Hi guest and welcome. Congratulations on becoming a board monitor. It's not an easy job and there are a few things that need to be covered before you get started.

• Main Council
  
• Extended Council
  
• Council Member (not of the Main or Extended with a star)
  
• Council Member (not of the Main or Extended without a star)

  All council members with a star, whether or not they are part of the Main or Extended Council are considered to be a board monitor. A star means you have abilities, one of which is to remove posts from the message board. Those without a star are either Mall Managers or Guild Reporters.

  All new Board Monitors will automatically receive the rank of "Top Executive" if they are not already there. There will be a probation period of sixty (60) days to determine that the person is able to peform the duties given to them as well as following the rules and guidelines of the guild. After the probation period is up, the person will be moved into rank of Council Member, provided they meet all of the guidelines for that rank.

  

  RESPONSIBILITIES OF A BOARD MONITOR

  1. Obviously, the first job of a board monitor is to monitor the board and remove any inappropriate posts. These would be posts that break either guild or TNT rules. This is explained further in the 'Guidelines' section below.

  2. Board monitors should address any questions that have been asked by guild members that have not yet been answered. Even if the monitor does not know the answer, a simple response to acknowledge the question helps. When the monitor does know the answer, try to be as thorough and complete as possible so that the original questioner will be satisfied.

  3. Board monitors should have a working knowledge of the guild and should be able to clarify any questions about the guild.

  4. Board monitors should be at least partially responsible for keeping the peace - making sure that arguments are mediated and that things which need to be said via neomail, are kept in neomail and not on the board.

  5. Board monitors should always try to present themselves as professionally as possible - spelling out words instead of using chat speak, at least attempting to answer a question, and treating others with respect. Most ESPECIALLY treating others with respect. As a council member your behavior reflects on the entire guild.

  6. Board monitors should always be up to date on what has been posted on the message board which means going back to read all past posts. A fresh eye is always a good thing and there might be something that was missed that you are able to take care of. A good rule of thumb for checking is to go back to the last post YOU made and catch up from there.

  

  GUIDELINES

  First and foremost, be up on the rules. This means ALL rules set by the Terms and Conditions of TNT and the PMC Guild. You can't function properly if you don't know the rules.

  For TNT rules, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the Terms and Conditions link. Also remember that TNT always updates their rules by posting them in the Editorial section of the Neopian Times. It is a good idea to read that section regularly so you are aware of what has been changed and/or updated.

  Another source for finding out past editorials is The Atheneum NT Editorial Archives. This is a wonderful source of information as it is broken down into sections for the Times. It is strongly recommended that you bookmark this site and use it regularly as it is the most consolidated source of Editorials other than the Times itself.

  

  The Guild Rules have been noted here but can also be found on the PMC_Guild_Rules page. Should anyone need to access the Guild Rules, please refer them to that page.

  • RULE #1 -- TRASHING OF THE GUILD AND/OR MEMBERS
    Trash talking about the guild and/or its members is not allowed and is unacceptable behavior.
    Offense Type: Two

  • RULE #2 -- BAD LANGUAGE AND/OR INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT
    Any messages containing bad language and/or inappropriate content is not allowed and is unacceptable behavior.
    Offense Type: One, Two or Three (depending on content)

  • RULE #3 -- NO BEGGING FOR ANY ITEMS OR NEOPOINTS
    Any board messages asking for items and/or neopoints or trying to give away items and/or neopoints is not allowed. This also includes begging or asking for donations in your NeoSignature. Doing so will just make you look lazy, cheap, and like a beggar.
    Offense Type: One

  • RULE #4 -- NO SPAMMING THE BOARD
    Listed below is what the PMC considers spamming.

    Posting the same message again if you do not get a response immediately.
    (This includes posting "did anyone see my message")
    Posting useless messages.
    (Example: Hi)
    (Example: Is anyone here?)
    (Example: I'm going to bed)
    Posting more than 3 messages in a row.
    
    Try to combine all your comments into one or two posts please!
    Offense Type: One

  • RULE #5 -- RESPECT THE AVATAR LENDING PROGRAM
    The avatar lending program is for lending ONLY. Anyone caught stealing avatar items will be reported to TNT and permanently banned from the guild. This goes for avatar pets as well. Anyone who does not return an avatar pet AS IS (which includes the petpet if applicable) will be permanently blocked!
    Offense Type: Three

    

    
    OFFENSE TYPE EXPLANATIONS

  • Offense Type: One
    On your first offense your message will be deleted and you will be given a warning regarding which rule you broke. This warning will be posted on the Guild Message Board.

    If you receive a second offense your message will be deleted and you will be suspended for 3 days. You will receive a neomail regarding the second offense. We post the second offense on the message board so that the monitors can track it easily.

    If you receive a third offense you will be banned and blocked without a neomail.

  • Offense Type: Two
    You will be banned and blocked from the Guild.

  • Offense Type: Three
    You will be banned and blocked from the Guild and Reported to TNT.

  

  HOW TO DELETE A POST

  On the same line as "Reply To This Message", directly across on the same line is "Delete This Message". Click on 'delete' and you should receive a pop-up stating that the message will be permanently deleted and giving you the option to click ok or cancel before you continue. Be sure of what you want to do. In most cases, once a message is deleted, it is gone and not coming back.

  To delete an entire series of posts, in the Admin section (the last box in the Guild Council, Rank, etc. column) there is a "Guild Board" link. Click on this and you will be taken to a section where you can delete messages up to 4 days old OR messages from a specific member. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SECTION SHOULD NOT BE USED UNLESS SOMEONE HAS SPAMMED THE BOARD WITH REPEATED MESSAGES AND YOU NEED TO REMOVE THEM QUICKLY. (The 'delete messages from a specific member' removes all messages that individual posted in a 5 day period – not good.)

  

  There are also a few things that our President has asked us to remember. Keep in mind that these are governing Board Monitor rules and must be adhered to at all times.

  All posts by council members must NEVER be deleted without first consulting that council member and discussing it with them. At that time, either they will delete the post or ask you to do it. You may NEVER delete a council post without permission. If the member is not available, then you must neomail Denisse, Lisaacloud or Lonnikins and discuss it with one of them. If they are not available, you can then neomail the Board Manager, Mizshortie and discuss it with her. Only with permission from one of them are you then allowed to delete an absent council member's post. You must also neomail that council member and let them know that you deleted their post and why. Give a full explanation along with the fact that you had permission and note which one you spoke with. If a problem arises, direct them to one of the four people above.

  In the event you have been given permission from a council member (i.e., "If you see me doing things like that, I don't mind if you just delete it."), you still need to let that member know you deleted it and why.

  

  BOARD CHECKS

  Remember when making a board check, it is important to make sure that any pending questions are answered before deletion. A good rule of thumb is to go back to see what has been posted since YOUR last post. Especially if you haven't been on all day. Sometimes a fresh eye can catch what has been missed with so many people posting at once. Only non-pertinent items such as older SHH's, dailies, extended conversations regarding a topic, etc. should be removed. A pertinent question with its pertinent answer(s) should remain. The council responses to questions are to remain.

  When running a board check, the following post should be made BEFORE you start removing posts:

  BOARD CHECK (in subject line)
  Cleaning up some posts that are not necessary for everyone to read when they return.
  Please DO NOT reply to this message. This is a way for board monitors to keep track of things that have been checked.
  Thank you for being part of the PMC!

  Also remember, when deleting messages, you must remember to post to whom and why the message was deleted. It is best to post your reminder/warning first and then go back and delete. It is also acceptable to neomail the individual if you feel that they will not see your reminder/warning.

  The first "warning" should always be noted as a friendly reminder. A second reminder is also acceptable depending upon the severity of the offense. If you have to remind someone of the same offense for a third time, then it becomes an official warning and rule violation procedures apply. Please note that suspensions will be handled exclusively by Denisse or Lisaacloud and will be addressed on a case by case basis.

  

  SUSPENSIONS AND BANNING

  No council member with suspension capabilities may suspend another guild member without prior authorization from Denisse or Lisaacloud. When dealing with a problem member, it is a good idea to take screenshots of their offense as well as your actions on the board, as well as copies of your neomails to the individual(s).

  Should it come to the point that a person has reached the point of suspension/banning it must be discussed with Denisse or Lisa. Only in the most extreme cases (i.e., a member comes in posting rants, slaming the guild and/or it's members and shows no signs of stopping) can you suspend without prior approval. In this instance, screenshots are mandatory to validate the suspension/ban and should be forwarded to Denisse , Lisaacloud or Lonnikins immediately.

  

  PROMOTIONS

  This doesn't really fall under the category of a board monitor, but since all council members are board monitors and only council can promote, let's throw it in for chuckles. *smile* As well, it is a question that comes up almost daily so it is important to be aware of the guidelines.

  Those particular guidelines are located on the on the PMC_Guild_faqs page.

  Most times you will refer people to the guild links located at the top of the page on the message board or on the Guild home page. But if you are feeling generous and want to discuss the process, here are a few things to remember.

  Lab maps can be used to verify a million points, but the person needs to post using the avie to prove they have the map. Screen shots are showing someone's bank balance, with interest are also acceptable. The member must place the information on a petpage and send you the link so you can view that they have a million and the interest.

  Another question regarding promotion is "Can I use the items on this account to promote on my sides?" The answer is no. Each account must have it's own items to be promoted. It is ok to move the items over from your main to your side.

  If you do not have the ability to promote please refer the person to someone on Main or Extended council. Any of these members are able to give promotions. Any further questions are answered on the on the PMC_Guild_faqs page.

  

  I hope this page helps you when monitoring the boards. Your work is very much appreciated and this guild could not run as smoothly as it does without your help. If you have any further questions regarding the above, please contact Mizshortie or Lonnikins. Remember that we are always here to help.