Typos: Editing The Trap17 Rules

[Joshua 0]

I noticed there was a typo in the Rules because of them being quoted in this topic:

 

http://forums.xisto.com/topic/54676-big-problem-with-posting-a-topic-it-disappears-the-next-day/

 

Anyway, I noticed some other typos, so I decided to do a thorough edit/commentary on the rules.

 

I decided the easiest way to show the location of errors as well as their locations would be to just quote the entire rules text. I have highlighted major problems in red and minor problems in orange so that only the most clear-cut problems can be easily distinguished. Since I did a full edit of the rules, some of the less-important instances may just be a case of my being overly picky, and not something the average reader would care much about... thus why I used two colors.

 

Footnotes at the bottom provide my explanations for why I consider each instance to be in error, as well as how I believe each can be fixed.

 

Xisto.com Board Rules & Guidelines.

 

The Following set of rules must be kept in mind by all members of this forum :

 

* Languages[1] (warning): All posts made[2] must be written in decent English. This means you will at least try to write grammatically correct sentences and be a little careful at what you're trying to say. We're not all psychic, so if you want to make something clear, do it the[3] right way. Should a post be made in another language, you should at least add an English translation to it.

* Spam (warning): Any post that is off-topic or contributes nothing useful or interesting to a thread is considered to be spam. Most spam posts will be moved or deleted. Spam includes posts that:

o only contain emoticons.

o only contain a short message, such as "LOL", "thank you" or "hello".

* Double Posts (warning): Double posts will not be allowed. If you already made a post and wish to add something, use the button and change or update your post when no other replies are present.

* Short Posts (deleted): Posts that are under roughly 150 characters or less than about 25 words are considered to be pointless, and will be deleted. Routine maintenance will automatically delete such posts.

* Stay active (suspension): Once a user has been granted a hosting account (s)he must stay active in these forums for as long as (s)he wishes to keep that account. This hosting company is community based[4] and we do not want users to post solely for the sake of hosting. Staying active means you must contribute to the forum at least once every two weeks, and visit it at least once every week. Failure to doing[5] so will result in your account being suspended or removed.

* Privacy (warning) : Posts containing private information of a person, will not be allowed.[6] You will respect any person's privacy at all times. This rule does not apply to situations where this information is of vital importance, or when it is your own. Yet please be careful when posting information about yourself and keep in mind that search engines scan these pages. Private information includes, by[7] is not limited to:

o eMail addresses, IP addresses, IM handles and other contact information.

o Full or partial names, postal addresses, or other physical information.

o Social information, Passwords, ...[8]

* Advertising (warning): Advertising on the forum is not allowed under any but the following conditions:

o a website in the review website forum providing[9] it does not compete with any of our services.

o when it offers a solution to a problem stated.

* Subjects (warning): The subject line of a thread should be descriptive, not something like "help plz." If a certain subject has already been discussed, making a new thread about it is discouraged. Please browse or search the forums before posting a thread.

* Respect (frowned upon): All the members in this forum must respect and treat justfully[10] all visitors of this forum. Everyone shall be treated equally in the[11] matters of judgment. "Flaming" members unjust fully[12] will not be allowed.

* Swearing (frowned upon): Cursing and swearing is[13] highly discouraged. Keep your language decent, and don't talk provocative[14].

* Text Style (warning): Messages should be written so that all members can easily read them. Use of color and different text size is discouraged, FULL CAPS and CamElCapS are frowned upon. They will only lower you in respect by the general forum population.[15]

* Illegal Content (ban): Posting illegal content, or referring to it with, for example, a link, and even discussing such material will not be allowed. Such material includes but is not limited to :

o Warez, or other illegally distributed software.

o Hacking tools.

o Pornography or nudity not safe for children.[16]

* Avatars & Signatures (image removal - warning): Images of large dimensions or file sizes are not allowed as they will interfere with the forum's layout or displaying performance (esp. with users on slower connections).

o Maximum signature dimensions: 590 pixels wide, 125 pixels high[17]

* Corrective Action: If you fail to follow these rules, you are at risk of receiving a[18] punishment stated next to the rule. Every warning you receive will bring you closer to being banned permanently from the forum, and thus, eventually loosing[19] your hosting account here. We also reserve the right to edit/delete your posts/account or deny your access to this board. If you are banned, you must not try to bypass the ban, for example, by registering new accounts, and you may not post messages to any part of the board.

 

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Xisto Shoutbox Rules

 

Below listed are preamble to main rules of the Shoutbox.[20] We cannot list out[21] every minor detail because it would take forever! Forum moderators will guide you to[22] the rest of Shoutbox rules. And as always, administrators and moderators of Xisto forum reserves[23] the final decision.

 

These are just the main features[24]. Remember, you would[25] not be banned just as[26] long as you abide by these rules!

 

* Do NOT post links in the Shoutbox. This includes links to your topics or any other sites. You can only post a link if it leads to a Xisto Corporation site. They are Xisto.com, Qupis.com, Xisto.com, Ipbgaming.com, GFXTrap.com and Antilost.com. Furthermore, you may only post links to the following site[27] if you are helping somebody by doing so.

* It is strictly forbidden to post links to your own sub-domain of the aforementioned sites.

* Do NOT promote your topic to be read. We all can read the forum and not[28] one post is more important than others.

* Be kind to others using the Shoutbox.

* Do NOT use inappropriate language.

* Respect everyone and treat the forums with care since it took a good amount of time to create this service.

* Do NOT post large pictures in the Shoutbox.

* Be active and have fun!

 

Even though we attempt to edit or remove any messages that are against these rules or the law, it is impossible for us to review every message posted on this board. For this reason, you acknowledge that all messages posted on this board express the views and opinions of the original message author and not necessarily the views of the Forum Staff. Therefore we take no responsibility and cannot be held liable for any messages posted. We do not vouch for or warrant the accuracy and completeness of every message.

[1] Languages should probably be language. Languages is specifically used to refer to the communication systems used by people groups; a good synonym would be 'tongues'. Language on the other hand when used singularly refers to overall use of speech, i.e. 'watch your language'.

[2] The word 'made' is redundant here, if not necessarily wrong. All posts are made, and the word might be best removed.

[3] 'do it the right way' should probably be 'do it in the right way' but I might just be acting overly picky here.

[4] "community based" is probably best hyphenated as "community-based", but isn't something most readers will likely notice.

[5] This is a clear-cut error. "doing" should be "do", making the sentence "Failure to do so will result in your account being suspended or removed."

[6] The obvious error here is the comma in the sentence, which shouldn't be there since the sentence should have no pauses. Less important is the phrase 'of a person'. Information belonging to a person isn't necessarily 'of a person' so much as 'about a person' but even that sounds somewhat awkward. An easy way to fix the sentence would be to change it to "Posts containing a person's private information will not be allowed." This second problem, however, is not necessarily something most people will notice, and is not as in need of change.

[7] 'by' should be 'but', making the sentence fragment "but is not limited to" and is an obvious typo.

[8] It's not correct to follow a comma with periods like that. It should either have no comma before the periods, or insert the abbreviation "etc." before the periods.

[9] I'm reasonably certain the phrase should be "provided it does not" rather than "providing it does not", but I'm not certain enough to label this a major edit.

[10] 'justfully' is not a word, and should be 'justly' instead.

[11] The phrase should be "in matters of judgement" without the "the", but isn't something most people will likely notice, making it a minor correction.

[12] "unjust fully" is not a correct phrase, and should be changed to "unjustly". Although to my understanding 'flaming' tends to always involve unjust attacking, so I'm not sure the word unjustly is really needed. People would probably understand if flaming in general is banned.

[13] Since there are two items, the usage is plural, and thus the word "are" should be used instead of "is".

[14] "provocative" should be changed to "provocatively" and is a clear typo.

[15] The whole thing is worded oddly because you can't really be lowered IN respect by someone, rather, they respect you less. It would take too much work to fix this though, and might involve using a word like esteem instead of respect. Plus, people won't notice it much so I won't dwell on this case much.

[16] This isn't a mistake so much as so funny I had to address it. The comment begs the question, what kind of pornography or nudity IS safe for children?

[17] I don't know that many people will notice or care, but you should probably end the sentence with a period since you did so with the other sentences listed.

[18] 'a' should be 'the'.

[19] 'losing' is the correct word here', not 'loosing', and is a clear typo.

[20] A preamble is a single item, and thus the word 'is' should be used instead of the word 'are'. However, the whole sentence is weird. For one thing, a preamble is by definition an introduction to a larger body of writing, such as the preamble to the constitution. And this isn't so much a preamble as guidelines for use. Perhaps a more appropriate sentence would be "The below list provides guidelines of use for the Shoutbox."

[21] The word 'out' is redundant if not grammatically incorrect, and makes the sentence sound worse. It would probably be best removed.

[22] 'to' should be 'through', and is a clear typo.

[23] 'reserves' should be reserve, and is a clear typo.

[24] Features really shouldn't be the appropriate word choice here, and might be better replaced with a word like 'guidelines'.

[25] 'would' should be 'will' since it's speaking of future things to come, not things that have already happened.

[26] The phrase might be better said 'so long as' instead of 'just as long as' but most people likely won't notice or care.

[27] 'site' should be 'sites' since there is more than one being referred to.

[28] 'not' should be 'no' making the sentence fragment 'no one post is more important than others'.

 

I did put a good amount of time and effort into producing this, because the Rules are perhaps the single most important page on Xisto as far as proofreading goes, with perhaps the exception of the Home Page or main Forum page... not just because a lot of people visit them, but also because there aren't many other places that are so text-filled or text-dependent.

 

If you have any questions or comments about specific items on this list and why I consider them errors, I'd be happy to address them further in greater detail.

[mamer 0]

Wow! That's a lot of work indeed.Thank you for caring about the correct use of language. I guess that has been changed because I can't find it any more.