Updates

This is a announcement update of troubles rules for the General category.

For some time now, we have been wanting to clarify some of the rules at TFL. Below we will outline the changes that will be taking place. Most are not new rules, merely clarification on our current rules.

If you have any questions about anything you read below, please ask them here or get in touch with the senior staff :)

The major change from your perspective is that we will be introducing “reminders” for minor problems such as links opening in frames; problems with one (of several) TFL link-back; or a relatively minor problem with the countries list. This means that a staffer will send you an e-mail informing you of the problem, and you will have a month to fix it without being troubled. If, after a month, the staffer finds the problem is unresolved during the next troubles check, the fanlisting will then be troubled. We feel this is a much fairer system and will save otherwise looked-after fanlistings from being troubled for minor problems.

Second, we are banning redirection URLs like cjb.net and .tk because they are either inaccessible to all visitors, or they pose security risks to visitors. This is NOT a troubles offense. Instead, we ask that you submit an Update Information form ASAP so that we can link to your actual URL. If staffers find sites using these redirect URLs, they will contact owners to update the URL. Finished forms or Update forms with redirect URLs will be returned to the submitter for the actual URLs.

In addition to the above, we are creating three new specific troubles e-mails. These are so that you will receive e-mails which more specifically state the problem, rather than a more generic e-mail. Again, these are not new offenses; they have just been clarified for both your and the staffers’ convenience. The more specific troubles offenses are:

Unfair rules – code words on the join form: “We found that your fanlisting requires “code words” or “secret words” in the rules page or on the join form before potential members can be added to the fanlisting. As the rules of our network state, you must accept ALL fans, so long as they include a name, valid country, and valid e-mail address. You can NOT require any additional information from them. You may refuse to link their websites for whatever reason, and you may edit member nicknames, but you cannot require “code words” or “secret words” from potential members before adding them to the fanlisting. All fans must be listed. Note: Passwords that members create themselves for the purpose of later updating their listed information are acceptable. Fanlisting scripts like Enthusiast 2 may require passwords in order to verify that the listed member genuinely wants to update his/her information.”

Unfair Rules: Hidden Join Form: “We found that your fanlisting has a “hidden” join form, meaning that potential members can only join the fanlisting after finding a “secret” link hidden within your rules or on the site somewhere. As the rules of our network state, you must accept ALL fans so long as they include a name, valid country, and valid e-mail address. Using a hidden join form is effectively the same thing as requiring a “secret word” or “code word” before allowing potential members to join the fanlisting. You may refuse to link members’ websites for whatever reason and you may edit their nicknames, but you cannot require them to hunt for the join form link first.”

Inactivity on fanlisting: Pending members not added: “We found that your fanlisting has members who have been pending approval or updates for over two months. We require that all fanlistings be updated at least once every two months. This means that all potential members who have submitted join forms within the past two months be added to the fanlisting, and all current members who have requested updates to their information within the past two months be updated. For your fanlisting to be removed from the troubles list, *all* pending members must be added to the fanlisting, and all update forms must be processed.”

Finally, we have added some more detail to our rules page. This is so that what we expect of owners is more explicit, and also so there is more detail to answer commonly asked questions:

1. You must have HTML and graphics experience.
* Provide an existing URL that displays your ability with both of these aspects when you apply.
* E-groups (e.g., MSN, Yahoo, etc.), journal sites (e.g., LiveJournal, Myspace, DeadJournal, etc.), message boards, and anything with pre-made templates are not viable proof.
* If you are using a free site that has HTML generators (e.g., Geocities, Tripod, etc.), the category staffer may decline your application if the site shows little actual HTML or graphics knowledge. Although we do not prohibit the use of HTML generators, we do expect owners to demonstrate some experience beyond that which many basic generators are capable of.

2. You must provide a link back to TFL.org.
* You may use a text link or banner.
* This must be in a visible place (i.e. splash page or index page).
* If your site uses frames, please make sure that the TFL link opens in a new window.

3. You must create the fanlisting in four weeks.
* If you cannot complete the fanlisting in this time frame, contact the staffer as soon as possible to ask for an extension. Be sure to include why you need it and how long you may need.
* If you decide you no longer wish to make your fanlisting, you must submit a Closed form for it. You cannot adopt out an unfinished fanlisting to a new owner.

6. The only required fields on your fanlisting should be a name and a country. You can also require a working email address.
* You may ask for additional information (e.g., ‘favourite book’), but these fields must be optional.
* You may not reject any members, unless they fail to provide a name, a country, or – if required – a valid email address, or a password so the member can edit their own information. Failing to provide any additional information may not be used as a basis for rejecting a member.
* You may refuse to list a URL if you find it offensive, but you must list the member’s name and country.
* You must list actual countries (e.g., not states, provinces, cities, or continents; fictional places like Middle Earth; vague descriptions like “Earth” or “here;” or purely political or charitable organizations like NATO or the UN). Please note that the United Kingdom [em]is[/em] an actual country, but you may require members to specify which country within the UK they are from.