RULES AND POLICIES


Please remember the policies presented here must be adhered to 100% or you may not be a member.


The following rules are presented in no particular order, but are numbered for the sake of convenience when referring to the policies of this website.  As such, if you receive an email that states "You have violated rule #4 in your post titled 'what does 35mm stand for?'  This is your first and last warning.", you can look that specific rule up on this page.  These policies are not open for discussion and do note that not all policies give a courtesy warning, so please read carefully.

RULE #1  Personal attacks  These forums are moderated in the respect solely toward personal attacks. Everyone is welcome to participate in any capacity until the point comes at which other members are being singled out and directly insulted.  This does not mean you cannot post a negative report on a product, service or customer support.  All this refers to is the tone of the post if made toward a specific member of the forums.  Disagreements are a daily occurence on the forums and will not be moderated, but personally attacking another member will not be tolerated. Please note "attacking" another member includes making discriminatory comments based upon skin color and/or sexual preference.  Discriminatory comments are moderated at the exclusive decision of the Admin and Moderators, so make sure your post reads properly.  If you are unsure if your post will "read" poorly toward another, please consider using smileys to assist in expressing the tone of your post or re-word it before posting, or refrain from posting it completely.

The bottom line is to please be polite, mature and professional towards the other members or you will be removed from the forums, regardless of your knowledge or stature in the industry.  This includes sending harrasing emails to other members and comments made in the chat room.  When in doubt, please do as your mother told you and keep your comments to yourself.  Non-members, or members which we have not heard a peep from in ages, are of course fair game. 

RULE #2  Something seem amiss?  Server glitches happen from time to time and on occasion members will read far into an in-joke and produce some sort of alterior motive that simply is not there.  Likewise occasionally a member will be "offended" by comments made by other members on the forum or how the Administrator or a Moderator handled a situation and decides to make a snide remark about it (generally concealed within a sugar-coated response.)  There is one simple rule to remember.  Email the Administrator.  It's as simple as that, email the Administrator.  Do not fire up new threads.  Do not make comments on the forum.  Email the Administrator.  It is most probably something you are doing or a forum rule that was broken by another party or you are flat out not "getting the joke" causing your query regarding something that does not seem right.  If the concern you are reporting is considered out of line (at the exclusive decision of the Administrator) it will be corrected.  Again, if you want to have your question answered or your concern taken seriously, email the Administrator.  (Leave the Moderators out of it, as they deal with enough as it is.)

Posting for public opinions on a subject that is not your place to do so, or posting snide remarks toward the Administrator or a Moderator is incredibly annoying and we will dislike you for doing it.  To show our appreciation, we will generally ensure that undesirable results follow for such actions.  Did we mention to email the Administrator?  It's easy.  Just click on the "contact us" link and use the address provided there.

RULE #3  Censorship.  There is to be no discussion of religion or politics on these forums.  Many people will get their feathers rustled and want to scream "censorship" and "freedom of speech" regarding this rule, but don't.  If there was one religion in the world or if people did not get insanely angry over opposing political viewpoints it would be different, but keep your opinions on these two topics to yourself.  This website is privately owned, funded and operated by Brad Miller and the right to restrict the topics of religion and politics is well within the law.  There shall be no further discussion.  Members who post religious or political things will be given one warning, then banned.  Likewise, members who start screaming "censorship" will (if they are lucky) get one warning, but most probably be booted right then and there.  Really, we have better things to do.
RULE #4  Posting links off-site.

As a member of the Film-Tech Forums, any time you make a post off-siteto a news story or written article of some sort, it is YOUR responsibility to choose one of the four available options to you:

OPTION #1 You may provide the link to the article as well as paste the entire article into your post.  (Please use [quote] tags to make it easier to read.  Simply click the "QUOTE" button and paste the text of the article in between the [QUOTE] and the [/QUOTE].

OPTION #2 You may provide the link to the article as well as pasting the relevant paragraph(s) from the article into your post that pertain to the discussion.

OPTION #3 You may provide the link as well as explaining IN YOUR OWN WORDS the gist of the article within that same post.  This does not have to be overly detailed, but does have to be at least useful enough to preserve the discussion for archival use.  As an example, if a link is provided to kodak.com that is explaining about a new film stock and the point of the article is that it offers higher resolution, your post can read something along the lines of "Kodak's new 35mm filmstock claims to have a resolution roughly double current filmstocks.  Here is the link..."  This third option will be moderated solely at the random moderator's opinion, and the first moderator to get to it has final decision.  As a result, do not simply type "Here is a link to a new filmstock from Kodak."  That does not offer the bare minimum point of the article and as such will be deleted without member notification.

OPTION #4 If none of the above three options are acceptable to you for whatever reason, you may not post links off-site to articles of any sort on the forums.

These policies have been placed on the members for the benefit of preserving the archives as best as possible.  When links are posted and the link to the website goes dead over time, the discussion is killed for future use.

Violators of this policy will be removed from the forums for a couple of weeks to help get the point across.  Repeat violators will be removed permanently.

RULE #5  Cross posting between forums or other places on the web.  Do not cross post identical questions/topics with other website forums/newsgroups or between the different forum sections on the Film-Tech Forums.  If you have a question, ask it here or ask it elsewhere but only ask it one time.  Most people have a certain set of websites/newsgroups that they frequent on a regular basis and cross posting becomes confusing to readers.  If you feel you will get the most beneficial responses here, then post it here only.  If you feel you will get the most beneficial responses elsewhere on the internet, ask it there and not here.  This policy will not be enforced for the rare cross posting in a truly valid emergency situation unless a member is continually doing so or this practice continues to escalate, but please do not do this unless you absolutely need to (such as for an answer to an urgent problem that can force you to cancel a show).

Before you ask, this policy is enforced strictly and this is how this is handled.

If you make a post in one forum on Film-Tech, then make the same (or similar) post on another forum on Film-Tech, whichever forum we feel the topic least applied to will be deleted  in it's entirity (this includes any replies) without warning.   That will be your one warning, which may be delivered via email or as a reply to the thread that was left standing.  Upon your second offense, you will be banned.

If you make a post on Film-Tech, then make the same (or similar) post on a newsgroup, you will be notified via email and that will be your one warning.  Upon your second offense, you will be banned.

If you make a post on another website forum first, then make the same (or similar) post on Film-Tech, your post and all replies on Film-Tech will be deleted in it's entirity without warning.  You will receive an email noting this.  That will be your one warning.  Upon your second offense, you will be banned.

If you make a post on Film-Tech first, then make the same (or similar) post on another website, you will be requested via email to delete the post of yours on the other website as well as all replies.  You will be given 24 hours of the email going out to you for this to be done.  (This will require the owner of the other website's assistance.)  It is expected for this to be done without further comment from you or the other website owner/members in any way, shape or form.  Provided this is done within the 24 hour timeframe of the email being sent out to you and without any email or public comment, that was your one and only warning.  The next time you will be banned.  However should snide comments be made by you, the owner of the other website, or members of the other website in any manner, or should the owner of the other website refuse to comply to your request, you are banned immediately from Film-Tech with no second chance.  End of story.  Cross-posting is not tolerated on here.  Ask it here or ask it there.

Do not expect ANY leniency on this policy!

RULE #6  Quoting other people's emails.  DO NOT DO THIS EVER!  Emails are private conversations between people and will not be tolerated if any part of them or all of them are posted here or elsewhere unless the author has given specific permission to reproduce it.  Expect to be banned and your post deleted if you ever do this. There is no tolerance with this.
RULE #7  Teaser subject headers / to start a new topic.  Do NOT use "teaser" subject headers.  Headers such as "You are not going to believe this" and "Can someone help me with..." are aggravating to members since they do not tell what the subject of the thread is without clicking on it.  Such titles could not possibly be any less helpful to members trying to navigate topics of interest to them.  Therefore, please use common sense when titling new discussions and make SURE they are descriptive.  Be forewarned that threads with "teaser" titles may be closed and/or deleted without notification.  If the moderators are feeling especially patient, they may give you a warning to fix the problem of which you can easily correct by editing the first post in the thread.  Regardless, repeated violations of this policy will be your removal from the forums.
RULE #8  Did you forget to say something in your post?  Do NOT go back and reply to yourself.  Having 2, 3, 4 or more posts in a row by the same person is annoying, wastes bandwidth and is unnecessary.  It is expected that if you feel the need to say something after you have just posted that you use the EDIT feature of this forum.  Read the FAQ page on how to edit a post if you do not already know how to.
RULE #9  Topic subjects. When deciding which forum to place your new topic in, please remember that the "Film Handler's Forum" is for discussions relating specifically to projection, sound and general issues in the industry, "Ground Level" is for discussions specifically relating to the management and downstairs operation of a theater and "Film Yak" is for discussions that do not fit into any of the other forums.  Religious and political posts are not permitted anywhere on this website!

When starting a new thread in the Feature Info & Trailer Attachments forum, please ONLY title the new topics with the full name of the feature as well as the year of it's release.  This helps to assist members who are seeking data on that particular film in the archives in the future.  For example titling a thread "That terrible Lance Bass movie" represents an opinion and does not help members to find data on that particular feature that should have been simply titled "On the Line (2001)".

RULE #10  Rules regarding the Equipment Wanted/For Sale forum, please start ALL titles with either "WANTED" or "FOR SALE" and make SURE to also include the item in the title.  As an example, a posting that is titled "rewind table" does not tell the viewers whether you are seeking to purchase a rewind table or if you have one to sell.  Thus, a posting titled "WANTED: rewind table" or "FOR SALE: rewind table" is clearly descriptive and is very much appreciated.

IMPORTANT-
The Equipment Wanted and For Sale forum is NOT for your company's spamming purposes. This forum is provided as a free service for those who have an extra few items of equipment or supplies that they need to sell. Some examples:

ACCEPTABLE:
*If you run a tech service company and removed an 8 plex worth of equipment, feel free to list it.
*If you are a collector and want to sell an extra projector, this is the place to try and sell it.
*If you as an individual or working for a company made a bulk purchase of used equipment and some of it does not have a home, go ahead and list the remaining equipment.
*If you have some extra equipment that was purchased for an install, but for whatever reason the client backed out of the purchase and you need to move it, be our guest.

UNACCEPTABLE:
*If you are just advertising your normal line of goods, this place is NOT for you. Go away.
*If you are discontinuing something from your normal line of goods, posting a note here "we are almost sold out" will be deleted.
*If your post says something such as "contact us for a catalog", just turn around right now.

Clear enough? Spamming regular items here is not permitted.

Also, website links are not permitted on this forum. If you have something to sell, sell it. Do not redirect to an external source.

A tip: do make sure you put your email address in the body of your post so potential buyers have easy access to contact you. This practice is permitted ONLY in this forum.

Offenders to this will be removed from the forums. If you are unsure of your post, feel free to email the post text to Brad Miller in advance for clarification. (Click "contact us" for the email address.)  Spamming is evil and everyone gets too much of it in their email boxes as it is.
To delete a posting in the Equipment Wanted/For Sale forum, please simply edit the post to read "item sold".   It would be PREFERABLE if you changed the title of the post from "WANTED: rewind table" to  "SOLD: rewind table".  This way you are not wasting anyone's time by letting them click on it to find out that the item is sold.

To reply to a posting in the Equipment Wanted/For Sale forum, you must email that person directly.  Any transactions that occur as a result of a posting made on the Film-Tech forums are your own private responsibility and business.  As such they are not for the world to see.  Thus, no public replies are permitted.

RULE #11  No "goodbye posts".Have you decided to leave the forums?Whatever your reasoning may be, do note that you are always welcome back should you choose to return at a later time and participate.  However, making a "goodbye" post will not be tolerated.  The reasoning is simple.  If you want to participate, then participate.  If you do not want to participate, then don't participate.  The decision is yours, and no one is forcing anything on you.  Making a public announcement that you are leaving only stirs up unnecessary (and usually incorrect) gossip and such posts will not be tolerated.  Expect for your membership to be permanently banned if you do this.  In short, if you are leaving, just don't post any more.  It will leave the door open to you should a year down the road you decide you want to participate again.
RULE #12  If you suspect another member is using an alias or is causing problems off the site via email or in the workplace, please bring it to our immediate attention so we may take whatever steps are within our capability.  Confidentiality is absolutely assured if requested.
RULE #13  If you start a thread on the forums asking for a solution to a problem and you and up getting the answer directly from the manufacturer or other non-internet means, it is expected for you to make a follow-up post explaining the solution.  Remember, the forums are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year, and since most problems happen after normal 8-5 weekday hours, the forums are commonly the only place for people to turn to for assistance in the evenings and on weekends.  As such, do your fellow members a favor and take the time to post the resolution to your problem.
RULE #14 Current member pictures.  Member pictures need to be CURRENT, to within at least the last few years. If your member picture is 5 years old, please try and send in something newer if you have one. If your member picture is 10+ years old, it is mandatory that you send in something more recent. (If you have gone 10 years without having your picture taken, you should anyway for your family.)

The whole idea of member pics is to get to know the person better and to be able to see who we are talking to, not who we were talking to decades ago. It also makes meeting people in person a little awkward when we see a certain face every day, but when we meet that person face to face, it's as if we are talking to someone else.

Please see this thread in the Yak forum regarding member pictures for full instructions on how to send in your member picture.


RULE #15  Posting regarding other people's membership status is prohibited.  Simply put, this is none of anyone's business except for the Administration of this website and that member.  Such posts only accomplish one thing, to stir up unnecessary amounts of confusion and initiate anger and will not be tolerated in any capacity.  You will find yourself no longer able to participate either temporarily or permanently if you do this.

RULE #16  You may not post your email address within the body of your posts.  Got it?  Anyone wanting to contact you may do so by clicking on your profile to obtain your email address.  The only exception to this rule is in the "For Sale/Equipment Wanted" forum.
RULE #17 WHY IN THE HELL AM I SHOUTING???  OMG CAN ANYONE HEAR ME?  IS THIS ON?  SHOULD I YELL A LITTLE BIT LOUDER?  WHY AM I PISSING EVERYONE OFF?  Seriougly, are you that lazy to type normally?  Typing in all caps is considered rude and reads as if you are screaming at people.  Don't do it.
FINAL RULE  If you are found to be spamming the members of Film-Tech or harvesting email addresses for such purposes, then you should be prepared for the consequences of your actions, because you as a spammer are the lowest form of life.  Although we have not had any problems with spamming since we instigated various anti-spam coding on the website, here is what you can expect.

Some websites might simply send you an angry e-mail and ban you, but we are not that kind.  You will be banned from Film-Tech, then unbanned, then re-banned simply because we will be THAT angry at you.  And instead of having "Film Handler" or any other such title below your name, you will forever be known as "BANNED SPAMMING FUCKTARD" and your member photo will be Photoshopped to show you burning in the pits of hell.  (For those of you who don't have member photos, you will receive an extra special photo, sure to be a favorite with your family and friends.)  And then, since that's not nearly enough, we will hunt you down and turn you over to Guido as his own personal love slave. (Think of "the gimp" from Pulp Fiction ... that's what we've got planned for you.)  It's not so much "love slave" as "violation slave".  In the past, some of our violation slaves have attempted to file restraining orders or other legal charges against us for cruel and unusual punishment, but once the judge and/or jury see the record of spamming before them, they always throw the case out the window and send them back to Guido.  We cannot stress enough that YOU DO NOT WANT THIS!  The best way to live a peaceful and painless life is DO NOT SPAM!

Thank you for your cooperation and enjoy the forums.

Please make sure you read the FAQ page before asking questions.