All posters should adhere to the forum-wide rules when posting in general messages.
To ensure that everyone is able to participate in the General Messages forum, be sure to adhere to the following set of additional rules that apply specifically to the general messages section:
Rules when posting in GM:
(1) Try to avoid discussions that are unrelated to the main subject of threads. Posts that deviate significantly from the main point of a thread may be removed, or a thread may be closed when it has veered off topic, or is no longer generating any useful discussion.
If a thread you have started seems to have disappeared and does not appear to have been merged in with another that is on a similar topic, it means that your thread has been deemed inappropriate by the moderators and removed. Explanation can be sought from the GM moderators if this causes confusion, but continued attempts to create the same thread after deletion will not be tolerated.
(2) Do not start duplicate threads. This is especially annoying if the identical subject was already brought up by another poster just a few days ago. Use the search function and/or make sure that an identical or very related topic was not started by somebody else by looking at the next pages of the forum. If you would like to bring up an issue again, simply post in the older thread(s).
(3) Make sure the thread you are about to start is worthy of discussion and is related to tennis. The fact that this forum is called "General Messages" does not mean that anything goes here.
(i) Please do not start threads just to get answers about a matter in a short period of time. Have in mind that every separate section of the board has a purpose.
(ii) 2021 UPDATE: Exceptions for the types of threads allowed in GM may be made at certain times with moderator approval, usually when no professional tennis is being played. Some of these exceptions include, but are not limited to:
- Tennis topics that would usually belong in other areas of the forum, but contain useful for the general public. (ie. where to find tennis on television, tennis live-scoring apps, and tennis betting sites)
- Tennis or MTF Games - Tennis Elbow, Tennis Draw Games, MTF's ACC & Popularity Contests, etc.
- Tennis Charity Events or Fundraisers
(ii) Do not start threads with the sole intention of bashing a player. E.g. "player X is a loser", or "player Y is a choker", or "I hate player Z". Conversely, threads made solely to praise your favorite player (e.g. "I love player X”, “Player Y is the best ever”) are better fit for the player's own forum.
(iii) Refrain from starting threads or derailing existing ones with the sole intention of speculating on a delicate issue involving a particular player unless there is an actual outside source/link to back the story up. That includes doping and match-fixing allegations, as well as gossip about the given player's personal life.
(iv) The following type of threads/discussions go into the respective tournament forums:
- daily order of play (OOP)
- TV schedules
- questions about attending the tournament
- tournament draws and resulting discussion (with exception of the 4 Grand Slams + Masters)
(v) Threads regarding doubles go in the doubles forum. (except Davis Cup ties)
(vi) Threads that are related to tennis (e.g. players, fans, coaches), but are not about the game itself, belong in the tennis off-topic forum.
(vii) Threads about minor happenings
- involving a single player (e.g. change of sponsor, off-court action) are not of general interest and belong into the player forums.
- in general, or just overly repeated topics will be merged and/or deleted up to the discretion of the responsible moderators.
(viii) Personal questions about your and other posters' tenn is game, or tennis equipment, go in the amateur tennis forum.
(ix) Threads about gambling strategies, betting odds etc. go in the gamblers lounge.
(x) If you have a tennis blog/site and wish to post your articles here to open a discussion, go to the Fan Blogs section.
(xi) Exhibitions are not meant to be taken seriously, so please don't start pre-match polls or post-match result threads here about exhibition matches. You can use the exhibitions forum for more detailed info and discussions.
(xi.1) Hopman Cup is allowed to be discussed in GM, as it is an official ITF event, but make sure match threads are created ONLY for mens' matches and that all mixed match/womens' match talk is focused in the tournament's main thread.
(xii) Threads about women's tennis (WTA) are not permitted on this board, neither is livescoring womens tennis matches on the livescore threaf. If you wish to discuss the WTA, go to our sister site Tennis Forum
(xiii) Discussion of live matches is only allowed in the live scores and commentary thread in GM.
(4) Do not create threads
- about results before the matches are really completed (e.g. "Player A def. Player B 6-4 6-4").
- about premature discussions of draws until the draw is released.
(5) Do not start threads without substance or without anything worthy to discuss. Examples:
- "XXXX should retire" (for a young player after losing a random match)
- "XXXX will win Roland Garros" (for a #200 ranked player)
- "XXXX and YYYY would make a great couple"
- threads which are deemed as trolling or baiting attempts, or just to gain attention
If necessary, new rules may be added, and existing rules may be edited. Please be sure to follow these guidelines. Failure to comply with the thread guidelines may result in your thread being modified, closed, or removed. Failure to follow the posting guidelines may result in warnings or infractions. An accumulation of infraction points may result in an automatic temporary ban.