Post by Orion on Jun 18, 2017 7:55:45 GMT
WELCOME TO THE VILLAGE PUMP
Before posting, please read the following. All of it!
LEGAL ASPECTS
The Village Pump is a Free Board set up through Proboards which is based in the USA. As the host server to this Board it can from time to time actively operate in the running of the Boards. Although generally we are left to our own devices, legally we operate under UK law but Proboards are subject to US law.
The internet is a relatively new means of communication and remains an unknown quantity to many people. As with many new forms of communication it is developing and changing and the law and the internet is increasingly being developed in both the UK and USA so Admin and the Mods will have the responsibility of seeing that no one breaks the rules whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Legal issue are/can be difficult to discuss especially if an issue is before the Courts. You may be warned that a matter is sub judice and no further discussion should take place. The Courts have ruled very clearly about cases where reporting in the Press/Media/ Internet information could be/ has been found to be prejudicial to a case which is still being heard, and where this has happened criminal proceedings can follow. There are an increasing number of laws and regulations in terms of cyber crime and the internet, as you will aware, as the Internet has become a weapon for some people in terms of scams, fraud, duress and in many other ways.
PERSONAL SECURITY
Common sense applies to all postings wherever you make them including Social Media on the Internet.
It is important to remember when using the Boards that many people will seize any opportunity to abuse other posters and sometimes their families so the key message is to be careful in what you post and what you reveal about yourself or your family, job or friends. Many who do this simply do it because they can and because it gives them a buzz. People in RL may be very different on the Net because they can hide behind their Board Identity, so be careful and take care when you post that you don’t leave yourself wide open.
So think about how much you want to disclose about yourself or anyone else.
If you post about someone else make sure that you have permission to do so.
Remember that what you post here can be read by anyone who has access to this Board even if they do not post here. Several isolated facts in many different threads can lead to your full identity being disclosed.
Never forget that this is a Public Message Board.
Once you have posted here your post remains in the Ethernet forever which comes as a surprise to many people.
CODE OF CONDUCT
N.B.
Suspension means suspension from posting for a fixed period.
Banning is permanent and the account will not be re-instated.
Anyone suspended or banned will be informed by email.
1) LANGUAGE
Language can be a contentious matter. Some dislike language which other use as a matter of course. As a matter of courtesy, we ask that posters show respect for those who prefer not to be confronted with language they are uncomfortable with and find alternatives.
Gutter /offensive language is obviously unacceptable and repeated use could lead to suspension or being banned from the Boards if requests to tome down language are ignored.
Some euphemisms common to BBC ML will be accepted and remain unedited.
2) ILLEGAL ACTS
Posts which incite others to carry out or be involved in illegal acts are unacceptable and may be unlawful and almost certainly will lead to an account being suspended or for the Poster to be banned.
3) DISCUSSIONS
Posts pertaining to politics and religion etc. should not in any way attempt to force views upon others. Discussions which may well be lively should be conducted in a courteous and civilised manner. Sometimes these posts can be very enlightening in terms of understanding other points of view or how other areas work.
Be sensible as to how you handle this type of post so that others are not offended or hurt.
Personal attacks are not acceptable.
Reply to the post not the poster.
4) GIVING ADVICE
Advice might be given because you have appropriate expertise:if so, you need to say how you are qualified to give this advice. The caveat here is be careful not reveal too much about yourself thus putting yourself at risk or, possibly and unwittingly, others who do not post here.
If you do not have professional qualifications, however, you are very welcome to say what has worked for you in similar circumstance or suggest appropriate bodies where people can get professional advice from charities etc..
N.B. Bear in mind that legislation, clinical procedures, treatments change and you may be out of date.
Support people in ways which have always been traditional on all ML Boards but do not probe the poster in question who may not want to discuss this on an open board. Instead consider using a PM which keeps matters confidential and private rather than in the public domain. Posters may ask Admin to use a different ID for this topic and this alone. (see below)
5) PERSONAL MESSAGING
Personal messaging is a useful way of communicating with other posters. Please do not misuse this facility. If someone sends you an inappropriate message, please refer it to the Moderators.
The Moderators will also use this means when communicating decisions to you, except when suspending or banning an account when email will be used.
6) OTHER SITES AND BOARDS
Other sites and boards may be referred to but criticisms and complaints about them are not acceptable. What happens there stays there as far as The Village Pump is concerned.
7) ACCOUNTS
Multiple accounts and sock puppetry are not permitted and where this happens all accounts will be closed permanently. If you have concerns about such activity please report your concerns immediately.
However, as previously stated, we repeat, there may be a time, especially in Lynda's Resurgam Garden, when, in discussing a sensitive personal issue you may wish to assume a different ID so you are not recognised in your 'everyday' persona. In such circumstances please advise a Moderator or Admin by pm, who will authorise and observe confidentiality in the use of a second ID.
SUMMARY
Do as you would be done by, and agreeing to disagree are good rules of thumb.
a) Respect the poster
b) Reply to the post and not the poster
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT BY JOINING THE BOARD YOU ARE DEEMED TO HAVE READ AND AGREED TO ABIDE BY THE CODE OF CONDUCT.
ADMINISTRATION
Our Administrator is Orion/Mermaid who is known to many of you and she will be in charge but the day to day running of the Board is by the Moderators who are all volunteers. The Administrator has taken the decision that, apart from her being known in her two identities, the other Moderators will not be identified in their 'everyday' IDs for their own security.
MODERATION PROTOCOLS
No Moderator may, unless there is a dire emergency and no other Moderator is available, moderate a thread where they post as an alter ego.
How does the moderating system work?
All decisions are taken seriously and not entered into lightly. They are made by the Moderators discussing matters together and coming to a decision appropriate to the circumstances which have caused a poster or post to be reported. Because the Moderators are Volunteers and not always all available at the same time they may temporarily lock a thread.
Reported posts-
A post can be reported by using the report option (cog, top right of each post) or by sending a pm to a mod.
Where there are complaints, then the Moderators may temporarily lock a thread in order to discuss the matters involved.
A statement will be posted to the effect that a thread is locked for discussion. At least three Mods will be involved. One Moderator will respond on their behalf which may or may not lead to the thread being re-opened.
Moderators have a range of options for dealing with unacceptable and/or reported posts.
a) A general warning on the thread.
b) By PM to the poster and the identified complainant.
c) Editing or removing posts.
d) If the poster or posters ignore polite requests from the Moderators, then the poster may be advised by email that they will be given a short suspension.
e) Where there is a serious breach of the Code of Conduct, then, depending on the circumstances, a longer suspension will be imposed. Such breaches include provocative posting, persistent use of bad language, persistently attacking or stalking another poster, giving out personal information about another person without permission.
Persistent behaviour of this ilk will lead to a permanent ban and closure of an account, notified by email.
We aim to make this a safe and comfortable place to post as far we are able to do . We are, like other internet boards often subjected to spammers and internet bots as well as Trolls. The Moderators do their best to avoid incidents happening but some unwelcome posters get in from time to time.
If you feel this is so then contact the Moderators directly by pm.
Now you've ploughed your way through the above, start posting!
.
Orion and the Mod Bods
Before posting, please read the following. All of it!
LEGAL ASPECTS
The Village Pump is a Free Board set up through Proboards which is based in the USA. As the host server to this Board it can from time to time actively operate in the running of the Boards. Although generally we are left to our own devices, legally we operate under UK law but Proboards are subject to US law.
The internet is a relatively new means of communication and remains an unknown quantity to many people. As with many new forms of communication it is developing and changing and the law and the internet is increasingly being developed in both the UK and USA so Admin and the Mods will have the responsibility of seeing that no one breaks the rules whether intentionally or unintentionally.
Legal issue are/can be difficult to discuss especially if an issue is before the Courts. You may be warned that a matter is sub judice and no further discussion should take place. The Courts have ruled very clearly about cases where reporting in the Press/Media/ Internet information could be/ has been found to be prejudicial to a case which is still being heard, and where this has happened criminal proceedings can follow. There are an increasing number of laws and regulations in terms of cyber crime and the internet, as you will aware, as the Internet has become a weapon for some people in terms of scams, fraud, duress and in many other ways.
PERSONAL SECURITY
Common sense applies to all postings wherever you make them including Social Media on the Internet.
It is important to remember when using the Boards that many people will seize any opportunity to abuse other posters and sometimes their families so the key message is to be careful in what you post and what you reveal about yourself or your family, job or friends. Many who do this simply do it because they can and because it gives them a buzz. People in RL may be very different on the Net because they can hide behind their Board Identity, so be careful and take care when you post that you don’t leave yourself wide open.
So think about how much you want to disclose about yourself or anyone else.
If you post about someone else make sure that you have permission to do so.
Remember that what you post here can be read by anyone who has access to this Board even if they do not post here. Several isolated facts in many different threads can lead to your full identity being disclosed.
Never forget that this is a Public Message Board.
Once you have posted here your post remains in the Ethernet forever which comes as a surprise to many people.
CODE OF CONDUCT
N.B.
Suspension means suspension from posting for a fixed period.
Banning is permanent and the account will not be re-instated.
Anyone suspended or banned will be informed by email.
By joining the board
you are deemed to have read and agreed to abide by the Code of Conduct.
We politely ask that you abide by the following:
you are deemed to have read and agreed to abide by the Code of Conduct.
We politely ask that you abide by the following:
1) LANGUAGE
Language can be a contentious matter. Some dislike language which other use as a matter of course. As a matter of courtesy, we ask that posters show respect for those who prefer not to be confronted with language they are uncomfortable with and find alternatives.
Gutter /offensive language is obviously unacceptable and repeated use could lead to suspension or being banned from the Boards if requests to tome down language are ignored.
Some euphemisms common to BBC ML will be accepted and remain unedited.
2) ILLEGAL ACTS
Posts which incite others to carry out or be involved in illegal acts are unacceptable and may be unlawful and almost certainly will lead to an account being suspended or for the Poster to be banned.
3) DISCUSSIONS
Posts pertaining to politics and religion etc. should not in any way attempt to force views upon others. Discussions which may well be lively should be conducted in a courteous and civilised manner. Sometimes these posts can be very enlightening in terms of understanding other points of view or how other areas work.
Be sensible as to how you handle this type of post so that others are not offended or hurt.
Personal attacks are not acceptable.
Reply to the post not the poster.
4) GIVING ADVICE
Advice might be given because you have appropriate expertise:if so, you need to say how you are qualified to give this advice. The caveat here is be careful not reveal too much about yourself thus putting yourself at risk or, possibly and unwittingly, others who do not post here.
If you do not have professional qualifications, however, you are very welcome to say what has worked for you in similar circumstance or suggest appropriate bodies where people can get professional advice from charities etc..
N.B. Bear in mind that legislation, clinical procedures, treatments change and you may be out of date.
Support people in ways which have always been traditional on all ML Boards but do not probe the poster in question who may not want to discuss this on an open board. Instead consider using a PM which keeps matters confidential and private rather than in the public domain. Posters may ask Admin to use a different ID for this topic and this alone. (see below)
5) PERSONAL MESSAGING
Personal messaging is a useful way of communicating with other posters. Please do not misuse this facility. If someone sends you an inappropriate message, please refer it to the Moderators.
The Moderators will also use this means when communicating decisions to you, except when suspending or banning an account when email will be used.
6) OTHER SITES AND BOARDS
Other sites and boards may be referred to but criticisms and complaints about them are not acceptable. What happens there stays there as far as The Village Pump is concerned.
7) ACCOUNTS
Multiple accounts and sock puppetry are not permitted and where this happens all accounts will be closed permanently. If you have concerns about such activity please report your concerns immediately.
However, as previously stated, we repeat, there may be a time, especially in Lynda's Resurgam Garden, when, in discussing a sensitive personal issue you may wish to assume a different ID so you are not recognised in your 'everyday' persona. In such circumstances please advise a Moderator or Admin by pm, who will authorise and observe confidentiality in the use of a second ID.
SUMMARY
Do as you would be done by, and agreeing to disagree are good rules of thumb.
a) Respect the poster
b) Reply to the post and not the poster
ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT BY JOINING THE BOARD YOU ARE DEEMED TO HAVE READ AND AGREED TO ABIDE BY THE CODE OF CONDUCT.
ADMINISTRATION
Our Administrator is Orion/Mermaid who is known to many of you and she will be in charge but the day to day running of the Board is by the Moderators who are all volunteers. The Administrator has taken the decision that, apart from her being known in her two identities, the other Moderators will not be identified in their 'everyday' IDs for their own security.
MODERATION PROTOCOLS
No Moderator may, unless there is a dire emergency and no other Moderator is available, moderate a thread where they post as an alter ego.
How does the moderating system work?
All decisions are taken seriously and not entered into lightly. They are made by the Moderators discussing matters together and coming to a decision appropriate to the circumstances which have caused a poster or post to be reported. Because the Moderators are Volunteers and not always all available at the same time they may temporarily lock a thread.
Reported posts-
A post can be reported by using the report option (cog, top right of each post) or by sending a pm to a mod.
Where there are complaints, then the Moderators may temporarily lock a thread in order to discuss the matters involved.
A statement will be posted to the effect that a thread is locked for discussion. At least three Mods will be involved. One Moderator will respond on their behalf which may or may not lead to the thread being re-opened.
Moderators have a range of options for dealing with unacceptable and/or reported posts.
a) A general warning on the thread.
b) By PM to the poster and the identified complainant.
c) Editing or removing posts.
d) If the poster or posters ignore polite requests from the Moderators, then the poster may be advised by email that they will be given a short suspension.
e) Where there is a serious breach of the Code of Conduct, then, depending on the circumstances, a longer suspension will be imposed. Such breaches include provocative posting, persistent use of bad language, persistently attacking or stalking another poster, giving out personal information about another person without permission.
Persistent behaviour of this ilk will lead to a permanent ban and closure of an account, notified by email.
We aim to make this a safe and comfortable place to post as far we are able to do . We are, like other internet boards often subjected to spammers and internet bots as well as Trolls. The Moderators do their best to avoid incidents happening but some unwelcome posters get in from time to time.
If you feel this is so then contact the Moderators directly by pm.
Now you've ploughed your way through the above, start posting!
.
Orion and the Mod Bods