Blade

Welcome to ExtremeSkins, the Official Message Board of the Washington Redskins.

Since the creation of this message board in May, 2000, through the merger with www.redskins.com as the official team message board in August, 2005, the Extremeskins Staff has always aspired to create and maintain the highest standards of interaction of any message board community on the web. To uphold and maintain those expectations, considerable time and effort have been expended to clearly outline and define them for the benefit of the membership. In return, the Staff requests all members return that courtesy by familiarizing themselves and abiding with them.

Compliance with these rules and guidelines is not optional, but a site requirement. Ignorance of the rules will not be considered a viable excuse for violations. As ExtremeSkins members, your first responsibility is to familiarize yourselves with the rules and abide by them. When a member violates a rule, the ES Staff will make an effort to contact them to address the issue. Each violation carries its own set of penalties; some more serious than others. The Staff will make every effort to work with a member to answer any questions regarding a moderating decision, but will expect that their requests/directions be followed.

Although the ExtremeSkins Staff pledge to uphold the Rules and Guidelines at all times, due to the size of the membership and high volume of traffic it is impossible for us review every message. We have therefore empowered the general membership with the ability to assist the Staff by calling possible violations to their attention. The "Report this post to a moderator" function allows members to notify all staff of any particular violations by providing a direct link to the infraction and the opportunity to provide an explanation of the concern.


TO FANS OF OPPOSING TEAMS


This is a website owned by the Washington Redskins, maintained by Redskins fans, and devoted, primarily, to Washington Redskins football. While we enjoy having visitors, we did not leave the door open hoping to have people drop by intent on changing our way of thinking. We are quite happy---some might argue "miserable"---being Redskins fans. We continue to believe that each Sunday marks a new beginning and that eventually we will return to our days of greatness. You, of course, can laugh at that notion, but if you do it here, it probably won't be taken too kindly.

Please don't make the mistake of thinking this is a friendly environment. When you are here, your screen is burgundy and gold for a very deliberate reason. We’re ExtremeSkins. Nothing about this site should suggest to you that we are interested in being all things to all football fans. We have a ton of knowledgeable fans here who know quite a bit about Washington Redskins football in particular, and the NFL in general. We do allow a certain amount of Redskins machismo here, because that is part of the Redskins experience. So please be advised that it’s likely you will encounter, from time to time, critical, disparaging and even mean-spirited statements about things related to your chosen football team. It’s what we do here. And when there is a presumption to be given, it will be given to a Redskins fan.

Do enjoy your stay here---but please make the effort to avoid letting that interfere with our ability to enjoy your stay here.


FORUM ETIQUETTE


1. Each visitor may own a single registered account.
The ExtremeSkins staff screens and approves all new accounts. Duplicate accounts are prohibited, and the staff employs security measures to enforce this policy. Duplicate accounts will immediately closed (i.e., banned). Do not create additional registered accounts to bypass an issued ban; absent compelling circumstances, any attempt to circumvent a ban by registering a secondary account will result in a permanent banishment of all related accounts.


2. Use discretion in selecting an appropriate username.
We strongly advise against registering inappropriate usernames, including, but not limited to, racial slurs, profanity and vulgarity (explicit or implicit). New user accounts with inappropriate usernames will be not be activated. Offenders will be contacted by ExtremeSkins Staff and advised to select an appropriate username or risk having the account banned or deleted.

Registration of user names of actual Redskins coaches, players, media, or front office personnel is prohibited. If you are not Bubba Tyer, do not register that as your user name.

Regardless of your choice of user name, posting in a way that suggests some association, relationship, employment or any other affiliation (including statements expressing your identity is that of a player, owner, coach, executive, former player, etc.) should be avoided until your identity is verified by a member of the ExtremeSkins Staff. Please use the Contact Us form if you wish to post as an “insider” so we can verify your identity and assure credibility to your words.


3. Spam is strictly prohibited.
The following examples constitute spam:

• Very short posts that do not add value to the topic. Example: posts with only the words, "i dunno," or "lol cool," or "in before close" can be considered spam. If that is the only contribution you make to the discussion, this is not the place for you.
  
  
• Double Posting. A double post constitutes back-to-back posts by the same member. The second post may be considered spam. If you submit a post and realize that you have made a mistake or would like to elaborate further, please use the "edit" button/function (located at the lower right of each post) to edit the original post rather than create a new one for that purpose. An exception to the rule applies to a situation where a member wants to address the content of separate individual posts from different members. For example, the first point addresses the content of member A's post; the subsequent post addresses the content of member B's post.
  
  
• Posts that serve no purpose other than to increase one's post count are considered spam. For example, if someone asks a question and you reply just to say you don't know the answer, or create "test" threads or posts, this will be considered spam. If you want to test your signature picture/text, you can do that in any thread where you have already posted. Every time you edit and save a change in your Profile, simply hit your browser’s "refresh" button in a thread in which you have posted. Your account will have been updated across every post you have ever written.
  

Please note that advertisements, chain letters, pyramid schemes, and solicitations are inappropriate and unacceptable on any of our forums.


4. Please post your message in the appropriate forum.
Familiarize yourself with each forum description. Please be considerate and respectful to our visitors who frequent particular forums to gain knowledge on particular topics. Resist the temptation to post irrelevant topics on an inappropriate forum to achieve a wider audience. Moderators may move your post if it more relevant to another forum.


5. Please be respectful of your fellow members.
Every registered member agrees, upon registration, not use these forums to post material or topics which are knowingly false, defamatory, deceptive, inaccurate, racist, insulting, abusive, inflammatory, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually graphic, physically threatening, invasive of another's privacy or otherwise in violation of any law, including stalking or otherwise harassing individual members.

Personal attacks or threats will not be tolerated. Go after the idea, not the poster. Free debate within the parameters outlined herein is welcome on these forums, and diversity of opinion lies at the heart of a good debate. Toward that end, every member is free to have their own opinion so long as it is expressed in a civil manner, is within the subject matter topic of the forum and does not otherwise violate forum rules.

For the benefit of a very few individuals who believe the second paragraph of this rule is not at all connected with the first, we have deemed it necessary to provide direction. The specifics of this rule require you do not violate any of the parameters clearly laid out in paragraph 1 of this rule, which govern the application of enforcement for the entire rule. And as you debate your fellow members, we request you maintain contact with the content of the discussion within each reply, regardless of how heated it may become. We, again, point to Rule 18 we have not enforced here in some time. Please follow the rules. And please appreciate the people who wrote them know them.


6. Do not attempt to circumvent the profanity filters.
Let the filters do their job. Veiled profanity is unacceptable. We allow the use of either all asterisks/symbols or not at all. For example "****" and "*&*%$" are acceptable, while "*****, “s**t” or “sh*t" are not.

We've recently experienced an increase in members quoting profanity filter violations without editing the violation out of the quote. Such a post is simply another violation of this Rule.


7. Ensure the topic you wish to initiate a thread about hasn’t already been posted.
If you are reporting Redskins "news" or "rumors" more than a few hours old, please use the Search Feature or scan the first two pages of the forum before posting, to ensure the news hasn't already been posted and the topic discussed. Multiple topics will be closed or merged.

This is a very large and active community, with sweeping media coverage and up-to-the-minute updates. More than likely, if the news is older than a few hours, the information has already posted and is subject of active debate. If you wish to discuss that topic, you are encouraged to do so in the existing thread.


8. Please use descriptive and accurate subject titles for your posts.
Adherence to this rule assists visitors in utilizing discretion when selecting content to read. It also serves to notify members if a particular topic has already been posted and discussed, and potentially prevents multiple threads being started on the same topic.

Be respectful of the fact that some people come to ExtremeSkins explicitly for latest Redskins news and content, provided without the editorializing of titles by members.


9. False posts or misleading subject titles are prohibited.
Deception at the expense of the audience devalues the medium and the content it provides. Violation of this rule is regarded as a serious offense.


10. When posting anything concerning news articles from outside sources, please include a direct link (i.e., URL) to the origination page/site.
Please paste the URL directly atop the post, above a small portion of the article's text (for example, the lead paragraph or a particular sentence or two) . Such a practice provides credibility and attribution to the source of the information, and allows visitors the option to visit the respective websites. You are responsible for the content you post.

If you are posting a published article from a news source, please title your thread in the following format: "SOURCE SHORTFORM: HEADLINE" (Ex. WP: Redskins Sign CB Shawn Springs). Please see our copyright statement.


11. Please do not use the “Quote” feature to quote huge blocks of text or pictures.
If you would like to respond to the contents of a particular post, simply quote the sentence or idea that you're commenting upon, not necessarily the entire post. It wastes space on the database and unnecessarily extends and clutters threads.


12. No trolling.
Do not post messages that are inflammatory and serve solely to incite fellow members. ExtremeSkins has always prided itself on its zero tolerance policy for the common internet troublemaker. Trolls will be identified and censured, at the discretion of the ES Staff, quickly and efficiently.


13. Please refrain from posting explicit pictures in posts.
"Explicit" pertains to sexually explicit or implicit (hardcore/softcore pornography, animated pictures, written language, etc.) content. Use discretion, and err on the side of caution in instances where material you are considering posting might be considered “over the line.” A significant quantity of our traffic visits occur during work hours, are made in public environments, and are made by individuals less than 18 years of age. Bear these factors in mind when considering posting sexually-related content.


14. Refrain from posting explicit pictures in your signature.
"Explicit" pertains to sexually explicit or implicit (hardcore/softcore pornography, animated pictures, written language, etc.) content. Use your discretion. There shall be no full/partial frontal or full rear nudity. This rule is strictly enforced.


15. Please maintain respectable size signatures within the limitations set herein.
Maintaining reasonable size signatures minimizes the amount of load time needed to access a given page. Furthermore, it reduces the amount of excessive scrolling required of users perusing threads. Signatures should not exceed 550 pixels in width and 200 pixels in height. These dimensions are not a guideline, they are a rule. It is the standard dimension for the entire signature size a member can use. Regardless of the quantity of photos posted, the sum area of all the photos must not exceed the stated size limitations. In addition, signatures should not contain any more than 10 lines of text. The sum total of the height (ie. 200 pixels) INCLUDES text or any combination of images and text.

An example is provided below:




16. REFRAIN FROM POSTING IN ALL CAPITALS.
On the internet, posting in all capitals is considered shouting, and as such is considered rude and offensive. Overuse of capital letters also creates a strain on the eyesight, and makes it difficult to read text. Caps should be used to show emphasis for only one or two words.


17. Do not create “call out” threads.
Threads whose intention is clearly to "call out" another particular member on a personal matter. These forums are not to be used as a medium for personal and/or private vendettas. To the extent personal exchanges/conversations are necessary---and desired by BOTH parties---those members are encouraged to pursue them via Private Messaging. Feel free to question members as to past comments you’d like them to explain in the spirit of good debate.

Do not use private messaging to badger or intimidate other members. Substantiated instances of such behavior will result in the immediate loss of private messaging privileges for the instigator, and may result in permanent banning from Extremeskins.


18. Adhere to the advice and recommendations of the ExtremeSkins.com Staff.
Moderators are appointed because they exemplify the characteristics, attitude and values consistent with the standards set for the site. They have been instructed to enforce board rules, guidelines and policies exercising as much restraint as possible, and in such a way to encourage free expression of opinion. They have been entrusted and empowered with the ability and authority to achieve that standard.

ExtremeSkins allows a wide range of discussion. Please refrain from unfounded charges of censorship or other moderator action taken against a member on the grounds an ExtremeSkins Staffer (or team official) simply didn’t like the content of the opinion. We will never remove content from our community based on our personal views of the validity of that opinion. The team will not prevent any communication that is harsh or critical of the team. As a member, if you are engaged for a violation of the rules and happen to have expressed a viewpoint in opposition to that of the ES Staff, the engagement is due to an actual rule violation and not due to the content of the idea. The simple expression of our viewpoints that may be contrary to those of any member is not action against you and should not inspire charges of censorship. ES Staff members have an opinion they are allowed to express too.

These Rules and Guidelines have been promulgated and implemented with the best interest of the community in mind, and with the experience of five years of moderating one of the most active and successful sports-related message boards on the web. We thank you for your attention and cooperation in learning and respecting the rules.
We're experiencing a recent surge in people who do not understand the meaning of the rules who continue to challenge whether the mods do. Any suggestion the people who wrote the rules and are asked to enforce them know them less than you will lead to an immediate temporary ban.

Thank you, and we look forward to your participation. See you on the boards.

Extremeskins Staff