By participating in iVillage's message boards or chats, you are agreeing to abide by our Community Covenant. (See the really legal version here: Terms of Service) As with any covenant, we make promises to each other. First, iVillage's promises to you:
A safe place
We promise that we will do everything humanly possible to ensure that our chats and boards are safe places. We will train our Community Leaders to be helpful and friendly.
Respect
iVillage is a place where it's okay to be yourself – whether grumpy, funny, silly or sad – as long as you always act with consideration for your fellow iVillagers. We promise that at iVillage, you won't have to leave your personality at the door. We promise to bring passion to our work and to our community and to act with respect and appreciation for our members. We will listen to your suggestions and complaints, and try to incorporate your ideas in everything we do.
Republishing your words
Because we know that your words are often pertinent, funny and wise, we have dedicated ourselves to bringing the best of our community to a larger audience. We do this by quoting your message board posts in newsletters, throughout the iVillage network and iVillage promotions including in our sites and even in books, newspaper columns, radio and tv programs. When republishing your quotes for wide distribution, we will identify you only by your iVillage member name. We promise to be sensitive in this effort. We will not republish anything you write that we think could be deemed personally endangering, inflammatory or embarrassing to you without your consent.
Help is here/How to report a problem
If you come across any violations to this covenant or have any problems navigating the site, do not hesitate to let us know at UKCustomerservices@email.ivillage.co.uk. We'll be happy to address your concerns.
We encourage everyone in our community to observe the following:
- Don't be afraid to post
- Feel free to "lurk" and listen
- Tap into an incredible font of information
- Agree to disagree, respectfully
- Don't attack each other
- Keep personal information personal
- Keep your posts clean
- Be courteous, avoid duplicate posts
- Don't post commercial items
- Don't post others' copyrighted information
- To report a problem
- We reserve the right
Don't be afraid to post
If you're new to our community, taking the step for the first time to post publicly to a message board (or to join in live chat) can sometimes seem intimidating. Don't be afraid to jump into a discussion. We have a very supportive community that provides support, encouragement and enthusiasm. We love meeting new people and making new friends.
Feel free to 'lurk' and listen
While we hope that you'll become an active participant and join in our discussions, you're welcome, of course, to simply hang out silently until you feel more comfortable posting a message or joining in a chat. When perusing message boards or attending live group meetings, it's okay to do so silently.
Tap into a font of information
Whether you're looking for a new way to cook the same old chicken in the Food Channel or a way to get motivated to work out again in the Diet and Fitness Channel, our members are here to help. The iVillage Community is your place to get the answers you need and talk about the things that interest you most.
Agree to disagree, respectfully
We invite and encourage a healthy exchange of opinions, and fine disagreements. However, any challenge of opinion must be given with a sense of respect for the other person. The real objective of community is to understand each other, not to attack others and convince them that you're right. Name calling, insults, 'flaming' and attacks are not appropriate and will not be tolerated. Agree to disagree respectfully.
Don't attack each other
Because this is so important, we'll say it again: Don't attack others. Challenge others' points of view and opinions, but do so respectfully and thoughtfully…without insult and personal attack.
Harassing, offensive, vulgar, abusive or communications – especially those aimed at sexual orientation, gender, race, color, religious views, national origin, or disability – will not be permitted. BEFORE you post a message (or say something during a live chat) that is intended to embarrass, humiliate or harass another person or group of people, stop and think first. Harassing communications are those that may cause distress, embarrassment, unwanted attention or other discomfort.
Keep personal information personal
Think before you post or speak: Do you really want to put your address or telephone number on the public message board or share it during a live chat? We encourage you to keep personal information personal, and to remind your children to do so, too.
Similarly, do not ask for personal information from others. Message board posts that request members to submit personal information to another party will be removed unless these posts have been pre-approved by iVillage staff. This includes, but is not limited to, communications that ask for personal information submitted via e-mail, mail, telephone, surveys, and research studies.
Keep your posts clean
There may be places where explicit, obscene or vulgar language, graphics or behavior is appropriate: iVillage is not one of them. Message board posts that contain explicit, obscene or vulgar language will be removed. Similarly, message board posts that solicit or offer explicit or X-rated GIFs, JPEGs or other graphic files will be deleted without notice.
Be courteous: avoid duplicate posts
It is best not to post the same message more than once on a message board or on many boards. Duplicate messages can be frustrating for other members, especially for those whose time and energy is limited. Weeding through the same message in multiple locations is not only frustrating, but annoying.
Don't post commercial items or links to alternative community sites
Don't post commercial messages or solicitations in message boards or during live chats. Posts containing commercial or product/service promotional messages – including but not limited to references to internet sites, URLS, or links to other commercial Web sites – will be removed. Links to alternative community sites will also be removed unless they have been approved by iVillage.
Don't post others' copyrighted information
Information copyrighted or owned by any individual or entity other than the member should not be posted on the message boards or software libraries without the consent of the owner. If such an event occurs, the individual posting the information shall be held solely responsible. iVillage shall not be held responsible for member-posted information that may violate copyright law.
To report a problem
If you come across any of the above listed violations or have any problems navigating the site, do not hesitate to let us know at ukcustomerservices@nbcuni.com. We'll be happy to address your concerns.
Finally, we reserve the right
iVillage, Inc. reserves the right to remove a post which does not relate to the topic being discussed in the board. In addition, iVillage reserves the right to organise message boards (or folders) in order to best serve the majority of our members. For example, narrow-interest or minimal activity topics may, at iVillage's discretion, be relocated to a more appropriate folder or message board, or deleted entirely.
iVillage, Inc. also reserves the right to close discussions without warning if it feels this action is neccessary. A post or thread may be closed if it is felt it is having a disruputive or negative affect on a board. Discussions which veer away from the main focus of the board may be closed too if this is felt appropriate.
iVillage, Inc. also reserves the right to prohibit or delete messages that are thought to violate applicable law or that may be harmful to other members, the communities that comprise iVillage, or the rights of iVillage, Inc. or others. That said, iVillage, Inc. does not have the practical ability to restrict conduct or communications that might violate iVillage's Covenant or Terms of Service prior to transmission on AOL or the Web, nor can we ensure prompt removal of offending message board posts.
We also reserve the right to remove your iVillage membership from you should you violate this Covenant or any of our Terms of Service. Generally members will receive three warnings before being automatically banned however we may terminate your membership at any time if we see fit. If you haven't read the Terms of Service, please do so.
