Howdy. Welcome to Orlando Pinstriped Post, the Web's top source for Magic news, analysis, and commentary.. Below please find your code of conduct--both what's good and what's not so good--for the OPP community.

The following conduct is encouraged:

• Being civil. Orlando Pinstriped Post is a community which has grown dramatically in readership since its founding in 2007. High-profile blogs, including Yahoo! Sports' Ball Don't Lie and ESPN's TrueHoop, have linked to it, and rumor has it some Magic staff read it too. I say this not to boast, but rather to indicate the broad, potentially global, audience your comment, FanPost, or FanShot might reach. Please be civil and clean.

• Posting FanPosts and FanShots. One of my favorite features of all SB Nation blogs is the ease with which the members of its communities can post original content (via a FanPost) or call attention to a video, link, or photo from elsewhere (via a FanShot).

  • A FanPost is your place to expand on an original idea you have. Maybe it's a game recap, or a reason why (or why not) the Magic should sign or trade for a particular player, or an investigation into a trend that interests you. Think of it as a blog post, and bear in mind that you have a 150-word minimum. Also remember to research your post and support your thesis with cited (and, if applicable, linked) evidence.

    I don't intend to spook you. Indeed, FanPosts need not be so "serious" as to require a thesis with evidence. They can be parodic, or simply a way to get a casual conversation started. Remember that FanPosts need to pertain, in some way, to the scope of this site. And please don't make a FanPost just to say something along the lines of "hey guys look at this cool thing I found on the internet," because...

  • A FanShot is a place to share a link, quote, image which you have the right to distribute (for more, please read SB Nation's image guidelines .PDF), video, or chat. It's a "quick-hitter" of sorts. They're easy to make, too, especially if you drag this button to the bookmarks bar of your browser:

• Recommending comments, FanPosts, and FanShots. Another way to involve yourself in this community is by recommending others' work ny clicking the "rec" button (), which appears under the content of a FanPost or FanShot or after hitting the "actions" button on an individual comment. With five recommendations, FanPosts and FanShots get bumped to the top of their respective sections on the main page, while comments turn green.

  Don't merely type "+1" to register your approval of another community member's post. Rec it instead!

• Flagging offensive content. If a post is objectionable to you, please use the "flag" button () to mark it as either "spam," "troll," or "inappropriate." Doing so notifies the moderator so he or she can review it and take the appropriate action. Sending an email to notify the moderator (please see the email address at the end of the document) is also acceptable. If emailing, please include a link to the offending post and a few words of context.

• Have fun. While we all care deeply about Orlando's lone major sports team, we ought to recognize that nothing it does is a matter of life or death. Basketball is indeed for our entertainment. Maintaining a sense of perspective will ensure the community stays strong and positive, the sort of place you'll wanna come back to.

The following conduct will not be tolerated:

• Using profanity. We're here because we're passionate about the Magic, and occasionally that passion may tempt us to use profanity. Please don't, under any circumstances.

• Making personal attacks. Articulate your arguments without starting a flamewar. For example:

  • GOOD: "I disagree with your assessment of [Player X] because [Reason Y]."

  • BAD: "You're wrong about [Player X], you idiot, and if you'd watched the games, you'd know that."

• Trolling. Posting inflammatory comments--even if they don't contain profanity or personal attacks--is grounds for a ban.

• Creating multiple usernames. If you've been banned, or have otherwise worn out your welcome with your original username, you're finished. Creating a new username is an exercise in futility, as it will be banned without notice.

• Advertising. Do not join this site for the express purpose of promoting your website, product, or service. To be clear, well-established community members may link to their websites in their signatures, and everyone may link to their website in their profile.

• Discussing issues beyond the scope of this blog. This website is not the place to debate matters of religion, politics, social issues, what you ate for breakfast, or who your favorite Beatle is..

You may contact Evan Dunlap, the site administrator, at the following address: 3qcmagicblogger [at] gmail [dot] com.