(You may copy and share as long as you leave my credit atttached)

"Written by Jean F. of GIC"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Myth: It violates the CoC to bump a thread by using only the word "bump". Meter cheating is not determined by what is included or not included in a post. It is determined by the intent of the post it. If the post doesn't say something like,  "bump this thread so we can be #1" then it is assumed there is a legitimate purpose for the bump.

 

Myth: Excessive bumping violates the CoC. There is no such thing. A thread can be bumped as often as the group feels it is necessary. There are many reasons for bumping a thread. Some groups allow members to bump threads that are for a specific member so that when they come into the group, they will be able to find it. Or managers may bump threads that are important and need to be read by every member. This is considered bumping for a legitimate reason. If a manager or member post 100's of messages with no other possible intent than to boost activity, then it becomes cheating.

 

Myth: Posting just a graphic without words violates the CoC. There is no such rule. It is only considered cheating if the specific intent is to increase ratings.

 

Myth: Uploding 100's of graphics in the same weeks is cheating the meters. It is only cheating if the intent is to cheat. For example. if a manager or member are uploading the same graphics each time the intent could be to increase ratings. But as long as there is a possible explanation for the graphics, it cannot be assumed as cheating. Just because others don't see a use for the graphics doesn't mean there isn't one. Many managers store graphics in one group that they may only use in another group.

 

Myth: Playing games that only require members to include graphics or one word in their reply. Games of any kind are not considered meter cheating unless the intent of the game is to increase activity in addition to, move your group up in the listings. As long as members are participating and enjoying the games, it should be assumed that they are not being used soley as a way of increasing a groups rating. Groups that do allow such games, usually allow them because their members enjoy them. Even so, most of these games grow old and become less intresting to your members over a short period of time and will eventually die out anyway.

 

Myth: Coaching your members to post by offering them siggys/tags in return. Offering your members siggys/tags for posting cannot always be considered cheating. If we didnt limit who, why, or when we offered siggys or tags by offering them to members who participate in certain activies, we would be expected to make them for all members all the time. There are other ways to offer siggys/tags, such as having a request board, but a lot of members enjoy getting involved in group activies which offer rewards. There is nothing wrong with that as long as you do not state that "they will not get any siggys/tags unless they post a certain amount of times in a certain time frame". If you offer them in your group, they should be offered to all members in one form or another. Also, it cannot be proven that groups that offer siggys/tags as a reward for posting, have a higher rating than groups who do not. Therefore, it can only be assumed that these offerings are simply to encourage members to take part in the group and enjoy themselves, not to increase activity.