I support this initiative. We would like to keep this valuable message board a safe place to share. The PM system is an asset (the NA board does not have one) that is invaluable for discussing topics of a personal nature that may not be appropriate for publication on the board. While we are on this bent, We should consider, in a group conscience manner, a rule about strong or contrary rebuttal when replying to a thread. Offending a member may cause them to leave permanently. After awhile, we'd have very few members.
Sharing one's E,S,&H instead is in keeping with AA practice. These disagreements would also be best kept to
the PM system, or  practice what the program describes as "restraint of pen and tongue". On another message board, that I belong to, they have a rule prohibiting the posting of "Call out" threads, or thread that speak in a derogatory nature about another member. Here's is a copy of this boards rules for your review. This is not a suggestion to adopt these rules officially, but more of a guide to common couresey, which most of the member here have plenty of. 

"Please be respectful of your fellow members.
Every registered member agrees, upon registration, not use these forums to post material or topics which are knowingly false, defamatory, deceptive, inaccurate, racist, insulting, abusive, inflammatory, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually graphic, physically threatening, invasive of another's privacy or otherwise in violation of any law, including stalking or otherwise harassing individual members.

Personal attacks or threats will not be tolerated. Go after the idea, not the poster. Free debate within the parameters outlined herein is welcome on these forums, and diversity of opinion lies at the heart of a good debate. Toward that end, every member is free to have their own opinion so long as it is expressed in a civil manner, is within the subject matter topic of the forum and does not otherwise violate forum rules.

For the benefit of a very few individuals who believe the second paragraph of this rule is not at all connected with the first, we have deemed it necessary to provide direction. The specifics of this rule require you do not violate any of the parameters clearly laid out in paragraph 1 of this rule, which govern the application of enforcement for the entire rule. And as you debate your fellow members, we request you maintain contact with the content of the discussion within each reply, regardless of how heated it may become. We, again, point to Rule 18 we have not enforced here in some time. Please follow the rules. And please appreciate the people who wrote them know them.

No trolling.
Do not post messages that are inflammatory and serve solely to incite fellow members. This Board has always prided itself on its zero tolerance policy for the common internet troublemaker. Trolls will be identified and censured, at the discretion of the Staff, quickly and efficiently.

REFRAIN FROM POSTING IN ALL CAPITALS.
On the internet, posting in all capitals is considered shouting, and as such is considered rude and offensive. Overuse of capital letters also creates a strain on the eyesight, and makes it difficult to read text. Caps should be used to show emphasis for only one or two words.

Do not create call out threads.
Threads whose intention is clearly to "call out" another particular member on a personal matter. These forums are not to be used as a medium for personal and/or private vendettas. To the extent personal exchanges/conversations are necessary---and desired by BOTH parties---those members are encouraged to pursue them via Private Messaging. Feel free to question members as to past comments youd like them to explain in the spirit of good debate.

Do not use private messaging to badger or intimidate other members. Substantiated instances of such behavior will result in the immediate loss of private messaging privileges for the instigator, and may result in permanent banning from the board.

18. Adhere to the advice and recommendations of the Moderators.
Moderators are appointed because they exemplify the characteristics, attitude and values consistent with the standards set for the site. They have been instructed to enforce board rules, guidelines and policies exercising as much restraint as possible, and in such a way to encourage free expression of opinion. They have been entrusted and empowered with the ability and authority to achieve that standard.

The Board allows a wide range of discussion. Please refrain from unfounded charges of censorship or other moderator action taken against a member on the grounds a moderator simply didnt like the content of the opinion. We will never remove content from our community based on our personal views of the validity of that opinion. As a member, if you are engaged for a violation of the rules and happen to have expressed a viewpoint in opposition to that of the moderators, the engagement is due to an actual rule violation and not due to the content of the idea. The simple expression of our viewpoints that may be contrary to those of any member is not action against you and should not inspire charges of censorship. moderators have an opinion they are allowed to express too.

These Rules and Guidelines have been promulgated and implemented with the best interest of the community in mind, and with the experience of five years of moderating one of the most active and message boards on the web. We thank you for your attention and cooperation in learning and respecting the rules.
We're experiencing a recent surge in people who do not understand the meaning of the rules who continue to challenge whether the mods do. Any suggestion the people who wrote the rules and are asked to enforce them know them less than you will lead to an immediate temporary ban.

Thank you, and we look forward to your participation. See you on the boards."




-- Edited by StPeteDean on Monday 29th of June 2009 06:22:02 AM