Posting Guidelines and Rules

[flowermama]

Seven has been updated from this:

7. Post posts only once. No cross-posting (x-posting) the same post in multiple forums. Also, no making posts directing others to a thread you started in another forum -- that is considered to be a x-post. When a post is x-posted, one of the x-posts will be removed and x-posted threads will be combined if appropriate.

to this:

No posting duplicate posts or threads directing others to a thread you started in another forum (no cross-posting). Duplicate posts will be merged, or one of them will be removed, as appropriate.

[flowermama]

Number 16 has been reworded, but the meaning is the same:

16. Should you wish to post photographs of your children to the board, please do so only in non-public forums. (Public forums are those which can be seen by non-members and are labeled "*public*"; all the others are considered "non-public.")

16. No posting photographs of your children in public forums.

---------- Post added at 06:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:22 PM ----------

Just changed the wording a little bit. The mean is the same. Number 9 was changed from this:

9. No using the boards to promote personal crusades or preoccupations. We're not here to help you pursue specific agendas or win any converts. Single-issue preaching is not allowed.

to this:

9. No using GCM to promote personal crusades or preoccupations (aka single-issue preaching). We're not here to help you pursue specific agendas or win converts.

---------- Post added at 07:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:56 PM ----------

Number 9 has now been moved up to 7, because organizationally I feel it fits better there.

---------- Post added at 07:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:06 PM ----------

The wording of 2 has been updated, but the meaning is the same.

It's been changed from this:

2. No posts promoting or supportive of crying it out (CIO). CIO is when children are left unattended to cry themselves to sleep. Babies cry and that is to be expected, but on this board we do not support leaving a baby to cry alone. There are formal and informal methods of CIO, and neither are endorsed here.

to this:

2. No posts promoting or supportive of crying it out (CIO). CIO is when children are left unattended to cry themselves to sleep. We do not support leaving a baby to cry alone. Neither formal nor informal methods of CIO are endorsed here.

---------- Post added at 07:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:29 PM ----------

For clarity's sake, number 24 has been updated to change the words "a specific" to "that."

24. To help other members feel welcome to respond in threads, avoid putting a member's name in your subject line when seeking feedback from a specific that member. Instead consider either PMing her with your question or (if you also want input from others) posting and then PMing her letting her know about your post and that you would value her response.

[flowermama]

For clarity, the wording of number 18 is being updated in this way (the part in blue is being added):

No posting without approval regarding anything that requires exchange of addresses between members including but not limited to requests for pen pals or to items for sale, swap, or free. Items can be offered for sale or for free or swapped or purchased only in the Swap n' Shop forums.

---------- Post added at 02:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:07 PM ----------

The wording of number 10 has been changed from this. . .

10. If you announce on the board that you are leaving (or if you ask to have your account removed), your "good-bye" thread (if you have one) will be locked, and your account will be deactivated within 24 hours. If your account is deactivated, you may ask to have it reactivated, but please note that when an account is deactivated membership to MBA forums will be removed, and access will be restored at the discretion of the administration.

to this. . .

10. If you decide to leave GCM, you may post a "good-bye" thread or deactivation request in the Official Deactivations and Breaks forum or PM an admin. Every effort will be made to deactivate your account within 24 hours. Contact the admins if you are interested in returning. See our Deactivation Policies for more information.

[flowermama]

For clarity, the wording in 6 has been changed from this:

6. No trolling, spamming, or flaming. SPAM and commercial postings will be deleted including links to websites that pay you for directing people to their site. A text link to your website in your signature line is fine.

to this:

6. No commercial postings, except for in the WAHM's Items and Announcements forum, and no spam. Such postings will be deleted, including links to websites that pay you for directing people to their site. A text link to your website in your signature line is fine.

---------- Post added at 06:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:45 PM ----------

Five was this:

5. No name-calling, fighting with, or harassing other members. Also, no name-calling family members.

Now it is this:

5. No name-calling, fighting with, flaming, or harassing other members. No name-calling family members, past or present. No trolling.

---------- Post added at 06:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:02 PM ----------

Number 26 has been shortened and the wording changed slightly. It was this:

Jesus equated lusting in our hearts with adultery and our Statement of Beliefs express the purpose of the board to uphold marriage as a sacred covenant. In that spirit, all posts and threads that go down the path of giving undue attention to men not our husbands (including, but not limited to celebrities) will be removed.

Now it says this:

Because Jesus equated lusting in our hearts with adultery, all posts and threads that go down the path of giving undue attention to anyone other than your husband (including, but not limited to, celebrities) will be removed.

eta: Edited on 12/31/2014 to add a comma (seen in blue above).

[flowermama]

Here are three new guidelines:

27. No posts on the board or via PM requesting donations of any sort. Giving on a personal level from one member to another is appropriate only as long as you realize the responsibility is wholly yours and GCM holds no liability.

28. No using the PM system to solicit clients or customers: this means you may not approach or make first contact with people to offer your services or products via PM. Conversely, if you contact another member and choose to engage them professionally, you do so on your own authority, and GCM holds no liability in the outcome.

29. The final determination for any rule will be made by the administration. The board owner reserves the right to lock or remove any post or thread for any reason she considers necessary.

---------- Post added at 01:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:43 PM ----------

22 has been updated for clarity and changed from this:

No sharing Personal Messages (PM's) with another person without the author's permission unless there is a need to report it for violating board guidelines.

to this:

No sharing personal messages (PM's) without the author's permission unless you need to report or discuss one with the admins for possible violation of board guidelines.

---------- Post added at 01:12 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:00 PM ----------

On 12/26/2014, for clarity's sake, number 24 has been updated to change the words "a specific" to "that."

24. To help other members feel welcome to respond in threads, avoid putting a member's name in your subject line when seeking feedback from a specific that member. Instead consider either PMing her with your question or (if you also want input from others) posting and then PMing her letting her know about your post and that you would value her response.

Today it has been updated to shorten it:

To help other members feel welcome to respond in threads, avoid putting a member's name in your subject line when seeking feedback from that member. Instead consider sending her a personal message (PM) letting her know you would value her response.

[flowermama]

Updated 17 to add a definition, changing it from this:

17. No hotlinking.

to this:

17. No hotlinking, which is displaying an image on our message board by linking to that image on another website; each time the image shows up here, it steals bandwidth from the other website. The exception to this would be if that website gives you the code to do so, in which case, they have given you permission.

---------- Post added at 01:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:59 PM ----------

Number 25 has been updated from this:

25. No posting in support of alcoholism or illegal drug use. We reserve the right to remove posts or close discussions that we feel are questionable or promoting the use of illegal substances or abuse of alcohol.

to this:

25. No posting in support of alcoholism, drug abuse, or illegal drug use. Posts may be removed or discussions closed if they appear to support illegal substances or the abuse of alcohol or legal drugs in any way.

[flowermama]

Number 4 is now two different guidelines. It was this:

Any personal disagreements including discussions about actions taken by board admins and mods should not be done on the boards. If you need to discuss it, then please directly contact the person who you disagree with. Do not bring other people into it. This follows the Biblical outline for how to deal with conflict. (MT 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you.")

Now it is this:

<edit> I think I posted the wrong one. I'll right back! eta: Here it is! My apologies for the mistake.

No handing of personal disagreements on the message board. If you feel offended or hurt after reading a post, pause, breathe, and pray. If you decide to respond, assume the best and seek clarification. If you want to work through the issue with that member and discuss it more fully, in order to avoid causing unnecessary board drama or shaming her, and to keep the thread on track, gently and prayerfully contact her privately. If unable to find peace with each other, an admin of your choice can assist with communication. If during private exchange either of you feel intimidated, scared, or harassed, contact an admin or report the other person's PM.

No posts to the board debating or venting disagreement with GCM policy. Posts seeking clarification and dialogue about policy are welcome, or you may contact an admin to discuss your disagreement with policy. If you need to discuss a personal disagreement about actions taken by board admins and mods, you are welcome to discuss that directly with them, but not on the board.

I'll be posting a newly numbered and re-ordered list of the guidelines soon.

Here is a link to the Summary of changes in wording/clarifications/updates and additions made to the guidelines within the past year.

[flowermama]

Noticed a small change I had meant to make but forgot about. I'm removing the word "board."

If you need to discuss a personal disagreement about actions taken by board admins and mods. . .

---------- Post added at 03:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:04 PM ----------

The order of the rules has been changed and headings added to try to make them easier to read and understand and to make specific rules easier to find.

You can see how they used to be ordered here.