FAQ: Suspensions
Throughout my time browsing the General Help forum, I have seen countless threads about suspensions, and I always find myself giving the same advice on the matter on almost every thread. So, today I write about some common questions and concerns with suspensions.

1. Why Have I Been Suspended?
   Normally, when you receive a suspension, you are sent a private message telling you what rule was broken and the violation post. Any question you have about the offence should be answered in this very PM. However, if you still have questions, you may ask a Senior Moderator.
   
   
   What??? I Didn't Receive a PM. Help!!!
   As you know from the previous answer, suspensions are normally accompanied by a private message with all the information you need. But, certain circumstances cause for you to receive an instant suspension with no warning. These are normally the most frustrating for users because they feel like they have been wronged, since they were just doing their normal d2jsp routine, then they're landed with a 15 minute or 24 hour suspension. This is perfectly understandable, but know that you have done something wrong if you received a suspension.
   
   Suspensions that don't come with a PM are word filters majority of the time*, and so if you have received one of these suspensions, you have indeed hit a word filter. What word caused the suspension nobody can disclose to you, as this list of words are hidden from the public. Don't ask any staff about this either, as they will simply tell you that they cannot give information on the matter, for I have personally asked a Senior Moderator in the past before and that is what I have been told.
   
   *When I say this, I mean that basically 99% of suspensions without PMs are because of the word filter. The other 1% is an arbitrary suspension given to a user - I cannot disclose the reasoning behind these suspensions.
   
   What Can I do to Prevent a Suspension?
   When a suspension is given, they are always based off of the rules. As you know, some suspensions are on a word filter list and some are given by staff members. Regardless of where the suspension derives from, the rules play a part in suspensions. While some reasons are more apparent than others, you need to look back at the site rules, since these are the basis for d2jsp disciplinary action.
   
   It is always good practice to abide by the rules. If you follow the site rules and are overall a good-mannered person, you don't have to worry about triggering a word filter receiving a warn, or a suspension. A general rule I like to abide by is the commonly reiterated "treat others as you would like to be treated" mantra. Simply be a good person by being nice to others, since you would only hope for the same in return.
   
   Why Didn't I Receive a Warn?
   While this isn't really a common question, I think it does need addressing since I am discussing suspensions.
   
   Only certain circumstances will call for both a suspension and warn to be issued at the same time. These are typically only handed out if that particular staff member feels like they need both a warning, and time to think about what they have done wrong. So, if you do not receive a warn with the suspension, consider this a verbal warning, since suspensions are not formal offences. They are, however, reminders of the rules and they are to be looked at as a "push" from the Moderator to better yourself.
   
   If you did receive a warn with your suspension, the reasoning behind your suspension will also be the reasoning behind your warn, so check your warn logs for information.

User(s) who inspired and aided with FAQ: Suspensions: hapycampr, RaveTheGo, and RewTheBrave.

hapycampr's reply to my PM some time ago was a very large basis for my advice regarding word filter suspensions, and I really appreciate him telling me about them since they have shaped the way I give advice in General Help when it comes to suspensions. Then RaveTheGo and RewTheBrave offered some reassurance and approval that was much needed for this entry's submission. Thanks everyone for helping with this entry.

How to Use a Mediator & What to Expect
When trading on d2jsp, I think it is safe to say we all wish for a safe exchange of both items and FG. However, I think we both know that is not always the case for trades, as you can see from the many thread in the Scammer Accusations forum. In the end, it is your choice to use a Mediator or not. Again though, Mediators ensure the safe transfer of both items and FG, so please utilize their services! You can find a Mediator listing here: Moderator Team & Trusted / Mediator List.

Using a Mediator
Mediators are here to ensure the 100% safety of both the traders' items and FG, I highly recommend utilizing their services. Below I will describe the procedure for you.

Step 1 - Requesting a Mediator
To get things started, you're going to have to request a Mediator. You can do this by clicking the button, or link, that says "Request Mediator". Shortly, you will be contacted by an available Mediator. This time varies greatly and I cannot give you an estimate, so please stay patient and DO NOT go through with the trade, regardless of how long you wait. If you want to cancel the Mediation request after they contact you, then you are free to do so. But while your request is still in the queue for Mediation, you should not go through with the trade.

Note: Only request the Mediator if you are doing the trade right then and there, you don't want to waste their time. Also keep in mind that mediators can only mediate games they play, so the wait time for some games may be longer than others.

Step 2 - Supplying Information
After you have requested a Mediator, you will receive a PM from the Mediator. Depending on the Mediator, they will either ask if you need a Mediator, or you will be prompted with information with a note at the bottom asking if you still need their services. Below is an example of information that will be requested by the mediator doing a D2 mediation;


Quote
General Information
• Link to the Trade Topic:
• Link to the Profile of the other trader:
• Short explanation of the trade:

In-Game Information
• Your Character Name:
• Your Account Name:

Location Information
• Realm (US East, US West, Europe, Asia):
• Mode (Classic, Expansion Pack):
• Core (Softcore, Hardcore):
• Type (Non Ladder, Ladder):
___________________________________________________________________

A confirmation reply to this PM is required for any Mediation to occur.
If you are no longer in need of a Mediator, PM the Mediator back telling them so.

This information must be confirmed by the other trader.  Once the Mediator has received confirmation from them, you will be PM'd with the Mediator's in game character name and the game name.  You MUST go to their game.  Do NOT go AFK.

Yes, there is a lot of information required for these Mediations, but this information is required to ensure an overall safe trade; fill out the prompted information as best you can. Any questions can be asked in a reply, don't be shy to ask!

Step 3 - Getting In-Game
Once you have supplied the required information, and once things are confirmed with the other trader, you will receive a PM with information regarding the game.

Note: DO NOT enter a game with the other trader unless it is the game specified in PMs from the Mediator!

Step 4 - Doing the Trade
Once everyone is in-game, the Mediator will give you instructions that you must follow to complete the trade. It is imperative that you stay attentive to your screen and avoid going AFK, for you will be given instructions throughout the trade from the Mediator and you will want to be there when they are instructed. Also, do not engage in side-conversations with the other trader; focus on the Mediator's instructions! Stay in-game until everyone has confirmed the safe transferal of items and FG.

Congratulations! You've completed your Mediation.

Not Using a Mediator
It is perfectly understood that not many people wish to use a Mediator, and therefore choose to go the speedy route by trading without them. This is perfectly okay, but you must acknowledge the risk and take necessary precaution during the trade to ensure you have "backup" for when and if a scam does occur. Some of you might have the mentality that you're safe and that it won't happen to you for whatever reason, I implore you to take the extra precaution regardless; it could happen to you someday and prove useful.

If you get scammed do NOT leave the game! Use this link: http://forums.d2jsp.org/info.php?p=13 - Read it carefully, follow all the instructions and provide all the information asked for.

User(s) who inspired and aided with How to Use a Mediator & What to Expect: Shanny & FantaExotic. Shanny's incredible advice and feedback in PMs have been a huge contribution to this entry, and Rasmus's help with my mediation some time ago has helped me to note what information is collected during a mediation. And lastly, Rew helped with the original forming of the entry and helped me refine the idea before working on this. Thanks guys!

If anyone is interested in helping out, whether it be through giving me an idea to helping me with a current entry, I am always appreciate of the help I am given. Shoot me a private message if you would like to discuss helping out

Up for new content

Trading Spam & Early Bumping
In today's trading atmosphere, trading spam and early bumping have proved to be two prominent issues. Some get confused with the Early Bump rule, whereas some disregard the rule to expedite the rate at which their item sells. Likewise, there is a level of disregard for the spam rule because there is either a dispute or someone simply wishes to engage in banter. Regardless of one's pretenses when they early bump their thread or choose to spam in a trade topic, I am going to be going over both trade spam and early bumping, as both of these rules are, as aforementioned, prominent issues in the trading forums.

What is Trade Spam?
According to the Trading Rules, trade spam ranges from free bumps, to vouches, to YouTube videos, to begging for forum gold, to replying to the aforesaid forms of spam. Breaking this down; trade spam is the posting of material that has no relevance to the item being bought, item being sold, or service being offered. If any of the aforementioned is breached, and if the topic creator replies* to such, then there is grounds to close the trade topic. Please keep in mind, that in the event that your trade topic is closed, you must wait one hour to repost the topic.

*Generally, when a topic is closed for excessive spam, the topic creator at some point replied to other users who were spamming the topic, thus calling for the thread to be closed. If the topic creator does not reply to the spam, then the topic will not be closed, however, users who spammed will be dealt with accordingly. As to ensure this is the case, I encourage all traders to ignore spam and report it, so that the users can be properly disciplined and/or informed.

Special Note: If you do report a post for spam, and you do not see the user with 10% warn, that does not mean nothing was done! This is hardly the case at all. Moderators deal with every case arbitrarily, though everyone is certainly treated equally. If they deem the user only fit for a suspension, just to remind them that the rules are certainly present and that they have breached them with their recent action, then so be it. This kind of Moderator action is not apparent, like a 10% warn is, but something is in-fact being done about it.

While it is not stated under the Spam portion of the Trading Rules, posting content in the trading forums that does not belong in the trading forums is spam. This means that if you have been scammed, it does not belong in the trading forums, it belongs in the Scammer Accusation forum, as that is where the S/A team will be looking for accusations. Likewise, posting questions in the trading forum for a game about the game is spam as well, for it belongs in the discussion forum, not the trading forum. Exceptions to this rule would be forums where the discussion and trading is blended into a single forum.

Another example of spam that is not immediately noticed in the Trading Rules is commenting on the items. If there are users commenting with "Hey, that's a nice item" or "Wow, awesome, good luck selling" -- or anything similar -- then it is spam because the posts do not pertain to the sale of the item.

Lastly, if you are posting a topic within the Trading forums, offering to give users free items, you are spamming the Trading forums. The Trading forums exist for the sole purpose of exchanging goods with other users for Forum Gold, or with Diablo 3 sometimes, In-Game Gold. Offering items for free is contradicting the point of the Trading forum. It is certainly a good deed to help others less fortunate by giving them free items, but the Trading forums is not the place to be doing such. If you would like to give away your items, create an event via the My Events system. Read more about the system here: My Events.

What is Early Bumping?
As the rule suggests, early bumping is when you bump your topic before it is time to bump your topic. However, the Trading Rules state that early bumping is posting 2 back-to-back posts in a single topic before your 4 hour bump and creating multiple topics to circumvent the 4 hour bump.

There is often some misunderstanding about this rule, especially with the back-to-back post portion of the rule -- it is actually often construed wrongly. When someone bumps their topic, and there is another user who offers on whatever item they are selling, and then the topic creator replies to that offer, it is not considered an early bump. This is not an early bump because the topic creator did not make their posts back-to-back, they were made in proper order; in the respect that Person A bumped at a proper time, Person B replied, and Person A replied in direct relation to what Person B posted with.

If the topic creator was simply replying to someone saying "free bump", then they reply with a post along the lines of "thanks", then that would not be an early bump because it was not a back-to-back post; it was actually trade spam because the topic creator would be replying to irrelevant content.

Special Note: As it is often implied, bumping is simply posting "bump" in your topic. While this is true -- every 4 hours you can indeed press the Bump Button to automatically bump your topic with "bump" as the post -- bumps can also be posting with a current offer, new information or details, etc. It does not have to say "bump" in order for it to be considered a bump. So, if you are posting in your topic again, back to back, before the 4 hour mark; even if your post does not say "bump", it will be considered an early bump! Please do not make the assumption that it has to say "bump" to be considered an early bump, as this is not the case.

Acknowledgements

This entry would not have been made possible without the help from the following users: Blind[zF], Meridyth, and Seven11even. Big thanks to them!