Netiquette

We place great importance on maintaining a respectful and appropriate atmosphere within our community. To uphold this standard, we must insist on adherence to certain fundamental rules. We reserve the right to restrict access or remove users and content that violate these principles.

General Communication

  1. Treat others with respect
    Every participant in a discussion is a person deserving of basic respect—without exception. This applies even, and especially, when opinions diverge. Insults or statements that belittle others or their viewpoints are never appropriate.
  2. Take ownership of your words
    Everyone has their own ideas about how things should look or work. While all users are free to share their opinions, they should not hide behind anonymity, but instead stand by what they say.
  3. Clear writing is essential
    Proper spelling and grammar reflect a minimum level of respect and help others understand your points more easily. Use formatting (such as text colours) sparingly, and break your text into paragraphs to improve readability.
    There are plenty of free tools available to help with proofreading. Time pressure is no excuse for incomprehensible writing—after all, others are taking the time to read what you post.
  4. Written words can be misinterpreted
    Unlike face-to-face conversations, written communication lacks gestures and facial expressions, which can lead to misunderstandings—especially with ambiguous or context-dependent phrases.
    Emoticons can help, but are not always sufficient. This is particularly relevant for irony or sarcasm, which may be misread or come across as inappropriate to others. For example, a remark like “You really are an idiot” could be intended as a joke among friends or as a serious insult—it depends entirely on context.
  5. Limit use of abbreviations
    While abbreviations like “e.g.” can save time, they should be used sparingly—especially when they might not be familiar to all readers. Forum posts are often read years after publication via search engines or links, so they should remain understandable.
  6. Not every battle is worth fighting
    The saying “Opinions are like noses—everyone has one” is quite apt. No matter the subject, there will always be differing views.
    Sometimes discussions reach an impasse where no consensus is possible. In such cases, it’s wise to simply agree to disagree. Repeating the same arguments only fuels unnecessary conflict with no benefit to either side. Standing by your beliefs is admirable, but it doesn’t mean stubbornly pursuing every disagreement to the bitter end.

Prohibited Content

Our forum primarily focuses on our services and the operation of our products, with a strong emphasis on technical topics and their practical use. We encourage discussion—even when differing opinions arise—within this context.
However, we are unable to moderate off-topic or highly controversial posts effectively and therefore reserve the right to remove such content, especially if it falls into the following categories:

  1. No marketplace listings or trade requests
    This includes any form of buying, selling, or trading—especially involving licences or user accounts.
  2. No advertising
    Promoting websites, forums, services, or other products is not permitted. This includes referral links.
    Exception: Linking to your own website in your forum signature is allowed, provided it is either powered by our software or primarily focused on it.
  3. No copyright infringement
    Do not post or link to content that violates copyright law. This also includes encouraging others to do so.
  4. No political or religious discussions
    There are many platforms better suited to these topics. Our forum is not the place for such debates.

Signatures, Avatars and Profiles

  1. Signatures should not disrupt the reading flow. Use of formatting should be minimal.
  2. Text-based links to websites are not allowed, except where the site is directly related to our software.
  3. Signatures should not exceed 5 lines of standard text.

Avatars and Profile Pictures

Avatars and profile images help others identify you, but must follow these rules:

  1. Do not use content that infringes on trademark or image rights. You must have explicit permission to use any third-party material.
  2. Do not use photos of people other than yourself, including friends or family.
  3. Images of yourself must be appropriate for all age groups. Nude or overly revealing pictures are not permitted.