Site Rules

[SuzyQBC]

see also:
Ning TOUs. Their Terms of Service are pretty hands-off and reasonable when it comes to content.

Following are the 3 simple rules of this site. These may be changed or added to at any time. Please also see Forum Etiquette.

1. No Advertising In The Forums
   • what you can NOT do
   • what you CAN do to promote
2. No Autoplay
3. No Porn or Nudity
   • guideline for questionable content
   • important things to consider

1) NO ADVERTISING IN THE DISCUSSION GROUPS / FORUMS.

This is a spam-free site. The purpose is interaction and connection. If you have a business, performance group, or organization please operate on the principle of attraction not promotion here.

You're welcome to post links to people, sites and events you want to recommend. However, no self promotion in the forums. This site offers many alternate ways to share information about your item or event. Below is a list of prohibited and acceptable ways to advertise. Violators will be given a warning. Repeated violations can result in banning from this site.

you can NOT do the following:

1. Begin a forum thread for self-promotion:
   • threads plugging your business, sale, event, band, party, fundraiser, etc. are considered spam.
   • Examples:
     • "I just set up a store at ____"
     • "my band is playing on____"
     • "how do I sell this?"
     • "I'm having a yard sale"
     • "come to my fundraiser for ____"
     • "learn how [deity of choice] can save you"
2. Interject an off-topic post for self-promotion:
   • peppering forum threads with posts about your item or event, particularly when unrelated to the topic is considered spam.
3. Make forced gestures of self-promotion:
   • trying to fit info about your item or event into a thread that has NOT made a direct inquiry for such information is spam.

back to top

You CAN do the following:

1. Use the new Events feature (see here for help)
2. Use your profile:
   • include your web site in your profile
   • use your profile text box to show links, images, etc. for your biz or event
3. Use your photos, videos and blog:
   • post photos of things you've made in your album
   • upload images of your flyers and invites to your album
   • create blog entries to announce your sale, event, etc.
   • NOTE: anytime you add an image, video or blog entry to your profile it will appear on the home page as recent activity.
4. Use the Group feature:
   • You can create a group for your biz, band, event, or organization. You can then use the forum within that Group to advertise your item or event. Interested members can join the group for news an updates, essentially opting in for such announcements.
5. Respond to a direct request:
   • This is the exception to forum area. While forced interjections for self-promotion are considered spam, it's fine to mention your item or event when a member makes a direct inquiry in a thread.
   • Examples:
     • a post aks "Are there any good shows this weekend?", you can reply with your band's gig
     • a post asks "Where can I find furry hats?", you can reply with your store link
     • a post states "I'd like to be more involved with charities", you can reply with info about your organization

back to top

2) NO AUTOPLAY

No one likes to be bombarded with sound when visiting a page. Please do NOT set your music or video to autoplay on your profile or elsewhere. Instructions on turning off autoplay can be found here.
back to top

3) NO PORN OR NUDITY.

This is a family friendly site.
To make this site a comfortable place for a wide variety of people, cut down on the creep factor, a distinction is drawn between nudity/health and pornography. This applies to all content: forum posts, blog posts, comments, photos, videos, profiles.

Content violating this rule will be removed and the member will be notified. Members with profile images (avatars) that violate this rule will be asked to remove the image. Repeated violations can result in banning from this site.

When in doubt go by this guideline:

don't post it if it reads or looks like:

• something you'd obtain furtively from behind a "no one under 18 allowed" curtain
• something you'd keep handy in the bathroom or by the night stand
• something you'd be charged by the minute for

back to top

Important things to consider:

• This is a public site. All content can be viewed by anyone on the web. If you don't wish to share an image of yourself or others with the world on the web you may want to mark your image as "friends only".
• Images, videos and blog entries marked public appear may on the home page. If you don't wish to share this material with all members or the world on the web you may want to mark these items as "friends only".
• If I receive several complaints about a particular image, video, or blog entry I may ask you to mark it "friends only" out of respect for other members.
• If you publish literature or photography online that would be considered erotica you are welcome to link to that website in your profile.
• If you have an interest in sexually explicit or pornographic images or discussions you are welcome to create your own network to allow you a proper venue for these interests.

back to top