[Vicky.]

OK, I have split the majority of posts in this thread from anther thread, as the original thread was going quite offtopic. There seems to be a bit of confusion over what is acceptable and what is not acceptable when it comes to HMs/people to do with BB becoming forum members.

I have attempted to explain the rules regarding this in this thread(but at times failed drastically at putting across what I actually meant) and have now found out that its much easier to explain by using hypothetical situations. So i have copied one of my later posts in this thread...to the front page, incase people cant be bothered reading through the whole thread for clarification

So here are some hypothetical situations. Obviously every situation is not outlined here, but the general rule on this hopefully is quite easy to understand.

There is a long running thread in which many members have said XXXX is an arsehole because on his behavior in the house. XXXX then joins the forum.

We cannot expect people who have a negative opinion on XXXX to stop posting said negative opinion just because he has joined the forum. Because besides being a member, he is also a housemate and a topic of conversation

XXXX is a member of the forum. Someone starts a thread on XXXXs time in the house and says they were a prick. This is fine, as it is an opinion on the show. Where saying to XXXX that they are a prick, is not

XXXX makes a thread to introduce themselves. A member then answers this thread with 'you are such an arsehole'. This is not OK, because it is an insult to another forum member.

XXXX makes a thread saying they will answer FMS questions. A member asks 'why did you do this in the house, it came across a bit sh***y' would be fine. Whilst 'you were such a **** **** **** when you did this in the house, and you are still *** **** now' would not be

If anyone has any questions on this, please add them to the thread and I(or another member of staff) will try to explain. As this is a VERY grey area. Basically, the main thing is distinguishing between the member as a member, and the member as a housemate.

[Jords]

What the hell is this about?

[psychtracker]

I didn't know there were any currently active ex-HMs on this forum for us to offend.

[Jords]

Originally Posted by psychtracker

I didn't know there were any currently active ex-HMs on this forum for us to offend.

Me too :L

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by psychtracker

I didn't know there were any currently active ex-HMs on this forum for us to offend.

Marcus and Freddie are members as far as I am aware, though it has been a LONG time since they posted.

Aarons brother joined, this is the reason the rules about things like this have needed to be clarified (and I did a piss poor job of it to start with, couldnt find the right words at all ) as some seemed to think it was fine to insult him(in his thread) as he was connected with the show.

[psychtracker]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

Marcus and Freddie are members as far as I am aware, though it has been a LONG time since they posted.

Aarons brother joined, this is the reason the rules about things like this have needed to be clarified (and I did a piss poor job of it to start with, couldnt find the right words at all ) as some seemed to think it was fine to insult him(in his thread) as he was connected with the show.

Hmm..i understand where you're coming from, but i'm not sure if it's wise to attempt to set up a "Us vs Them", type of divide...gets confusing.

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by psychtracker

Hmm..i understand where you're coming from, but i'm not sure if it's wise to attempt to set up a "Us vs Them", type of divide...gets confusing.

I'm not, I was just trying to explain how insulting other members(regardless of who the member is) is against the rules. And how it is a little different when it comes to housemates or people to do with the show...as obviously people will still discuss them as housemates, rather than think of them as members.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

I'm not, I was just trying to explain how insulting other members(regardless of who the member is) is against the rules. And how it is a little different when it comes to housemates or people to do with the show...as obviously people will still discuss them as housemates, rather than think of them as members.

How come thought James has said the opposite

You know... you're meant to respect other forum members. It doesn't make a difference if they are related to housemates or not. I'm just saying.

Edit; I'm meaning in the sense of a family member of a housemate who is a member. (not the scenario whereby an exhm is a member and discussions are surrounding their behaviour in the house when they were in it)

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

How come thought James has said the opposite

Ugh. I have been over this already.

You respect them as a member, by not insulting them or being abusive.

But you may still discuss them as housemates in a negative sense

[Vicky.]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

Edit; I'm meaning in the sense of a family member of a housemate who is a member. (not the scenario whereby an exhm is a member and discussions are surrounding their behaviour in the house when they were in it)

The edit totally lost me :S

[Jords]

Although I know Freddie and Jonty have been on.

[Pyramid*]

Seems James agrees....

http://thisisbigbrother.com/forums/s...&postcount=179

You know... you're meant to respect other forum members. It doesn't make a difference if they are related to housemates or not. I'm just saying.

[Vicky.]

The family members have been actively involved in the show this year. So negative threads/posts are expected, same as with the housemates.

But this still doesnt excuse people insulting them as members.

[psychtracker]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

The family members have been actively involved in the show this year. So negative threads/posts are expected, same as with the housemates.

But this still doesnt excuse people insulting them as members.

So, you're allowed to start a thread eg. Aarons's brother is a douchebag for what he said on BOTS. But, not Vicky's a douchebag for what she said about Jay on this forum.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by Vicky.

The family members have been actively involved in the show this year. So negative threads/posts are expected, same as with the housemates.

But this still doesnt excuse people insulting them as members.

I'd say that as soon as they become a member - they should be afforded the same rights towards the rules of the forum - as you have said - no insults - as any other member. And that includes being spoken about in anything less than a respecful way.

We aren't allowed to discuss any other members on a personal level on here if it's negative- Ie: comments designed to discuss me for example, should not be regarded any differently because the member has been actively involved in the show. Sure, fine to disagree and say we think they are wrong, but not to discuss them as such. That's not acceptable for any other forum member and I'm not sure why speaking negatively about any forum member, regardless: should be acceptable.

[Ammi]

I wouldn't personally call it 'nitpicking' if members are stating it would be easier to remove all element of doubt...to say you can say this...but you can't say that....you can do it on this thread...but not that one...you can say it in this way...but you can't say it in thay way....leaves it all open for an individuals interpretation...it's nitpicking if it's not really of any consequence, but as has been pointed out..it could result in a member being banned..when in fact they misunderstood...it also gives some members lesser rights than others because of their relatives.
If there was a definitive rule, either 'fair game' or 'member rules apply' then there would be no confusion and anyone breaking that rule would know they are doing it.
It's always easier to give a 'black or white' rule..rather than leave a lot of grey areas...because people will innocently step into those grey areas..it's inevitable

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Ammi

I wouldn't personally call it 'nitpicking' if members are stating it would be easier to remove all element of doubt...to say you can say this...but you can't say that....you can do it on this thread...but not that one...you can say it in this way...but you can't say it in thay way....leaves it all open for an individuals interpretation...it's nitpicking if it's not really of any consequence, but as has been pointed out..it could result in a member being banned..when in fact they misunderstood...it also gives some members lesser rights than others because of their relatives.
If there was a definitive rule, either 'fair game' or 'member rules apply' then there would be no confusion and anyone breaking that rule would know they are doing it.
It's always easier to give a 'black or white' rule..rather than leave a lot of grey areas...because people will innocently step into those grey areas..it's inevitable

But surely you can appreciate the problem this give us; if we say it's fine to insult housemates but not to insult members then what do we do when a house mate becomes a member? We can't just say no insulting housemates on the off-chance that one of them might sign up to the forum and similarly we can't just say it's fine to insult members on this basis. There can't be a black and white rule because it isn't a black or white situation, there needs to be some kind of a compromise, some kind of a middle ground.

I would hope that people could create some kind of a distinction between them as a forum member and them as a house mate; if they are being discussed in the context of the latter, and in the context of their time in the house, then it is fair to post negative, even insulting, comments because that is part and parcel of appearing on Big Brother.

[fruit_cake]

in my view the rules are pretty obvious, and the mod team do their best and normally get it right. If you don't like the rules, don't post. It's rather bad manners to go around to someone else's house and start telling them how to run it, imo