Updated! Puzzles Rulebook - Please Read Before Posting in this Puzzles Area

[Otto Puzzell]

Puzzles Rulebook

The following rules have been developed so that AutoPuzzles members understand what actions are considered OK, and which are not. Those that are prohibited, as spelled out below, will be dealt with by the admins in the following manner:

First time offense: a written warning within the thread in which the rules infraction occurred

Second offense: A 7-day ban from participation in the puzzles. You will receive an e-mail notification of the banning, and a notice will be posted in the thread in which the rules infraction occurred.

Three or more offenses: The admins of this site will consider a longer temporary ban, or a permanent ban. You will receive an e-mail notification of the banning, and a notice will be posted in the thread in which the rules infraction occurred.


Rules, Part 1: Modification of posted pictures:

The following picture modifications are A-OK, and are considered by consensus to be acceptable.

1.   Change color, or change to black-and-white or sepia tone.
2.   Obscure or delete telltale background elements.
3.   Obscure or delete badges, logos and number plates.

The following picture modifications are not OK, and are considered by consensus to be unacceptable and unsportsmanlike.

1.   Replace design elements from one vehicle with those of another (wheels, grille, etc.)
2.   Photoshop modifications that change the basic configuration of a car (change a coupe to a roadster; make a Tyrelll  P34 a four-wheeled car, etc).
3.   Photoshop modifications that place a vehicle in an incorrect time or place.
4.   Reversing a picture to make an LHD vehicle appear RHD, or vice-versa.


Rules, Part 2: Posting links that compromise the integrity of other puzzles.

It is incumbent upon the poster of a puzzle to declare an answer correct. Sometimes, members like to post the links to sites where they have found the answer to a puzzle, in an attempt to offer "proof" that their answer is correct. While this may seem harmless, it has also compromised the puzzle sources of many member who cannot afford to purchase expensive volumes of automotive history.

Some members may notice that the puzzle poster may, from time to time, include a "photo credit" link under a puzzle picture, after the puzzle is solved. This is done when the puzzle picture is clearly copyrighted, or when the source site – often a "Friends of AutoPuzzles" listed site – has granted permission to use their content, in return for a photo credit.

Note: Links to other sites and sources are welcome in non-puzzle posts and threads, except when such information is then linked to within a solved puzzle.


Rules, Part 3: Placing a "Lock" or "Hold" on Puzzles:

Locking of Puzzles: Putting a "lock" or "hold" on Puzzles, to allow another AutoPuzzles member to further research and complete an answer, thereby precluding guesses by other AutoPuzzles members until a time specified by the Puzzle's creator, is at the sole discretion of the Puzzle's creator. If no such "lock" or "hold" hold has been put in place by the Puzzle creator, the Puzzle shall be considered open to all AutoPuzzles members who are otherwise eligible to answer Puzzles in that section of the Forums.


Rules, Part 4: Stating Puzzle-Specific Rules

If the creator of a Puzzle wishes to employ "fair play" rules of any fashion in a Puzzle they create, such rules should be stated in the initial post. When those rules are at odds with the rules posted for each Puzzle section, the established and posted AutoPuzzles rules shall take precedent.


Rules, Part 5: Taking Your Leave of AutoPuzzles? Tell us!

Suggestion to all Puzzle Posters: If you have planned an extended absence at AutoPuzzles, or if circumstance has imposed an absence, please communicate the expected duration of your absence in the "News, Information and Feedback" section of the Forums. When possible, please provide the AutoPuzzles admin staff with an answer key for your remaining Puzzle(s), if you cannot readily estimate the duration of your absence, or expect not to return.


Rules, Part 6: Awarding Points for Puzzles

The points awarded for solving a Puzzle, or a part of a Puzzle, are at the sole discretion of the Puzzle's creator. It is a generally accepted practice at AutoPuzzles to award 2 points for the solution of a Puzzle that has proved to be exceptionally difficult, as evidenced by its relegation the "Black Hole" section of AutoPuzzles.

Rules, Part 7: Use of Google Search by Image to circumvent the spirit of AutoPuzzles

AutoPuzzles is a place where car guys can have fun by sharing their knowledge of cars, and learning about other cars by exploring, as a detective, the other puzzles. One of the mechanisms we use to measure the knowledge and sleuthing ability of our members is the puzzle points system.

With the advent of Google Search by Image, many points are being awarded to people who seem to have knowledge of cars that appear only one place on the entire internet. AND, in many cases, their 'knowledge' matches exactly the information on those singular sources. It's quite apparent when this method of cheating is employed, and cheating in this way is an affront to the very spirit of this site. If the editors conclude that cheating of any type has taken place, steps 1, 2 and 3 from the top of this thread (1: warning; 2: temporary ban and 3: permanent ban), will be employed by the AutoPuzzles editors and administrators.

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Ultra's P.S.

One User Profile per AutoPuzzles member.

Willingly or willfully undermining the team of administrators and their attempts to bring you the best website possible, here or elsewhere around the web, is grounds for banning from the site, temporarily or permanently.  This is to be judged by the administrators, at their discretion, and the judgment is NOT open for appeal.

[Otto Puzzell]

Updated to include rule against using Google Search by Image