If a word is censored when you post it, it's a swear. The rules state that "the words "crap," "hell." and "damn" are allowed," but only if they aren't used towards someone. If you wouldn't say a word to your teacher or mom, don't say it at TBT.
Flaming and disrespect kinda go together. It's pretty hard to describe what constitutes disrespect, but you should be able to realize you're being disrespectful when you post something that is. If you're making fun of someone, that's disrespectful, no matter how new or whoever they may be. If you're saying something about someone, and it's not nice or factual, there's a good chance it's disrespectful... but like I said, it really depends on what is said.
When is something worthy of a ban or warn? Well, there have been times when the staff is more lenient, and other times when the staff is more strict. When someone is warned or suspended, it is never personal - they are only warned or suspended if they break the rules, or are doing something obviously inappropriate for TBT. Unless something is really bad, the first rules infringement or two will usually just result in a warn (or a PM). But, of course, warns don't mean a lot to some people. Members who are repeat offenders will be suspended.
So, if someone swears in a thread, gets warned for it, and then swears again 5 minutes later, they will be suspended, since they broke the rules twice in a 10 minute period, and directly ignored a warn by breaking the same rule right away.
The tough thing for staff is that there are members out there who want to make us look bad. Do we enjoy warning and suspending members? No. But if we didn't, there'd be no discipline at TBT, and the community would not turn out as it was meant to be - family friendly (for the most part), etc.
Obviously, if you're warned or suspended, you might be a little mad, but there;s no reason to be mad at a staff member, unless they mistakenly banned or warned you... but I believe it's been over a year since that's happened... so not very likely. If there is a misunderstanding, staff go to other forums, have AIM/MSN/Trillian/etc., and can be e-mailed. Forming secret forums and bashing the staff and other members is not the way to deal with a warn.
TBT is meant for discussing video games and having fun. If your actions prevent this from happening, then the staff has the right to warn or suspend you. Not trying to sound like a jerk, but it is a privilege for any one of us, myself included, to use the forums, and respect needs to be shown to everyone else who does, too.
And this is a forum where there is younger viewers a lot of the time so any swearing should be looked at.
