Comment Etiquette

Pinkbike is the largest community of bikers on the planet. There are hundreds of thousands of riders on the site from over 200 countries around the globe who shred and want whats best for biking. At Pinkbike we are constantly working to elevate the quality of our site and hope you can help by elevating the quality of your posts and comments. When commenting, try to follow the guidelines below and respect your fellow riders, we all share the same love for the sport.

1. We're all Bikers

   Whether you're into DH, XC, DJ or BMX, all bikers have a common interest in this two-wheeled sport. Pinkbike is used by all types of riders and we promote and encourage all types of riding. All forms of biking have their own struggles; whether it be BMXers trying to keep skate parks open, or DH, XC riders trying to get new singletracks built and sanctioned, or DJers fighting to not get their jumps flattened. There are enough issues trying to promote and expand all forms of biking. So lets end any squabbles among bikers and just enjoy your genre and respect others. Fight for each other, instead of against each other. It's in everyone's interest.

2. Explain your critisism

   Disagree with or dislike a photo, video or article? Feel free to get it off your chest, but explain your reasoning as thoroughly as you can. Think about how your comment can help the person who posted the content. Comments like 'lame', 'its ugly' or 'this sucks' don't add anything productive to the conversation and will be deleted. Try to be positive and helpful whenever possible and just remember, if you have nothing nice to say, it's probably best to keep it to yourself.

3. Read before commenting

   Before asking a question that seems obvious, read the comments as it's probably already been asked. If you want to know what the song in the video is, look around, it has probably already been answered.

4. Read your comment before clicking submit

   Review what you wrote, check your spelling and grammar. Does it make sense? And remember you have 2 minutes to 'edit' your comments after posting them to make any last second gramatical/spelling fixes. Use it wisely!

5. Zero tolerance on Hate

   Any hate speech or personal attacks will not be tolerated and result in suspension. Any homophobic, misogynistic, sexist, racist or religious hate speech has a ZERO tolerance.

6. What is photoshopped?

   Every amazing photo you've ever seen has probably been enhanced with a program like Photoshop. Whether touching up the colors, smoothing objects or adding blurs, most photos go through some after-effects. Some more than others. But when claiming a photo is 'photoshopped', it refers more so to the manipulation of the photograph and adding a rider to another background like this and not adding effects. Don't write comments like 'zomg photoshopped'; if it has actually been photoshopped, it's pretty clear...Everyone makes adjustments and adds effects, so making comments about Photoshop are pointless and will be deleted and get you banned.

7. Share the Ride

   Pinkbike was created with the motto 'Share the Ride'. The purpose of the site is to help and educate people in biking. So try to help out your fellow bikers if they seek help; even if the question seems really basic to you. Everyone started somewhere, don't be disrespectful.

8. How Issues are dealt with on Pinkbike

   Please 'report' any issues you have with users comments by using the 'report user' button on profile pages. Don't engage in flame wars as it will just result in the both of you kicked out.

   How Pinkbike moderators deal with issues

   • All deleted comments, warnings and suspensions are visible to all moderators so a history is kept to find users constantly causing problems
   • Small issues - Comment deleted, user notified
   • Constant problems or severe problem - User warned and temporarily suspended
   • More abuse - Longer ban, user can no longer create additional accounts
   • And more problems - IP Ban and Pinkbike no longer shows up to the user

9. Why was my comment deleted?

   In an conversation it's important to stay on topic.

   • You started to talk about some poitics about why something should be or not be on pinkbike. Spare everyone. Stay on topic. If you have nothing to add to this topic, just don't. Probably tomorrow there will be something that you can contribute to. EX. BMX article, and you start talking about why pinkbike should not put BMX articles on, etc. Freeride article, and you start talking about why pinkbike should post more XC, or whatever. You maybe have a good point, but just don't put it in an article about something else. Start a new forum post, news/blog story, email an admin, so everyone can discuss your great idea in a dedicated area.
   • You make a point but can't refrain from adding snipe and derogatory comments. Cheer up. Make your point without being rude.
   • You did not add anything to the conversation.
   • RTFA (Read the Fu**ing Article) You start making comments or asking things that are clearly described in the article or comments above.
   • You did not explain your critisism. EX. I hate this product (deleted) I hate this product because the down tube is much shorter than product y and it impacts my riding (ok)
   • Trolling. A troll is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional or disciplinary response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion
   • Spamming. You are making the same comment over and over. You are posting links to other random content.
   • Your comment is too short. Use your judgemnt based on the content. If it's an informative piece try to elaborate what you like or dislike.
   • Your comment is the same as someone before