DISCUSSION FORUM
Discussion Forum Acceptable Use Policy
Introduction
This Acceptable Use Policy is intended to help create an atmosphere in which freedom of speech is balanced by self discipline and a mature attitude to discussion. We encourage people to join these discussions and it would therefore be very surprising if exchanges did not occasionally become a little heated!
For this reason, we have compiled a Guidance section of useful tips for those who are new to the etiquette of online discussion. Discussion Moderators are available to help you to get the most out of participating in online discussions and to ensure that these rules are observed.
By virtue of your participation in this discussion, you are deemed to have agreed to abide by the rules. Although the Moderator cannot take responsibility for monitoring every message that is sent to the web site, we must reserve the right to remove items submitted from anyone who repeatedly ignores these rules.
1. Scope
This forum is intended for people working to reduce crime in their local area to exchange experience, advice and ideas. It is not intended as an area for the general public to raise concerns or to discuss the delivery of crime reduction. There are 3 bulletin boards that make up the Forum and each has a specific scope:
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Practitioners' Board: Aimed at professionals operating in the field of Open Source solutions.
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Learning Board: Aimed at those providing learning and education resources
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When you sign up for the Forum you will be asked which board you wish to sign up for.
Members of the public will not generally be granted access to the Forum without grounds that make them eligible to participate in these interest groups.
Researchers and students may use the Forum to scope whether a particular research programme might be of value to the Open Source community, but not to conduct surveys as this is not in keeping with the aims of the Forum.
2. Personal Identification
All messages sent to a discussion must include your name and e-mail address. Do not represent yourself as another person. Anonymous contributions will not be accepted.
3. Use of Language
Messages should not be malicious or designed to offend. In particular, the use of swear words or undue profanity is discouraged. By participating in any discussion, you undertake to indemnify us and our employees and sub-contractors against any liability arising from any obscene, defamatory, seditious, blasphemous or other actionable statement published by you on this site and against all damages, losses, claims and costs (including without limitation fines and expenses arising out of or incurred in conducting or defending any proceedings) arising from any such actionable statements.
4. Conduct of Discussion
This forum is provided for people working to implement Open Source solutions in a government environment to exchange ideas and experience.
Your message should be within the scope of the subject under discussion. If you make a contribution that is inappropriate to the subject under discussion, you may be directed by the Moderator not to raise the matter further or to raise it within a separate discussion group. Any messages considered inappropriate may be removed by the moderator.
No reference should be made to the personality of other participants in a discussion nor should attacks be made on an individual's character unless the person concerned has already chosen to bring his or her personality into the issue under discussion.
One to one arguments, disagreements and disputes of a personal nature must be conducted through private Email and not through public discussion, although 'normal' discussion should be conducted through the Forum in preference to private email.
You should remember that you are legally responsible for what you write. By participating in a discussion, you undertake to indemnify us and our employees and sub-contractors against any liability arising from any breach of confidentiality, copyright or other intellectual property right published by you on this site and against all damages, losses, claims and costs (including without limitation all expenses incurred in conducting or defending any proceedings) arising from any such publication. You must not make statements that are libellous, obscene, seek to incite racial hatred or otherwise break the laws of the United Kingdom.
5. Private Email
When replying to a message it is far better to respond using the Forum in preference to replying directly to the author's email address or via telephone - share your ideas with others! The exception to this principle is sending simple thank-you messages, which are most appropriately sent personally in preference to using the Forum.
If a person has sent you a private Email you may not forward it to a public discussion group without the prior consent of the person who sent it. This does not prevent you forwarding private e-mail to the Discussion Administrator should you consider this appropriate.
6. Advertising and Research
No advertising is allowed except where it is for an event, publication or similar item that has direct relevance to the subject of discussion.
Information about locating and sharing knowledge and expertise is welcomed, but within the specific discussion category provided.
As stated in Section 1. Scope researchers may use the Forum to assay the value of a potential research programme, but not to conduct surveys.
7. Complaints about a Breach of these Rules
Complaints about a breach of these Rules should ONLY be made by private e-mail to the Discussion Administrator.
The Discussion Administrator will take timely and appropriate action with regard to the complaint.
If you breach these rule laid out in the Acceptable Use Policy then your access to the Forum may be restricted or withdrawn.
PLEASE NOTE
By virtue of your participation in this discussion, you are deemed to have agreed to abide by these rules.