Code of Conduct for the NEMCOG Forum

 

Our goal is to ensure that the NEMCOG online forum is a welcoming environment where people can come together and discuss relevant subjects and topics in a friendly and non-aggressive environment. The purpose of this code of conduct is to ensure that users can participate in the forums without being ‘flamed’, personally attacked, harassed. NEMCOG values freedom of expression on the site, but not at the expense of offending others. We want all members to have an enjoyable experience. With this in mind we have established the Code of Conduct to help us achieve that goal. Please assist us by ensuring your contributions are consistent with the Code of Conduct. In short, we aim to maintain forums with appropriate standards of civil behavior and where members respect the rights of others.

NEMCOG appoints moderators to help us ensure that forum post content comply with the vision and goals of the NEMCOG website forum.

You agree, through your use of the forum, that you will abide by this Code of Conduct.

Please take some time to carefully read and understand the Code of Conduct, and the penalties for violations. Non-compliance will result in forfeiture of your privilege to access the forum, and may result in a permanent ban. The following actions constitute a violation of the Code of Conduct:
 
  1. Submitting messages that display or link to pornographic or sexually offensive material.

     
  2. Using an invalid email address.

     
  3. Any attempts to breach forum, or website security, or gain unauthorized access into user accounts. This includes the action of guessing passwords, successful or not. Assisting others with such attempts or actions also constitutes a violation.

     
  4. Exploiting, or attempting to exploit, forum bugs, vulnerabilities, or loopholes.

     
  5. Flooding the forum with repeat or similar meaning messages. What constitutes flooding behavior is at the discretion of NEMCOG staff and NEMCOG appointed moderators.

     
  6. Registering accounts with usernames or using screen names that are offensive or created with intent to cause disruption to the forums.

     
  7. Flooding the forum with redundant messages, empty messages, advertisements, clearly irrelevant messages, and/or nonsensical messages.

     
  8. Submitting messages that are inflammatory and made simply with the intent to provoke disruption to the forum or chat room and encourage, incite or continue ‘flame’ messages. ‘Trolling’ and baiting will not be tolerated. Messages that are disruptive and destructive in character will not be tolerated. Flaming is deemed to include insulting, personally directed criticisms and/or messages that include comments aimed to incite anger. Trolling is deemed to include messages aimed to incite disruption or stir up trouble. For example, posting to a thread or starting a thread without the intent to contribute positive suggestions or comments. Instead, the aim is negative and disruptive comments.

     
  9. The discussion of race, religion and politics; using expressions or language in messages that are considered foul, vulgar, hateful, bigoted, sexually harassing, racially offensive, or are in any way discriminatory. Whether the discussion or expression falls within this definition will be determined at the discretion of NEMCOG staff and/or NEMCOG appointed forum moderators.

     
  10. Submitting messages that are not within the designated forum areas identified subject scope or defined topic. The forum does have an off-topic area for broader general discussion. Please note that posts made to the off-topic forum area must comply in all respects with all other standards and requirements as stipulated in this Code of Conduct.

     
  11. Submitting messages that personally attack, insult, threaten, harass or are clearly disrespectful of the opinions of other participants. This means, if you are engaging in debates that involve challenging, questioning and disputing the opinions and views of others, you are required to do so in a civil manner and ensure that your messages are relevant and on-topic. This rule does not exclude messages that are critical or questioning. It does, however, require that you carefully consider the tone of language in such messages to ensure that they are civil.

     
  12. Images posted to the NEMCOG Forums may not exceed a maximum resolution of 640x480, except in the Photos forum. Posted images that exceed this limit may be modified to links or removed from the post. There is no limitation placed on image size when posted to the Photos forum, however, if your image exceeds 800x600 you are required to include the maximum resolution used in the title of the thread. When quoting posts that contain images, please give consideration to the context of your post, and if the image is not relevant, consider removing the link from the quote in your post.

     
  13. Signature banners may not cover an area greater than 640 pixels in width, 200 pixels in height and cannot have a total file size greater than 25kb.


Violations and Penalties

Violation or infringement of any of the rules in this Code of Conduct may result in the immediate revocation, suspension or termination of the privilege to post on NEMCOG’s forum. NEMCOG reserves the right to vary the severity and suddenness of the penalty based on the nature of the violation. NEMCOG reserves the right to refuse to post or remove any posts, material or links that we deem unacceptable, offensive or in violation of the rules without further notice. We also reserve the right to suspend, prohibit or terminate the registration of any user who violates the rules from using the site or site related services without warning.

NEMCOG staff and NEMCOG appointed forum moderators are the sole arbiters as to what constitutes a violation of the Code of Conduct.

Penalties will be applied in NEMCOG's discretion as follows:
 
  1. Generally, a first violation will result in a warning. A second violation will result in a temporary two week ban. Further violations will result in a one month ban. Repeated and severe violations may attract a longer or permanent ban at NEMCOG’s discretion.

     
  2. Severe and/or repeat violations may attract a permanent ban without warning.
Note 1: If possible, warning(s) will be sent to the infringing user's email account. If email warnings are bounced, NEMCOG will apply a temporary ban on that account until the user contacts us.

Note 2: Account bans may be applied to multiple accounts if the other accounts originate from the same computer and are believed to be aliases of the account being banned.

All administrative actions taken by the moderators and administrators of these forums are final. These actions may include but are not limited to: delete/close/move thread/message, banning, kicking, & account reset. The posting of any personal attacks or criticisms directed at the NEMCOG appointed forum moderators will not be tolerated. Posts commenting on or criticizing forum administrative actions will be deleted. Any complaints or disagreements regarding forum moderation should be made by contacting NEMCOG

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