Site Rules

[Susanna Boyd]

Hi!

We've reached a point in our growth as a community where it's time to lay down some rules.

But before the rules, an explanation:
I am an enabler. I love being enabled. I love sharing the goodness of all the wonderful sites out there, and the gorgeous product that we can all use to create our pages. That's something I don't want to lose. *I also don't want to police things.* But if rules are set and agreed to by the community, we can all develop a place where we can enjoy our hobby in freedom, make friends across the globe, and help one create.

I also have no intention selling product on a large scale here, and because of this, I don't feel any competition from designers or shoppes who DO sell product. In fact, I welcome their designs, because I want to use them, too!

So in light of these facts, here are the rules, effective immediately. Most of these are an "on your honor, respect us and we respect you" kind of basis, ok?

1. If you are a designer or owner of an online store, please do not post new threads about the products you sell. This is not a place for free advertising, but a place to share and learn. You can, however, post in the gallery, and work through your CT to help people find specific product they're looking for.
2. If you are a CT member, and you're super excited about something in your designer's shoppe, *feel free to *occasionally* post about it*. As I mentioned above, we love being enabled. If someone posts requesting a specific type of product and you know your designer's stuff fits the bill, feel free to post. However, if your posts become 'all about ads' and not about contributing to the community, you'll be warned and then banned. We love enablement, and we love to hear about specific products you're excited about, but nobody loves a pushy salesperson. I think we can tell the difference.
3. If you are an owner or a CT member, and would like to post your creations in the General Gallery, that's awesome! Please do NOT post product previews, though - these must be projects that you have created. You may also include a direct link to the product itself (NOT to the home page of your web site or store), but PLEASE do not include any 'advertising language', by which I mean things like "On sale now!" "For a limited time!" "10% off today only!" "I sell these great templates at xyz site" and so forth. Link us up to the product, and let your design speak for itself.
4. Please don't use our groups or our email system or even our comment forms as a way to "spam" members. Just like on the forums, we're not here for unpaid advertising and many of our members find if "off putting." You're welcome to have a banner ad in your group for members to click through to your store... you're also welcome to post coupons and incentives in the Events area; however, unsolicited emails are expressly prohibited.
5. I like to say that we're like Facebook, but for paper crafters -- but really, your personal pictures should not be put in the public galleries. Please use our Flickr widget (or any other photo links you want) to add personal photos to your "My Page" and let's keep the public gallery for our art work.

*Addendum: You may link to your personal blog and to your store in your signature.

Violators of the rules will be warned once by email (and have their posts removed), and then banned. Sounds harsh, but there it is. We don't want to see our community abused. We don't want the members of our community to have advertising forced upon them while they come here to learn. So we'll have a great time together if we can agree to this.

Again, you can post your coupons, freebies and promotion links in our Events area, OK? Feel free to send me an email with your comments/requests/feedback in this area. We don't want to be unwelcoming, and we love product! You can contact me HERE.

Thank you so much for joining our community here! PaperCraftPlanet.com is a wonderful and welcoming community, and we want to keep it that way - a place of warmth and trust and integrity. Thank you!

Susanna

[Susanna Boyd]

There is a badge on the front page on the right hand side -- at the bottom is a link that says "get badge". Let me know if you have any trouble!

[Emma V. Aguilar]

Thanks for getting back to me, I will let you know if I have any trouble!! Thank You :)

[Sue Andrew]

Could you please explain what it means to have a 'friend' on the site - not sure what is involved if I accept someone as a 'friend' - thanks

[Susanna Boyd]

It's kind of like Facebook. A friend on the site can message you from other NING networks, like Stamp TV. You can change the settings on your profile to limit who can see your page to friends.

[Susan Rowe]

I signed on a while back & have had two people acknowledge me as "frined" but I don't know what to expect nor what is expected of me. Now that you've explained CT/DT I need to know what NING represents & what is Stamp TV? It sounds like something I want to know about. (The more you teach me, the dumber I get ;-)) but I catch on fast.) Perhaps it would help when you use initials like that if you could put the words they represent in parenthesis right next to the initials? I'm on Facebook but so new I don't know what I'm doing there & I can't even get there unless someone sends meanemail & links me to somethng there specifically. I couldn't get there on my own.

I appreciatethat you have opened this site & thework you must go through to set it up. How long has it been up & going? Thank You, Susanna! ~~ Butterfly Susan ~~

[Susanna Boyd]

NING is the site that allows non-geeky folks like me to set up these online communities. However, NING (not short for anything) wants you to be able to keep your friends from network to network. Stamp TV is a NING network, so is Paper Craft Planet. Friends you have here, will be able to send you messages there.

Paper Craft Planet was launched in November of last year. We're planning a big online celebration for our first birthday :) Stay tuned.

Did I answer your questions?

[Digi Kitty]

I agree to these rules--thank you for posting them.

Hugs,
DigiKitty

[Sandy Larsen]

I'm all for the site rules. Great Job!
Thanks,
Sandy

[Kathy Fronczak/Pixie Dust Studio]

Read and understand!

[Sarah Swire]

Morning all, new to this so need to find my way around. I'm on Facebook but don't really use it, this should be much more fun as it revolves round crafting. Everyone needs rules so well done for doing that. Sarah x

[Lili Sulastri Zainal Abidin]

I've been around for a while but never really visit all the sub-links (except for Sketch and new Sketch for the week section). Today I had the opportunity to maneouver my way around and read the Rules. I must say I am happy with these rules because I am always concern about online safety. To me online Security is the thing and I know I am somewhat safe to be here. That's important. Thanks.