - women's sports, olympic sports, club sports, etc.
Gamecock Multimedia - post your pics, videos, ringtones, wallpapers and other media related to the Gamecocks. If it isn't Gamecock related, post it in the Water Cooler (for non-sports) or the Locker Room (for non-Gamecock sports).
Smack Talk - self explanatory
The Chop Shop - a forum for the photoshop junkies. It is a sub-forum of Smack Talk.
The Locker Room - non-Gamecock Sports
The Water Cooler - a place to hang out
Cocky Swap - place to exchange Gamecock goodies

Some people constantly say, "I know this isn't the right forum but the others aren't looked at." That post will be moved or deleted. We offer a Top 10 most recent posts at the top that spans all forums to let you know the most recent activity. Post it in the right forum and everyone will still see it in the Top 10.

3) Along the lines of the right forum issue, we try to create an environment at CockyTalk where everyone is welcome. Limit devisive talk like politics and smack to their own forums. Smack talk is limited to the smack forum. Politics are limited to the political forum. If you violate this rule, your post will be deleted. If you continually violate it, you will be deleted.

4) Use a descriptive title for your threads.
For example: If you just heard some great news, instead of posting a thread with the title "Did you hear?" you will probably get better responses if you use the title, "Blake Mitchell to start", etc.

5) When posting articles from other websites, it's imperative that you do all of the following:
a) Do not post premium info from other Gamecock boards. Premium info is ANY article or post written by the staff of another board. Period. Info given by members who are not staff of that board is not premium. If you post premium info, it will be deleted. If you do it continuously, you will be deleted.
b) Link the passage in your post.
Directly quote the first few pharagraphs of the article in your post using the vBcode quote tag .
c) Include your opinion or comment along with the quote.

6) No site plugging or advertising - You are allowed one link to any site of your choice through your 'Homepage' option in your profile. Do not post any of your sites or affiliated sites in either your posts or signature. Furthermore, do not make posts regarding free things from referrals or whatever other similar thing you may wish to post about. It may result in an immediate ban.

7) Before posting a new thread, use the forum's search function to make sure that you are not making a duplicate post. To access the search feature, click on the "search" link at the top of most pages. If there is an existing thread on the topic, feel free to add your opinion or comment there.

8) If you are unsure of a post that you would like to make, send a private message to a moderator to ask for advice.

9) How do I report a post?
We have moderators who work for free policing the boards. However, you are the glue that keeps this community together. If you see someone violating the rules above, report their post.

Simply click the http://www5.cockytalk.com/images/buttons/report.gif button to the left of the post and a message will be sent to all the admins and mods.
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SPECIAL RULES FOR THE SMACK TALK AND POLITICAL FORUMS

Nothing in this world creates more heated debate than politics and a good rivalry. That is why we have separate forums for these two topics. These two forums are not viewable to guests because they often contain topics not suitable for the underaged.

However, these forums have rules too. In addition to the Golden Rule above, you need to be extra careful when you are upset and be sure to follow the below rules. Also, a moderator may make additional rules from time to time that are stickied to the top of the forum.

The Political Forum

1) NO PERSONAL ATTACKS. If you cannot respond to a political debate without reverting to name calling, don't respond. Instead, go read a newspaper, become educated and come back to discuss the issue.

2) STAY ON TOPIC. That's pretty simple. If you have another opinion about a non-related issue, create a new thread for it.

3) As stated in the general rules, follow the rules for posting articles.

The Smack Talk Forum

1) More is allowed here. If CockyTalk is PG-13, smack talk is rated R. Profanity is tolerated. However, show some decency.

2) NO PERSONAL ATTACKS. Come on y'all! Smack is an art form. If the best comeback you have when a rival brings the smack is "Shut up fat pig", then please get off the porch and let the big dogs play. If you engage in personal attacks about a poster's mama or sister or so on, you will be banned.

3) Comments like "taters", "coots", etc. are smack. They should be limited to the smack forum. Some people actually like to discuss news about our rival Clemson without reverting to smack. If the best you can do in an article about Clemson is saying "Damn Taters", don't respond. Your post will be deleted.

Many people complain to the mods that they cann't refer to the Tigers by anthing other than "taters", etc. If that is the case, you shouldn't discuss them anywhere except in the smack forum.
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SPECIAL RULES FOR COCKY SWAP

1) Do not discuss price in the open forum. If you want to know how much tickets are, etc., then use the PM system or email the member. If you are listing your tickets, etc. and include a price, the thread will be deleted.

2) If you PM somebody and disagree with his price, DO NOT POST YOUR DISAGREEMENT IN THE OPEN FORUM.

You guys are potentially opening up CockyTalk to liability by discussing price, even if it is to call the person a "scalper". Besides, that violates the general rule not to bash other members.

Again, if you don't agree or want to pay the price, MOVE ON!
Comments like "no thanks, don't want to pay $200" are not tolerated.
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SPECIAL RULES FOR THE HEN HOUSE

NO MEN ARE ALLOWED TO POST HERE.

If you are a man and would like a female opinion on a matter, post it in the Water Cooler.
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SIGNATURES/AVATARS

To accomodate those that still run a 600 x 800 monitor (yes they still exist), we need to implement some maximum size guidelines for signatures and avatars.

Ideally signatures should be no more than 5 to 6 lines of text or 250 pixels tall by 600 wide for pictures. This is for your entire signature, not each picture. If you have ten pictures that are each 200 pixels tall, it defeats the purpose.

Avatars can be 120 x 120.

Please do not include pictures of women, profanity or political references in your signatures or avatars. Smack is ok, so long as it is lighthearted and doesn't violate the before-mentioned restriction.

It's hard to feel comfortable and keep this atmosphere when the smack, politics and babes bleeds over into other forums in posters' sigs and avatars.

No site plugs are allowed in signatures. Please do not include hotlinks to other sites in your signature. We are pleased to help anyone trying to get their site going by offering a free link exchange on our links page. However, I don't want this site to end up looking like a freakin' boxing match with the names of websites being promoted everywhere in everyone's signatures. If you would like a link on our links page, send cockyhoskins a private message (http://www.cockytalk.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=212).

Please do us all a favor and edit your sigs and avatars. If I notice them before you do, I'll do you the favor of deleting it for you so that you can make another one!

How do I get an avatar (picture under your username)?

The small images under your username are called Avatars. There are two kinds of avatars: those provided by CockyTalk (http://www.cockytalk.com/misc.php?do=showavatars) and those that you upload yourself.

To change your avatar, (1) go to your User CP (Control Panel) (http://www.cockytalk.com/usercp.php). (2) Under Options and Settings in upper left corner, select "Edit Avatar". (3) Choose an avatar provided by CockyTalk or select your own custom avatar by selecting browse and uploading from your computer.

How do I get a signature?

Same as avatars, go to the User CP. Click "Edit sig". Put your image url between tags or simply click the http://www5.cockytalk.com/images/editor/insertimage.gif button and add the url.

To request a custom avatar or signature, click here (http://www.cockytalk.com/showthread.php?t=3865).
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HOW TO POST IMAGES, YOUTUBE VIDEOS, ETC.

People always ask the question how to embed video or images. This is done with bbcode. For example, to embed a youtube video in a post just put the video ID (located after the = sign) between , like this EwMxtzxncjI.

To see all of the bbcode for this site, click here (http://www.cockytalk.com/misc.php?do=bbcode).
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USER TITLES AND REPUTATION

People always ask what the cocky heads and user titles are under their usernames.
To give rep points, simply click the http://www5.cockytalk.com/images/buttons/reputation.gif button on the left of the post you want to reward.

To learn more about the specific User Titles and Reputation levels, etc., go here (http://www.cockytalk.com/showthread.php?t=15071)
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BUDDY LIST/IGNORE LIST

The buddy list is used to keep track of the friends you have made on this forum. By going to your "My vB Home", you'll be able to see which of your friends are currently online, and be able to send them a private message. Adding people to your buddy list also allow you to send private messages to multiple forum members at the same time. You may add any member of the forums to your buddy list by clicking this button in a member's posts.
Ignore lists are used for those people who's messages you wish not to read. By adding someone to your ignore list, those messages posted by these individuals will be hidden when you read a thread.

cack
10-12-2007, 08:48 PM
Remember, we have recruits, their families, players, coaches, and just about anyone you can think of that might have pull in a kids decision visiting our board. Under NO circumstance will we allow any form of bashing of a recruit. If you don't think a recruit is someone you want to see in Garnt and Black ... keep it to yourself, PERIOD. If spurrier feels a recruit is good enough to help build our program then obviously he sees something in that recruit. We have no say in the decision to recruit these players, and we at CockyTalk will NOT have any say in the decision of a player not wanting to come to USC. This is an extremely fine line you will be crossing if you choose to go after recruits. We (mods/admins) will be far less forgiving if these kind of posts continue.

This is not a discussion thread, and doesn't need any replies.

Spur's Addiction
10-13-2007, 12:05 AM
Right on Cack.

And if someone commits somewhere else, don't start bashing them either. It's a long way till signing day and kids change their minds.

cack
10-16-2007, 08:49 AM
so apparently nobody wants to read this thread ... so i'm going to open it up ... like i've posted above ... you have no more warnings ... if you bash a recruit ... you're gone ... if you get mad because you choose not to read this thread ... then it's your own fault

Cuck Flemson
10-16-2007, 10:08 AM
We have 0 tolerance on the bashing of recruits. Like Cack stated in his post. Recruits family and friends visit message boards to see what people are saying about them. Let's be mature with our post.

cack
11-02-2007, 11:29 AM
please post all comments, questoins, articles, or any other posts in the players thread ... do not start new threads every day/week with the greatest and latest news ... all information needs to be posted in that players thread

if you're not sure if that player has been discussed yet or not ... use the Search function in the upper right of the forum ... just type in his name and see if any threads come up ... if there is a thread already ... post it there ... if not ... then start a thread for that player

this will make it a lot easier for everyone to follow each player

thanks

morgan n' 7
11-24-2007, 04:07 AM
If you post an article, you MUST provide a link to the article. If you don't include a link, your post will be deleted.

Thanks.

morgan n' 7
11-27-2007, 12:56 AM
Again, post a link! You post an article from Kornblut without a link...it will be deleted.

Spur
12-05-2007, 04:44 PM
Bump.

We are going to keep enforcing it until people get the message

We are tired of moving threads every hour.

They will be deleted from now on

Spur
01-06-2008, 04:21 PM
We have 0 tolerance on the bashing of recruits. Like Cack stated in his post. Recruits family and friends visit message boards to see what people are saying about them. Let's be mature with our post.
Bump

cack
03-06-2008, 03:52 PM
just another reminder ... just because last years recruiting is over ... doesn't mean we're goin to start allowing 100 of threads of each player ... the forum is looking a lot better ... so lets keep it up ... but i have noticed a couple e threads for the same players

cockyhoskins
06-17-2008, 03:02 AM
bump as a reminder. we lost a long-time poster due to ignorance of the rules. I would hate to lose another.

Thanks!

Spur's Addiction
06-27-2008, 05:23 PM
Bump!

Everyone that posts in here needs to read this again. This forum is getting out of control! Changes are coming.

Spurticus
06-28-2008, 07:12 PM
The moderators have gone ape trying to keep this forum from getting out of control. The last two or three weeks for some reason, A lot of people seem to have decided that the forum rules do not apply to them. We have ASKED people to read the rules posted in this forum before posting. . . We have BUMPED that thread several times to keep everyone aware of the rules, and we have WARNED people on numberous occasions after all the above failed. We have started issuing some temporary bans now.

Here is how we are going to proceed.
THIS FORUM IS FOR POSTING ABOUT RECRUITS OR POTENTIAL RECRUITS. WE ARE GOING TO STRICTLY REQUIRE A LINK TO A REILIABLE SOURCE REGARDING INFORMATION ABOUT THE KID IN THE ORIGINAL POST CONCERNING HIM BEING CONTACTED BY THE PROGRAM.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO DISCUSS THE YOUNG MAN. YOU MAY ASK QUESTIONS, POST FOLLOW UP INFORMATION AND DISCUSS HIS RECRUITMENT. . . . YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES TO BASH THE PLAYER, THE COACHES OR OTHER POSTERS. WE ARE GOING TO BE VERY SELECTIVE ON ALLOWING ANY NEGATIVE COMMENTS POSTED ABOUT A RECRUIT OR POSSIBLE RECRUIT. IF YOU CAN GIVE CONSTRUCTIVE CRITISIM OR REASONABLY EXPLAIN WHY THIS PERSON MAY NOT FIT OUR PROGRAM YOU MAY DO SO, BUT ANY NAME CALLING, OR POORLY THOUGHT OUT STATEMENTS ABOUT THE KID WILL GET YOU REMOVED FROM COCKYTALK FOR A SHORT TIME OUT.

YOU WILL UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES BE ALLOWED TO BRING SMACK TALK INTO THIS FORUM. OTHER TEAM'S FANS MAY POST FREELY HERE AS LONG AS THE FOLLOW THE FORUM RULES. . . . THE FIRST SIGN OF SMACK TALK WILL RESULT IN A "TIME OUT" FOR THE PERSON(s) INVOLVED. THIS FORUM IS FOR INFORMATION ABOUT RECRUITS AND NOT FOR DISCUSSION OF OTHER TEAMS OR THEIR POSSIBLE RECRUITS OR CURRENT PLAYERS. TAKE ALL THAT TO THE LOCKER ROOM OR SMACK TALK FORUM.

ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OTHER THAN WHAT HAS OFFICIALLY BEEN POSTED ABOUT A RECRUIT MUST HAVE A LINK TO A RELIABLE SOURCE SUPPORTING WHAT YOU POST. . . . . WE WILL ALLOW NO RUMORS TO BE POSTED REGARDING A RECRUIT IN THIS FORUM. ANY VIOLATION OF THAT RULE WILL ALSO RESULT IN A SHORT BAN FROM THE BOARD.

FROM THIS DAY FORWARD: ONCE A RECRUIT HAS COMMITTED TO ANOTHER SCHOOL OTHER THAN SOUTH CAROLINA, THE THREAD FOR DISCUSSING HIM WILL BE LOCKED AND NO FURTHER COMMENTS WILL BE ALLOWED ABOUT HIM ON THIS BOARD.
IF THE PLAYER DECIDES LATER TO BACK OFF HIS COMMIT AND RECONSIDER SOUTH CAROLINA, AND YOU ARE AWARE OF THIS, CONTACT ONE OF THE MODS LETTING THEM KNOW YOU HAVE A LINK SHOWING THIS, AND WE WILL RE-OPEN THE ORIGINAL THREAD, AND YOU CAN POST THE LINK AND CONTINUE DISCUSSING THE RECRUIT.

RULE OF THUMB. . . . . IF YOU HAVE NOTHING GOOD TO SAY ABOUT A RECRUIT, OR OUR STAFF FOR RECRUITING HIM, SAY NOTHING AT ALL. SAYING ANYTHING NEGATIVE WHILE FEELING WE'VE MADE A MISTAKE REGARDING A RECRUIT, COULD RESULT IN THE WRONG THING BEING SAID AND YOU WILL NOT STAY ON THE BOARD AFTER SAYING IT.

ANY BANS FOR NOT FOLLOWING THESE GUIDLINES WILL NOT BE PRECEEDED BY A WARNING. THIS IS THE ONE AND ONLY WARNING THAT WILL BE ISSUED. . . . . . . THERE WILL BE NO DISCUSSION ABOUT THESE GUIDLINES.

We have ASKED for your cooperation in abiding by our original rules. We know recruits browse message boards as well as their parents and friends. We are not going to allow the junk to continue that has been posted on this board the past couple of weeks. Please remember there may be a possible SEC 1st teamer out there waiting to play for South Carolina. We don't want him seeing garbage discussions about him OR OTHER RECRUITS on this site. The Proving Ground is now a "NO B/S POSTING ZONE"