mattfromnossa
01-13-2008, 11:35 AM
Rules of the Forum
The purpose of the forum is for short statured people to discuss topics of interest with other short statured people. Tall folks are welcome, provided they adhere to our rules.
The forum is owned and operated by NOSSA - National Organization Of Short Statured Adults, Inc. The following rules will be enforced by NOSSA representatives and forum moderators in order to provide for a more pleasant, orderly, and constructive online experience:
(1) NO TROLLS - In internet terminology, a troll is someone who enters an established community with the sole intention of attacking forum members and causing disruption.
(2) NO FEUDING - We welcome constructive debates on this forum. However, we cannot allow posts to escalate into nothing more than a back and forth online feud.
(3) NO OFFENSIVE POSTS - The forum was not created for taller people with a sexual fetish for shorter people. No offensive sexual messages. Please do not post pornography on the forum. No heightist posts will be tolerated. Hateful posts that attack a person's race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc. will not be tolerated.
(4) NO SPAM - We have absolutely ZERO tolerance for spam. Do not post website links or plug any product or service without our permission. Website links which are requested by a forum member or posted to show a source of information related to a discussion are permitted if it is obvious to a moderator that the link is not spam. If you post/send spam messages your posts will be deleted and you will be banned from this forum. In limited circumstances, some advertisers may receive permission from NOSSA to post an ad on the forum. Contact NOSSA for more information.
(5) NO DEGRADING POSTS - Degrading posts and name-calling are not permitted on this messageboard. Therefore, do not post comments that attack other members, moderators, administrative personnel or the NOSSA organization. This message board is intended for a free exchange of information and ideas. Keep this in mind if someone disagrees with your point of view and be sure to extend courtesy to others if you disagree with them. Disagreement often leads to informative, lively, and meaningful discussion of the issues. Posts that criticize without resorting to name-calling and disrespect will be permitted. Forum moderators will exercise their best judgement regarding what constitutes offensive posts and what does not, based on these rules.
(6) NO SOCKPUPPETS - In internet terminology, sockpuppeting is defined as the act of creating a fake online identity to praise, defend or create the illusion of support for one’s self, allies or company. Sockpuppeting is prohibited and will usually result in the deletion of the posts and the offendor may be banned from the forum. Do not impersonate someone who you are not.
(7) NO LARGE FILES - Extra large signatures and extra large graphics take up too much room on the server and are not permitted. Bandwidth stealing is not permitted.
(8) NO CROSS-POSTING - Do not post the same message – or close variations of the same message – in more than one forum. Choose the most appropriate forum and post it there.
(9) NO MORE THAN ONE USER ACCOUNT - Do not create multiple accounts or attempt to return from a previously banned account. We regularly monitor the forum for this type of behavior. The use of anonymous proxy servers is discouraged and could alert us to the possibility of a returning troll or sockpuppet. There are a number of different ways that we can use to not only detect a visitor using several anonymous proxy servers, but also to detect the actual IP address of the visitor. We respect your right to privacy and will only utilize such measures if we have strong reason to believe a user is in gross violation of our forum rules.
(10) NO ONLINE HARASSMENT - It is usually illegal to harass or threaten someone. We take threats, harassment and stalking very seriously. Posts that might be construed as such may be removed and made available to the proper law enforcement officials. NOSSA will assist law enforcement officials with any investigation of such activities. In addition, NOSSA will file a police report and prosecute anyone found responsible for tampering with this forum.
(11) NO POSTING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION - You must respect the privacy of individuals. This means no posting of user’s real names, phone numbers, addresses, social security numbers or any other private information without the permission of the individual.
(12) FORUM CREDIBILITY & USER RANK - The forum uses an online reputation system which is voted upon by forum users. Users who post frequently, regularly engage in meaningful discussions, and follow the rules of the forum, will generally be rewarded with respect, user credibility, positive user reputation ratings, senior member rankings, and the opportunity to assist the forums as a moderator.
(13) DISPUTE PROCESS - Users who violate forum rules may be subject to receiving a written warning from forum moderators with points assessed, 1 to 6 month suspension from the forum, and permanent banning from the forum. The penalty will be based on the seriousness of the rule violation and the user’s past history on the forum. Users who wish to appeal the decision of a forum moderator may contact NOSSA here (membership@nossaonline.org) and explain why they feel NOSSA should reinstate their user account. Users must appeal a forum penalty within 30 days or risk forfeiting their right to appeal. NOSSA will render a decision within 30 days of notice and the decision rendered will be final.
(14)LANGUAGE & FOCUS - All posts should be in English. Also, please try to keep posts on topic. Posts which stray wildly off topic may be locked or deleted. Post only in the appropriate forum topic or your post will be moved to the correct forum. Do not post Gibberish text. Feedback and suggestions for NOSSA should be e-mailed or sent in a private message or posted in our members or announcement sections only.
(15) INAPPROPRIATE POSTS - Do not start threads about a penalty that you or another user have received. Communications about violations of forum rules will be made through private messages and e-mail only. It is also not appropriate to start threads about membership issues with the NOSSA organization in any forum open to the general public. Membership issues will only be addressed in the NOSSA Members Restricted Forum.
Violations of the rules often have resulted in members being banned from the message board. When a violation of the rules has occurred, moderators usually provide a warning to offenders either when editing the subject post or by sending a Private Message (or both). However, members should not expect a warning for violations of these rules, inasmuch as they could be banned immediately if the infraction is serious enough. NOSSA reserves the right to take action on any post on the forum and to ban abusive members as necessary to enforce the forum rules.
We welcome your feedback. We are doing our very best to see to it that your time spent on the forum is enjoyable. Please contact us here (membership@nossaonline.org) to let us know how we are doing and how we can improve.
The purpose of the forum is for short statured people to discuss topics of interest with other short statured people. Tall folks are welcome, provided they adhere to our rules.
The forum is owned and operated by NOSSA - National Organization Of Short Statured Adults, Inc. The following rules will be enforced by NOSSA representatives and forum moderators in order to provide for a more pleasant, orderly, and constructive online experience:
(1) NO TROLLS - In internet terminology, a troll is someone who enters an established community with the sole intention of attacking forum members and causing disruption.
(2) NO FEUDING - We welcome constructive debates on this forum. However, we cannot allow posts to escalate into nothing more than a back and forth online feud.
(3) NO OFFENSIVE POSTS - The forum was not created for taller people with a sexual fetish for shorter people. No offensive sexual messages. Please do not post pornography on the forum. No heightist posts will be tolerated. Hateful posts that attack a person's race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, etc. will not be tolerated.
(4) NO SPAM - We have absolutely ZERO tolerance for spam. Do not post website links or plug any product or service without our permission. Website links which are requested by a forum member or posted to show a source of information related to a discussion are permitted if it is obvious to a moderator that the link is not spam. If you post/send spam messages your posts will be deleted and you will be banned from this forum. In limited circumstances, some advertisers may receive permission from NOSSA to post an ad on the forum. Contact NOSSA for more information.
(5) NO DEGRADING POSTS - Degrading posts and name-calling are not permitted on this messageboard. Therefore, do not post comments that attack other members, moderators, administrative personnel or the NOSSA organization. This message board is intended for a free exchange of information and ideas. Keep this in mind if someone disagrees with your point of view and be sure to extend courtesy to others if you disagree with them. Disagreement often leads to informative, lively, and meaningful discussion of the issues. Posts that criticize without resorting to name-calling and disrespect will be permitted. Forum moderators will exercise their best judgement regarding what constitutes offensive posts and what does not, based on these rules.
(6) NO SOCKPUPPETS - In internet terminology, sockpuppeting is defined as the act of creating a fake online identity to praise, defend or create the illusion of support for one’s self, allies or company. Sockpuppeting is prohibited and will usually result in the deletion of the posts and the offendor may be banned from the forum. Do not impersonate someone who you are not.
(7) NO LARGE FILES - Extra large signatures and extra large graphics take up too much room on the server and are not permitted. Bandwidth stealing is not permitted.
(8) NO CROSS-POSTING - Do not post the same message – or close variations of the same message – in more than one forum. Choose the most appropriate forum and post it there.
(9) NO MORE THAN ONE USER ACCOUNT - Do not create multiple accounts or attempt to return from a previously banned account. We regularly monitor the forum for this type of behavior. The use of anonymous proxy servers is discouraged and could alert us to the possibility of a returning troll or sockpuppet. There are a number of different ways that we can use to not only detect a visitor using several anonymous proxy servers, but also to detect the actual IP address of the visitor. We respect your right to privacy and will only utilize such measures if we have strong reason to believe a user is in gross violation of our forum rules.
(10) NO ONLINE HARASSMENT - It is usually illegal to harass or threaten someone. We take threats, harassment and stalking very seriously. Posts that might be construed as such may be removed and made available to the proper law enforcement officials. NOSSA will assist law enforcement officials with any investigation of such activities. In addition, NOSSA will file a police report and prosecute anyone found responsible for tampering with this forum.
(11) NO POSTING OF PERSONAL INFORMATION - You must respect the privacy of individuals. This means no posting of user’s real names, phone numbers, addresses, social security numbers or any other private information without the permission of the individual.
(12) FORUM CREDIBILITY & USER RANK - The forum uses an online reputation system which is voted upon by forum users. Users who post frequently, regularly engage in meaningful discussions, and follow the rules of the forum, will generally be rewarded with respect, user credibility, positive user reputation ratings, senior member rankings, and the opportunity to assist the forums as a moderator.
(13) DISPUTE PROCESS - Users who violate forum rules may be subject to receiving a written warning from forum moderators with points assessed, 1 to 6 month suspension from the forum, and permanent banning from the forum. The penalty will be based on the seriousness of the rule violation and the user’s past history on the forum. Users who wish to appeal the decision of a forum moderator may contact NOSSA here (membership@nossaonline.org) and explain why they feel NOSSA should reinstate their user account. Users must appeal a forum penalty within 30 days or risk forfeiting their right to appeal. NOSSA will render a decision within 30 days of notice and the decision rendered will be final.
(14)LANGUAGE & FOCUS - All posts should be in English. Also, please try to keep posts on topic. Posts which stray wildly off topic may be locked or deleted. Post only in the appropriate forum topic or your post will be moved to the correct forum. Do not post Gibberish text. Feedback and suggestions for NOSSA should be e-mailed or sent in a private message or posted in our members or announcement sections only.
(15) INAPPROPRIATE POSTS - Do not start threads about a penalty that you or another user have received. Communications about violations of forum rules will be made through private messages and e-mail only. It is also not appropriate to start threads about membership issues with the NOSSA organization in any forum open to the general public. Membership issues will only be addressed in the NOSSA Members Restricted Forum.
Violations of the rules often have resulted in members being banned from the message board. When a violation of the rules has occurred, moderators usually provide a warning to offenders either when editing the subject post or by sending a Private Message (or both). However, members should not expect a warning for violations of these rules, inasmuch as they could be banned immediately if the infraction is serious enough. NOSSA reserves the right to take action on any post on the forum and to ban abusive members as necessary to enforce the forum rules.
We welcome your feedback. We are doing our very best to see to it that your time spent on the forum is enjoyable. Please contact us here (membership@nossaonline.org) to let us know how we are doing and how we can improve.