Above all, the chatterbox is a venue for site members to get together in a friendly atmosphere. Let's all work to keep it that way.
What is NOT allowed -
1. Swearing, profanity and using asterisks to disguise a swear word. (if it is not censored, then it would depend on 'intent'. Saying "My ass hurts" would not be swearing. Calling someone an asshole.. that would be swearing. "I pricked my finger" not swearing. "You're a prick" .. swearing.)
2. Web addresses, URL’s, messenger and e-mail addresses. For the protection of the chatter, these are not allowed in open forum.
3. Using the chatterbox to promote posted item...(also known as spamming). The feature and spotlight areas are there for a reason.
4. Arguments involving harassment, flaming, name calling, personal insults, threats or derogatory/prejudice/racially offensive comments aimed at other members.
5. Do not use Storywrite to sustaining arguments with other site members.
6. Chatter of an explicit or disturbing nature. Chatterbox conversations are to be PG-Rated. Subjects of a sexual or violent nature are against policy. This includes cutting and talks of suicide, or drugs. (if you wouldn't say it to a 9 year old, then don't post it in the chatterbox.)
7. Trying to force your views on others and harping on and on about a single subject restricts chat and causes negativity. Trolling is frowned on.
8. Posting things that disrupt the flow of the chatterbox, such as excessive song lyrics, constantly posting in another language, or jibberish(jsirujhfhjjshf....like that).
9. Constantly posting with your 'Caps Lock' key on. Posting in capitals on the internet is CONSIDERED AS YELLING, and kind of rude. S O N O S P A C I N G to get around this rule, please.
10. Discussions on politics or religion usually get heated, so they are usually discouraged. If you want to debate either, invite someone to private chat or IMs.
11. Excessive discussions involving site policy or management. In the forum area, there is a 'Suggestions, Errors and Policies' forum. - "Have a suggestion or experiencing a problem with the site? Upset about one of our policies?" This is where your complaints should be posted so they can be addressed by Kevin, or another member of site management.
12. Constant role playing that interrupts the chatterbox, and also typing in another language constantly(not 'not allowed', but to do it to interrupt the flow is not nice).
Question: Is Role Playing allowed in the CB?
From Chatterbox: General Rules and FAQ's
Answer: At this time there is no policy against role playing in the chatterbox. However, if the role playing breaks ANY of the above rules OR there are excessive complaints regarding its disrupting other chatters, you will be asked to remove it from the cb immediately.
What does this mean to those that role play?
Basically it means that your role playing must be kept suitable for a 5 year old. No killing, bloody gashes, swirling daggers/talk of weapons, biting, kicking, fighting, sex, arguing etc. It really is best to do your role playing in a group chat room or via personal IM.
- It is against site policy to engage in sexually explicit talk with children under the age of eighteen. It is also against policy to make explicit comments about them regarding their sexuality, desirability and or physical attributes including trying to encourage, lure or attempt to attract a child under 18 into private conversation that contains any sexual comments/discussion.
When you break a chatterbox rule, you will receive a warning, either posted to the CB, or IMed to you. It may be a general one, "please stop spamming", with no name attached. If you continue, you will get another warning. The third time will be a CB ban of 1 hour. This time will go up (24 hours, then one week) if you continue your behaviour upon your return...or, if you log back in under another name during your ban.
IF...you have received many warnings...then, you should actually know not to: swear, spam, harrass....and, if you continue, you may NOT receive any warning the next time. It could be an automatic CB ban.
Just because a moderator is not online is no excuse to break the rules, we can (and will), go through chat logs if something is brought to our attention.
Remember, Sharepoetry is a privately owned site, and you agreed to the rules when you joined. The Chatterbox is a privilege, not a right.
