The following are the ground rules for conduct on these forums:

Profanity: We ask that you respect the fact that this is an all-ages board, and use no words stronger than what may be found in the movies themselves. The board comes equipped with a broad-based profanity filter. The traditional “dirty words” will be automatically filtered (their letters will appear as asterisks in your post) even when the context does not absolutely demand it. Likewise, no profane, suggestive or obscene images are allowed.

Even though we would rather members find a more articulate way to express themselves, members may use partially censored words. Like those found in many reputable magazines, replacing bad language with 'f---', 's---', et al will be allowed. The only way it is allowed though, is by typing the first letter of the word followed by the appropriate number of dashes, though counting is up to the member.

The use of other letters or symbols to circumvent the language filter ($, @, !...) is strongly prohibited and will be not be tolerated. First offenses can give the poster an automatic one-week suspension of their posting privileges. Subsequent offenses will be dealt with more severely, and can include permanent banning.

Flaming and Arguing: While it is the nature of conversation to bring about debate, we ask that you do not use the outbreak of a difference of opinion as an excuse to slander or demean another member, otherwise known as flaming. Not only do such posts offend the rest of the community, but they also tend to derail what might have been a good topic. A good rule of thumb is, simply, don’t post angry. Likewise, it is imperative that you restrain yourself from the casual use of language that can be inferred as racist or bigoted toward someone’s sexual orientation, nationality, religion, etc.

Heated flaming and arguing will invariably result in the closing of a thread, and especially “fiery” flames are subject to editing by a moderator. Members who persist in flaming are subject to having their account suspended by an administrator.

Trolling: Posting with the specific purpose of angering other members--trolling--will not be tolerated.

Such posts are subject to editing or deletion by a moderator. Members who persist in trolling are subject to having their account suspended by an administrator.

Post Padding and Useless Threads: Threads that appear to serve as a platform for padding post counts will be deleted once discovered by a moderator. Note, they will be deleted, not simply closed. These kinds of threads would include "word association" threads.

Spamming: Refrain from posting the same thread over and over (even under slightly different names, or in different forums), from posting the same reply again and again, or even posting multiple times in a row on a thread.

Such threads will be deleted, such posts may cause an otherwise wholesome thread to be closed, and such members are subject to having their account suspended by an administrator.

Auctions and Advertisements: We ask that you avoid posting links to auctions or on-line sellers completely. The primary purpose of these boards is to engage in conversation, not as an advertising tool. We do have a trading section, and as long as you follow each section’s guidelines you will find you may still use this site for buying/selling/trading. Advertisements for your own current auctions or other forms of spamming are strictly forbidden.

While we understand the instructional purposes posting links to some auctions may have, all such posts must by their very nature be monitored extremely closely, and any link to an auction is subject to removal by a moderator. Members who persist in posting auctions and/or ads are subject to having their account suspended by an administrator.

Personal Information: Your privacy will be respected, and you must respect the privacy of your fellow members. Posting the personal information of another member will not be tolerated. On the flip side, impersonation or misrepresenting yourself will also not be tolerated.

Misused private information will be edited or deleted by a moderator. Any member engaged in posting the private information of another member, or is discovered to be misrepresenting themselves is subject to having their account suspended by an administrator.

Illegal sales or other activity: We can not allow you to use our forums to distribute illegal goods. These include stolen or fake merchandise, or distributing copyrighted material in violation of U.S. copyright laws. If it goes against US law, we can not allow it.

Such posts will be deleted by a moderator. Such members are subject to having their account suspended by an administrator, as well as having the proper legal authorities contacted.

Images: When posting images, please follow some simple guidelines. When discussing images you do not host/own yourself, it is our policy that you post a link to the site rather than the image itself. If you do post images, please consider the size of the files to ensure the thread will still load smoothly for everyone. Large image files are subject to editing by a moderator.

Keep in mind that images inappropriate for younger fans, are not allowed.

Display Names: Please keep your display name profanity-free. Note that URLs are not allowed in the display name area. Your display name must not be longer than 20 characters and must not be ALL CAPS. Your display name must not selected that in any way could be considered advertising unless you are a current advertiser on Maskofdestiny.com.

Signatures: Any rule that applies to a post itself also applies to the body of your signature. The general rule of thumb we believe in as far as signatures go is "the shorter the better."

The limit for signature size is four lines (including blank lines). Since we recognize there are many different combinations of browsers, resolution and font size settings, all of which can affect signature lines wrapping, the standard we will use to measure this is IE at 800 x 600 resolution with text set at medium and the window expanded full screen. If your signature has more than four lines, you will be asked to change it by a moderator. If the user is unresponsive, an administrator will shorten the signature at his discretion.

Signatures should not contain imagery of any sort and the inclusion of an image in a message that serves the same purpose as a signature is not allowed.

Signatures may not contain any reference or link that in any way uses it as a way to advertise a place to sell goods of any kind unless you are a current advertiser on Maskofdestiny.com.

“Stay On Target!”: Each thread on the boards is begun for the express purpose of discussing its own subject matter. Ideally, each will be named according to its subject matter. Please try to reply to the topic at hand…if you find yourself going off on a tangent, feel free to start another (appropriately-named) thread.

If a thread goes too far off course, it may be closed by a moderator.

Moderator Actions: A moderator will only act in accordance with the policies stated above. However, keep in mind that the moderators are members also, and have the same right to express their opinions as every other member.

In addition, when editing a post, a moderator will explain what modifications have taken place, either in the text of the edited post itself, in a subsequent post by the moderator, or in a private message or e-mail to the post’s originator.

When deleting a post or thread, a moderator will explain why the post was deleted to the post’s originator in a private message or e-mail.

When moving a thread from one forum to another, a moderator will explain where the thread is going before closing it in its original location.

Common Courtesy: A few various points that, if given heed, will be appreciated by fellow members:

Don’t quote extensively--you probably should not have more words in the text you quote than what you yourself write.

Mind your spelling, grammar, and punctuation--it is hard for someone to respect your opinion when you refuse to present it in a fully-formed manner.

Turn off the CAPS LOCK--to many it resembles shouting, and can make your otherwise inoffensive post seem like an angry tirade. The real reason to avoid all caps is that capital letters can appear harsh and blocky in the font used on the forums, and do not “read” as smoothly as the regular use of lower-case letters.

Try to use an appropriately-themed Avatar--the theme we are obviously going for on the forums is BIONICLE®, though LEGO® based avatars. That said, diversity is a good thing, and your uniqueness will never be discouraged in and of itself.

Suspension and Banning: If a member has his posting rights suspended for a period of time, generally for a rule infraction, he will be notified of it and will be told when he may write again asking to be reinstated. If a member is banned from the forum, he will no longer be permitted to participate in the forum again. It is important to note that both suspensions and bans are for the member, not the account, which is further explained below.

Posting "With Socks On": This is the practice of registering one or multiple times in an attempt to hide one's identity relative to their primary account, or to circumvent a posting-rights suspension or banning of a primary account. Posting "with socks on" is prohibited and can get your posting rights permanently banned. Relative to a suspension or banning, there is never a justification for posting "with socks on", regardless of how unfair the member may feel this to be.

The Final Word: To answer an often asked question about these rules, no, not everything a member could do that would be inappropriate for the forum is listed above. Sometimes, members find new and innovative ways to cause problems. As such, any member who causes problems not specifically listed above will be dealt with in a manner consistent with actions for similar issues in the past.

In any dispute about these rules and their application in the forums, the final say rests in the hands of the Administrators.