We understand this is the internet, and it is all too easy to hide behind a username and fling insults and otherwise act as a troll. That is an unfortunate truth about the nature of the internet....there is nothing we can do to prevent that. But we can strive to act otherwise on our little corner of the web and make it different. We can make our modding community a pleasant place to be, the type of place that nurtures creativity and sharing.
I have some suggestions on how we can accomplish this:
1. Be very careful when using another modder's work in your mod. Many of the mod host sites won't allow a mod that is plagiarized in any way. There is a community-accepted process for obtaining permission.
A. Read the readme. If permission is granted, use it. If it specifically says "no," then find something else.
B. Look on redwoodtreesprites's http://www.zyworld.com/redwoodtreesprite/MMRD_Homepage.htm (I am not aware if there is a similar resource for Oblivion, please notify me if there is.)
C. Try to contact the author. Readmes usually have email addresses. They may also be members of forums such as BSGF, PES, and GHF. You could try sending them a PM at one of those places.
D. Ask on a forum if anyone knows how to contact that author or if they know how that person feels about usage in general.
E. If you have had no luck, but nothing has expressly led you to believe the answer is "no," then go ahead and use it but include DETAILED credits in your readme.
2. Always remember that we mod for free because we enjoy modding. No modder owes you anything just because you are a "fan." But modders must also remember that those who play your mods do not owe you anything either.
3. A proper game set up with mods can take many days to create, and hundreds of hours can be put into bulding and refining a character. Modders must always remember that those who use their mods run the risk of having that destroyed when they use your mod through corrupt save files or other such catastrophes. It is the responsibility of anyone who makes a mod to ensure it is as stable and conflict-free as possible. The person who downloads a mod must also recognize the fact that there is always such a risk. And keep in mind that if you use a mod that requires a 3rd-party program such as MWE, MWSE, or MGE, odd occurences may happen. You should always use such things as if you were BETA testing something, expecting problems to arise at some point and taking proper precautions to back up your game.
4. Screenshots are always a great thing to use to promote your mod. When your mod adds new content of any sort, please try to include a screenshot if the download location allows it. Use your judgement though; if it is a simple tweak or something that cannot be showcased with a screenshot, there is obviously no need. A screenshot is NOT required for a mod to be posted on any site, so PLEASE do not harass a modder who has chosen not to include one. It is acceptable to remind or to inform a new modder that a screenshot would be appreciated and may help increase their download count. It is NEVER acceptable to rudely or continually demand that a screenshot be posted.
5. If the place you are downloading the mod from has a rating system, USE IT RESPONSIBLY. If you did not download or try the mod, you have no reason to vote and should not. Never give a mod a low rating simply because you think the idea is "dumb" or has already been done. Pages have been written about what criteria you should use when rating a mod; in the past I have said that you should simply look at the technical aspect, whether it does what it advertises to do. Please remember that I am a scripter rather than a story-teller or an artist, that is the criteria I use to judge my mods....so take that suggestion with a grain of salt. The purpose of the rating system is to inform others of whether or not a particular mod is worth trying out or if it is risky to use. Please use your best judgement, and remember that every mod has a person behind it who potentially dedicated hours to its creation.
6. If there is a legitimate problem with a mod, please use proper channels to report it to the author. Most modders start forum threads and include their email address in readmes. Always be polite when reporting bugs and problems. If it is a more serious problem, such as blatant plagiarism, please report it privately. It is appropriate to discuss it with the author as well as contact the administration of the sites that host the mod. Public confrontations serve no purpose other than to "feed the trolls." Avoid that at all costs.
Please remember that I am no authority of any sort. I am just a modder and a mod-user. I have volunteered my time and resources to help with the administration of Planet Elder Scrolls and Great House Fliggerty simply because I adore this community and want to give as much back as I have received. These things I have written here are only suggestions, but they are STRONG suggestions. I have seen people do the exact opposite of these and it has never gone well. People have stopped modding and taken their contributions away with them, friendships have been broken, projects have screeched to a halt, and people have been generally discouraged. None of that should ever happen, there is no cause for rudeness and negativity. Respect is the glue that holds this community together and continues to improve these games that we all take so much pleasure in playing and modding.
--Fliggerty