The BC Pet Rescue Message Board has been having trouble with Personal Attacks and Flame Wars. Starting in April 2003 the following plan has been put in place to try to curb these problems and keep the board focused on Pet Rescue.

Definitions:
Personal Attack: an outright or insinuated insult directed against another poster. This includes name- calling, rudeness, and any kind of snarky remarks such as "get your facts straight", etc.
Flame War: back-and-forth argument between posters, often started by a personal attack. Usually only a few posters are involved, although others may "jump on the bandwagon" to take sides. Note that even if you do not start a flame war, if you allow yourself to get dragged in and become a main participant in one you may be considered responsible!
Abuse: posting a personal attack, getting involved in a flame war, or otherwise violating the Terms of Use may be considered "abuse".

Note that personal opinions are welcomed and encouraged! People should feel free to post their opinions (as long as it is rescue-related), agree and disagree with others, etc - as long as it is done in a respectful way.

The Solution

Posters will have their IP addresses temporarily banned for posting personal attacks, instigating or heavily participating in flame wars. Banning an IP means that posters from that IP address will be able to read the board, but will be unable to post or use the "send e-mail" feature. Posters will be banned for 1 week for their first offence, 2 weeks for the second offence, and permanently if there is a third offence. I don't want to ban anyone permanently so this last thing is open to negotiation - I'm sure with some apologies and promises to stay civil I would let a well-meaning poster back in after a reasonable amount of time.

It is extremely hard with bulletin boards to determine who is to blame for a flame war, which was the first poster to cross the line of what is acceptable and what is not, and therefore who to ban. I will try to be as fair as I can but no doubt not everyone will agree.

If you have (or if you notice that someone else has) been personally attacked, please e-mail me as described and allow me to deal with the attacker, and/or e-mail the attacker yourself. It is also reasonable and understandable for people to want to respond to attacks on the board to defend themselves or others against public insults. However, be careful about responding on the board as if you get involved in a flame war, even in defending yourself, you may be considered responsible and be banned. (I would not ban someone for defending themselves or others on the board as long as it is done politely and ONE-TIME. If it continues to go back and forth it is a flame war and is wasting space on the board! Please take it to e-mail.)

Policing a bulletin board is, in my limited experience, a tricky and controversial job. If you have comments, suggestions, or complaints please e-mail me.

The Disclaimer

Although, to be fair, I will try to follow what I have posted here in all abuse cases, I don't want anyone to think it is some legally binding set of rules or anything. Special cases may require special consideration and brindleweb reserves the right to respond to abuse in whatever manner seems appropriate in a case-by-case basis, as stated in the Terms of Use.