Recommended change in the modding etiquette policy

Something about the modding etiquette policy doesn't seem right to me.

Modders, people who spend their unpaid time and effort to compile mods FOR the community (they consciously realize this when releasing a mod publicly) bless their sole, are making a contribution to an ideal that this modding community represents, that Silent Hunter can be improved upon at will, and people willing to take the time and effort to do so, who are willing to share their work, would and should be under the conscious that the ultimate goal here is to better the game by modification.

If the ultimate goal here is to better the game through modification, and not to favor any party without due justice or follow unnecessary rules in order to fulfill one's pride just because they've contributed their work, then why is this etiquette thing necessary? The only justification for the necessity of these rules would be for those who contribute but have more selfish motives than those who contribute for the improvement of the game for the sake of the community. The whole ideology behind the rules for etiquette (and I say rules here because they are represented as such, stickied to the top of the Sh3 modding forum as if they are law) suggest that the modders only commit their work to the community and for sharing their efforts because they look for praise and tireless thanks. Although praise and thanks is well deserved, it alone should not be a hamper to the modding progression of this game. If one's motives were to contribute to the community for the sake of the community, then a whole slew of rules and guidelines for others to follow (which trumps even the requirements for becoming a lawyer in the United States) would not be necessary; at least in this capacity.

This, compiled with the time and effort required to fulfill this "law", does retard the progress of the modification of Silent Hunter.

In essence, perhaps we should look to making less requirements for etiquette. I'd suggest a simple "effort" tried by the person modifying another's work at simply mentioning their names in the releasing, and thanking those contributors who he cannot attain names en masse. I do not see the point in asking permission to modify another's work unless they've specifically wanted that condition upon releasing their mod.

However, as to the last point, the argument is not great. Modders should be required to understand that when they release a mod to the community, they have consented to allow others to modify their work for the better of the community, only requiring that their name is mentioned in that subsequent mod for some credit.

If the motive here is to prevent others from stealing others work without giving them any credit; I'd like to ask for the statistics of such "modification thieves" here within these forums. I'd think 99% are good souls, and would not even think of doing such a thing.

"Asking for permission" is draconian at best, when considering its hampering to the progression of the modding of Silent Hunter and the betterment of the community here and for Silent Hunter players everywhere. I would like to see only a requirement to "attempt" to post the names of those who made the mods one has used in their mod. Nothing more.

This thread was compiled after angrily seeing a modder over 2 years ago post a Fore Torpedo room for the Type 7, giving credit to those who he used mods within his, only to be received with criticism by many here that he did not ask permission to use those mods in his mods. In the end, the member removed his mod not allowing anyone to download it, and he ask for his forum account to be removed.

I have many mods in the works, including an "All flotilla mod", allowing players to play all combat flotillas and the monsun/Africa/Indian Ocean gruppes. I am also working on the mine mod that will not require to use another torpedo in order to deploy. My greatest work and most consuming is a way to add a dynamic campaign through batch processing, and perhaps adding permanent mines to the SCR layer once they are deployed.

However, I will NOT release these mods here, and if released elsewhere they will not be allowed to be posted here, if the current etiquette law remains. The current etiquette law retards the progress of bettering Silent Hunter, and I will follow suit (if it remains) by not releasing my hard work to this community. If pride and due permission is what takes precedence here, then why should I break the mold by posting work without other's permission?