PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU POST: FORUM RULES, GUIDELINES AND FEATURES

[Andrew]

Registration is now being handled manually via e-mail. Please refer to this announcement for the procedure.

1. In order to post, you must register.
The forums software will immediately dispatch a confirmation e-mail to you which includes a link you must follow in order to activate your registration. So, if you retrieve messages 10 minutes later and have not gotten this e-mail, then you probably have a problem with a mail blocking function in your e-mail client or at your ISP. Check your 'spam' folder and also check options to exempt 'vikingsword.com' from being blocked. You may e-mail ljones@vikingsword.com to be advanced to the next step, be sure to include your chosen username and e-mail address in the message.

2. Posts by new members do not immediately appear.
We do not really have over ten thousand members; in reality the count of true active members is probably only a few hundred. Most of those registrations were attempts to spam the forums. In order to block that spam, the forum is set so that new members' posts go into a queue to be reviewed by the moderators. This is a manual process, so allow up to a full twenty-four hours before assuming your post has been lost. After a few 'on topic' posts the moderators will attempt to decide if you are a fellow ethnographic arms and armour enthusiast instead of a spammer and will promote you so that your posts appear immediately.

3. New members do not have access to the private message or "PM" feature.
This means that they may not inquire by that route on something in the swap forum or receive PMs on something they have listed for sale or trade. For this reason, you may wish to include a "disposable" e-mail address in your swap forum posts to permit contact in these situations.

4. You will likely have a more fruitful experience within this community if you take the time to read on below about the rules which have evolved within this on-line community...


Vikingsword's forums were established to create a friendly environment for edged weapons enthusiasts to interact informally. In order to foster this friendly interaction and create an environment where enthusiasts feel comfortable posting and interacting, we have created a set of guidelines and rules which all members are asked to follow.

These rules are general in nature, as it is impossible to spell out every possible reason that may result in a thread being locked, deleted, or edited or in a member being banned from future posting in the forums.

Considering the real-time nature of this forum, it is impossible for us to review messages or confirm the validity of information posted. Please remember that we do not actively monitor the contents of posted messages and are not responsible for any messages posted. We do not vouch for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message, and are not responsible for the contents of any message.

The messages express the views of the author of the message, not necessarily the views of this forum or any entity associated with this forum. Any user who feels that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to contact us immediately by e-mail. We have the ability to remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort to do so, within a reasonable time frame, if we determine that removal is necessary. This is a manual process, however, so please realize that we may not be able to remove or edit particular messages immediately.

You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this forum to post any material which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy, or otherwise violative of any law. You agree not to post any copyrighted material unless the copyright is owned by you or by this forum or you have the explicit permission of the copyright holder to post such material.

Although this forum does not and cannot review the messages posted and is not responsible for the content of any of these messages, we at this forum reserve the right to delete any message for any or no reason whatsoever. You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree to indemnify and hold harmless this forum, vBulletin, Jelsoft Enterprises, Ltd. (the makers of the bulletin board software), the forum administrators, Staff, moderators and their agents with respect to any claim based upon transmission of your message(s).

We at this forum also reserve the right to reveal your identity (or whatever information we know about you) in the event of a complaint or legal action arising from any message posted by you.

Our guidelines and rules are as follows:

1. ACTIVE AUCTIONS

So as to avoid inconsistency and protect the Forum:

The discussion and/or posting of links or auction numbers to active, pending auctions is prohibited. This policy is intended to deter the possibility of a claim that a discussion on the forums soured or otherwise spoiled the auction process resulting in a financial loss to those involved.

Penalties:
Mention of or otherwise referencing an open auction.

1st offense: 10 day ban
2nd offense: 30 day ban
3rd offense: Permanent ban

Discussion of auctions should never include editorial comments about the seller. Please take those discussions to private e-mail.

An important permitted exception is the posting of links/auction numbers to pending (non-closed) auctions when one has reliable proof that the auction is fraudulent. Reliable proof includes first-hand knowledge about the item in question (e.g. it is something you own, and someone has violated copyright by using your own photos to offer to sell your property).

2. SPAMMING

Spamming or intentional business advertisements are strictly not allowed in the general discussion forums. Threads or private messages determined to be "spam" will be deleted; please be advised that engaging in this type of posting will likely result in the loss of your posting privileges without notice.

Please post your topics in the most appropriate forum (i.e. items for sale or trade go to the swap forum). In addition to listing items for sale or trade or items which are wanted, the swap forum may occasionally be used to announce the existence and nature of a business, product or commercial website which is directly relevant to ethnographic arms and armour or to endorse same. A link to a member’s auctions listing index page would not be inappropriate in the swap forum, but members should remember to refrain from engaging in discussions of the auction(s) before closing.

3. FLAMES, INSULTS, BIGOTRY & THREATS

Flames or insults are strictly against the rules. If you disagree with another member's point of view, do so in a mature and civil manner. Civility and respect towards other participants are unconditionally expected.

If you find yourself being flamed or insulted by another member, please do not dignify that person with a response. Notify a moderator and let us handle it. If you feel you must respond to a flame or insult directly, please do NOT do so on the board - use private messages or e-mail.

Suggestion: If you are consistently or particularly irritated by another member's posting habits and are constantly fighting the urge to flame them, you can click on that person's profile, and select "Add to ignore list." This will make that person's posts invisible to you.

This is an international discussion group, a fact that the Staff is particularly proud of. Threads or replies promoting or expressing intolerant views towards any group (e.g., culture, race, religion, national origin, etc.) are never appropriate and will not be allowed. Please keep in mind that, while communications on the forum are to be conducted in English, many members are not communicating in their native language, and misunderstandings can occur. The forum is home to members from varied nations and cultures, so it is important to remember that how you say something is often as important as what you say.

Threatening other members will not be tolerated. This includes threats of physical violence, threats of property damage, death threats, terrorist threats, or threatening to hack another person's online identity or computer.

4. COPYRIGHT VIOLATIONS & PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL

Posting or uploading pictures or other attachments copyrighted by a person other than yourself, without the owner’s explicit permission, is expressly forbidden by Vikingsword, when done for commercial use. However, such materials may be used for purposes of academic discussion or research. In such situations it is recommended that attribution, citations or credit be provided.

Placing on the server or linking to pornographic material, whether textual or in the form of an image or other attachment, is strictly forbidden.

An issue has been raised concerning ‘image hijacking’ when some members are occasionally posting pictures by directing image tags to a third party's server. Please do NOT do this unless you have the permission of the third party concerned. Remember this consumes the third party's bandwidth and that someone is paying for this bandwidth. As an alternative, place a hyperlink to the (html) page on which the image appears.

Threads and or replies encouraging other illegal and or unethical action will not be allowed. This also includes threads about using and or obtaining illegal copies of copyrighted material such as software, music, videos, and sharing registration and license keys of copyrighted material.

5. CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS & TROLLING

Controversial topics, such as religion and politics have no place here and only serve to distract from the intended purpose of the forums. This is a place to discuss our common passion: ethnographic arms and armour.

“Trolling" or making posts with the sole intention of creating discord or problems on the forums is obviously against the forum guidelines. This includes registering an alternate ID for the sole purpose of creating problems on the forums. "Troll ID's" will be locked immediately and permanently, and can be locked without notification to the offender.

6. SPECIAL SWAP FORUM POLICIES

You must own and be able to transfer clear title to what you are selling.

If you buy, sell or trade on the Swap Forum, you do so entirely AT YOUR OWN RISK - Vikingsword does not warrant that your transaction will be completed to your satisfaction.

If you are the seller of an item or have any financial or personal relationship with the seller of an item which, to the most paranoid among us, could constitute a conflict of interest, then any post you initiate about such item belongs in the swap forum. If your only interest or connection is as a potential bidder or buyer of the item, this restriction does not apply, however, you agree to hold all forum members acting in good faith harmless, should you base any purchase decision upon information from such a discussion.

If someone else has initiated discussion on any item for which the preceding paragraph applies in your case, you may reply to and participate in the discussion, but must in each such reply include a statement of your actual or potential commercial interest in the item.

There is no enforceable external legal constraint against posting an object for discussion in a forum such as ours and later deciding to sell the item and posting a link to the discussion in the forums. However, if a forum member does this without having received the permission of the authors of the relevant posts in advance for such commercial use of their remarks, this constitutes grounds for cancellation of the offender's forum registration.

7. LEGAL DISCUSSIONS

Discussion of laws, regulation and legal issues, such as those relating to the ownership of edged weapons, or their transportation, importation or exportation, on the open forum is fine (and very educational and helpful besides), so long as suggestions for ways to circumvent said laws or regulations, such as shipping and/or labeling strategies, are not brought into the discussion.

Discussions of your own experiences with customs, local possession laws, etc. is fine, again so long as you do not discuss "strategies" for circumventing or avoiding them (even if it is simply suggesting a careful choice of words that tends not to excite the attention of the authorities).

If there is interest in exchanging such "strategic" information, please use private e-mails.

8. APPRAISALS

Public appraisals are not permitted on these fora. However, if you would like an appraisal of an item's value or market conditions, please request that other members contact you with that information via email or PM.

9. VIKINGSWORD STAFF

The Vikingsword Staff is comprised of Site/Forum Administrators, Forum Moderators and Technical Advisors. Decisions made by Vikingsword Staff are not subject to public debate. Please utilize the board's Private Message function, or e-mail, if you wish to discuss a situation with a moderator.

10. SUMMARY:

All of the above may pretty much be summed up as "You are solely responsible for what you write", "Please obey the law", "No advertising, except in the Swap Forum" and "Keep it Civil and Respectful".

11. ENJOY the forums and have a good time! Thank you for participating!

- - - - - -

NEW FEATURES:

DIRECT IMAGE UPLOADING from your computer to the server is now available in the form of ‘attachments’. The pictures will not show when you are composing your posts, but may be checked in the preview mode, where they show at the bottom of the post. You may include up to 10 images per post. You are encouraged to use this mechanism in order to maximize the archival integrity of the forum.

Images which may be uploaded to the server include .jpeg (or .jpg), .png, .gif and .bmp. The width of the image must be 640 pixels or less in width and 1280 pixels or less in height or the image will be rejected. A maximum file size constraint of 200 kb is also in effect. Please refer to this thread for fellow member's suggestions about free programs allowing you to resize and compress pictures. The resized images will be returned in due course by e-mail for you to use in your posting.

The old image tags as used to link to images in the UBB software are still supported for images you maintain on your own software.

AVATARS are optional small images which appear under your screen name in your posts. For this forum, avatars shall consist of images of ethnographic arms and armour. You may select from a preinstalled library of avatars or you may e-mail an image conforming to this theme to ljones@vikingsword.com for creation of a custom avatar. In the case of requests for a custom avatar, please be sure that you have included your user name and that you send the message from the e-mail address that you used to register.

A PROFILE PICTURE may be uploaded for display on your profile page. These portraits are limited in size to 100 by 100 pixels and are uploaded from the user control panel.

EDITING OF POSTS: Posts which you make may be edited and reloaded by you without the automatic insertion of an ‘edited by’ tag for the first 10 minutes after posting. After 10 minutes, up to 24 hours, the post may be edited by its creator. After 24 hours, the facility to change a post is removed, except for moderators, whom you will need to contact when editing is justified by special circumstances. Deletion of posts and or threads may only be carried out by moderators.

PROFILE INFORMATION: Except for your screen or user name, you may change any of your profile information, password and e-mail by directly using the user control panel. As the software does not support direct changing of the user name by a member, requests for changes of the user name will need to be justified and forwarded through a moderator.

[Andrew]

The rules have been amended. The posting of photos in active auctions is no longer permitted, for any purpose.

The moratorium on discussion of active auctions is now complete.

Also, please do not engage in discussion of the Forum Rules in public threads.


EDIT: Please note the penalties for violation of the active auction prohibition:

1st offense: 10 day ban
2nd offense: 30 day ban
3rd offense: Permanent ban

[Ian]

Fraudulent auctions on eBay need to be dealt with by eBay and should no longer be listed on this site which, as frequently stated, prohibits the discussion or listing of any current eBay auctions.

The following information is provided to those of you who wish to take action about a fraudulent listing on eBay, especially the duplicate listing issue that we have seen with increasing frequency over the last few months.

When a suspected fraud is detected on eBay it is suggested that the following actions be taken. This information is what I have personally learned in dealing with such cases, and I have found eBay responsive to my notifications.

First, email the seller who is listing what you believe to be the genuine item and notify him/her that you have detected a possible duplicate listing of his/her item. Request that the seller notify eBay of the other fraudulent listing. eBay should be responsive to the real seller, who is an affected party.

Second, you may also wish to notify eBay directly of the suspected fraud. IMO this is wise to do, because you have no way of knowing whether the real seller will follow up on your message -- and there is more than just the seller who could be affected by this fraud.

Here is how to notify eBay of a suspected duplicate listing. I have used this form of communication with effect for just such a problem.

Reporting seller fraud to eBay

(1) First go to:

http://pages.ebay.com/securitycenter/index.html

Select Button “Report another problem”

Click “Report Problem”

(2) Next Page:

If you are reporting a duplicate listing, click the following items in the numbered boxes:

1. > "Report a listing policy violation or prohibited (banned) item"

2. > "Fraudulent listings (illegal seller demands, you didn't receive item, etc)"

3. > "Report a listing you think is fraudulent (you didn't bid)"

Click “Continue”

(3) Next Page:

Click “Email”

(4) Next Page:

Enter the requested details into the email boxes. Put the eBay item numbers for the fraudulent and real items in the top box, and in the bottom box provide an explanation of why you believe fraud is occurring.

Click “Submit”

You will get an email from eBay acknowledging receipt of your email. That reply will also state that you will receive no further response from them about your message. The only way to know if you have succeeded in getting through is to see whether the fraudulent listing is deleted.

[Andrew]

We are a diverse group, with varied degrees of experience, education and interest. As a result, not everyone is here for the same reasons, nor is everyone interested in participating in the same fashion. There is room here for nearly everyone, however.

It is unrealistic to expect the general membership to accept statements of fact presented as authoritative with no qualification or reference. Likewise, it is unrealistic to expect members to reference with citations every casual comment or post.

A middle ground can and should be reached.

Let's not forget that this is an internet discussion board. Part of the enjoyment we get from this forum is the ability to discuss things in a casual, relaxed environment. However, a great deal of information is disseminated here, and care should be taken to preserve the integrity of that information, lest we, like many areas of the web, perpetuate misinformation.

No one should feel uncomfortable requesting supporting references or qualification, nor should anyone be upset when so asked.

Finally, if you find that a particular member's posting habits continually irritate you, simply place them on your "ignore" list. This will prevent you from seeing that individuals posts completely.

Added by Mark:

To add someone to your "ignore" list, click on the user's name to the left of one of their posts and select "view public profile," or locate the user's profile via the search feature. Click on "Add <user> to Your Ignore List" on the green banner located near the top of the profile. Voila! Now posts by that user will not show up when you view the forum, unless you search for them.

[Andrew]

Please note the revised language regarding the "fair use" of otherwise copyrighted materials:

Posting or uploading pictures or other attachments copyrighted by a person other than yourself, without the owner’s explicit permission, is expressly forbidden by Vikingsword, when done for commercial use. However, such materials may be used for purposes of academic discussion or research. In such situations it is recommended that attribution, citations or credit be provided.

[Andrew]

Pleased be advised an exception has been made to the prohibition against posting links/information about active auctions.

It is permissible to post such information about your own auctions in a Swap Forum thread.

[Mark]

Welcome to the Ethnographic Arms and Armour Forum, an on-line community of collectors, researchers and enthusiasts of what can be termed "ethnographic" weapons and armor. What is "ethnographic," you might ask? We define the term, for the purposes of this site, as a weapon other than the standardized military models of the past few centuries and which is likely a product of an individual artisan working according to traditional patterns as opposed to a product of modern mass industrial production. Militaria is thereby excluded by definition. Modern custom knives would qualify as an artifact of our own "culture", but will not be considered here, as they are better represented elsewhere.

Be sure to read the thread on Forum rules, policies and guidelines before posting.

Again, welcome, and we hope you will enjoy participating in the discussions.

The Vikingsword Staff

[Lee]

New members are encouraged to read the FAQ for explanations of how this forum works.

[Rick]

Pushing this to the top .

[Lee]

In switching to manual registrations, access to some of the older rules was inadvertently lost which has led to some confusion about policies. I apologize for this situation and have begun work on a new rules and policies page.

I had participated in a since deleted (it degenerated into criticism of another forum community) thread about a member here being banned elsewhere for linking to a discussion here. Here are some attempts at clarification from that thread:

There is no rule here prohibiting links being posted in these forums to previous and or ongoing discussions of the same or a related item in another forum community. Indeed, links to other relevant discussions on the web are to be encouraged as are citations of relevant printed literature...

Most of the rules here follow common sense sufficiently closely that most reasonable persons will not transgress them even if they have not bothered to read what they are. A repeatedly demonstrated exception is the rule ensnaring the most 'innocent' forum members, specifically the one prohibiting discussion of items presently for sale in the market, particularly items in the process of auction. Trying to resolve questions about a pondered purchase by posting pictures from an auction seems innocent enough. However, this may lead to expression of opinions, correct or incorrect, which may be deemed to unduly interfere with commerce and potentially create liability not only for the posters but also for myself as forum operator. I do not like this rule, but I do not make the law. Would I not be most foolish to ignore legal advice intended for my own protection?

Except for very general discussions about the overall state of the marketplace, specific commercial references and links to commercial activities need to stay completely out of the general discussions forums. Why, beyond the legal implications above? Because, while deal-making and horse-trading is very much a critical central part of any collecting activity, it is also largely antithetical to the spirit of sharing of information, as knowledge gives advantage in such negotiations. And freely sharing knowledge about ethnographic arms and armour in good faith is what these forums have been created to facilitate.

[Rick]

^^^^^^^^

[Rick]

^