These are the (slightly modified) house rules I developed for Sutton Chat. If you’re starting a new community forum or blog and would like to use them as the basis for your own rules, please take them and modify them to suit you while giving attribution to Adrian Short under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 UK licence.
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House Rules for Anytown Chat
My aim is for Anytown Chat to be a place where everyone can feel comfortable debating both serious issues and the lighter side of life. In order for this to happen, there are a few House Rules which will be enforced sensibly.
By registering with this website you agree to follow these rules.
1. Be yourself
(Snip this clause if you’re happy to have pseudonymous members.)
Use your real name as your username when registering with Anytown Chat. Anytown is a real place full of real people, many of whom know each other in real life. Using real names rather than nicknames allows members to identify others that they already know and get to know people that they don’t. It also ensures that members are accountable for their words: If you wouldn’t put your own name to a comment, it probably doesn’t belong here anyway.
You are encouraged but not required to show your face by creating a profile picture of yourself.
2. No bad language
Most of us have a broad vocabulary of swear words but Anytown Chat is not the place to use them. Avoiding bad language helps to keep a civilised and intelligent tone to discussions. Use your imagination and where that fails, just restrain yourself.
3. No personal attacks
Anytown Chat is about sharing information, learning and debating. It’s not a place for personal disputes and vendettas. By all means strongly dispute others’ ideas and arguments but if you make it personal you’ll be asked to stop.
4. Respect others’ privacy
This is a public website and everything you write here can be viewed by anyone. Practically, things written here will be permanently available to the rest of the world. Do not disclose any private or personal information about other people, whether they are members here or not. This isn’t Facebook or your private email. The whole world can see what you’re writing.
5. Avoid discrimination
If you hold any unpleasant bigotries about people on the grounds of their sex, sexuality, age, nationality, ethnicity or (lack of) religion, this isn’t the place to express them. Get yourself a blog if you really must. These topics will inevitably come up in discussions but I hope that everyone is able to debate them without making the site uncomfortable for others to participate.
6. No porn
This is a site for adults, not an “adult site.” Don’t post porn, whether words, pictures, videos or links to any of these things.
7. Respect the law
Hate speech, libel, incitement, copyright infringement and obscenity are all forbidden here.
8. No spam
Don’t post just to advertise your website or business. If in doubt, please ask first [create a link here to your email address or contact page]. It’s fine to use your business or professional web address in your member profile.
These rules will be reviewed and changed if necessary in the light of experience.
Enjoy yourself
While it’s not a rule, I hope you enjoy chatting here and that these rules enhance rather than inhibit that enjoyment.
