[voltaires_priest]

Originally Posted by Sweet_Pea

Voltaire, what exactly are VCI rules? I have seen members harrassed into quiting forums for a lot less by no other than the moderator. And then ridiculed for leaving.

What are VCI rules?

Hi Sweet_Pea;

I've pasted the most pertinent part of VCI's use policy below. There's a lot more of it, which you can read at: http://www.algeria.com/corporate/aupolicy.html

It's all fairly clunky and written in pseudy legal-ese language, but it's basically a bar on racism, sexism, homophobia etc, use of forums to promote illegal activity, and against online bullying and harrassment. Mods are supposed to apply these rules equally to people regardless of background (even if doing so makes them unpopular, and regardless of any personal prejudices the mod may have against a given group).

Obviously there's a grey area between what constitutes legitimate banter and what is offensive, but I usually judge it on the individuals involved - ie for instance myself and Khokom often have a good old shouting match, and that's fine , but I might take a different view if it were an extrovert bullying someone more sensitive or shy.

Anyways, here's ze chapter and verse:

Rules of Conduct
You shall not post any message containing or otherwise use any obscene or offensive language or post anywhere else on or through the Paley Media, Inc. or affiliate site and services any material that is an invitation to fast money making schemes, defamatory, pornographic, racial, abusive or hateful, constitutes junk mail or unauthorized advertising, harassment, invades anyone's privacy, or encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any local, state, national, or international law or regulation. You agree to use the services offered by Paley Media, Inc. only for lawful purposes.