What is The Underscore

Welcome to the Underscore, home base of Alien Bob and a refuge from the modern web. The internet is so much worse right now than it was 15 years ago, but it doesn’t have to be. The Underscore is an attempt to do better. We’ve got chat rooms, we’ve got user signatures, we’ve got gifs, and if we’re very lucky, we’ve got you. So long as you follow the rules.

The Rules

Note: These rules count for the forum as well as the chat rooms and DMs and any personal communication between members. Skirting or circumventing the rules will not be tolerated, but enforcement happens with intent in mind. Staff reserve the right to alter the rules at any point, and will put up a global notice in the event of such an alteration.

  • Be nice, be courteous, be kind. Do not harass anyone, do not pester, do not bully, do not spam, do not be a nuisance, and so on and so forth. The guiding principle is don’t be a dick. Treat the forum and the people in it with respect, and you will see this respect returned. This is a community, and if you can’t be a part of it, you will not be a part of it.

  • This is an explicitly anti-racist, LGBTQ+ friendly, anti-capitalist forum. Bigotry of any kind is not welcome here. Don’t try it as a joke, don’t think you can be clever. You will be banned and forgotten.

  • Do not post AI generated content. It’s not art, it’s not conversation, and it’s not you, so we are not interested. Discussion of generative AI is fine, especially if it’s derogatory.

  • Discussion around emulation and piracy is fine, but do not link to pirated content.

  • Discussion of NSFW topics is fine. Imagery depicting nudity is fine, especially when discussing art or sharing your own creations. Tag your thread with [NSFW] so those poor saps in the office don’t get into trouble. Please avoid posting anything too explicit or pornographic. If in doubt, use the blur spoiler or hide details tag.

    EXCEPTIONS:

    • Do not put NSFW imagery in your profile picture or signature.
    • Do not post content depicting the sexualization of minors.

  • Blur spoiler and hide details tags are also recommended for sensitive content, e.g. topics that would require a content warning such as discussions around specific mental health issues or shocking content. We trust you to use your best judgment in considering the sensitivities of your fellow members.

  • Do not post imagery depicting gore or excessive real life violence.

  • Categories exist to help guide discussion. Please post topics in the relevant category. If you are unsure just post in _core.

  • Do not backseat mod. See someone break the rules? Is someone being disruptive? Flag it to let the mod team know and they’ll take care of it.

  • If a staff member tells you to cut it out, cut it out.

  • Feel free to make threads promoting the things you make, share your art, your process, whatever you’re selling to help pay the bills, et cetera. Engage in conversation and be mindful to not be too spammy. You can also show off your creations in the General Self-Promo Thread.

  • Regarding fundraising and mutual aid, we are still working on a policy for this. For the time being we ask you to not post a fundraising or mutual aid thread without clearing it with a mod first.

Note: Posts made in non-restricted categories are public to the internet. Please keep this in mind when sharing personal details.

Features and Frequently Asked Questions

  • This forum runs on Discourse. The Discourse Trust Level System will give you access to more features and areas of the forum as you engage with the community.

  • Image uploads are limited to 5 megabytes. Please do not hotlink these images externally so it doesn’t use up our bandwidth.

  • The Underscore encourages the use of alt text to make images more accessible. If you’re using the rich text editor, just click or tap on the image to get a menu popup where you can edit the text. If you’re using the Markdown editor it’s as simple as changing the text in the square brackets. If you need more detailed formatting you can use the Hide Details tag [details=“Alt Text”] in Markdown, or just hit the plus icon dropdown menu. Here’s a helpful guide to writing concise and descriptive alt text.

  • To reply to multiple people at the same time simply highlight the text in their post to add it as a quote to your reply. This reads more clearly than posting several replies in a row.

  • The Underscore features chat rooms for more immediate conversation. All the same rules apply, but please remember that chat is a slightly different medium than forum posting, so for better or worse conversations can happen more rapidly.

  • The Underscore allows the use of forum signatures. Feel free to use this feature to express yourself, but please limit your signature to three lines of text (on desktop), including image. Images used in signatures will automatically be limited to 150 pixels tall, and try to keep them under 500 pixels wide. The general rule here is to not be too obstructive. We may reach out to you if we think your signature is too large.

    Use the following Markdown code to add a link to your signature:
    [link text](https://url.to.link)
    To add an image to your signature:
    ![alt text](https://url.to/image.jpeg)
    To make the image a link:
    [![alt text](https://url.to/image.jpeg)](https://url.to.link)

    If you don’t want to see forum signatures you can disable them entirely in your profile settings.

  • Animated avatars are accessible to members that have reached Trust Level 2. The animation will only play within threads and on your user profile.

Supporting The Underscore

The Underscore is 100% funded by member contributions. This covers hosting and domain costs, as well as time put into development and maintenance.

  • Sign up to the Patreon to gain access to the _exclusive category and other benefits. Access requires you to connect your Patreon account in your profile preferences. Please ensure your Patreon email matches your primary forum email.

  • Send a one time contribution through Ko-fi.

  • Browse the Store for merch.

  • The Underscore will never use third party advertising platforms, but we are currently working on a system to let community members pay for ad space. Stay tuned.

How to Reach Us

We appreciate any constructive criticism, commentary, or suggestions you may have. First try the Feedback and Suggestion Thread. You are also welcome to DM staff with any questions or comments. If you’re having difficulty reaching the forum, pay attention to Bob’s Bluesky account for updates, or feel free to join the Discord.

Thank you for being a part of our community, we hope you have a great time here, and remember that today is the day.