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Our goal is for EVERYONE that visits the message boards at iVillage to receive the support that they need, and to
find it with other's that are sharing similar experiences (this is why there are so many topical message boards). First
and foremost, please respect each other, and understand that we are all different, even though we do have a lot of commonalities.
That's what makes each of us uniquely unique! If you aren't sure if you are on the right board for your situation, just
ask! You can either post a message on the board, or e mail ME. If you notice that someone has posted and there is another board that would better suit their needs for support, please
just politely send them in the right direction. Remember, you don't have any control over who posts (as long as
it's within TOS and the Rules of Play) but you DO have complete, total control over how you let it affect you... so don't
let it! We are strong, resilient Women.... who are healing and moving on!
Rules of Play
By participating in iVillage's message boards or chats, you are agreeing to abide by our Community Covenant. (You should
also review the iVillage Terms of Service, which you agree to abide by when you become an iVillage member.) As with every Covenant, we make promises to each other.
iVillage endeavors to provide a safe, well-lit space where members are encouraged to treat each other with respect
and affection. We will be sensitive to your privacy with regard to re-publishing your words and we encourage you
to report problems to us.
A Safe, Well-Lit Place: We promise that we will try to do everything humanly possible to ensure that our chats and
boards are safe, well-lit places. We will train our Community Leaders to be helpful and friendly.
Respect and Affection: iVillage is a place where it's okay to be yourself -- be that harried, jovial, silly or sad
-- as long as you always act with respect 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 affection and appreciation
for our members. We will listen to your suggestions and complaints, and try to incorporate your ideas in everything we do.
Re-publishing Your Words: Because we know that your words are often filled with wisdom and insight, 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 re-publishing your quotes for wide distribution, we will identify you only by your iVillage member name.
We promise to be sensitive in this effort.
Reporting Problems: If you encounter a violation to this covenant, please write to Spamfree. If you have problems navigating our site or finding information, please write to Feedback.
Join The Conversation!
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 serves up heavy doses of 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 an Incredible Fountain of Information: Whether you're looking for answers to a health concern
in the iVillage Health channel, 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 & 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.
Welcome Newcomers: When newcomers arrive, say "hi" and welcome them to our growing community. Many
of our community's "old timers" (regardless of age) are a wealth of knowledge and have much to share. Help new folks "learn
the ropes" about how to find information and resources, save time, and how to get involved.
Guidelines For Participation
Agree to Disagree, Respectfully: We invite and encourage
a healthy exchange of opinions; disagreements are okay. If you disagree with a member's post or opinion during a live chat,
by all means, challenge the opinion. However, any challenge must be given with a sense of respect and caring 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. Personal attacks on others will not be tolerated. Challenge others' points of view
and opinions, but do so respectfully and thoughtfully ... without insult and personal attack.
Harassing, offensive, vulgar,
abusive, hateful or bashing 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 considered to be 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 email, 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 (unless iVillage determines that it is warranted given the topic of the
message board). 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 Do not 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 can be not only frustrating,
but down right annoying. Duplicate messages will be deleted.
Don't Post Commercial Items: Don't post commercial messages
or solicitations in message boards or during live chats. Posts containing commercial or product/service promotional messages
-- included but not limited to references to internet sites, URLs, or links to other commercial Web sites -- will be removed.
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.
Reporting Problems: If you encounter a violation to this
covenant, please write to Spamfree. If you have problems navigating our site or finding information, please
write to Feedback.
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 organize 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 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. If you haven't read the iVillage Terms of Service, please do so.
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