Runeology

[color="#FF0000"]Responsibilities[/color]

As a member, your responsibility is mainly to have fun. Our hope in beginning the group is to create a community that enhances our enjoyment of Runescape that is based on a desire to play well and have loads of fun.

Runeology is a group where maturity is key. Maturity here though does not refer to age but attitude. Your responsibility is to read and abide by the rules. These are in place so that everyone involved can feel at home in the group.

After application, you will be made a temporary member for a trial period. At this point the person who recommended you has some responsibility for you. The group has been set up with a rating system to encourage an active, creative, helpful community. The ratings system is described here too. If you lose 2 ratings during the trial period, you will not be allowed to transfer to full membership, and the person who recommended you will also lose 1 rating.

[color=#009900]Ratings System[/color]

Runeology has been set up so that like-minded people can relax and have fun. The ratings system is in place to encourage quality posting and discourage posts that make people feel uncomfortable here. We expect people to treat others with respect. Following the guidelines will lead to recognition and respect. People that do not respect others and follow guidelines will face consequences as outlined here.

[color=#009900]Posting and IRC[/color]

We are looking to you to post well. This does not necessarily mean long posts, but it does require a level of maturity. It is okay to disagree as long as your argument is well constructed and polite.
We expect that you treat others with respect both on the forums and in IRC. A good sense of humor is needed at times. Things can often be misinterpreted, so please react carefully and try and see things from the point of view of others.

[color=#009900]Positive Ratings[/color]

Ratings are a tool to encourage the right kind of behavior. A positive rating indicates that you are above average, or outstanding, while a negative rating means you have committed some form of offence and were punished for it.

Rating levels will only ever increase or decrease in steps of 1, so if you do get a fall in rating, we will tell you clearly why. Ratings can always be redeemed by change in behavior.

0 New members will have a rating of zero. Many people will remain at this level if they neither misbehave or their posts are not outstanding. This is not a problem at all.

[color=#009900]+1[/color] This rating is for those who have been busy on the forums and/or IRC and clearly understand the rules and are happy to follow them. This person’s posts will stand out from the average posts. This rating can be returned to zero for rule breaking.

[color=#009900]+2[/color] A +2 rating indicates that you know your way around the community and its rules well. This is evident in your posting and conduct. You are friendly on forums and in IRC.

[color=#009900]+3[/color] A rating of +3 shows that you are a very active member of the community: you are helpful, produce quality posts, and have a great attitude to others. This level is not easy to achieve.

[color=#009900]+4[/color] A rating this high is going to be difficult to achieve. It will be given to people who are exceptional and an integral part of the community. They will be well liked, have shown the ability to respond well in difficult circumstances, have shown a good sense of humor when appropriate and have been helpful because that is in their nature.

[color=#009900]+5[/color] This is the highest rating achieved. It will be given to people who rise to the top of the community. They will have shown consistently excellent and outstanding characteristics, both in posting and in IRC. This rating will be discussed by staff before being awarded and will need a majority vote. Although this rating will not mean that people will automatically become staff, this will be the pool of people from which most new staff will be chosen. People at this level have the option of joining the Member+ rank, a rank that gives members access to the staff forum in order to share their input with staff

[color=#990000]Negative ratings[/color]

Our hope is that these will be used as little as possible. We do, however, need as a community a clear system to let people know that their behavior is not what we hope to see. Negative ratings will be given to people who do not follow the guidelines.

[color=#990000]-1[/color] This rating will be given as an initial warning for flaming, spamming, and unacceptable content in posts or in chat. Please do not take this too hard – all of the ratings are redeemable and a change in behavior for the better will soon see this returned to zero.

[color=#990000]-2[/color] This rating will be given to people who continue to break the rules here. It will come with a three day suspension. We will make every effort to be clear about what you did wrong. On return we ask that you change the way you are behaving, possibly asking someone you trust what you need to do to change.

[color=#990000]-3[/color] A -3 rating will be only given to those who persistently and continuously break rules. They will have received warnings and have been private messaged by a staff member to discuss behavior. This will come with a seven day suspension, and we will be looking for a big change in attitude.

[color=#990000]-4[/color] This level is given to someone who is on the verge of being permanently banned. It will come with a two week suspension, and anyone at this level will have already been suspended and warned previously.

[color=#990000]-5[/color] This is the warning level given to people as they are permanently banned. Appeal will be possible at this point but there needs to be a very good reason for us to allow you to return. People who appeal successfully will return at -4.

There will be occasions when behavior results in an instant ban without going through the rating system. For example:

[list][*]Extremely racist behavior
[*]Posting websites or images with malicious, pornographic or illegal content
[*]Breaking Jagex rules[/list]

[color=#FF0000]Rank Structure[/color]

We are very keen here at Runeology that everyone is as equal as possible. We do, however, need to have some rank structure, and this is explained here.

[b]Staff[/b]
All staff are responsible for the general upkeep of the forums and the IRC channel. This includes, but is not limited to, dealing with member applications, dealing with member ratings, providing useful feedback to member requests, and generally helping to improve the community by way of guidance and assistance.

[b]Member+[/b]
Members with a +5 rating have the choice to be moved to this category. While not staff members, their opinions are important to the group and should be treated with respect. Members in this category have access to the staff forums.

[b]Members[/b]
Most of the people here will be members. Members have equal rights to staff to suggest ideas and to be heard. Like all other groups, members can earn a positive (or negative) rating.

[b]Pending Member/Applicant[/b]
This group is in the process of becoming members. Details of how to become a full member are contained elsewhere in the guide.