Quoting Addicted2DVD:

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(...)If you are checking for spelling errors and changing the cast/character names to match something other then the credits you are breaking the rules and it should be voted no on.(...)

Quoting skipnet50:

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(...)It is user-built, not user-driven, pdmania. We have Rules that we all follow. Your local database is user-driven and there cyou can dow WHATEVER it is wish and you can follow your own Rules, just keep it local i you are following YOUR own Rules and they are Contrary to the Online Rules.

Well, concerning what you both say, I'll leave an example. There are 14 versions of "Sliver" (reg. 2) in the IV database. As you can easily check, there are as much versions of the cast and crew, with a few misspellings among almost all of them. I tried to add a 15th version (the Spanish one) and it was refused 3 times, the last one just because I mentioned what seems to be a disease around here (IMDB). I crosschecked all the information I had on the cast and crew, and believe I got the right one. Nevertheless, the IV database is still missing the Spanish version and has quite a few others with errors, even if they are according to the DVD credits (which I sincerely doubt) and therefore the rules.

So please enlighten me: what is the correct way of doing things? Blindingly follow the rules or trying to get everything correct? And in what manner are these 14 different versions NOT user driven?

Quoting pdmaia:

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So please enlighten me: what is the correct way of doing things? Blindingly follow the rules or trying to get everything correct? And in what manner are these 14 different versions NOT user driven?

From the sounds of it you aren't actually checking the cast against the credits just using what's already in the database.

Sadly wrong data has made it through into the database  for far too many boring reasons. Apart from incorrect data it is not always guaranteed the credits will be the same between localities. I know for a fact this is the case with the US & UK releases of The Faculty.

If you want to be 100% sure of getting a correct Spanish version in the database you will need to check the credits against the credits shown on the dvd and confirm that as the source when submitting.

I believe Ken will accept existing profiles as a source, but if the notes from the existing submissions are suspect it may not get accepted.

If you want to get it into the database as you say... you must simply follow what it says to do in the rules. For cast and crew that means copying exactly what you see in the end credits... whether there is typos in the end credits or not.

The main database is for a starting point for all users. So the best way is to have it match the DVD... this  way there is no personal preferences and easy to know what to put... you  put exactly what you see in the credits.

And then from there everyone is welcome to take the info provided and correct to their personal preference and lock their database so that the online don't overwrite your preference when you do updates.

To follow up on what Addicted and Lithurge said (since they posted while I was still composing this message):

Quoting pdmaia:

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I used the credits from the covers of the DVD to get the main characters and crew and various sources to get the right names of "lesser important" ones. And that was because I had doubts regarding the correct spelling of some names.

But you're supposed to get the credits from the film itself, not from the DVD cover.  And you should use the spelling of those names from the film itself - without correcting any spelling.  It should match the film credits (end credit order) exactly.
The rule states:

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For any film with standard credits, take the actor information from the end credits only, with names and roles listed exactly as they are in the credits and in exactly the same order credited.  Exception: If the credit information is entirely capitalized, use standard capitalization rules instead.

Use the "As Credited" field where the actor's name differs from the credited name.

If a film does not have standard credits, use the following rules:

If a film has actors listed in the opening credits, which are not listed in the end credits, add these to the list in DVD Profiler before those taken from the end credits.

If a film has no end credits, but does have actors credited elsewhere, enter the actors from those credits.

If an actor is credited by name but does not have an associated role, you may use another source to identify the role. In each case, list Actor’s names and roles (when given) exactly as they are in the credits and in exactly the same order credited.

I do not understand why you are using 'various sources to get the right names of "lesser important" ones.'  If these actors are not in the actual film credits, they are "uncredited" and should not be included unless you can document where they appear in the film.  If they ARE in the actual film credits, those ARE the right names and should be listed as spelled in the credits.

Quoting Kathy:

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Quoting 8ballMax:

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Dear Rules Committee,

With the influx of new users of this awesome program…a little bootlicking there , I have seen an inordinate amount of contributions to the database that, to put it lightly, suck.  For example, none of these new users are aware of the prohibition of using IMDb for cast & crew lists simply because it’s not stated so in the Contribution Rules.  It’s not a requirement for them to peruse the forums as we veterans do on a daily, in some cases hourly basis ,  and a lot of what we consider “rules” now are merely forum “consensus”. I’m sure it’s discouraging for the newbies to have their work summarily shot down simply because they were unaware of requirements.

Please, update the Contribution Rules as soon as possible because, I for one, am tired of getting PMs from disgruntled newbies when I shoot down their contributions for “rules” violations that they couldn’t possibly be aware of.

Thank you

There's been some questions regarding this so I thought I would post in it for others to see what had been discussed.

On the other hand, links to the Rules are prominently displayed.  And, as the judge tells you in traffic court, "Ignorance of the law is no excuse." You still have to pay that ticket.  That said, the rules should definately be updated and revised as warranted on a regular basis for the benefit of everybody.

Quoting drouvre:

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Quoting Rifter:

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And, as the judge tells you in traffic court, "Ignorance of the law is no excuse." You still have to pay that ticket. 

I thought that watching DVDs and collecting them was a hobby and a pleasure. I'm afraid when somebody speaks  of judge, court and paying tickets about hobbies...

If that's all you got out of it, you don't understand the analogy.