OK, guidelines really

1. The first time a person comments on a member’s page, that member must comment on at least one of the commenter’s pages. (The reward for subsequent comments is at the discretion of the member).
2. Members are not required to return comments in the same number they were received
3. Rude comments are to be ignored.
4. Comments are suggested to be returned in kind (if someone simply says “kool pics” then members are not required to leave long comments in return)
5. Members should state somewhere on their site that they are members and what that means for those that comment on their work. Also check out Comment Exchange Declaration for some *suggested* HTML you can add to your page(s). (I don’t know why but everyone seems to ignore this one, this is a STRONG suggestion as it shows random stoppers by that you will return comments)
6. If you wish to join the Comment Exchange simply become a registered member and put up the CE declaration somewhere on your page(s).
   
7. Currently we only support Elfwood and DeviantArt galleries/libraries. When you sign up to be a member you MUST have a link to an EW/DA gallery/library. If you put the wrong kind of url in those spaces, your links will be removed.
8. If you no longer wish to be participate as a member, remove your links from your profile and remove the CE declaration from your page(s). It is up to you whether you want to continue to be a member here or delete your account entirely.
9. Each member is only bound by obligation to comment on artists/writers from the same section (EW/EWL/DA) as their own work. That is to say that an elfwood artist is not required to comment on a deviant artist’s gallery if they comment on theirs. When it comes to elfwood writers, it is up to the member if they want to cross this boundary. Basically, each section is it’s own unique community sphere.
10. The rules are subject to change. Notification of the members will be attempted. If the rule is of particular importance a vote may be held.

Many members may decide to apply their own stipulations on top of the rules here: they may add a few rules about their returning comments, or what kind they like to receive. Those rules may eventually make their way into the official rules here if they seem to benefit the majority.

Discussion of possible new rules, suggestions, suggested changes in structure, or just gripes and complaints can be held in the forums.

Rules for behavior here in the CE:

Failure to comply could get you banned. By banned, I mean that your profile, comments, posts, and forum posts will be deleted and your IP address will be banned at our discretion.

1. Do not spam member’s pages, asking for comments. Leave valid and relevant comments on their pages if you want to get any in return. Spamming gets you banned. There is a forum for shameless self promotion, use it if you want to advertise.
2. No abusive, abrasive, or obscene language is allowed at any time. We believe in freedom of speech but there are plenty better word choices out there, try some of those.
3. No flaming or flame baiting. If a heated argument takes place, that’s one thing. If you begin to infringe on #2, then you’ve got a problem.
4. If one of your URLs is out of place or inappropriate for it’s location then it will be removed. IE: Placing your DeviantArt URL in your Elfwood URL field or Placing your personal web address in your Elfwood Library URL field. If you continue to do this after the links have been removed, you will be banned.
5. If we find that any of your sites contain material that is hateful, racists, sexist, pornographic, graphically violent or infringes on copyright, we will ban you and report you to your host (elfwood, deviant art, your web host, and any other authorities as we see fit).
6. These rules are subject to change, we may or may not inform you when/if this happens.