Full Chat Rules
It is the user’s responsibility to familiarise themselves with the rules before entering the chat. Ignorance will NOT be accepted as an excuse for rule breaking.
1. We welcome ALL HOUSES here on GryffinRoar
a. We have many active members of the chat who aren’t Gryffindors, including some mods
b. Friendly banter between houses often occurs in the chat
c. However, openly offensive comments towards other houses will NOT be tolerated
2. Please use your active and full Pottermore username in the chat
a. You may use a nickname before and/or after your Pottermore username if it is separated by an underscore, e.g. WingOak135_WingyLovesOel
b. If you use a nickname it MUST comply with all the other chat rules
c. Each user may only have ONE identity/Pottermore username so as to avoid confusion amongst other users
d. If you have more than one account, you must use the username which is ACTIVE, i.e. the account you actually use
e. If you have more than one active account, you must choose ONE name and stick to it
f. Users who refuse to stick to one name will have all but one of their names banned
g. Users who get around this by adding different nicknames to their username will be banned completely
h. You must use your name exactly how it appears on Pottermore. This means there is to be no rearranging of letters, spelling your username backwards, alternating caps or all caps.
i. Do not log into the GH from more than one location at the same time (eg Phone and computer, computer/laptop etc), as this can cause confusion.
3. Please read the FAQs and Glossary before using the chat
a. Most questions are answered in the FAQs so please check this BEFORE asking in the chat
b. Without reading the glossary, you might find it difficult to understand what we’re talking about. The chat moves at a fast pace sometimes, so questions about what’s going on might not be noticed
4. We do not promote cheating
a. That means we do not allow users to talk about cheating on the chat, including telling others how to cheat
b. If you ask how to cheat, you will not receive an answer; if you ask continuously you will be deemed a troll
c. We define cheating as bypassing the intended rules of Pottermore in order to gain an unfair advantage over other users/houses
5. No spamming/flooding/trolling
a. Spamming is repeatedly posting links to other sites or advertising products
b. If you wish to promote a product or other site, you must speak to the site admins using the Contact Us page
c. Flooding is defined as posting an excessive amount of text which does not contribute to the conversation
d. Flooding the chat will not be tolerated as it makes it difficult for other users to follow the conversation
e. Trolling is defined as deliberately seeking to annoy other users
f. If a mod believes a user is trolling, they will discuss this in a private message with the user; if problem behaviour continues after discussion with a mod, the user will be punished
g. Excessive use of CAPS LOCK is also not allowed as it makes other users feel they are being shouted at
h. You may use caps lock occasionally to emphasise a few words, but long sentences and paragraphs in caps is not allowed (ie no caps spamming). You can not use caps in a negative way, rudeness through caps will result in an immediate kick.
6. Don't use chat speak
a. Most text speak/short hand is not allowed as we have some users who do not speak English as their first language
b. Common English abbreviations, such as LOL, are allowed but if asked to explain these by another user you MUST do so WITHOUT being sarcastic or mean to the user for not knowing
c. You may speak in languages other than English but this must be done over private chat so as not to exclude other users
d. You may have discussions ABOUT other languages and give examples, but you MUST translate if asked to do so
7. Be respectful of other users
a. We will not tolerate any racist or homophobic comments (including phrases like “that’s so gay”)
b. Users must be tolerant of other users religions or lifestyle choices
c. If your lifestyle choices go against any other rules of the chat, please discuss them with willing participants ONLY over private message
d. We welcome friendly debate here but this must not descend into personal attacks or comments which are deliberately designed to be inflammatory
e. Users must be careful when discussing sensitive topics so as not to upset other users
f. If you feel offended or upset by anything mentioned in the chat, please take your concerns to a moderator, who will speak with the user privately
g. If users continue to discuss sensitive topics after being spoken to by a moderator they will be punished
h. Users must NOT be nasty to other users
i. Sarcasm is a normal part of conversation and is allowed, but must not be used to upset another user or be deliberately inflammatory.
j. If you use sarcasm, be prepared to explain that you’re being sarcastic and don’t react badly if someone gets upset due to not understanding your sarcasm (as sarcasm is hard to communicate via the internet)
k. DO NOT give out or DISCUSS anyone else's personal details on the chat (unless the person has given you permission). This includes but is not limited to, location, name, age and email.
l. Do not call out others as liars based purely on your personal opinions of that person. If you believe someone is lying about a sensitive situation, pm a mod and keep it out of the main chat.
8. Please refrain from swearing in the chat
a. Swearing can be considered as offensive to some, please refrain from swearing in the chat. Users who are deemed by mods to be using offensive language or swearing excessively will be asked in a private message to tone it down
b. If swearing continues the user will be banned
9. Keep conversations appropriate
a. We have users of all ages on the site so please keep the topic appropriate for all ages
b. If you wish to discuss more adult topics you may do so if you check first that NO users are under the age of 18
c. When sharing links to other pages that may not be inappropriate for younger users, these must be accompanied with a warning, e.g. NON PG LINK http://www.lesexytimes.com
d. Please do not encourage underage users to take part in activities not appropriate for their age such as smoking, drinking etc.
e. Do NOT promote any illegal activities on the chat; illegal activities can be discussed, but you may NOT encourage other users to take part in illegal activities or tell them how to do it
10. Do not give out passwords/links to other chats
a. This includes the password to the Gryffindor Prefect chat as well as passwords to other websites
b. Anyone caught giving out the Prefects Lounge password will be removed from the prefect list, the password will be changed and you will NOT be given the new one
c. Anyone caught giving out passwords to other sites will have their details passed on to the site’s admins to be dealt with according to their site rules
e. Please do not use the GryffinRoar GH to advertise other sites or chats. If you wish to advertise a blog or something else HP related, email the admins first
11. Please do not use font that is unreadable
a. This includes the use of bright colours that some users find uncomfortable to read
b. Some fonts are more difficult to read than others, please consider that other users may have dyslexia or a visual impairment that may make certain fonts impossible to read
c. If you have trouble reading someone’s font, please speak to the moderators who will address this issue in private
d. If you are asked to change your font, please change it to a readable one.
e. If you’re asked to change a few times, rather than trying to be creative, please use a simple font, like Arial or Times New Roman.
f. If you continually cycle through fonts or colours which are unreadable, this will be deemed as trolling and will be dealt with as such by the mods
g. If you continually cycle through multiple colours in a short amount of time (determined by the mod), this will be deemed as trolling and will be dealt with as such by the mods.
12. DO NOT impersonate other users
a. Users of the chat may be asked from time to time to verify their identity
b. If you cannot verify your identity without good reason, you will be assumed to be impersonating another user and will be banned.
c. This rule applies especially to those impersonating mods or admins, whose usernames are often recognised by regulars even if they are not currently logged in as a mod; the mods are the people at the top of the users list with the @ symbol in front of their name
e. Anyone found to be impersonating a mod or admin will be permanently BANNED
13. Do not be rude to the mods
a. If a mod tells you that you have broken the rules, DO NOT respond by being rude and/or sarcastic
b. Rudeness and sarcasm towards a mod will result in an immediate ban
c. If you believe that a mod’s decision is wrong, you are welcome to discuss this with them in a private message
d. Appealing a mod’s decision in front of everyone in an attempt to gain support will likely not work and will result in a ban
e. If a mod tells you that they have sent you a private message (PM) do NOT ignore them; if you do not know how to read a PM, then ASK
f. If you have an issue with any of the mods, you can make a formal complaint to the admins via the Report Abuse link located next to the chat.
g. You will need to copy and paste the part of the conversation you had an issue with so that the admins can review it
h. If you are not a mod and mods are in the chat, please don't try to mod the chat. We know you're just to help out but it can confuse the users and create a more chaotic chat. This includes asking another user to change their name.
i. You are NOT allowed to ignore any mods using the /ignore command or in general. Ignoring a mod will result in you getting kicked or banned.
14. Role playing is restricted to the forum only
a. There is to be no role playing in the chat. If you would like to role play, please use the forum provided under the 'Fun Stuff' tab. This doesn't mean that no role playing is allowed at all. However, if you are roleplaying to the extent that no one else can talk at all, or they feel uncomfortable, then you will be warned.
15. The quit command is to be used for QUITTING only
a. Using the quit command to type messages as part of the chat will result in being kicked
b. Frequent use of the quit message command in a way that does not comply with all the other rules of the chat will result in a ban
If you do not follow these rules you will be kicked from the chat. Persistent rule breakers will be BANNED. The length of your ban depends on which rule was broken. It is possible to be banned permanently from breaking one rule drastically. If you have been banned 3 times, you will be banned permanently. If you don’t like the rules, you’re welcome to leave.
Users who break the rules should always be warned before any action is taken by the mods. If you feel you have been unfairly banned, please send an email to the admins via the Report Abuse page. If you log in and out of the chat in an attempt to avoid being given a warning, you will NOT be allowed to appeal your ban. Users must appeal the ban themselves by emailing the admins and NOT by sending friends into the chat for them. Any user found to be using a public forum to complain about their ban (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, etc) will have their ban made permanent. Likewise, if you continue to complain about or fight your ban after the admins have reviewed it, you will be permanently banned.
These rules will be enforced by the active mods on the chat. Regular users and mods who are not logged in should not attempt to enforce any rules. It may be the case that a person is simply confused, especially if they are new to the chat. It would therefore be unfair to make them feel unwelcome.
If in doubt about any of the rules here, then speak to one of the mods, who will be happy to answer any questions you have.
Beware of giving out any personal details to strangers on the chat, even if they seem nice. If you feel that someone is asking too many personal questions via PM, please stop talking to them and alert one of the mods IMMEDIATELY. Please also send a copy of the chat transcript to the admins via the Report Abuse link located next to the chat. This is for your safety and we will NOT use any personal information you may have already given via PM and we will NOT reveal to the person that you have reported them. For more information about staying safe on the Internet, please visit http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk or http://www.2smrt4u.com
1. We welcome ALL HOUSES here on GryffinRoar
a. We have many active members of the chat who aren’t Gryffindors, including some mods
b. Friendly banter between houses often occurs in the chat
c. However, openly offensive comments towards other houses will NOT be tolerated
2. Please use your active and full Pottermore username in the chat
a. You may use a nickname before and/or after your Pottermore username if it is separated by an underscore, e.g. WingOak135_WingyLovesOel
b. If you use a nickname it MUST comply with all the other chat rules
c. Each user may only have ONE identity/Pottermore username so as to avoid confusion amongst other users
d. If you have more than one account, you must use the username which is ACTIVE, i.e. the account you actually use
e. If you have more than one active account, you must choose ONE name and stick to it
f. Users who refuse to stick to one name will have all but one of their names banned
g. Users who get around this by adding different nicknames to their username will be banned completely
h. You must use your name exactly how it appears on Pottermore. This means there is to be no rearranging of letters, spelling your username backwards, alternating caps or all caps.
i. Do not log into the GH from more than one location at the same time (eg Phone and computer, computer/laptop etc), as this can cause confusion.
3. Please read the FAQs and Glossary before using the chat
a. Most questions are answered in the FAQs so please check this BEFORE asking in the chat
b. Without reading the glossary, you might find it difficult to understand what we’re talking about. The chat moves at a fast pace sometimes, so questions about what’s going on might not be noticed
4. We do not promote cheating
a. That means we do not allow users to talk about cheating on the chat, including telling others how to cheat
b. If you ask how to cheat, you will not receive an answer; if you ask continuously you will be deemed a troll
c. We define cheating as bypassing the intended rules of Pottermore in order to gain an unfair advantage over other users/houses
5. No spamming/flooding/trolling
a. Spamming is repeatedly posting links to other sites or advertising products
b. If you wish to promote a product or other site, you must speak to the site admins using the Contact Us page
c. Flooding is defined as posting an excessive amount of text which does not contribute to the conversation
d. Flooding the chat will not be tolerated as it makes it difficult for other users to follow the conversation
e. Trolling is defined as deliberately seeking to annoy other users
f. If a mod believes a user is trolling, they will discuss this in a private message with the user; if problem behaviour continues after discussion with a mod, the user will be punished
g. Excessive use of CAPS LOCK is also not allowed as it makes other users feel they are being shouted at
h. You may use caps lock occasionally to emphasise a few words, but long sentences and paragraphs in caps is not allowed (ie no caps spamming). You can not use caps in a negative way, rudeness through caps will result in an immediate kick.
6. Don't use chat speak
a. Most text speak/short hand is not allowed as we have some users who do not speak English as their first language
b. Common English abbreviations, such as LOL, are allowed but if asked to explain these by another user you MUST do so WITHOUT being sarcastic or mean to the user for not knowing
c. You may speak in languages other than English but this must be done over private chat so as not to exclude other users
d. You may have discussions ABOUT other languages and give examples, but you MUST translate if asked to do so
7. Be respectful of other users
a. We will not tolerate any racist or homophobic comments (including phrases like “that’s so gay”)
b. Users must be tolerant of other users religions or lifestyle choices
c. If your lifestyle choices go against any other rules of the chat, please discuss them with willing participants ONLY over private message
d. We welcome friendly debate here but this must not descend into personal attacks or comments which are deliberately designed to be inflammatory
e. Users must be careful when discussing sensitive topics so as not to upset other users
f. If you feel offended or upset by anything mentioned in the chat, please take your concerns to a moderator, who will speak with the user privately
g. If users continue to discuss sensitive topics after being spoken to by a moderator they will be punished
h. Users must NOT be nasty to other users
i. Sarcasm is a normal part of conversation and is allowed, but must not be used to upset another user or be deliberately inflammatory.
j. If you use sarcasm, be prepared to explain that you’re being sarcastic and don’t react badly if someone gets upset due to not understanding your sarcasm (as sarcasm is hard to communicate via the internet)
k. DO NOT give out or DISCUSS anyone else's personal details on the chat (unless the person has given you permission). This includes but is not limited to, location, name, age and email.
l. Do not call out others as liars based purely on your personal opinions of that person. If you believe someone is lying about a sensitive situation, pm a mod and keep it out of the main chat.
8. Please refrain from swearing in the chat
a. Swearing can be considered as offensive to some, please refrain from swearing in the chat. Users who are deemed by mods to be using offensive language or swearing excessively will be asked in a private message to tone it down
b. If swearing continues the user will be banned
9. Keep conversations appropriate
a. We have users of all ages on the site so please keep the topic appropriate for all ages
b. If you wish to discuss more adult topics you may do so if you check first that NO users are under the age of 18
c. When sharing links to other pages that may not be inappropriate for younger users, these must be accompanied with a warning, e.g. NON PG LINK http://www.lesexytimes.com
d. Please do not encourage underage users to take part in activities not appropriate for their age such as smoking, drinking etc.
e. Do NOT promote any illegal activities on the chat; illegal activities can be discussed, but you may NOT encourage other users to take part in illegal activities or tell them how to do it
10. Do not give out passwords/links to other chats
a. This includes the password to the Gryffindor Prefect chat as well as passwords to other websites
b. Anyone caught giving out the Prefects Lounge password will be removed from the prefect list, the password will be changed and you will NOT be given the new one
c. Anyone caught giving out passwords to other sites will have their details passed on to the site’s admins to be dealt with according to their site rules
e. Please do not use the GryffinRoar GH to advertise other sites or chats. If you wish to advertise a blog or something else HP related, email the admins first
11. Please do not use font that is unreadable
a. This includes the use of bright colours that some users find uncomfortable to read
b. Some fonts are more difficult to read than others, please consider that other users may have dyslexia or a visual impairment that may make certain fonts impossible to read
c. If you have trouble reading someone’s font, please speak to the moderators who will address this issue in private
d. If you are asked to change your font, please change it to a readable one.
e. If you’re asked to change a few times, rather than trying to be creative, please use a simple font, like Arial or Times New Roman.
f. If you continually cycle through fonts or colours which are unreadable, this will be deemed as trolling and will be dealt with as such by the mods
g. If you continually cycle through multiple colours in a short amount of time (determined by the mod), this will be deemed as trolling and will be dealt with as such by the mods.
12. DO NOT impersonate other users
a. Users of the chat may be asked from time to time to verify their identity
b. If you cannot verify your identity without good reason, you will be assumed to be impersonating another user and will be banned.
c. This rule applies especially to those impersonating mods or admins, whose usernames are often recognised by regulars even if they are not currently logged in as a mod; the mods are the people at the top of the users list with the @ symbol in front of their name
e. Anyone found to be impersonating a mod or admin will be permanently BANNED
13. Do not be rude to the mods
a. If a mod tells you that you have broken the rules, DO NOT respond by being rude and/or sarcastic
b. Rudeness and sarcasm towards a mod will result in an immediate ban
c. If you believe that a mod’s decision is wrong, you are welcome to discuss this with them in a private message
d. Appealing a mod’s decision in front of everyone in an attempt to gain support will likely not work and will result in a ban
e. If a mod tells you that they have sent you a private message (PM) do NOT ignore them; if you do not know how to read a PM, then ASK
f. If you have an issue with any of the mods, you can make a formal complaint to the admins via the Report Abuse link located next to the chat.
g. You will need to copy and paste the part of the conversation you had an issue with so that the admins can review it
h. If you are not a mod and mods are in the chat, please don't try to mod the chat. We know you're just to help out but it can confuse the users and create a more chaotic chat. This includes asking another user to change their name.
i. You are NOT allowed to ignore any mods using the /ignore command or in general. Ignoring a mod will result in you getting kicked or banned.
14. Role playing is restricted to the forum only
a. There is to be no role playing in the chat. If you would like to role play, please use the forum provided under the 'Fun Stuff' tab. This doesn't mean that no role playing is allowed at all. However, if you are roleplaying to the extent that no one else can talk at all, or they feel uncomfortable, then you will be warned.
15. The quit command is to be used for QUITTING only
a. Using the quit command to type messages as part of the chat will result in being kicked
b. Frequent use of the quit message command in a way that does not comply with all the other rules of the chat will result in a ban
If you do not follow these rules you will be kicked from the chat. Persistent rule breakers will be BANNED. The length of your ban depends on which rule was broken. It is possible to be banned permanently from breaking one rule drastically. If you have been banned 3 times, you will be banned permanently. If you don’t like the rules, you’re welcome to leave.
Users who break the rules should always be warned before any action is taken by the mods. If you feel you have been unfairly banned, please send an email to the admins via the Report Abuse page. If you log in and out of the chat in an attempt to avoid being given a warning, you will NOT be allowed to appeal your ban. Users must appeal the ban themselves by emailing the admins and NOT by sending friends into the chat for them. Any user found to be using a public forum to complain about their ban (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, etc) will have their ban made permanent. Likewise, if you continue to complain about or fight your ban after the admins have reviewed it, you will be permanently banned.
These rules will be enforced by the active mods on the chat. Regular users and mods who are not logged in should not attempt to enforce any rules. It may be the case that a person is simply confused, especially if they are new to the chat. It would therefore be unfair to make them feel unwelcome.
If in doubt about any of the rules here, then speak to one of the mods, who will be happy to answer any questions you have.
Beware of giving out any personal details to strangers on the chat, even if they seem nice. If you feel that someone is asking too many personal questions via PM, please stop talking to them and alert one of the mods IMMEDIATELY. Please also send a copy of the chat transcript to the admins via the Report Abuse link located next to the chat. This is for your safety and we will NOT use any personal information you may have already given via PM and we will NOT reveal to the person that you have reported them. For more information about staying safe on the Internet, please visit http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk or http://www.2smrt4u.com
