Stanwix Online, Carlisle community website and forum

The Stanwix Admin Team (aka SAT), reserves the right, but does not assume the responsibility, to restrict communication which SAT deems in its discretion to be harmful to individual guests, damaging to the communities which make up Stanwix.info, or in violation of SAT's or any third-party rights.

• Choose your Username carefully
• Language
• Arguments
• Impoliteness Toward Site Administrators & Moderators
• Advertising on the Stanwix.Info Website
• Posting Inappropriate Material
• Illegal File Sharing
• User removal of a Moderator's Note
• Posting of Personal Details
• Signature Images
• Avatars and Signatures
• Overuse of Emoticons
• Banned Members
• Buy and Sell Classified Ads Section
• User feedback

Language

The official language to be used on the website at present is English. Currently none of the team has any alternative language skills of any depth.  If a need or desire for another language becomes evident, we would need someone else to join us to moderate the content; who was in tune with the aims of the website as an inclusive community resource.  The use of profanity, swear words, disguised swear words, or language that is a thinly veiled insult or attack on other members of the community will not be tolerated.  If you have a genuine issue with a person; please take it up face to face in a civilised manner.
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Arguments

We want to promote discussion and reasoned argument on the website.  It is an excellent vehicle for those whose voices may otherwise go unheard within the community.  There is, however,  a fine line between discussion and argument which is at times hard to define. In general a discussion becomes an argument when postings or comments become personal and if this starts to become obvious then the Moderators will take necessary action which may include removal or locking of posts.

A troll is a person who posts inflammatory messages, to disrupt discussions or upset participants. The word, or its derivative, "trolling", is also used to describe such messages or the act of posting them. This behaviour will not be tolerated.

Personal Attacks (also known as Flaming) These are usually caused by discussions turning into serious arguments as mentioned above. Please think before posting anything that would be defined as this sort of attack. For example "Username is an idiot" Personal attacks are not welcome on these forums and will be dealt with firmly.
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Impoliteness Towards Stanwix.Info Administrators and Moderators

This is when someone impolitely argues against any of the forum admin team. A twee example would be: “How dare you lock that thread you stupid moderator!” However, saying something like “Could you please unlock my thread, because I feel there was no need for it to be locked.” would be perfectly fine.
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Advertising on Stanwix.Info

Advertising is the source of revenue that allows the website to continue without membership costs.  Quite obviously this is something we encourage.  However there are some simple guidelines which will ensure that the experiece for users is not degraded.  We have built in many locations and styles of advertising to suit most needs and advertisements should be limited to those slots.  Our restrictions are fairly simple and should ensure that Stanwix.Info remains a pleasant place to browse for local information at the same time as providing an effective, and locally relevant advertising channel for businesses with a focus on Stanwix and the wider Carlisle area.
Forum users are not permitted to post advertisements or commercial solicitations on the forums. This includes offering goods or services for sale. Simple signature text links to the user's web site are acceptable. Links within forum posts will be tolerated, provided the posted link is materially useful to the discussion, or provides a direct answer to another forum users' question. Postings, which in the judgement of Moderators or administrators, are simply promoting a forum user's own products are a misuse of the forum and will be deleted. If the violations are repeated the offending account will be closed. As previously stated there are appropriate advertising advertising channels elsewhere on this website and it is these that fund the whole operation.
There is a classified ads section to the Stawix.Info website for the sale of your own personal items. back to content

Posting Inappropriate Material

Please remember that these forums can be viewed by all ages and not just adults. Sexually Explicit, Racist Items, Incitement to Hatred or other exploitative links to unsavoury material will be removed when discovered and action will be taken against the poster. If the material is of a serious nature or appears to be illegal, we will refer all details held, to the appropriate authorities.
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Illegal file sharing

P2P (or peer-to-peer) software is not illegal in itself, nor is sharing files over it. What is illegal, is the sharing of copyrighted files - over P2P or any other media. Therefore, discussions about P2P software in general are allowed on these forums... However, discussions about or links to sites distributing copyright material are not allowed.
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User Removal of a Moderator's Note

If a moderator leaves a note in a post, this must not be removed. They are left so the forum community knows what has happened to the post, and why the moderator has carried out any action. Hence, unofficial removal is not tolerated.
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Posting of Personal Details

Without the express permission of the user these are not to be posted on the forums; content of pm's (personal forum messages) or emails received from moderators or admin staff.  This is also the case with the traditional personal details such as; real names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses and Skype IDs.
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Signature Images

Avatars and Signatures

The SAT & moderators reserve the right to ask any member to change their Avatar and/or Signature, should they feel that it is inappropriate, or does not comply with the following guidelines; Avatar size should be limited to 80 x 80 pixels and a maximum file size of 20K.
Use of the Stanwix.info Logos as an Avatar is reserved for admin staff.
Signatures should use no more space than 4 lines of standard sized text would, this includes any blank lines and images you choose to use. Image based signatures should be limited to 100 x 60 pixels and a maximum file size of 20K.
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Overuse of Emoticons

Some people get over-enthusiastic with emotions. There should be no need for more than two or three emoticons together in a post.
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"Rubbish" posting

Some people think it is amusing to post in "rubbish" language... i.e. using odd characters instead of letters or even letters in no particular order. Just don't bother!  It will be removed and your account closed.
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Banned members

If a poster is banned from posting or accessing the forums; that ban includes: using another members account or log on details to access the forums or asking another member to post on their behalf. This action will have the simple consequence, for the forum member who allows you back door access, of account deletion. Please be responsible for; and by, your own actions.

A ban will in the first instance be for a minimum of 48 hours while the case is considered by the Moderators and Admin staff. Following that it may be removed or extended depending upon the circumstances.

If the user then gets banned again it is possible that the consequent ban will be for an extended period of time and could even be permanent.
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User Feedback

User feedback is important to the success of Stanwix.info, and we welcome all whether it be positive or constructively critical nature. We do not welcome outright negativity or personal attacks and these will be removed where found. The Admin Team are on hand, mostly in the Community Support forum to answer queries and participate in the dialogue.

This website is moderated by other users who volunteer their time freely. The role of the moderators is to ensure that this website provides an enjoyable and informative experience for all. They also ensure that the Forum Guidelines and rules are followed. The moderators have the right to edit, censor, delete or otherwise modify any posted message.

If at anytime you have reason to question the actions of a moderator, in the first instance send a PM (Private Message) to the Moderator, if your issue still cannot be resolved then contact a member of the Admin Team; Ray Cassidy(Admin), Nigel Burnie(SysOp) who will discuss this with the moderators and make a final decision on your case.
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