We are not here to dictate, but there are a few rules we would like you to follow to ensure you have the best time possible with us here at ~SSD!


• Journals should have no extra words or numbers and must relate to some part of your character's name. Your AIM name must also relate to your character's name in some way. Also, you must have an AIM name before you apply! It only takes a couple minutes to create one, so please do this beforehand.

• No first post is required, however, if you are applying with examples only, you must provide both entry and AIM/scene examples unless you have several recent journal examples for the person you are applying as. If that is the case, we will not need to see your AIM/scene examples. We also ask that you have a recent friends only post up so we can keep an accurate tab on when you are due for an update. If you apply with a first post only, make sure it is dated recently.

• Keep OOC and IC matters separate! We shouldn't have to explain what this means. If we get several complaints that you are not following this rule, we will either warn you or remove you depending on the situation. Note that we take this matter seriously and we will not hesitate to take the appropriate action to ensure none of our members are harassed for any reason.

• Drama is totally fine with us, we encourage it to keep things interesting! But we also ask that you keep things realistic. Pregnancies should last (approximately) 9 months, and again, all IC drama must be kept IC.

• We do allow "scene queen" type celebrities! They must have a reasonable claim to fame such as being a model, dj, photographer, designer or anything of the sort. However, celebrity significant others and siblings will not be accepted if they do not have their own legitimate claim to fame. If they do, we will consider them based on what their own claim to fame is. This means no one who is only famous due to their connections (think Hanson wives, etc.) will be allowed. If you're unsure if your celebrity will be accepted, please drop us a comment!

• We will not tolerate stealing of any kind. If we find out you have stolen anything, such as a journal, entries, or even examples, you may be removed.

• The update limit is 3 weeks. Updates must be a decent length, meaning at least a few paragraphs in which you put forth some effort. All entries must be written by you! If there is a special case where you want to update for a friend, that is fine- but in return, they must update for you so effort was put in from both sides! A copy & pasted entry from your actual celebrity's blog will not count as an update, neither will a birthday post unless it contains actual substance and is a decent length! Don't be lazy! Also, please do not rely on our warning list system to know when you're due for an update. We make mistakes sometimes, and you should be able to keep track of your own entries.

• "Special" posts will not be counted as updates unless they have substance! Since we now have a journal for making mixes, we're going to allow music mixes to be counted as an update, but only if there is substance with it! This means you can't just post a list of songs and be done. A description of why you chose each song or something of the sort will be needed, or if you want to add your mix to the end of an update that has nothing to do with the music anyway, that will be fine too. By now, we think everyone knows what qualifies as a legitimate update, but if you're ever unsure, just ask us!

• Updates must be visible to the entire community, either public or friends only. Private or filtered ones will not count! We also ask that you do not backdate updates- if you want to backdate a birthday post, or any other post that doesn't count as your 3 week update, that is fine. But actual updates are not to be backdated, we want to keep our friends page moving!

• If you have a free update pass, whether it be from ~pals or ones we give out occasionally, you still have to post something in your journal letting us know you are using that pass! We have to have something to calculate when you hit 3 weeks. You can make a blank post with "free update pass" in the subject, it doesn't matter! As long as you make a post stating it somewhere, we'll count it.

• As previously stated, the update limit is 3 weeks, but if you haven't been active, you may be eligible for override/removal at 5-7 days. Being active means posting, commenting, and signing on AIM! We don't expect you to sign on or post every day, but if we notice you're majorly slacking in either posting or signing on, you'll more than likely be placed on an inactivity warning list or possibly removed. For new members, if you do not update your friends list and post an intro in ~jambo within 3 days of being added, you may also be eligible for override/removal.

• Once you are at or nearing 3 weeks, or if you are inactive, you will be placed on either the "update" or "inactivity" warning list. If you do not update, request an extension/hiatus, or become active by the following set of adds, you will be removed. Please note that if you are placed on the inactivity warning list, you must make some sort of post in one of the sub-communities to let us know you are active. We monitor AIM activity the best we can, but it is much easier for us to check the friends page. If you do not post after being placed, you will be overridden/removed.

• As of January 25th, 2009 - if you pass your 3 week update limit and still haven't been placed on the warning list, you can be removed or overridden anyway. There are too many people relying on our warning lists to know when they need to update, and since we only do removals on Sundays, several people are taking advantage of this. Please remember that if you're past 3 weeks, unless you're on hiatus or extension, you may still be removed or overridden. This also goes for inactive people, we have the right to remove you if you are showing no signs of activity.

• If you find you've been removed 3+ times for inactivity (updating too late, not posting, never on aim, etc.), you will be removed permanently from the community. We're trying to run an active, friendly place and that makes it difficult!

• Removals will be done with adds. Too many people were waiting until Sunday to have their updates done so to keep things moving we ask that you update when you reach 3 weeks.

• When requesting an extension or hiatus, please give us an approximate date in which you will return/update. If you only give us a broad estimation such as a few weeks, we are going to give you two, maybe three weeks, from the date requested and if you are not back before then, you could be removed. Extensions should last no longer than 5 days, so if you need more than that, request a hiatus instead. Indefinite hiatuses should last no longer than 6 weeks, and you must drop us a comment or pm sometime within your 6 week period to let us know you are still planning to return. If you do not do this, you may be overridden or removed.

• While you are on hiatus, you should not be signing on, posting, or commenting anywhere. Privating your buddylist to allow only your friends while you are on hiatus is also a violation of it, and if we find out you have been doing this, your hiatus will be revoked.

• Do not abuse the extension or hiatus privilege! We know that life gets hectic sometimes, but 3 weeks is more than enough time to post a few paragraphs, so you should not be commenting for an extension or hiatus every time you are due for an update. If we notice that you have been doing this, we will ban you from using either of them for a decent period of time or indefinitely.

• As mentioned previously, we encourage IC drama- but not OOC drama. We know sometimes things get busy and instead of taking a hiatus, you may choose to leave the community for awhile, which is fine! What isn't fine is making a dramatic ~outta post more than once, then deleting it and saying you are kidding. If you do this multiple times, we will warn you or ultimately remove you. On a less dramatic note, this also goes for anyone who continues to get removed from the community for missing update deadlines. There is no excuse to be removed 3 times in a row when you have 3 weeks between each update, or more if you requested an extension! If any of this happens in excess, we reserve the right to reject you when you are re-applying.

• Last but not least, if you are removed for any reason and you re-apply shortly after your removal, we are still going to take the date of your last entry and use it to determine when your next update is due. For example: if you updated on the 5th, then get removed for inactivity on the 15th, we will still be counting the 5th as when your 3 week period starts even though you just joined again on the 15th. If you get removed for not updating on time, you must re-apply with an update, even if you re-apply a week after you were removed! We are not going to let anyone try to get out of updating when we are very leniant and flexible with our rules.


If you have any comments, concerns, or questions about any of these rules, do not hesitate to send us a pm or comment this screened post. We will get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you for your time and interest in joining ~SSD, we look forward to having you as an active member of our community!