Think about this when you create an OnlineCommunity.

As a founder you feel the need to set the directions of the community:

• to define what's on topic and off topic
• to talk about the use of real names
• to define the copyright situation
• to talk about good style
• ... many other things (quality of content, dissertation vs. discussion, ...)

All this may be good, but it may also move you towards a GodKing position (which is bad for you). And your community has lost a chance to decide on its own issues (it is treated like a child).

So: visit other communities to see what rules work there. You will be surprised. Rules work better if they may be violated sometimes (it makes you think about them, not just execute them). Think about tolerance and build some of it into your community. Let the members decide (sometimes). Trust your members. Fighting for your opinions and losing sometimes will make you a better, a more humble host.

See FairProcess, BalancingForce, SafetyNet.