Help Guide & Board Updates! *Please Read*

Being new can be a bit overwhelming sometimes, here are some helpful Links, Tips, & Information to help you out and reference back to if you need it, this may also be overwhelming but try to get familiar with it is what we are asking, you may at some point be referenced back. Any New updates will be put into other posts on this thread.

The Board Rules, The FAQ, Annoucements, The QSF Board

Search function,, The Csifile News, News Discussion Forum

Premium Memberships


Avatars (Side Pictures):
-You must have 100 posts to start.
-Then find an avatar then upload it to your own host site (ie photobucket.com) , then copy the URL come over here click "My Home", then down to edit "Personal Information", then Check the box stating you have an avatar, Paste the URL in the line provided, go down and click submit, To check if it is working, click "My home" go down to the bottom and you should see you're avatar. If you don't retry it again, and then if it still doesn't work, you can ask in QSF (Questions/Suggestions/Feedback) Forum for more help.
-Please note that avatars can not carry Adult Content, Swearing, Baiting, Trolling or Flaming in them.

Banner sizes & Information:
-The Administrators of this Board, have made the following decision regarding banner sizes and signatures Banner Announcement: "I'm going to ask that either you have a banner (with the dimensions no more than 220 in width, 75 in height) OR you have a text signature, but NOT both."

-Please abide by this directive. We will be posting in threads or sending private messages to those individuals who are still not in line with this new policy. We ask that all please give us your full cooperation in this matter as the entire Board should not be made to lose its banner or signature privileges because of the few persistently errant. Thank you. Here is the size it should be no bigger then.



-To resize a banner if you do not know how to do it, you can always go into the "Art Forum" and ask for help, there are plenty of talented people who can help you.
-Please note that Banners cannot carry Adult Content, Swearing, Baiting, Trolling or Flaming in them.


Censor Self Language:
When it comes to swearing we ask that you censor yourself (even just a little), since the board censors are not on to do it for you, there are many ways of doing this and I have faith that you all know what they are, this is not a general rule of the board, but something being asked by the moderators of this forum, because of the minors on the board (even if they already know it) its still nice not to constantly see swearing all the time.

Chatting:
Please Remember this is a Message Board NOT a Real time Chat-room (you can tell if your doing it by the time coded on the top of each post), it makes it difficult to monitor and could result in warnings, or locked posts, we don't want to take away your freedom to post or talk, we just want you to remember this, the rules state as a general rule, don't post more than two or three threads in a forum within a reasonable length of time.

Downloading discussion:
As long as it is from a legal site (ie itunes, walmart, etc) being where you pay for the downloads is allowed to be discussed (we ask that you specify or we may think you are talking about a site that is considered illegal (kazaa, Fansites, etc). As T'Bonz has said its evolving so we are taking it one step at a time.

Edit Time Of Posts:
There is a new time, you now have more, you have up to 24 hrs to edit your posts, in hopes of slowing down the double posting, now you can go back and edit your posts and make the changes or add to it.

Editing Moderators Comments:
If a mod edits you're post it is done for a reason, do NOT go in and remove said edit from the post, doing so is subject to an Official Warning, and possible removal from the forum.

Episode Linking, Proxies, Allowed/Not Allowed:
-There are three legal ways of getting CSI episodes online those are CBS's Innertube and iTunes, and Youtube (with provided by CBS). Anything through cbs.com is going to be legal.
--Some people that will try to hide the fact that they are not in the US by using proxies (these are just routing your traffic through a 3rd party server). These services are not illegal. Though talking about circumventing CBS is dodgy and not allowed on this site.
-Talk of MIRC, BitTorrent, Usenet, eDonkey or P2P. These are all illegal. Any sites that claim to give you access to TV episodes (you'll often see them in Google ads actually) are illegal. Even if they say they are legal, they are illegal.
-End result: CBS and iTunes are okay. Ways to cheat them not ethical and should be stopped. Other ways illegal.
-Add-in: CBS has now got its own YouTube Space, the only catch is next to each video it will state "Provided By: CBS" that is the only way that it is legal to link to. IF it states that it is done by a fan, then it would fall under the "fan Video" rule.

Fan Video's:
The admins have decided that Fan Video's will no longer be allowed to be posted any where on the TalkCSI Site, this includes links to them, under any circumstances, including the fair use act protection. There are copyright issues regarding the use of clips from eps, and there is also the music issues as well, this is to be considered a General Rule just like the all the other rules of TalkCSI. This does not affect any of the pictures or screen caps, this is strictly again regarding "Fan Video's". We would also like to remind you of the "Intellectual Property" rule in which it states that you can not discuss, request or link to any material that is downloaded. If you have any Questions or would like further information on this please do not hesitate to ask in the "QSF" (Questions, Suggestions, Feedback) Forum.

Finding Other Pages & Threads:
Please do look around, duplicate posts on the same subject can be confusing, and if you look at the bottom of this forum you will see a drop down box just click that and choose how far back you want to go for more pages.
-When you click on to this forum, you see all the threads.
-Go to the bottom of the forum, you see a drop down box. Click the the drop down box it will say "Show Active in the..." Pick time frame (the more you pick the more pages will come up.
Now that you have picked click changed, it will show you the top of this forum, go to the bottom and you will see pages. The only time you can not post a reply is if you see the Padlock on it.

Hotlinking?
-Hotlinking is when link to a picture and it shows up to be seen in the post. (for example if you see a cool picture on a second site and bring it over and post that pic in full view that is hotlinking, and is pulling that other sites bandwidth. Not to mention would get the post edited.
-Clickable Hotlinking: is when you post the image as explained above and then click the picture to go to a bigger picture which is on that secondary site. thats a no-no as well.
-Clickable URL linking: Like with News stories or to go visit a site, or to go see a picture is not considered hotlinking, it's not stressing bandwidth, and it brings over traffic of peeps who might not have seen the site.

Languages:
While there are many people from all around the country, please be aware that this is an English speaking board, a few words in your native language is fine (as long as we can interpret them easily) but otherwise please keep it in English, and if you are not fluent in English don't worry about it, no one is judging you on it, you're spelling or command of word, and if they are please feel free to report it to a moderator in that forum, just remember we all make mistakes sometimes.

Letter & Smilie Abuse:
This means over use of letter and smilies that stretch the screen, we get that you are happy or want to display your feelings but when you do that we are forced to "Edit" your post as it causes stretching of the screen and it can just be annoying. There is a correct way and an incorrect way, the correct way would be "Soooo" or " notice it didn't go beyond three to four extra letters or smilies, anything more then that would be an incorrect way.

My Home:
Okay This is where you would make all your changes all you do is go to the top of the forum and once in there you just click "Edit" on:
-Personal Informatio: To change "Avatars", Signatures" etc.
-Display preferences: To change "Time", "Post display" etc.

Notify Mod Button:
There is a button on each post that a user can use if they find that the post is breaking the rules, this will send the mods of that forum a message that we need to see that thread a little faster them usual, just click this button then pick the violation, and if its not on there choose "other" and please write in either way what is going on (eg. Fighting in thread). Please do not abuse this feature, if you are not sure then hold off, usually there is a mod that pops in at different times, but if you feel its needed then use it.

Pictures In Posts
-When posting pictures in threads please keep them under or close to: 1 Large pic 400x400,or 2 Medium pics 130x130, or 3 Small pics 115x115.
Anything larger then the max size should be put into links, and we ask no more the "6 URL Links" per post, people will click on (most likely instructions regarding pictures will be in the first post of that thread) as it stretches the screen. Please upload any pictures to your own site to link over, as hotlinking is not allowed.
-Please note that Pictures can not carry Adult Content, Swearing, Baiting, Trolling or Flaming in them.
-If you are new please note that you have to have 100 posts before you can post a picture, until you reach that mark you can use the "URL" link to the picture.

PM's (Private Messages):
-No Longer need 100 posts.
-Mods & Admins can still Pm You even if your box is full or Off.

Questions:
Since at this point we do not have a question thread, we are going with the old standby which is, if you have a question don't hesitate to PM TallyHo or Myself.

Scripts Used For Spoilers
Due to copyrights the use of Scripts in whole or in part will no longer be allowed to be copy, pasted or linked to on this site, what you can do is summerize in you're own words a description of the episode/s and discuss it from there. You can use descriptions as described in the scripts as long as you don't not infringe on any of the copywrites of the site in which you are getting that info.

Spoilers
-Keep spoilers out of clearly unmarked threads,
-If you want to add a spoiler please use the spoiler tags (to learn to use the tag use the UBB box on reg. reply), To read an Invisiable Spoiler (ie Tag) just run your mouse over and highlight and the spoiler (ie Text) should appear.
-Please put them in threads where the "Spoiler* Warning is in the subject.
-Future Airings can be placed in the "Spoiler Lab" for of the current season to be read or discussed, if asked about a spoiler direct them to the Ep thread, or Lab please..

A Stars Personal Life Discussion:
While we do tend to discuss a stars personal life, there are really certain parts of that personal life that should not be discussed. While a star may talk about it in public thats one thing but lets respect that aspect of their lives please.

Threads/Replies:
Once a thread goes over 1,000 posts it will be locked and if its going good, another one (ie Part 2) will be opened with a link to the old one in the new thread, and the new link in the old thread. Know this doesn't mean we are doing away with the thread, we are just closing the old and making it fresh again.

Also adding substance to your responses, more then one line or one word, or alot of smilies, its good to give opinions, other wise it might be considered spamming substance in a thread keeps a good conversation flow, adding in that everyone has the right to their opinions, we ask that you respect that and remember the rules state that you can disagree with someones opinion but you can not attack the poster.


We reserve the right to Change or Update at anytime. Thank you. **Locked**

 

Re: Board Updates! *Please Read*

Abusive Private Messages:
T'Bonz Wrote the following in the Shipper forum but we want it clear in here as well.
Abusive PMs. PMs are not a right, but a privilege. If I find that someone is being abusive via PM or chasing off people because of venomous PMs, I can take away the right of PMs for said person or ban the person. Don't say behind everyone's back what you won't say to their faces.

Auto Admin announcement:
If your avatar is hotlinked (see definition above for hotlinking) then you will have to move it or the AA will remove it for you. For More info on Auto Admin, click the link above. Some have asked for recommendations on a couple sites they can use to host their Avatars and Banners. Photo Bucket or Image Station, both are free and both allow the linking needed and both are easy to use.

Changes To Board:
"Announcement" <Snip>: First the amount of posts you can view on any one page, and the amount of threads listed on the forum pages. These have been set to a maximum of 40 and 25 respectively. -- A change made was the removal of 'new post' counts in threads. With these gone it should help speed up the forums significantly. -- To read in whole click the link provided.

"Having More than One Account":
<Snip:> Having more than one account is against the rules.
I would suggest that if you have more than one account, you get hold of me and tell me which one to shut, before I get to it and shut all of your accounts. (for the rest click the link above)

Having More Then One Account Reminder!
Just a reminder: IF you start a second account to start trouble, it will mean closing both it AND your primary account when I catch it.
Don't do it! -- Amnesty now. PM me with any dupes if you wish to keep your primary account and I'll shut the extra one. I can and have shut down people using more than one account.

Introducing....NAME CHANGES
I would like to offer the ability to change one's display name on CSI.
Read carefully, as this is how it works. Since this will be work for me (I'll probably be innundated), cooperation is essential. *For more click the link above*

Regarding Picture Use:
"Announcement": Please make sure that if you are using avatars, banners or other pictures that were created or put online by others, that you get permission first to use them. Thanks.

Ship Discussions:
The only time a ship discussion is allowed in LV is when said ship pertains to said episode. Anything other then that (ie Rants, Wishful thinking, overall talk) belongs in "Shipper Central". If you are not a shipper, if you are a shipper, and you do not like what is being said, you have the option to ignore it. As stated everyone is entitled to agree or disagree with the opinions, but one thing that isn't tolerated is going after any member for having said opinion.


*This is Locked & Subjected To Updating, Please Remember To Check Back*