Please note that these points below do not in any way replace the Policy that you signed up to when registering. This additional information is intended to remind members of what is appropriate behaviour and hopefully will continue to keep the Backroom a place of enjoyment for all. Credit goes to Avant for originally writing them.

[Originally written by Avant 7th August 2011 & updated by Xileno]

Any forum like this one encourages free speech and a variety of opinions, which indeed we get.

Unfortunately we are also getting a lot of personal abuse from one poster to another, which is quite unnecessary and invariably weakens the writer's argument. By all means contradict another poster's views if you disagree with them, but don't abuse the person himself / herself.

As moderators we volunteer to do what we can to make the forum a pleasant place for people to visit and ask questions, seek advice or just air their views. Much as we don't like suppressing posts, we are duty bound to remove any that contain swear words or attack others personally.

The above comments are not aimed at any one person in particular.

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[Originally written by Avant 12th December 2011 & updated by Xileno]

We're delighted when new people come on to the forum, and when they ask for information or advice there are plenty of us with varied experience who are happy to help.

As moderators we try to ensure that replies are helpful, and the virtual blue pencil comes out if anyone unfairly slaps down a new member.

But too often we never hear from the original poster again. Can I request people who ask for advice if they'd spare a moment to let us know if their problem is resolved. It's rewarding to those of us who have tried to help or advice, and can also be useful to anyone else looking in who has a similar problem.

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[Originally written by Avant 16th November 2010]

Can we please be careful not to criticise other people's spelling and grammar. Some posters may be actually dyslexic and not be able to avoid errors - yet those same people may have much to offer us in terms of relevant expertise.

There are times when this sort of thing matters - indeed I gave a lecture on effective writing to some of my firm's trainees this very morning, saying how vital correctness and clarity are in business communications - but an informal forum isn't one of those times.

If we think of someone's post as an E-mail from a friend, or even a conversation in a pub, we wouldn't correct their English. So let's take people as they are.

Edited by Xileno on 20/03/2021 at 18:02