Chat Room Abuse Problems

The SF Staff has been alerted about some rather serious chat room abuse, which has been an ongoing, occasional problem, and which has to be addressed. This makes several separate times that members have been subjected to sexually explicit comments. This behavior will not be permitted or tolerated, since we have people of all ages and backgrounds visit here. To guard against this ongoing problem, we need everyone's cooperation. If you are present and witness abusive behavior, please save a chat log and send it to me, Daisy, or any of our moderators.

While each situation has to be handled on its own merits, a chat log will help us deal with problems fairly, while protecting everyone from continued abuse. Unlike the forum, which uses Warnings, Any abuse report that is backed up with a chat log will result in at least a 1 week ban from both Chat and the forum. Even if both persons involved are willing participants in abusive chat room dialog, it isn't suitable for an open chat area, and should be taken privately.

Our staff has received complaints not only from members who have been subjected to such abuse, but also from members who have witnessed this abuse. Your understanding of the problem, and your help in putting a stop to it, will be greatly appreciated.

John

With the chat room problems we have and continue to have, Devolution and our staff has been discussing what would be fair to everyone while still controlling the conduct of what is really only a few members. The rules in blue I have added. This is what Devolution has decided.

I think there needs to be perhaps an update of the rules for chat room abuse:

2 Warnings and then a permanent ban from this site.

It is clear that the kind of behaviour we have been seeing in there is unacceptable and 2 warnings should be more than enough for any problems - if someone still continues to cause trouble after 2 warnings, then they aren't going to stop causing trouble anytime soon.

We should perhaps have a specific rule for what the chat room does and doesn't allow....

While these may be amended later, the following are not permitted in the open chat room:

Religious bashing and flirting, or any sexual, abusive, threatening, racial, ethnic, insulting or intimidating comments.

If you wish, you are welcome to create a private room where anything goes.

John

Obviously the Chat Room squabbles continue, and if they don't settle down, it's always possible that Devolution could decide to remove the Chat Room I'm not sayin he will, I have no idea, but that would solve the problem. It's really very simple folks, if you want to Trash Talk, make a Private Room, and act any way you want. But if you are in a public chat room, behave, or after two warnings, you will be banned forever from Chat and the Forum. And now for something else.

We will look into any reports we get, but there is little we can do without a complete Chat Log. Chat Logs that appear to have parts missing will only hard your case, since we'll have to assume you're hiding something. Also, chek out the post above this one to see waht isn't allowed in Chat. Those are the only issues we'll act upon. If you simply don't like someone, work it out yourself or ignore them. Any reports that we determine aren't valid could result in a warning for the person making the report. We're here to maintain a safe and peaceful chat room, not to be babysitters. Again, use a private room if you can't or won't be civil.

John

Although the chat room wars seem to have quieted down, a review of this entire thread might be a good idea.

John

Gotcha John.

[daisy]

SF STAFF sincerely apologies to anyone in CHAT this afternoon, the problem is being resolved. thank you Daisyxxx

I've seen the chatlogs of what took place in the chat room, and regret that this happened. Thanks to those members who altered our staff of the problem. Just a reminder that you can create Private Rooms and then send the name of the room and password to the members you wish to include.

John