Disruptive behavior being defined as any of the following

a) Posts deemed by the moderators to be devoid of any intelligent content.

b) Repeated refusal to cite sources or other evidence in support of your claims.

c) Repeated refusal to respond to a moderator's request.

If a debate has gone on a significant length of time, and the moderators feel that it's merely going in circles, they are charged with refocusing the debate, or when that fails, to end it. We do not provide a medium for circular debates which have no end.

On Posting

Our message boards are open to topics and philosophic debates as broadly defined above. We seek to provide a forum for you to explore your ideas. While we hope to provide space for your ideas this does not mean that all topics are appropriate. Please remember:

I- There is a structure to the forums and some topics are not appropriate in some areas. If you are unsure where to place your topic, start it in the "General Philosophy" section. A moderator may find a more appropriate forum for it. If your topic is deemed irrelevant to a given forum, you will be asked to relocate it or a moderator will move it to a more appropriate forum.

II- Before you post a new topic, please go over the list and try to pick the most relevant one for your thread. Some tips:

a) The short forum descriptions will give you some ideas.

b) Using the search engine, do a quick search to check whether or not the topic has been previously discussed.

c) Pick a descriptive title for your thread. Think of the title as a reference point for focusing and refocusing discussion should it stray from the original topic. It also serves to advertise your ideas and inform readers what to expect inside. Avoid vague, nondescript titles for example: "My CooL Theory".

III- When replying to a post ask yourself if the reply is on topic to the original thread. Is it a new topic? Would it be better to open a new thread to explore the ideas? Moderators may split posts and open new threads if they deem things have wandered too far off the original topic or that the material deserves a separate thread of its own. Your cooperation in helping keep the discussion focused and organized is greatly appreciated.

IV- Before submitting your post, proof read or use spell check, as proper writing helps to avoid ambiguity and build mutual respect. You can use the Spell Check function which appears right below the text entry form. For mathematical equations, consider using the Formula function to improve readability. To learn more about writing standards on SPCF, check this thread.

V- We encourage you to exercise sound judgement when posting personal information in the forums. PCF is a public entity and all information posted is available for public scrutiny and review.

On Security Violation

We try to provide a secure environment for our users, and any attempts to breach that security will be met with zero tolerance.

I- Denial of service attacks will not be tolerated. Abusive behavior will earn you a permanent IP ban from our site.

II- The private messaging service via the boards is provided to facilitate communication between members. Misusing this service to annoy others or to sell a product is not allowed.

On Spam

I- Advertising another site with the intention of demonstrating something relevant to a point being discussed is fine, however posts made with the intention of selling a product will be dealt with swiftly. Spamming may be grounds for the immediate termination of your account.

II- Signatures and profile fields that appear in posts and contain URL's or emails encourage spam and are thus not allowed. Please advertise your website in your PROFILE in the WEBSITE field specifically set for that purpose.

The Role of the Mods

Our moderators are charged with interpretation all of the rules you see above. They may take action to ensure the rules are followed with the intent of encouraging the smooth flow of discussion.

Your Contribution

Should you feel that a rule was unfairly enforced, or rather, that it has not been enforced as much as it should, you are encouraged to post an inquiry in the Feedback forum. We ask that all complaints be dealt with there in the open. Complaints will be handled quickly and impartially by non involved parties.

PCF is a public forum and an open board, thus the material posted by users does not reflect the thoughts and beliefs of the PCF moderators/admins. We are not strictly responsible for displaying or removing material posted by the public on all and any of our open forums. Please exercise sound judgement BEFORE submitting your posts.