Birmingham Weekly requires that users be registered in order to add comments to blog entries. This is done to avoid anonymous posts and, hopefully, to cut down on unproductive comments. Please ensure that responses to required registration entries are factual, or you will be removed from the system. Other entries are optional, but you are responsible for their content.
Members who masquerade as other members will be suspended immediately.
Birmingham Weekly reserves the right to delete posts or comments for any reason, and/or to suspend members at any time, although we are under no obligation to do so. The content of comments and user posts are the responsibility of the poster. A variety of opinions are welcome and encouraged. However, posts containing inflammatory, obscene or hate language, as well as ad hominem (personal attacks) are strictly forbidden and may be deleted at our discretion and/or the user account(s) from which such comments are placed may be suspended. Please be considerate and stay on-topic, particularly in comments.
Also, please refrain from trying to tell other people what they think, or what they just said. Their comments should speak for their beliefs; your comments should speak for yours.
In general, our suggestion is that you treat others that you would like to be treated — and when you disagree, do so without being disagreeable. We seek interesting and engaging conversation at bhamweekly.com, not personal attacks or arguments meant to belittle others.
In specific, your comments may be deleted or portions stricken at out discretion (and user accounts subsequently banned) if they contain the following:
1. Personal (”ad hominem”) attacks either of other posters or any individual. (Example: “You are stupid”; “he is racist.”) However, comments such as “I believe his actions are racist because …” are more acceptable, as long as they are made in the spirit of true dialogue.
2. Continual mischaracterization of what other people are saying, or what they believe. “You are just a fascist” would qualify (and violate No. 1). Or, much of what follows, “You’re just saying that …” is incorrect. Obviously, some of that will occur in the course of conversation, but if you are just there to try make someone else look bad by re-casting their comments, then you are in violation of this user agreement.
3. Quoting outside sources and articles in their entirety. This may violate “fair use” copyright policies. Please just include relevant excerpts from other pieces and a link to get to them. Please attribute all outside sources by providing links to the material.
4. “Trolling.” What this means is that your actions on the site are clearly meant to pick a fight rather than move dialogue forward. We typically will warn people who we feel are engaging in “troll” behavior before blocking your account, but we reserve the right to block your account at any time.
5. Registering under several different screen names. We allow you to post anonymously, but encourage you not to because you are more credible under your own name (and it keeps most people nicer). However, some people have tried to register under different screen names so that their darker personas can have an outlet. We will delete additional screen names as we note that happening.
6. General bad netiquette, such as berating bloggers for poor grammar and spelling, and filling screen after screen with comments so that you are dominating the blog. We allow some off-color language, but will delete your comments if you go too far. As (U.S. Supreme Court Justice) Potter Stewart said, you know it when you see it.
7. Libelous and unfactual statements. Although posters are responsible for their own comments, we will delete clearly libelous comments as we read them because this is not intended as an outlet for smearing people.
8. Comment “spam” or forum messages for purely commercial purposes. If you post product or service pitches, the post may be deleted and your account may be immediately suspended.
Privacy Statement:
Your e-mail address and personal information will not be sold or rented in any way. We require a valid e-mail address and our software uses cookies to remember registered users. The software also tracks the IP address of users and can be used to ban certain IP addresses at our discretion. You can change personal information at any time after you’ve registered — check your personal profile in the member list to make sure you’re comfortable with the information that’s available. (The member list is only available to registered members.) Also, please note that you must be 13 years old or older to register.
By registering for a user account or posting a comment, you agree to the above conditions and you affirm that you have read the privacy statement. If this agreement and/or privacy statement is altered in any way, members will be notified by e-mail and the new policies will be posted.
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