Post by Meredith on Feb 18, 2007 18:51:58 GMT -5
Forum Guidelines to Freedom of Speech vs. Flaming, Slander and Defamation
The staff at Blind Melon Forum support every member to voice their opinion. We think Freedom of Speech is a wonderful thing and support your right to say what you think. However when voicing your opinion please be reminded that the staff at Blind Melon Forum do not support Flame Wars, Slander, or Defamation of Character. Please treat the other members of this forum with courtesy and respect. We also ask that when debating certain “sensitive” topics that you show the same respect to any and all members of the band Blind Melon past, present, and future. If you are not in support of the reunion you are free to state so but please do it in a mature and appropriate manner.
We want everyone on the forum to feel safe and happy and be able to post without worrying about being attacked. If you feel that a post is offensive we encourage you to report that post to a staff member. In the event you are responsible for an offensive post staff will communicate this to you and ask you to edit/remove the post. The staff will try to communicate with you to resolve the issue. If you are unwilling to help resolve the issue or refuse to cease any posts that are deemed “Flaming”, “Harassing”, “Threatening”, or “Offensive” appropriate action will be taken and at a very LAST resort the member will have an account suspended or will be banned permanently determined on a case by case basis. If you have any questions please contact a staff member.
Freedom of speech
–noun
the right of people to express their opinions publicly without governmental interference, subject to the laws against libel, incitement to violence or rebellion, etc.
FLAMING or FLAME WARS
Flaming is personal attacks on other citizens of cyberspace via e-mail. A flame is the kind of message which attacks not just your opinion, but your personality, your looks, your personal habits and your dog's behaviour. In other words flaming has a lot to do with emotional responses, and nothing to do with reasonable disagreement.
This doesn't mean that you can't disagree with people, it would be a very dull discussion if everybody agreed, in fact there would be no point in the discussion at all. But the golden rule is that if you disagree with someone you disagree with the content of their message, you don't descend into personal comments.
There are people who try and start flame wars by posting flame bait, comments which are designed to start a fire or fan the flames. Well, I suppose it's something to do, but really, they should get out more and stop wasting everyone's time.
If you read something that really makes you angry, resist the temptation to fire off an emotional response. Take a deep breath, go for a walk, put the message away until tomorrow. Keep in mind that no-one ever changed their mind because some called them a rude name.
If a discussion you are involved in turns into a flame war, you might want to think about how you can douse the flames. Sometimes the best way is simply not to get involved, if nobody replies the flamer has nothing to burn. Flames are not only unkind they are a waste of time and bandwidth. If nothing else, avoid fanning the fire.
SLANDER
slander /?slænd?r/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[slan-der] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. defamation; calumny: rumors full of slander.
2. a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report: a slander against his good name.
3. Law. defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing, pictures, etc.
–verb (used with object)
4. to utter slander against; defame.
–verb (used without object)
5. to utter or circulate slander.
defamation
noun
1. a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions
2. an abusive attack on a person's character or good name [syn: aspersion]
*NEW
Please if posting a link to advertise a website please only make one post. Any more posts will be considered SPAM and will be deleted or locked immediately, this is a BLIND MELON FORUM not an advertising forum. You may include a website link in your signature or avatar and this will NOT be considered as SPAM. Furthermore any website advertisements MUST be posted in the "Sleepyhouse" section devoted strictly to advertising your web site.
Thank You
The staff at Blind Melon Forum support every member to voice their opinion. We think Freedom of Speech is a wonderful thing and support your right to say what you think. However when voicing your opinion please be reminded that the staff at Blind Melon Forum do not support Flame Wars, Slander, or Defamation of Character. Please treat the other members of this forum with courtesy and respect. We also ask that when debating certain “sensitive” topics that you show the same respect to any and all members of the band Blind Melon past, present, and future. If you are not in support of the reunion you are free to state so but please do it in a mature and appropriate manner.
We want everyone on the forum to feel safe and happy and be able to post without worrying about being attacked. If you feel that a post is offensive we encourage you to report that post to a staff member. In the event you are responsible for an offensive post staff will communicate this to you and ask you to edit/remove the post. The staff will try to communicate with you to resolve the issue. If you are unwilling to help resolve the issue or refuse to cease any posts that are deemed “Flaming”, “Harassing”, “Threatening”, or “Offensive” appropriate action will be taken and at a very LAST resort the member will have an account suspended or will be banned permanently determined on a case by case basis. If you have any questions please contact a staff member.
Freedom of speech
–noun
the right of people to express their opinions publicly without governmental interference, subject to the laws against libel, incitement to violence or rebellion, etc.
FLAMING or FLAME WARS
Flaming is personal attacks on other citizens of cyberspace via e-mail. A flame is the kind of message which attacks not just your opinion, but your personality, your looks, your personal habits and your dog's behaviour. In other words flaming has a lot to do with emotional responses, and nothing to do with reasonable disagreement.
This doesn't mean that you can't disagree with people, it would be a very dull discussion if everybody agreed, in fact there would be no point in the discussion at all. But the golden rule is that if you disagree with someone you disagree with the content of their message, you don't descend into personal comments.
There are people who try and start flame wars by posting flame bait, comments which are designed to start a fire or fan the flames. Well, I suppose it's something to do, but really, they should get out more and stop wasting everyone's time.
If you read something that really makes you angry, resist the temptation to fire off an emotional response. Take a deep breath, go for a walk, put the message away until tomorrow. Keep in mind that no-one ever changed their mind because some called them a rude name.
If a discussion you are involved in turns into a flame war, you might want to think about how you can douse the flames. Sometimes the best way is simply not to get involved, if nobody replies the flamer has nothing to burn. Flames are not only unkind they are a waste of time and bandwidth. If nothing else, avoid fanning the fire.
SLANDER
slander /?slænd?r/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[slan-der] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. defamation; calumny: rumors full of slander.
2. a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report: a slander against his good name.
3. Law. defamation by oral utterance rather than by writing, pictures, etc.
–verb (used with object)
4. to utter slander against; defame.
–verb (used without object)
5. to utter or circulate slander.
defamation
noun
1. a false accusation of an offense or a malicious misrepresentation of someone's words or actions
2. an abusive attack on a person's character or good name [syn: aspersion]
*NEW
Please if posting a link to advertise a website please only make one post. Any more posts will be considered SPAM and will be deleted or locked immediately, this is a BLIND MELON FORUM not an advertising forum. You may include a website link in your signature or avatar and this will NOT be considered as SPAM. Furthermore any website advertisements MUST be posted in the "Sleepyhouse" section devoted strictly to advertising your web site.
Thank You