Forum Rules - Where are they?

[britechguy]

I know darned well that when one signs up for membership these are presented and you must agree to them, but I'll be darned if I can find them for direct reference after the fact.

I believe there is mention of help not being permitted to be provided via private message, but only on the forums, and if my memory is correct I'd like to find that rule for quoting.

I'm not seeing an easy-to-find direct access to the forum rules anywhere (or at least anywhere even vaguely obvious).

 

[rgd1101]

Read First: Forum Rules & Styling Posts

Rules of Conduct The Tom's Hardware Rules of Conduct are general guidelines for users within our community. We pride ourselves on being welcoming to users of all levels of expertise, from novice to guru. Follow these simple rules and you'll have a great experience here on the forum. Please...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[USAFRet]

In part, a sticky at the top of every Forum, including this one.

Read First: Forum Rules & Styling Posts

Rules of Conduct The Tom's Hardware Rules of Conduct are general guidelines for users within our community. We pride ourselves on being welcoming to users of all levels of expertise, from novice to guru. Follow these simple rules and you'll have a great experience here on the forum. Please...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[USAFRet]

To your question about PM assistance, I don't think there is any hard/fast rule.

Rather: "Please post this as a question in the relevant Forum. The collective brain is much smarter than mine on its own, and everyone will benefit from the conversation"

 

[britechguy]

I already did a PM in response saying pretty much what was said above, and have already answered on the public topic that did get created.

But I could swear that when I first joined I vividly recall seeing a specific rule in regard to not asking for assistance with homework (and that's only one thing) and that is not in the sticky post referenced above.

Perhaps I've taken further leave of my senses.

 

[USAFRet]

Assistance with "homework" is a whole different thing.
And also not (unofficially) allowed.

"We won't do your homework for you. Show us your stopping point, and maybe we can assist."

Someone may have said: "Forum rules don't allow...", but I don't think that is written into law.

 

[rgd1101]

Tom's Forums F.A.Q.

Welcome to Tom's Community! Here in the Tom’s Community we discuss computer hardware, software, gadgets, gaming and geekery in general. We extend a warm welcome to you and invite you to participate in the ongoing discourse, sharing with like-minded technology enthusiasts from across the globe...

forums.tomshardware.com

not a sticky anymore

 

[Colif]

Shaines is working on updating the FAQ so that might be why its not a sticky currently. I am not going to speculate what might be happening

 

[Rogue Leader]

You don't really need a rule to not help people over PM. Private messages are your personal space (we moderators cannot see them, FYI), if you don't want to help people over PM (I don't, nor do most of us mods) just tell them you don't do that, or use something like USAFRet mentioned.

 

[DSzymborski]

Yeah, I definitely guide people to post in threads, not PM me. We're not paid customer support after all. I try to assist people as my time allows since I'm a hobbyist, but if someone wants exclusive claim on my time, well, that's not free.

 

[britechguy]

OK.

My point about not assisting via PM, except perhaps very trivially, is philosophical. Forums such as this exist for public exchange of information. When individuals seek private in-depth assistance it violates the very spirit of what these communities are supposed to be about.

I am perfectly capable of saying this in a diplomatic manner when necessary, and have. However, if a forum has a formal rule prohibiting this (and one of my other long time haunts, Bleeping Computer, does) that can be used to back up one's own assertion that they won't do it. That's the only reason I asked.

I really don't believe in having "the unending rule book" but there are lots of common things that should not be left as "unwritten rules." It is my belief that prohibiting assistance from being requested or given off-forum using the PM system (whatever it may be called) is one of those.

People will, of course, break that rule if it exists. But we don't avoid making rules because they'll be broken. "There oughta be a law," as an old adage came about because what isn't explicitly illegal is considered legal.