i thoguth nobody could get banned if nobody did anything? simply ignore/report that PM you got and don't do anything to get banned

obviously no one likes spammers, or trolls, or people who ruin the fun of websites. but seriously, if you think there's a spammer, here, in a different thread (it's always the spongebob forums, or so it seems....) REPORT it. If it adds nothing to the topic (like the guy who was fixing grammar/spelling problems), or if it is plain mean, just report it. according to the "TV.Com Policy. TOS Policy and Dealing With Trolls" (which was posted sometime after the grammar and spelling guy, I think.)

1) Don't violate the Terms of Service.

If you don't violate the TOS, you can't get reported by anyone for violating the TOS. Not a good idea to violate the TOS: even a worse one to do it when you know someone is checking regularly to see if you have.

Moderators can't ignore a TOS violation just because of the person who reports it.

2) Don't feed the trolls.

Just report their threads and move on. Ignore them. Don't respond, don't quote them. That's what trolls want you to do. Why do you want to do anything a troll wants you to do?

Also, how does a troll know they've "won"? TV.com doesn't announce suspensions and bans. Trolls learn it from users who publicly post what happened. If you've really got to spread the news, use PMs.

Trolling and encouraging trolling are TOS violations.

3) Watch the quoting.

You're responsible for everything you put in your posts, including other people's posts. Quoting a troll will get you and them moderated. Again, that's what they want you to do.

If you respond to someone, in the next post after theirs, most people will figure out what you're responding to and you don't need to quote at all. If you quote eight previous posters, in the previous eight posts, take our word for it: almost no one is going to read what you're quoting. They already read the original quotes, they know what you're responding to. Ask yourself: how many of these pyramid quote responses do you read all the way through? If a paragraph has been reposted six times, do you read it all six times? If you don't read them, guess what: almost nobody else does either.

so really, just you yourself do nothing to get banned and you won't get banned. as for spammers, they're usually just looking to have some fun (or ban people for no reason which is part of their fun). so... don't do anything against the rules and if there is a spammer report them

Yes, thanks futuramarama, great call. Don't let the trolls get to you...just report them and we'll take care of the rest.

thanks Edward_Nigma

sad

True. At least there's other days ahead of us

people are overreacting about the spammers. obviously no one wants to get banned, or get a TOS... SO DON'T DO ANYTHING THAT COULD RESULT IN EITHER OF THOSE TWO! honestly. i know i have said this before, but that is because it is true- if you see a spammer, whether they send you a PM, or you are certain there is a spammer lurking in the forums, REPORT THEM! That way there's a good chance they will be banned before they can try and get others banned. as long as nobody does anything to get themselves in trouble, just report the spammer(s). I don't see why everyone is all scared to do this...