2/24/2015 11:15:10 AM
Promotional Contests Board Now Available
Some members might have already noticed, but I suspect many have not - the
Promotional Contests board should now be viewable to all ACC members. This board is for service companies to host their contests and quizzes.
I posted details regarding the release of the board along with some related board rules updates on the
ACC Noticeboard yesterday. Please review the
February 23rd update on the
Operational Updates 2015 notice thread. If you have not already, you may want to subscribe to that notice thread for future updates that may be posted about the site.
Thanks,
VenusKamal
Site Manager
1/26/2015 12:46:33 PM
Changes to Creative Writing Board Rules, Use Of "Identifier" Terms For WiFi, And The Language Filter
Many members may be aware that over the past several months the Modmin team has been discussing an issue brought up in the
Voice Your Opinion thread. This issue was regarding making a change in our rules and policies to allow same gendered couples inclusion into creative writings on the Creative Writing board. The board rules have disallowed same gendered couples in stories and fan fiction since October 2012 even though mild romantic content became allowable when those rules were set into place. It might have also been inferred from those board rules that mention of one's LGBT status or mention of one's same gendered significant other was not allowed on ACC at all, which was not the case. After much discussion and consideration, the Modmin team are making some changes with regard to those board rules as well as some other related policies as outlined below:
1. The
Creative Writing Board Rules, which previously prohibited inclusion of same-gendered couples in fiction writings, have been updated. Same gendered couples are now
allowed to be included in stories on the board. Do keep in mind that the
limits on all romantic content in creative writing has not changed at all. We recommend that the board rules be reviewed as a refresher.
2. For a long time the words "g
ay" and "le
sbian" have been in the language filter as traditionally they have been used by members in derogatory contexts. We have removed those words from the filter. This allows LGBT members to directly identify their orientation in profiles without having to bypass the filter. Please know that use of these words as attacks, slurs and the like will be treated as flaming or trolling. Please report any misuse of these words to the Moderators using the
icon on the offending content so that we can address it swiftly.
3. In the past, the Modmin staff has disallowed "identifier" terms for controversial topics, typically religious affiliation and LGBT status, to be used to look for other WiFi partners on the WiFi Lobby boards. From now on, members may use such identifiers to find other players of a similar world view as themselves for WiFi play purposes only. On a related note, in case members were unaware that this was allowable, you indeed can and probably should
inform your WiFi partners of any potentially offensive content they may encounter in your game, e.g. animal neighbors swearing. Being upfront about such things saves both members time and energy in the end. If someone is OK to encounter the questionable content, then great. If not, respect the person's decision to not to play with you over WiFi.
Finally, as a reminder, public threads discussing political, religious or LGBT issues are still not allowed despite the changes highlighted above. Such topics are allowed discussion in PTs as has been practice for many years. Specifically, threads about coming out, what's your orientation, marriage equality, civil rights cases/abuses, do you believe in God, what's your faith etc. are included in topics not suitable for public board discussion.
If you have specific questions regarding a thread you would like to post on the public boards but are unsure of it being allowed, please contact a Modmin before posting. The Modmins will continue to discuss the site rules and monitor these issues as we move forward. As always, if you have any concerns or comments, you may use the
Voice Your Opinion thread on the Site Suggestions board.
1/8/2015 3:18:11 PM
AC on GamesDoneQuick
GamesDoneQuick is about to do a speed run on the original Animal Crossing (GameCube) at 4:47PM (ACC time). GamesDoneQuick is a video game marathon hosted on Twitch that raises money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation.
While AC can't be "completed" per se, this speed run will consist of the player paying off all debts as quickly as possible.
Check them out now on
Twitch, or find
their full schedule on their main site.
11/21/2014 1:49:15 PM
Newspaper and Magazine Threads
Many of you are already aware that newspaper and magazines threads are disallowed on the public forum boards according to rule
1.14 - Topics Not Allowed. These types of threads are allowed to operate within PTs, however. Traditionally the way to advertise such threads have been to post something in your profile and/or signature.
Many magazine and newspapers now operate like a Service Company, employing many other members of the community as features editors, writers, etc. So some newspaper/magazines created recruitment threads and subscription threads on the
Recruitment and
Shops and Services boards respectively. Some of those threads ended up being locked by the Modmin team as being in violation of rule 1.14 a while back.
Upon further review and discussion, the Modmin team has decided that owners of PT based magazine or newspaper thread may now use the
Shops and Services board to post a subscription thread for their magazine. If newspaper/magazine owners need help or have open positions within their company, a recruitment thread may be posted on the
Recruitment board. The actual publication of the newspaper or magazine must
still remain in a PT.
DO NOT post the actual magazine or newspaper on the public boards. The Modmins will continue to monitor this situation and discuss if necessary any further changes regarding these threads.
If you have any specific questions regarding this, you may use the
Voice Your Opinion thread on the Site Support board. Any specific questions regarding markup or bumping of a service thread should still be posted on the
Markup & Bumping thread on Site Support.
Thank you,
VenusKamal
Site Manager
11/16/2014 3:38:41 PM
Name the "Bell Shop"!
Wanted to bring special attention to this week's poll. We are tossing around some various ideas for the name of the new Bell Shop (working codename). One reason that we are considering something other than Bell Shop is since we will open with two currencies: Bells, earned through special ads, and Bucks, purchased with money (replacing donations). But we also understand that many are used to the current name that we've been using for years, so it's an option as well.
If you have any other ideas, let us know on
this Site Suggestions thread.
