Well, that was rather intimidating.

[MyLittleCrazier 0]

Assuming I'm not breaking any of the many rules, I'm just going to make a casual first impression post as a form of feedback I suppose.

 

I don't have too much to say on it, since it is a first impression thing, and I'm just doing this quickly for the heck of it.

 

The terms of service page that shows when someone makes an account is rather intimidating. Big red box of death, with many DO NOT signs in bold. It makes for an unwelcoming experience. It's the totality of it and the bluntness that really sinks in, and I bet there are kinder ways of saying those things. As of right now, I'm half expecting this post itself to get me banned, forever.

 

Maybe something a little more beige, and with words like "I hope you understand", "for the good of the community", "as a precaution". And I simple "Have a nice day." at the end or something. Not "Do this or else" "Dont do this or else" "You have been restricted for seemingly no reason until you make an uncertain amount of posts."

 

 

This does seem to be a very well made forum. Certainly the most eccentric one I have ever seen. I'm not sure how popular it is because my major brony friends have never mentioned it. But I like the look of the place, very homely. Maybe you guys have problems with trolls or haters? That's the only reason I could think of for such a police state.

 

Anyway, first thread, not first post. Thank you for reading, and Hello.

[MeanBlackHawk 147]

Assuming I'm not breaking any of the many rules, I'm just going to make a casual first impression post as a form of feedback I suppose.

 

I don't have too much to say on it, since it is a first impression thing, and I'm just doing this quickly for the heck of it.

 

The terms of service page that shows when someone makes an account is rather intimidating. Big red box of death, with many DO NOT signs in bold. It makes for an unwelcoming experience. It's the totality of it and the bluntness that really sinks in, and I bet there are kinder ways of saying those things. As of right now, I'm half expecting this post itself to get me banned, forever.

 

Maybe something a little more beige, and with words like "I hope you understand", "for the good of the community", "as a precaution". And I simple "Have a nice day." at the end or something. Not "Do this or else" "Dont do this or else" "You have been restricted for seemingly no reason until you make an uncertain amount of posts."

 

 

This does seem to be a very well made forum. Certainly the most eccentric one I have ever seen. I'm not sure how popular it is because my major brony friends have never mentioned it. But I like the look of the place, very homely. Maybe you guys have problems with trolls or haters? That's the only reason I could think of for such a police state.

 

Anyway, first thread, not first post. Thank you for reading, and Hello.

I would like to note a couple of things here:

 

The reason why it was designed as a  "Big red box of death, with many DO NOT signs in bold" is to draw your attention directly to what it is saying.  In all honestly when does anyone read the terms of agreement policies anyway? (Haven't you seen that South Park episode about it already?)  Red naturally stands out from a lot of other colors and draws your attention to it naturally.  Beige as you suggested earlier is a color that would not stand out and people would just glance over it and not pay it any thought.  It would not be clear the terms of service and would therefore be counter-productive.  

 

Also for the wording, the wording is specifically worded as such because it is a terms of service page.  I haven't seen a terms of service page from a company that says "we hope you" or "have a nice day".  The terms of service is supposed to be blunt and straight to the point.  In fact when I scroll down or over (because who reads that stuff anyway?) I can see all caps sentences and bold sentences and lists of numbered paragraphs in it.  I think it's safe to say it's not supposed to be "welcoming".  Legal stuff is important so mlpforums has to be official about it. Sorry mate.

 

Lastly the site is growing and growing everyday, there are many active people on here and there is a good amount of popularity surrounding this site.  Though I am in the same boat with you; knowing of bronies irl, but them not knowing/or having knowledge of mlpforums.  It takes time.  Eventually this site will become big enough to be as credited as Equestriadaily.  It's just a matter of time. (;

 

P.S. Welcome to the forum mate and have a good time here! 

 

P.P.S. Technically this may not be your first post, but to mlpforums it is.  The welcoming plaza does not count forum posts!

Edited May 9, 2013 by MeanBlackHawk

[NavelColt 22,880]

Assuming I'm not breaking any of the many rules, I'm just going to make a casual first impression post as a form of feedback I suppose.

 

I don't have too much to say on it, since it is a first impression thing, and I'm just doing this quickly for the heck of it.

 

The terms of service page that shows when someone makes an account is rather intimidating. Big red box of death, with many DO NOT signs in bold. It makes for an unwelcoming experience. It's the totality of it and the bluntness that really sinks in, and I bet there are kinder ways of saying those things. As of right now, I'm half expecting this post itself to get me banned, forever.

 

Maybe something a little more beige, and with words like "I hope you understand", "for the good of the community", "as a precaution". And I simple "Have a nice day." at the end or something. Not "Do this or else" "Dont do this or else" "You have been restricted for seemingly no reason until you make an uncertain amount of posts."

 

This does seem to be a very well made forum. Certainly the most eccentric one I have ever seen. I'm not sure how popular it is because my major brony friends have never mentioned it. But I like the look of the place, very homely. Maybe you guys have problems with trolls or haters? That's the only reason I could think of for such a police state.

 

Anyway, first thread, not first post. Thank you for reading, and Hello.

 

To be honest, most legal contracts are blunt and stick out on purpose; our ToS tries to accomplish that same stance, because in a lot of ways it's as equally important. It's not to intimidate people, it's to make sure everyone, both the folks who are going to walk around the forums and never cause trouble, ever, and the folks who will end up causing issues, ends up reading it and taking it seriously. You'd be incredibly surprised how aloof some people are, and how they don't notice things. The great thing about the ToS is that the staff are capable of forcing people who have been blatantly disregarding rules to read that page over again before they can continue posting. Again, not to be totalitarians or to frighten anyone. We've been growing at an alarming rate and with future projects coming up, only continue to do more so, so we've become very professional and business-like in many regards.

 

That said, I'm sure some specific wording suggestions could be done. We're certainly not a police state (you have no idea how many migraines the administration goes through to try and help raging members get their needs met, in order to help demonstrate that very point). Some things might come off as a bit intense to you, but honestly, if you stick around and spend more time us, I'm sure you'll begin to see that while, yes, we do have lots of walls of text where it's appropriate to help everyone understand things; be it rules, FAQ entries to explain things or specific staff replying in-depth to someone's issues, you'll also find this staff team is professional, friendly, and more than willing to listen to each and every person's concern and have it met :3

 

The greatest system is one that is not only friendly and approachable, but is also efficient and crystal clear. That's the only mission we've ever tried to accomplish.

[Princes Cadance 345]

I think your mane rant is about the ToS page, you did not give any feedback on the rest of the forum. As a whole I find this forum/forum layout very welcoming. The ToS page is supposed to be red as people above me have stated just for the sake of pointing out what is allowed and not allowed.

[Shanks 10,816]

So long as you use common sense, be civil and respectful I don't believe you have anything to worry about. There were two occasions in which I screwed up and they went a bit easier on me than I expected them to but even if they didn't I would have been nowhere near a perma ban. The staff are pretty reasonable people and don't just wave the ban hammer for the sake of waving it, I was once on a site that devolved into that and this site is nowhere even close to that.

[SCS 7,537]

I disagree that it is intimidating. I think that it is straightforward, clear, and emphatic without going overboard, which is a very good thing. Besides, I am more concerned with what the rules are than how they are worded, and this site's rules are reasonable and easy to follow. Plus, a lot of them are just common sense.

 

My personal opinion is that it's difficult to get in any serious amount of trouble on most sites unless you deliberately break a rule or do something intended to offend others.