RECOMMENDED CODE OF CONDUCT

[Maximilian Forte]

Dear Network Members,

as the site administrator it was never my intention to moderate discussions, nor monitor every utterance for any possible inappropriate or offensive statement, as I considered that rude, intrusive, and presumptuous.

At the urging of now more than a few dozen members, I have been asked that at least a rudimentary code of conduct be established. Of greatest concern, that is, the concerns that repeated themselves across what were 37 messages at last count, were the following:

* that overt racial slurs not be allowed
* that sexism, including attacks against homosexuals, not be allowed
* that insults centered on religious belief not be tolerated
* that any comments meant to belittle or humiliate another member be stopped

More importantly, and I am afraid that some may not have understood this, all exchanges on this network, except those conducted by email within the network, are public. That means that anyone, anywhere on the Internet, can copy and record all of these exchanges, and that in the future they might conceivably be used against persons who are identifiable by their use of their real names and/or photographs. Even those using pseudonyms may not be safe, if they have used the same pseudonym in more than one site online.

As a service to members, I was willing to claw my way back through some extensive threads and delete all extreme or offensive remarks (and it seems that all sides have been guilty of these). I am not certain that I will have either the time or the ability to track down all of the comments, especially as the many complaints received were never accompanied by a single link to a page in question, and I found batches on my own, somewhat haphazardly. What I did see was over the top, and showed that no one side was completely innocent.

Secondly, NING has its own Terms of Service, and where members violate these they may be banned, with or without warning. I recommend that you all familiarize yourselves with Article 14. In particular NING prohibits the use of a network for libelous or defamatory statements, harassment, or speech that "is hateful or discriminatory based on race, color, sex, religion, nationality, ethnic or national origin, marital status, disability, sexual orientation or age or is otherwise objectionable." Permitting such speech allows NING itself to delete this entire network. And as some of you may know, we are not independent of NING.

Thirdly, unaware of how Canadian laws may apply to the network administrator, as a citizen of Canada, residing in Canada, raises other questions. Canadian hate speech laws may also apply to how this network is administered by me. Canada, unlike the U.S., does not permit absolute freedom of speech. How that may actually apply here is not clear to me, but I would prefer to err on the side of caution.

Finally, it is not my intention to monitor everyone. To make matters simpler, everyone can consider the statements above as their first and only warning. On receipt of a complaint, that I can independently verify (please remember to send me the link to the page where I can find the offending remarks or other content), I will be forced to ban the offending member.

Thank you, and I look forward to a return of the positive and constructive discussions we all had as this network first started to develop. If any of you feel that you are getting heated, please step away and take a break.

Very best wishes.

[Maximilian Forte]

I agree Juan.

[Juan Almonte]

Hey max, brother. I was just trying to prove a point. Meaning that if we going to move on lets move on. If some one talks about what was said to them and keeps repeating it. How is the other person suppose to feel. I mean, I didnt want to post what I posted cause I just wanted things to carm down. But if a dog barks what do you expect the dog being attacked to do. So far I seen a few post of some one playing the victim. I hate to sound childish. But I will not let some one demonized me eighter. I had my part and I have apologized. Lets move on.

[Maximilian Forte]

Thanks to you too Ivy, and Juan I know the source of the irritation and trust me when I say that I communicated with others to ask them to stop and to carefully consider the meaning of their statements. This is also why I did not want to take sides in these disputes, because I could see valid points and reasons on all sides, and when you come into the middle of a conversation, it is hard to tell sometimes "who started it". But I am hoping we can all move on.

[Ivy]

Thank you Max for this post, although it may seem silly and unnecessary, it has proven to indeed be necessary. Good luck with your search for a new administrator, I know I wouldn't want the responsibility nor have the time to oversee an entire network like this one.

[Juan Almonte]

I too have been attack. I have been told I am not indian and that taino's are non-indians. That there is no Y-chromoze. How much native admixture I have. How many indian traits I have. I mean if we going to play these fullish games. I figured I am going to throw this in too. I had my part of the insults. But I was not the only bad guy..

[adem medina cardona]

any comments meant to belittle or humiliate covers it all

[adem medina cardona]

* that overt racial slurs not be allowed
* that sexism, including attacks against homosexuals, not be allowed
* that insults centered on religious belief not be tolerated
* that any comments meant to belittle or humiliate another member be stopped

if that is difficult to understand perhaps we should start with self respect
it IS possible to acknowledge and respect others if we first respect ourselves

[Maximilian Forte]

You are making some faulty assumptions Sha-King, and this can be proven to you if you simply look at the earliest discussions in this network, about precisely such issues, without one member insulting another one directly.

The idea that one cannot discuss race without turning on a specific person in here, and abusing them directly, makes no sense at all to me. And if that were the only way to discuss race, for example, then it really would not be worth discussing.

That someone may take an abstract idea personally, and then respond personally, is always possible. That is the kind of person who will get banned.

This is not McCarthyism. This is about respect and conducting intelligent discussions.

[Monika/Mamona]

Tau Max, I am sorry to hear of such rude behavior happening, I find this site and the people here very generous. Please note I will also let you know of such problems
Mamona

[Maximilian Forte]

...and please remember, copy the link of the page where I am to see such attacks and send me the link. I am able to track who speaks and when, without even logging in to the network, but not what they say, which involves my reading every single statement, and some days are quite busy in here.