In addition to the Forum Code of Conduct, here are some common courtesy guidelines to follow. While these do technically fall within the bounds of the Code of Conduct, there has been some confusion regarding what is and is not allowed. These guidelines should help clear up any misconceptions.
Do not post in all capital letters, use excessive punctuation, etc.
This practice is used to draw attention to ones post. While everyone wants their posts read, we ask that you refrain from using sensational tactics in order to bring more people to your thread. Let your post stand on its own merit.
Using the words Blizzard, Blue, or any or the name of any Blizzard employee in a thread is frowned on.
Everyone would like Blizzard to read and acknowledge his or her post, and we understand that. However, use of such words in the topic does not help that come to pass. Please make your thread title relevant to the post subject.
Note that threads discussing e.g. the Blizzard authenticator or Blizzard’s latest press release are allowed to have Blizzard in the title as it’s then relevant to the discussion.
Posting IBL, IBTL, or its variants constitutes spamming.
We appreciate that our posters understand the Code of Conduct to the point where they can call whether or not a thread is in violation; however, saying in before the lock does not contribute to a constructive community and it does fall under spamming. If you wish to acknowledge a post that violates policy, please report it instead.
Posting TLDR or L2P constitutes as trolling
Posting TLDR (Too Long, Didn’t Read) is saying you don’t care about a player’s post. Posting L2P (Learn to Play) mocks the player for their skill or experience level rather than provide constructive input on the post itself. Both are considered trolling and will lead to a suspension.
Do not bump posts.
The act of bumping ones post is considered spamming and contributes nothing constructive to the discussion. Your thread will be seen and answered wherever possible; there is no need to continually bump it to the top of the list.
Petition posts are frowned on.
This is a discussion forum. Petition threads do not contain much discussion instead, a petition is usually page after page of /signed. This is not constructive. If you have an issue with the game, please discuss it in a civil fashion. There are other places on the Internet to form online petitions.
Multiple threads on the same topic will be deleted
When multiple threads cover the same topic we will typically leave one of them open, lock one with an explanation, and delete the rest. This is done to allow other topics to still have a place on the forums. Which thread is left open typically depends on the thread length and how constructive the first post and the thread in general are.
Do not post about locked or deleted threads.
Posts that are moderated have a reason behind the moderation. It’s up to you to read the forum code of conduct and these guidelines to determine what you did wrong, learn from your mistake, and attempt to post again without breaking any rules.
Suspensions add up
Repeated suspensions or multiple violations of the forum guidelines at the same time will add up and lead to a longer suspension than otherwise may be given for a single incident. When suspensions differ for the same Code of Conduct violation, suspension history is usually the reason.
If you have a post to report, click the flag icon underneath the post
Please do not post links to threads you feel should be moderated. By using the methods we have in place, we can moderate more efficiently.
Do not “Name and Shame” when posting the forums
If you have a grievance with a player in-game, please do not identify the player by name here on the forums. While we do appreciate that in most cases violations of this rule are legitimate attempts to warn the community of dishonourable behaviour from individuals, allowing players to post potentially harmful statements about other players is open to abuse, and is therefore not allowed. This rule applies to screenshots as well as direct naming.
Don’t necro posts
While the advice and/or information given on said thread could have been accurate at the time, it may be now be outdated or a reply to an old thread could be overlooked. For these reasons please avoid necro posting. If you have a similar issue and the advice previously given hasn’t helped create a new thread with all relevant information.