Thank you for taking the time to read our Site Policy. Herein, please note that the term “site” shall be used to refer to the website at pottersbarforum.org and all pages that compromise and reside under that domain.

This policy consists of six major sections. These are:-

• Terms of Use
• Disclaimer
• Privacy Policy
• Submitting Content
• Content Code of Conduct
• Moderation and Administration Overview
  

If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use this site.

You should ensure you read the entire site policy.

Contact Address

Last Update Wrote:

• 3/2/08: The last major revision to this policy was made on the 3rd February 2008.
• 17/3/09: Updates to "Privacy Policy" in "Third Party Advertisements" section: to include reference to interest-based adverts provided by Google.
• 9/4/09: Corrected an incorrectly spelt hyperlink in Privacy Policy
  

Forum Terms of Use
Users who register for an account at the site are able to submit content to the forum.

Once a user has submitted a post to the forum, it is considered to become part of a public conversation. We try to avoid removing comments unless they are deemed against the site’s policies. We will not systematically remove comments for a particular user, nor remove them when a user terminates their account.

Not withstanding this, the site shall have the right but not the obligation to remove comments for any or no reason whatsoever based on their interpretation of any applicable law or the site policy.

Right to Restrict Use
The site may decide at any time and for any reason, whether explained or not, to restrict access or remove privileges to any or all users of this website, whether by IP based restrictions, restrictions at account level, or in any other way possible.

Prohibited Purposes
You agree to not use the Sites/Services for any unlawful or prohibited purpose nor to use the Site or any materials obtained from the Site to develop, of as a component of, any information, storage and retrieval system, database, information base, or similar resource (in any media now existing or later developed). You are permitted, via this policy, to download content, but this must be performed in accordance with this policy.

Interface
The web front end is the only interface that should be used in order to view or obtain data at the site. Other methods (eg. syndicated feeds) may be used where clearly made available for this purpose.

Bandwidth is expensive; any overuse of the resources available to this site, such as server space, bandwidth or CPU time should not be used excessively by any single or group of users. Therefore, users should not use excessive resources, for example by using an automated system to send more requests to the site than a human can reasonably accomplish, within reason, be using a conventional web browser.

Account
Users are able to register for an account to make use of features at the site. There are restrictions on the eligibility of a user to register at the site.

An elegible user must:-

• Be over the age of 13
• Be 18 or over OR less than 18 with parent’s permission.
  not previously have been banned or restricted
• not be registering in order to evade a ban or restriction
• not already have an account on the site (exceptions possible on individual basis with discretion, contact administrator)
• agree to follow the site policy
  

The site or its owner/administrator/management may be unable to verify the eligibility of any account holder or examine the potential for eligibility of a pending account holder.

Only the registered user of an account may use that account.

A user will not normally have the opportunity to change their username after they have registered.

Users should choose passwords carefully bearing in mind that reasonable precautions should be take to safeguard their account.

A valid email address is required which will need to be verified by the user during the process of registering. This is explained during the registration process and this verification will be performed automatically by the site software. If a user’s email address changes, they must reflect this by changing the address they have on file with us at the site.

Users are able to submit small images (avatars) to display next to their posts and on their profile page. Out of consideration for users on a slow internet connection, these should be of maximum 64 by 64 pixels, and under 15k. They should be in JPG or GIF format. Users are not permitted to place signatures under each of their posts. This is distracting and draws away from the discussion at hand. There may or may not be an option to allow posting of signatures, but any signature on a post will be removed.

The site, its owner/administrator/management is not responsible for the content of users, their posts and any other content submitted. If a third party contacts us that a comment violates our policies or their rights, we will invite them to comment in response and may take into account any request of moderation. If they pursue a complaint, we will make a reasonable effort to alert the user at the subject of the complaint of the situation. As per the privacy policy, we may be compelled to disclose a user’s data due to lawful request.

Users should note that the site software is largely automated and not subject to owner/administrator/management assessment. This includes posts and user accounts and other forms of content which are not reviewed before being displayed.

This site should be considered a community venue for the sharing of information. Whilst it should be avoided, it may contain rumours, inaccuracies errors, be incomplete, invalid or not useful. It also may include opinions or viewpoints of specific users. A collective consensus or viewpoint may appear to evolve over time. The owner/administrator/management do not endorse nor necessarily share opinions expressed or implied on this site. The owner/administrator/management do not approve, endorse, nor make any warranty as to the correctness or reliability of content, or linked content. They shall not be held responsible nor liable for user’s posts or actions on this site.

Information Collection
Information may be collected from users at more than one point on our site.

Forum
The main function of this site is to provide an online discussion forum where users can discuss common topics of interest. Users are able to sign up to this service, and in doing so are required to submit information including a valid email address. This information is held to ensure those that contravene our terms are prohibited from use, and to ensure only the account holder can benefit from the privileges of an account. This information will not be passed to any 3rd party.

Our forum may use cookies (pieces of data stored on the user's computer which relates information about the user). The site may use session cookies (which terminate when the user closes their browser windows) and persistent cookies (small text files stored on a user's hard drive for a period of time. This can be deleted by the user as per their Internet browser's directions).

The cookie may contain the user's username, encrypted password, and/or session ID. It allows users to reduce the number of times they have to login to their account, which saves time.

Users may set their individual internet browsers to accept or reject all cookies, provide notifications when cookies are set and many other options. Users who reject all cookies, or cookies at the site may be unable to take advantage of some or all features at this site.

To safeguard the safety of the site and its users, the IP address of users will be collected when a user registers and each time they make a post. In order to optimise the site and ensure the validility of each account, a date and time stamp pertaining to each account may be recorded when they register, visit (for the most recent login only), make a post, or are active with their account on the site (for the most recent activity only).

Any other information voluntarily provided to the site may be used as part of a profile page which may be available to any other user of the site.

For the purposes of safeguarding users data, for example against accidental deletion, modification or due to hardware/software problems, backups may be made and stored for up to 1 year on a hard drive or other data storage device.

Third Party Demographic Collection
Broad access demographics may be collected by services including Google. Information about user's visit to this site (including but not limited to IP addresses, browser types, Internet Provider name, referring and exit page, platform type, date and time, number of clicks) may be collected by them for our use in a similar way as LOG FILES are used as described in this privacy policy. For more information about Google's policy and cookies, please visit their site.

Third Party Advertising
Adverts on this site are served to users by third party vendors including Google and by Google's use of the DART cookie. Information about user's visit to both this site (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) and other sites on the internet may be collected in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to specific users. In the process of this, the third parties may store, recognise or others ways utilise cookies for your browser. For more information about Google's policy and cookies, please visit their site. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, please visit http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html.

Log Files
The site collects broad demographic information such as IP addresses, browser types, Internet Provider name, referring and exit page, platform type, date and time, number of clicks, pages visited to provide broad demographic information for aggregate use, to track user's movements in aggregate, administer the site, analyse trends and improve the services we offer. This data is not linked to personally identifying information.

Safety of Data
The Site uses security measures to protect the loss, misuse and alteration of the information under our control; however, all security is subject to possible circumvention, and we cannot and do not provide any guarantees regarding the effectiveness of the security we employ or our ability to prevent unauthorised third parties, from obtaining information that you provide to us, or using such obtained information.

Account Termination
We will keep your data on record until we are made aware that you no longer wish to use our services. When a user requests termination of their account, unless they have submitted content (in which case their account will be completely removed), they should be aware we consider that posts they have submitted should endure as they are part of a public conversation, and that whilst their personal data will be removed from the most up to date copy of the database, their public posts shall remain displayed.

Permanent Transfer of User Data
At a time in the future, the ownership/administration/management of this site may be transferred. Personal data may also be transferred, but users will be given at least 28 days notice before the transfer occurs via a prominently displayed at the home page of pottersbarforum.org, to opt out of having their personal data transferred.

Private Messaging
Users are able to contact each other at their discretion via the Private Messaging system. Users should be aware that logs are kept of such communications and may be reviewed in case of controversy. They should be treated as if they are like any other content submission at this site. Users abusing this system may be sanctioned.

The site is not responsible for consequences arising from communication between members.

Note: Users should avoid distributing their contact information for safety reasons.

Emails
The site may, from time to time, 'mass' email member(s) to announce new features or services at the site, or for other reasons. Users can set from their USERCP whether they want to receive such mailings. In extremely rare circumstances, administrators can override this setting, but only with extenuating circumstance, such as to provide notification of disclosure request as provided for by this policy.

Automated Notifications via Email
The forum software may provide automated notifications related to the site, for example that a topic has had new activity. Users can disable such notifications via their account controls for the forum software.

Notification of Changes
When the site changes the Privacy Policy, the changes will be made to the privacy statement. We may or may not inform users of these changes. Users should check the privacy policy from time to time to ensure they are familiar and accept the provisions.

Compelled Disclosure
Foregoing the rest of this policy, pottersbarforum.org may be required by law to disclose any of the information collected about you. We will attempt to provide you with notice (unless prohibited) that a request for your information has been made in order to give you an opportunity to object to the disclosure. We will attempt to provide this notice by email, if you have given us an email address. If you do not challenge the disclosure request, we may be legally required to provide your information.

Contact Information
Please contact the administrative address for issues concerning or arising from this policy.

Content must be submitted which is in line with our Content Code of Conduct.

When you submit content, it at all times remains under your ownership, and you retain all responsibility for it, and the consequences arising from the submission.

In submitting content to the site, you affirm you own or have the necessary licences, rights or permission to grant, and in submission do grant, pottersbarforum.org(and any successor) a worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable license, which includes the right to sublicense, and use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, make available, create derivative works from, distribute, display and perform any Content in whole or in part, and/or to incorporate such content into other works in any form, including those known now or not yet developed, and to otherwise exploit for any lawful purpose.

Respect Other’s Privacy
Never submit personally identifying information, or information that identifies a person by inference, without express permission of that person. Obvious exception are the contact details of the offices of politicians, and others in the public eye. A general rule of thumb is that, if you can find that information already in a public place – its ok to put up on this website.

No User Content Removals
You can’t remove a submission once it is made. Its as simple as that. This is because we feel it is damaging to discussion if a point is made and then retracted, and that for continuity purposes, even old discussions should be kept intact. Even if you request your account to be closed, we will still keep your submissions, even if your username isn’t attributed to them. Forum posts should be editable for up to 5 minutes after they are submitted.

No Intentional Misleading
Don’t submit anything knowingly false, inaccurate or misleading. This includes impersonating someone else or someone in authority, as well as pretending you are the representative of an organization.

No Adult Content
Never submit anything which is or contains ‘adult content’. We determine adult content to be anything which a minor shouldn’t see, or anything that could be reasonably determined as being inappropriate for minors to see. Pornography and sexually orientated material are included in this.

Nothing Illegal
Do not endorse or submit anything illegal. This includes stolen or illegal goods, or discussion of piracy etc.

Be Civil, Polite + Respectful
Comment on comments, not contributors. Don’t be abusive, hateful, harassing or threatening. Don’t insult, threaten or act abusively or advocate against people or persons based on their:-

• Race or ethnic origin
• Colour
• Religion
• Sex
• Disability
• Age
• Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity
  

NB. The "advocating against persons or people" restriction should not restrict general discussions on these topics.

Allow Fair Comments
Users of this website should, for the most part, be entitled to make fair comments and observations. It is fine if you opinion differs, in fact, we would encourage you to say it, but, do so in a way which is in accordance with this site policy.

Use Understandable English
This is an English language, and any submission should be made in understandable English. This includes punctuation and ‘normal’ text formatting, as well as appropriate adjectives to express yourself (ie. No profanity, swearing.) A particular point to go over is that topic titles should contain no unnecessary or repeated punctuation or capitalization.

Be Relevant + Appropriate
Make sure you don’t go off topic, eg. That anything you add to a topic is relevant to the original point made in the topic. Therefore, include images/pictures sparingly and only when necessary. Spam is definitely not relevant to this website. Make sure new topics go in the right forums, or in an existing thread if there is already one open. Use a title for topics that accurately and representatively summarizes the contents of the topic.

Be Considerate
This includes keeping images small (resize in an image editor if needed) so the width of the page isn’t altered, and in thoughtfulness to those who may be on a slow connection.

Be Careful with Businesses
Don’t self promote your business, or get others to do this for you. Don’t complain about local (especially small) businesses.

No Purposeful Incitement
Don’t act in a way in which you know or which you aim to encourage or trigger breaking of these rules or other unfavorable reactions.

Don’t Worry about Being Wrong
Don’t let the thought of being wrong worry you! Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. Just make sure you always act with the best intentions. If you have posted something in the wrong place for example, it can easily be resolved.

The owner(s) of this site shall have an ability to, if so desired, select members of the community to moderate or administrate this site. These staff will be able to take actions in order to ensure this Site Policy is followed as best possible, but have no obligation to do so.

Any content may be subject to moderation if it is determined to have contravened this site policy, or for any other reason whatsoever. Moderation options include, but are in no way limited to:-

• Forum posts can be edited/deleted.
• Forum topics can be opened, closed, deleted, edited, moved, copied, stickied, split or moved.
• User accounts can be edited, merged.
  

An effort may be made to explain the reasons for moderation.

Users may face sanctions. The site is a privately owned and funded website, and owner/administrator/management shall reserve all rights to perform any sanction for any reason. Sanctrions include but are not limited to:-

• Banned by IP from website.
• Account banned from forums and submissions.
• Account banned from posting.
• Account banned from using PM or emailing others.
• Account Temporarily banned from using PM or emailing others.
• Account Temporarily banned from posting.
• Account Temporarily banned from editing user profile.
• Account Temporary bans can be from 1 day to 6days, 1 week to 3 weeks, 1 month to 6 months, or 1 year to 2 years.
  

We work hard to maintain this website. Please respect that. We don't want to make things difficult for you, and we don't want you to make things difficult for us. It's as simple as that.

Administrator(s) can change these rules at any time and it is your responsibility to know what the latest rules are. We do not have to publicise that the rules have changed but may do so should we wish. Please report any item which offends or breaks these rules or that you generally feel it inappropriate for the site, or if you have a complaint about a staff member, or staff action.

In all cases, administrator(s) shall have final decision on whether this policy has been violated or not.