In order to keep the Message Forums on this site enjoyable for all, we have a few Rules and Regulations which we would like our Users to take note of and adhere to.

The Admin Team feels that none of these rules are particularly over the top or too much to ask and they have been introduced mainly to promote courtesy and respect to other Users and to make the use of the Forums as comfortable and easy for all Users as possible.

We welcome anyone to the Total Tranmere Message Boards no matter what age you are or which team you support but we do ask for the following rules to be taken into account......

Rule 1: Respecting Opinions of Others

A Discussion Forum is all about the freedom to express opinions and put points across from both sides of an argument.

We therefore ask that Users respect the rights of every user to an opinion no matter how much you may disagree with it.

Rule 2: Abuse Towards Admin Staff and Other Users

Obviously arguing points is all part of fun of the Message Boards but we do ask everyone to refrain from personal attacks and insults aimed towards other Users as this will result in the post being deleted or amended and a possible warning and then ban if the User persists with this behaviour on a regular basis.

Banter between Users is obviously to be expected, particularly amongst those Users who are friends away from the Forum, but personal attacks (and anything that might not come across as a joke even if it is meant to be) are not permitted.

Also any posts that are written with the deliberate intent of causing trouble or picking a fight will be removed.

Rule 3: Keep Threads On Topic

One of the most common feedback points we get with regard to the Message Boards is the ease with which threads can go off-topic.

Clearly threads will sometimes stray from the initial topic as different points are added but where possible we ask that the original topic of the thread can also be maintained alongside the new trains of thought that come along in order to make the Board easy to follow.

Rule 4: Foul and Abusive Language

All Sportnetwork Forums have a swear filter anyway but we request that language of a foul and abusive nature is kept to a minimum in respect of those who may be offended.

Also posts may become difficult to read if the swear filter keeps kicking in and blocking out words that are not permitted.

Rule 5: No Text-Speak

Please take time to ensure that your post doesn't contain any text-speak. The abbreviation of words into text-speak can put other users off and often makes a post difficult to read and understand.  Trying to read posts written in text-speak takes a lot more time and means more time is taken up in reading the Forums.

Rule 6: Don't Type in Capital Letters or Use Bold for Entire Posts

Please do not type entire posts or paragraphs in capital letters or in Bold Text. Capital Letters and Bold Text can be used in posts to emphasise a particular word or phrase that may be important but entire posts written in capital letters can look aggressive and may often put Users off reading them. 

Rule 7: Off-Topic Posts on Main Message Board

Total Tranmere has an Off-Topic Forum for discussions about non-Tranmere related topics.  However, as this does not get read as often as the Main Forum, we accept that off-topic posts will appear on the Main Forum from time to time.

In order to make the Forum easy to read, we request therefore that any posts on the Main Forum that are not related specifically to Tranmere Rovers are marked with OT (for off-topic) at the beginning of the Thread Title (e.g OT: Fantasy Football League).

Rule 8: SportNetwork Forum Rules

Finally, there are a few rules which we are required to apply to the Forum by the site hosts, SportNetwork.

1) Any comments, racist, sexist or otherwise libelous against people (including Tranmere Players and Staff) will be removed as there have been cases in the recent past of Admin staff being brought to court for libel for having such comments on their Forums.

2) The advertising of or linking to other sites via the Forum is not permitted unless permission is given by the Admin Team.  This does not apply to posts that may be of an interest value to the topic that is being discussed (e.g a link to a topic-related story on the Official Tranmere Website or BBC Sport Website for example).

3) Pictures are allowed in users signatures but we are asked by SportNetwork to request that users keep any signature pictures as small as possible as the loading speed of the Forums can be affected by a large amount of large pictures.

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Failure to stick to these rules on a regular basis will result in an initial warning followed by a ban at the discretion of the Admin Team.

We hope that by introducing these few rules, the Forums will be able to attract many more users in the future and the whole experience of using the Forums will be much more enjoyable.

Thank You for Your Co-operation

Total Tranmere Admin Team