[OFFICIAL] The altering of images and cut-and-paste needs to stop

[Justin]

I need everyone's attention please. Over the past 3-4 weeks, I've noticed a great deal of users making things up. At times, they are titled "BREAKING NEWS" to imitate WI's official news and are intended to earn attention for the thread creator. This is not the way things are done on WI.

In addition, I've noticed an increasingly disturbing behavior of altered images. Without fail, when we post a story about a new Webkinz, someone or more than one person, will create a thread either saying that they got the same Webkinz (with copied pictures, or cut-n-pasted images), or they'll make up something completely out of the blue.

For example, someone faked an image today to try and get themselves on the front page of WI by posting (and PMing me) a clearly faked image of their pet's bio, saying it was friends with a lizard. This will not be tolerated.

Another thing we've noticed is that users have been copying the "Moderator" "Admin" etc bars and putting them in their avatars. This will not be tolerated. If you are caught doing this, your custom avatar and signature image privileges will be revoked.

This behavior does 2 things on WI, neither of which are desirable:

1. You are actually attempting to undermine the credibility of WebkinzInsider.Com. By posting fake images, if we were to post them on our front page, you would make WI a bad source of information. Your desire to be 'famous' on WI would actually hurt the entire WI community as a whole. This will not be tolerated.

2. With the increase in fake images and stories, any time someone posts something new, they are met with overwhelming skepticism. At times, it is warranted, but other times, the user is telling the truth! Everyone needs to be a bit nicer about it. If you're concerned that it might be fake or a lie, flag the post and let the staff decide!

The more fake images are posted, the more time we have to waste in validating the authenticity of the real ones. Please, please, don't do this anymore. It doesn't help anyone, and is downright selfish.

Starting from this day forward, faked images and stories are now a bannable offense and is included in the forum rules as a bannable offense. Those that have done it in the past will not be banned, but, moving forward, since these stories and images are hurtful to the community, we must ban anyone who does this.

Does this mean that we can't make avatars and siggies using copied and pasted images of webkinz?

[MissGnomie]

Thank you Justin!
Its getting hard to sift through everything and find the creditable finds. =( I hope this move will help... make everyone feel like they can trust the person claiming a new find and such again!

[Justin]

Originally Posted by ThePoint16

Does this mean that we can't make avatars and siggies using copied and pasted images of webkinz?

No no, that's fine. It's the people who cut and paste other people's images, etc to try and make it seem like they've gotten a new Webkinz, or see what was posted on the front page of WI and doctor an image to make it seem like they have something news worthy as well. Avatars, etc are a-okay, because your intentions aren't to lie to everyone!

[cutiepiekitty123]

yes it has been a problem thx ou for pointing it out justin

[franchescojulia]

I have noticed this has become an ongoing problem. Thanks, Justin.

[jms]

Thanks, Justin!!!

[roselake]

Very well done! Thanks for keeping on top of things.

[lovin_webkinz]

It's good to know that the forum is being taken care of - thanks!

[molly8916]

Good idea. It is sad to go into a post and have people attacking the person saying they are lying etc.