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Chat Room ToS


Mostly Peaceful Ryan

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Mostly Peaceful Ryan

Chat Room ToS:
The chat room follows the same Terms of Service as the forum and should follow chat-room etiquette, which prohibits teasing, bullying, spamming and flooding. Violations may result in being removed from the chat room, or a temporary ban from the chat room. In addition, there may be either a nudge or warning on the forum.

 

Please remember that EVERY aspect of chat is recorded, including private messages (PMs). Private chat messages may be viewed incidentally by Admins, as a major software update has resulted in both general and private chat messages being displayed together in the same log in the Admin Control Panel. Private chat messages will not be shared with the rest of the team nor discussed for disciplinary reasons unless reported by one of the two people involved. Exceptions to this would be messages which might be considered to encourage or indicate an intention to commit activities which might violate applicable laws. 

As chat is different from the forums, in regards to pace, there is a greater possibility of offending or upsetting other users by explicit or triggering content. In order to help prevent this, the following guidelines should be followed:

  • Discussing sexuality is very important in our community, as many members are questioning their orientations and/or need to share their experiences. If you are bothered by the topic, you can start a new topic at the same time, private chat about something else, or come back later. When it comes to explicit sexual discussions (with graphic details), be aware that these can make other members uncomfortable. TMI warnings can quickly disappear; therefore, we ask that you exercise some common courtesy and check with the other users present at the time to see how comfortable they are with the discussion. Warn newcomers to the chat room of the current discussion. If several members are expressing too much discomfort with it, please tone down the explicit part, or move your conversation into private chat with users who are okay with it. Discussing sexuality is not the same as 'cybering', which is not allowed in the main chat room.

 

  • In addition to this, AVEN is an educational site and does have many underage members. If a member wishes to engage in behavior that would be classified as sexting, they must do so in private chats. But in order to do so, they must establish clear consent and they must establish that everyone involved is of legal age (AVEN is based in America and therefore legal age is considered to be 18). Failure to follow these steps could result in a warning, and sexting with underage users could result in a ban and may be reported to the relevant authorities.

    To establish consent, the user must clearly ask, "Is it okay if I do this?" before proceeding. To establish age, all users involved must clearly state that they are 18 or over before proceeding with the sexting.

    The legal definition of sexting is as follows: "Sexting refers to an act of sending sexually explicit materials through mobile phones, computers, tablets, or other digital devices." Sexual conduct involves fondling or touching the breasts, bottom, and pubic areas (based on US laws). Note, by this definition intent does not matter, it's sexting and will be viewed as such by the admod team.

 

  • There is no way to post trigger warnings for chat content. Please be aware that certain topics (abuse, suicide, self-harm, addictions) are triggering and potentially traumatic for other chat users. Again, as a courtesy, ask other members in the chat room if they are okay with a discussion. You might need to take it to a private chat. Also, be aware of new members entering the chat room who might be triggered if they are unaware of what is being discussed. If a conversation is causing you too much discomfort but it continues in main chat, you can start a new topic at the same time, private chat about something else, or come back later. In any case, graphic or detailed discussions about self-harm and/or suicide are not allowed in the main chat room. Suicide threats may cause the person threatening to be removed from the chat room.

 

  • Although there is no requirement to speak English, please bear in mind that, while chat users may speak many different languages, the majority will probably speak English. Chats in other languages are allowed but might make other chat users feel excluded if they do not fully understand what is being said. If this is the case please refrain and you can switch to private chat if required.

 

Chat Room Disciplinary Procedures:

If someone has demonstrated unacceptable behaviour and there is no mod or admin present, please report them using the member report function. You may PM the report to an Admod to explain why you reported the member. In the report, please state the time frame of the problem, including:

  • Your local time zone
  • Who was involved
  • What the problem was

If you are in the chat room and are behaving in a rude, obnoxious, or disruptive manner, or have committed minor offences that may not be specifically against the ToS, and either a mod or admin is present, you will be requested to stop by the member of the Admod Team. This process will go like this:

1) If anything is happening in chat that needs to stop or is against the ToS and/or chat ToS and there is an admod there to notice, the admod will say a formal request to stop that specific behaviour, and say that they will take action if the behaviour continues.

2) The admod will wait at least ten seconds to make sure everyone has had a chance to read the warning before going further.  Messages posted right after the admod's verbal warning are let off as the user(s) may have been typing and not looked up at the warning before hitting enter.

3) If the behaviour persists after that 10 seconds, the admod will silence the member(s) who is continuing the behaviour for 60 seconds (1 minute). The admod will say another warning against the behaviour following the same guidelines as point 1. The silenced member should still have a chance to see this message, since silencing stops them from commenting but not from reading, so this will be their second verbal warning.

4) If the member continues the behaviour after their silence, then the admod will kick them for 2880 minutes (48 hrs).

 

Three warnings will lead to permanent ban from AVEN, chat and forums.



On behalf of the Admod Team,

GIR
Chat Administrator

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scarletlatitude

Updated to give examples of what would and would not get a chat ban on the first warning

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  • 7 months later...

Edited the following portion, as general and private chat is now displayed together:

 

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Please remember that EVERY aspect of chat is recorded, including private messages (PMs), but PMs are read only if their content is cited in the report.

 

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  • 3 weeks later...
Qutenkuddly

Removed this and updated:

 

Please remember that EVERY aspect of chat is recorded, including private messages (PMs), which may be viewed incidentally, as a major software update has resulted in both general and private chat messages being displayed together in the same log.

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  • 8 months later...

Updated to reflect the move to ArrowChat. Sorry, this should have been done a while ago, as per this announcements thread.

 

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Due to the fact that the new chat system has different software, admods have had to change our chat policies and how we react to situations where the ToS is being broken. Here is a summary of what now happens if something goes wrong in chat. Please note though: nothing has changed about what actions are and are not allowed; for example, the banned words are still banned, and the same chat terms of service apply.

 

New chat disciplinary procedure

1) If anything is happening in chat that needs to stop or is against the ToS and/or chat ToS and there is an admod there to notice, the admod will say a formal request to stop that specific behaviour, and say that they will take action if the behaviour continues.

2) The admod will wait at least ten seconds to make sure everyone has had a chance to read the warning before going further.  Messages posted right after the admod's verbal warning are let off as the user(s) may have been typing and not looked up at the warning before hitting enter.

3) If the behaviour persists after that 10 seconds, the admod will silence the member(s) who is continuing the behaviour for 60 seconds (1 minute). The admod will say another warning against the behaviour following the same guidelines as point 1. The silenced member should still have a chance to see this message, since silencing stops them from commenting but not from reading, so this will be their second verbal warning.

4) If the member continues the behaviour after their silence, then the admod will kick them for 2880 minutes (48 hrs).

5) The rest of the report system is unchanged.

 

Please don't hesitate to ask if you have questions about how this new software works. And please do not hesitate to poke an admod if there is something going on in chat that is against the ToS or that you are uncomfortable with; we may still show up as being there without paying attention, so it never hurts to shoot us a PM either in chat or on AVEN if you need our help. And all members are still able and encouraged to report a user in chat who is behaving against the ToS.

Old version before I edit:

 

Quote

Chat Room ToS:
The chat room follows the same Terms of Service as the forum and should follow chat-room etiquette, which prohibits teasing, bullying, spamming and flooding. Violations may result in being removed from the chat room, or a temporary ban from the chat room. In addition, there may be either a nudge or warning on the forum.

 

Please remember that EVERY aspect of chat is recorded, including private messages (PMs). Private chat messages may be viewed incidentally by Admins, as a major software update has resulted in both general and private chat messages being displayed together in the same log in the Admin Control Panel. Private chat messages will not be shared with the rest of the team nor discussed for disciplinary reasons unless reported by one of the two people involved. Exceptions to this would be messages which might be considered to encourage or indicate an intention to commit activities which might violate applicable laws. 

As chat is different from the forums, in regards to pace, there is a greater possibility of offending or upsetting other users by explicit or triggering content. In order to help prevent this, the following guidelines should be followed:

  • Discussing sexuality is very important in our community, as many members are questioning their orientations and/or need to share their experiences. If you are bothered by the topic, you can start a new topic at the same time, private chat about something else, or come back later. When it comes to explicit sexual discussions (with graphic details), be aware that these can make other members uncomfortable. TMI warnings can quickly disappear; therefore, we ask that you exercise some common courtesy and check with the other users present at the time to see how comfortable they are with the discussion. Warn newcomers to the chat room of the current discussion. If several members are expressing too much discomfort with it, please tone down the explicit part, or move your conversation into private chat with users who are okay with it. Discussing sexuality is not the same as 'cybering', which is not allowed in the main chat room.
  • There is no way to post trigger warnings for chat content. Please be aware that certain topics (abuse, suicide, self-harm, addictions) are triggering and potentially traumatic for other chat users. Again, as a courtesy, ask other members in the chat room if they are okay with a discussion. You might need to take it to a private chat. Also, be aware of new members entering the chat room who might be triggered if they are unaware of what is being discussed. If a conversation is causing you too much discomfort but it continues in main chat, you can start a new topic at the same time, private chat about something else, or come back later. In any case, graphic or detailed discussions about self-harm and/or suicide are not allowed in the main chat room. Suicide threats may cause the person threatening to be removed from the chat room.
  • Although there is no requirement to speak English, please bear in mind that, while chat users may speak many different languages, the majority will probably speak English. Chats in other languages are allowed but might make other chat users feel excluded if they do not fully understand what is being said. If this is the case please refrain and you can switch to private chat if required.

Chat Room Disciplinary Procedures:
If someone has demonstrated unacceptable behaviour and there is no mod or admin present, please report them using the member report function or PM the report to an Admod. In the report, please state the time frame of the problem, including:

  • Your local time zone
  • Who was involved
  • What the problem was

If you are in the chat room and are behaving in a rude, obnoxious, or disruptive manner, or have committed minor offenses that may not be specifically against the ToS, and either a mod or admin is present, you will be requested to stop by the member of the Admod Team. Ignoring this request will result in you being forcibly removed from the chat room by the member of the Admod Team; this procedure is known as a kick. Kicks expire after 2 months.

If a user has been kicked from chat at least twice within 24 hours, or otherwise 3 times within 2 months, including on different occasions, they will be banned from chat and later informed via PM or email of the length of said chat ban.

The following guidelines may apply:

  • Nudge for behaviour in chat: 3 day chat ban that cannot be appealed
  • Warning for behaviour in chat: 2 weeks chat ban

First warnings because of behavior in AVEN chat do not necessary get a chat ban or chat suspension.

  • Examples that WOULD get a chat ban: harassing, stalking, bullying, flaming, trolling, etc. These behaviors will receive a chat ban of 2 weeks.
  • Examples that WOULD NOT get a chat ban: minor first offenses such as bad language, etc.

However, on the second warning, you will be suspended from all of AVEN for 2 weeks. Longer suspensions may happen with the second warning if warranted. Three warnings will lead to permanent ban from AVEN, chat and forums.

The Admod Team reserves the right to increase or decrease these lengths, up to and including a permanent chat ban, depending on the incident in question. Members may also be suspended from the chat room for up to three days while a report is being processed.

On behalf of the Admod Team,

GIR
Chat Administrator

 

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  • 1 month later...

Added this to the Chat Room ToS:

 

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In addition to this, AVEN is an educational site and does have many underage members. If a member wishes to engage in behavior that would be classified as sexting, they must do so in private chats. But in order to do so, they must establish clear consent and they must establish that everyone involved is of legal age (AVEN is based in America and therefore legal age is considered to be 18). Failure to follow these steps could result in a warning, and sexting with underage users could result in a ban and may be reported to the relevant authorities.

To establish consent, the user must clearly ask, "Is it okay if I do this?" before proceeding. To establish age, all users involved must clearly state that they are 18 or over before proceeding with the sexting.

The legal definition of sexting is as follows: "Sexting refers to an act of sending sexually explicit materials through mobile phones, computers, tablets, or other digital devices." Sexual conduct involves fondling or touching the breasts, bottom, and pubic areas (based on US laws). Note, by this definition intent does not matter, it's sexting and will be viewed as such by the admod team.

 

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