The following Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site, including, but not limited to, all text, photographs, audio files and video files.
This site is not responsible for any content you submit. We reserve the right, but undertake no duty, to review, edit, move, or delete any content submitted by users, in our sole discretion, without notice, including but not limited to the following reasons:
- The National Labor Relations Act protects the rights of employees to act together to address conditions at work, with or without a union. This protection extends to certain work-related conversations conducted on social media, such as Facebook and Twitter. In general, posting about terms and conditions of work such as pay, working conditions, too much/too little overtime, etc. are protected speech. Disparaging an employer’s product or ad hominem (personal) attacks not related to working conditions are NOT protected speech and may be cause for termination by your employer. For more information, check out the link.
- Do not post any proprietary information that belongs to your employer.
- Do not post obscene, indecent, hateful, offensive, defamatory, abusive, harassing or profane material.
- Do not post junk mail, pyramid schemes, chain letters or advertisements.
- Do not engage in personal attacks.
- Vulgar and insulting nicknames will be removed. Nicknames attempting to impersonate other users will be removed.
- Do not post anyone’s telephone number, street address. or any other personal information.
- Do not post an e-mail address belonging to another person.
- Do not post information that encourages criminal activity of any kind, or any statements that may give rise to civil liability.
- If you post a link to another site, please provide a brief explanation of where the link goes as a courtesy to other users.
- Do not post copyrighted material, including newsletter items, newspaper articles, excerpts from books, music, poems, photographs, video files or any other material, unless you own the copyright to that material, or have written permission to post it.
- Do not attempt to impersonate other users, site staff or any other person.
- Do not post the same message in multiple locations on the site.
- Lively debate and opposing opinions are welcome, but please behave courteously and responsibly.
- Submissions regarding the administration or moderation of forum posts or comments are not permitted and will be removed.
- Keep your messages on topic for the particular discussion you are involved in.
- Do not use multiple account nicknames in one discussion. Do not answer your own posts using another nickname.
Community Rules – FAQ
- Q: Are flagged posts really reviewed or just automatically deleted?
- A: Yes, every flagged post is reviewed by a moderator.
- Q: I am certain my post was completely civil on topic and it was removed. Why?
- A: The most common reason for this is that while the comment on the whole was acceptable, it contained commentary in violation of the rule regarding discussion of your employer. The rule exists because improper discussion of your employer may cause you to receive discipline or worse from your employer. If you have questions about removal of a post or wish to discuss our policy, please contact us.
- Q: Moderation seems inconsistent. It looks like some posts stay and some posts go and it’s not apparent why that is.
- A: Moderation focuses most closely on flagged content and on stories identified for specific attention. The high volume of comments means that if a comment goes unflagged or occurs on a story that does not require a high level of moderator attention, there is a possibility that a comment roughly equivalent to a removed comment may remain. There is no intentional unfairness—it is a consequence of high volume.
- Q: I find the Community Rules confusing.
- A: Please treat people as people, even when in disagreement. When commenting on heated topics, focus on ideas, not people. Don’t violate anyone’s privacy. If you have an issue with moderation, bring it to us via the Contact Us form. We value this community and deeply appreciate the many people who comment thoughtfully and in good faith.