Guidelines and agreement for ifish board members
Ifish.net maintains the interactive portion(s) of the Web site as a service
free of charge to registered members. By using any interactive services provided
herein, you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by the terms, conditions
and notices relating to its use. Some situations require moderator judgment
calls, and may not be spelled out in the following Acceptable
Use Policy. (Commonly referred to on the bulletin
board as The AUP)
The Ifish web site is devoted to fishing in Oregon and Washington, and is spreading
to neighboring states. Ifish was created by a fisherwoman named Jennie who continues
to operate this site. Part of what she feels makes ifish a success is the strict
adherence to the belief that we maintain polite, positive, non inflamatory interactions
between fishermen and women.
One of the most popular resources is the Bulletin Board, also
called the discussion group. Registered members of the board
can initiate new discussion topics (threads) and contribute to existing ones
(posts). This document provides guidelines to help avoid tangling lines, snagging
gear or foul hooking. We want to keep it fun for most members, most of the time.
A group of dedicated volunteers function as moderators to help keep the discussions
civil. The guidelines are provided so you know what to expect and are aware
of the consequences of unacceptable statements.
By choosing to be a member of the Bulletin Board you agree to abide by its
rules and guidelines. The moderators can enforce the guidelines through warnings,
editing, private moderation, or banning of membership, based on the severity
or frequency of problems. Banning is rarely an issue, but it is occasionally
necessary. If you are warned, we would appreciate a note back saying that you
understand the reason why we warned you. If you are put into private moderation,
you can expect to be there until the problem is fully resolved on both sides.
While in private moderation, all of your posts are monitored before they are
publicly posted. If you are banned, which is rarely done, you can expect a vacation
from ifish. There have been times when these issues have been fully resolved.
We work towards this in every way we can!
The Ifish bulletin board is a real-time discussion. It is impossible to review
all messages or confirm the validity of information posted. Please remember
that we do not actively monitor the contents of posted messages. We do not vouch
for or warrant the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any message, and
are not responsible for the contents of any message. Each message express the
views of its author, not necessarily the views of this bulletin board or any
entity associated with the bulletin board. Any user who feels that a posted
message is objectionable is encouraged to contact the listed moderators by using
the moderator alert button or the contact
link.
(The mod alert button looks like this 
and is found to the left, and bottom of each post. When alerted, we have the
ability to edit or remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort
to do so within a reasonable time. This is a manual process, however, so please
realize that we may not be able to remove or edit particular messages immediately.
You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use this bulletin
board to post any material which is defamatory, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing,
obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person's privacy,
or otherwise in violation of any law. You agree not to post any copyrighted
material unless you own the copyright or Ifish owns it. Although the moderators
do not and cannot review all messages posted and are not responsible for the
content of any of these messages, we reserve the right to delete any message.
You remain solely responsible for the content of your messages, and you agree
to indemnify and hold harmless this bulletin board, Vbulletin, Inc. (the makers
of the bulletin board software), and their agents with respect to any claim
based upon transmission of your message(s).
The moderators also reserve the right to reveal your identity (or whatever
information we know about you) in the event of a complaint or legal action arising
from any message posted by you.
Please note that advertisements, test or pre marketing, chain letters, pyramid
schemes, and solicitations are inappropriate on this bulletin board. Anyone
found to be joining ifish for the sole purpose to sell is invited to leave.
A single link to your own homepage is currently
allowed in a member's signature as long as it does not contain any commercial
advertisement. Ifish does not allow commercial graphics promoting your business
or homepage, with or without a hyperlink.
Disclaimer
Ifish.net, it's current and past moderators waive any and all responsibility
for any injury or personal loss that any person or property might incur in using
any suggestions or recommendations, particularly where there is a risk such
as in boating rivers, boating coastal bars, or river wading. We offer the best
advice that we can, but common sense and responsibility is upon the individual
participants in any activity. Please exercise proper caution in accepting boat
rides with other members. Know your captain!
Ifish.net is not the place for bashing of people or racial
slurs. Please do not join if this is your intent.
Contents of this site are intended for personal, non-commercial, educational
and discussion purposes only and should not be relied upon for personal, medical,
legal, or financial decisions. Any opinions expressed on this site are the opinions
of the authors and not necessarily those of Ifish.net. Ifish.net makes no representations
about the suitability, reliability, timeliness, appropriateness, or accuracy
of the information contained on this site. Ifish.net will not be liable for
damages of any kind arising from the use of this site.
Your use of this web site is at your own risk. Under no circumstances and under
no legal theory shall Ifish.net, its supporters, owners, or any other party
involved in creating, producing, or delivering this web site's contents be liable
to you or any other person for any damages, including but not limited to indirect,
direct, punitive, special, incidental, or consequential damages arising from
your access to, or use of, this web site.
The Guidelines
- The group you have just joined has over 20 thousand registered members and
several thousand more who just read the information posted here. "Private"
conversations are discouraged -- they should be taken to private email. Discussions
should be kept to things that are of general interest to the group as a whole.
The discussion board is not a private "chat line"
- Ifish reserves the right to run contests for prizes on the board. Please
contact the admin, before posting a contest of any kind.
- Topics on the fishing boards should be fishing related. This is a broad
restriction permitting discussion of techniques, tackle, runs, genetics, legislation,
charitable activities and other issues related to fishing. Occasionally a
topic may get remote, but that can be part of the fun.
- One of the drawbacks to the board's growing membership is an occasional
surge in pointless messages. This bulletin board is loosely moderated and
therefore we must be somewhat self-regulating.
- It is perfectly understandable that from time to time you may take offense
at something that was written here, but rather than subject everyone to an
emotional response, consider the broader audience. Take it to private e-mail
or simply count to 10 and ignore it.
- Because of recent and more restrictive changes in law, ifish will no longer
allow pictures of native springers out of the water where the law prohibits
springers out of the water.
- Bear in mind that many board members have a finely honed and dry sense of
humor. Only after reading for a while will you be able to detect who these
folks are. Internet bulletin boards are notorious for masking the subtleties
of the tone of even skilled authors.
- Refrain from posting messages of a nature that offer to sell any product
or service in the general discussion boards. You can always send these types
of messages directly to an individual or post to the "for sale"
section of the board.
- You may discuss any commercial product. Please note that only www.ifish.net
sponsors have the right to post contact information. All non sponsor contact
information, including e mail, web addresses, and physical addresses, will
be removed upon notice. [Note that commercial advertising supports Ifish.
Advertisements do appear on Ifish, but we try to keep them to a minimum in
the general discussion group.]
- Please do NOT post virus warnings or chain letters to the board.
- Do not post negative comments on another's fishing report thread. Such negative
comments will be removed with out comment
- Please use proper upper and lower case when posting messages. Posting messages
all in "CAPS" MAKES IT APPEAR THAT YOU ARE SHOUTING AT US! It is
also very difficult to read these messages and many readers will simply bypass
them. If you have something valuable or interesting to say, make it easy for
us to read your message.
- Proofreed. Profread. Prooofread. PROOFREAD!!!
- From time to time there will be a discussion thread you believe is useless,
pointless, a complete waste of your time and a misuse of the board. If you've
gritted your teeth for too long a time and the discussion is primarily amongst
a few members, consider a brief, polite e-mail suggesting to these folks that
they take the topic to private e-mail.
- If you've completely ground your teeth to the jawbone, send a private e-mail
to one of the board moderators listed at the top of the bulletin board.
- By posting communications, User grants:
a. To www.ifish.net: A royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable nonexclusive
license to use, reproduce, modify, publish, translate, distribute, perform
and display those communications alone or as part of other works in any form,
media, or technology whether now known or hereafter developed and sublicense
such rights through multiple tiers of sublicenses.
b. To other Users: The right to access, view, store, and reproduce
the communications for personal use.
www.ifish.net Complaint procedure:
If you are going to post a complaint to the board, whether it be a brand, person,
product, agency, public service or company, you must post your entire real name
along with the post. This rule is designed to cut down on people hiding behind
false monikers to post false claims against personal enemies, and creates an
atmosphere of accountabiliity, should someone from the organization like to
argue their side. (Deliberately and repeatedly bashing the same brand, product
or company is a bannable offense. If you have a complaint or comment to make
then make it once and make sure you have facts to support it.)
Boycotts
If folks want to stop patronizing a business, a community, or
a particular guide, that is their right, but Ifish will not be used as a tool
to announce or accomplish this. We do not allow
organized boycotts on Ifish. This is a bannable offense.
Public Disagreements with Administration/Staff
or Guidelines
You agree that if you have questions about, or concerns with the ifish.net web
site policy or action of a moderator or admin, you will not post public arguments
or disagreements nor attempt to petition the owner/administration to change
policy through posts, polls, email, PM or any other service. If you disagree,
you may respectfully post your comments in private in the feedback
form.
Where is my Freedom of Speech?
Although the constitution of the US guarantees that “Congress shall make
no law abridging the freedom of speech”, ifish.net is not Congress. Freedom
of speech rights do not extend to this privately owned web site. The AUP/Guidelines
of this web site governs the behaviors and activities of the members. If you
choose not to follow the guidelines agreed to during registration, the result
is a disabling of your account.
Foul Language
Contrary to popular belief, this is not a public board. You are all guests here.
Nothing should ever be posted here that you would not say in front of a crowd
of strangers or your Mother. Don't post anything distasteful or anything you
feel might offend someone else. PG-13 type language in ALL forums, including
Off -Topic. Sometimes, cartoon cussing is allowed.
As many of you know, in addition to the discussions we have for our own benefit,
we also present a showcase to the lurkers and fence-sitters. We do have a word
filter which will catch a few foul terms, but it is not the solution nor should
it be the solution.
Using faintly disguised obscenities with creative or phonetic spelling basically
shows disrespect for your hosts. We are here voluntarily, including the moderators
and the forum admins, because we are trying to maintain a forum worthy of the
tradition started on ifish.net.
While strong words have their place and time, a public forum in which polite
conduct has been requested is not the time or the place for them.
Group Purchases
I love the idea of the savings of group purchases.
As we develop a more refined policy for groups purchases, we ask that you honor
us by notifying and seeking approval from ifish.net, first.
All group purchases must be approved by ifish.net before posting to the board.
This includes any kind of test marketing.
We totally understand that some purchases cannot be made through ifish.net sponsors,
but we'd like to give them the chance to serve us, first.
If you have a money saving idea for ifishers, I'd really appreciate it, if you'd
please write to me before you make final arrangements.
The following types of content may result in
an immediate revocation of membership and/or banning
of a member from the bulletin board.
Inflammatory posts. A post, or statement in a post, which
serves only to fire up negative emotions or generate anger will be edited
or deleted at the discretion of the moderators. Multiple offenses will result
in private moderation, or banning.
Profanity. A wide variety of people read the Ifish bulletin
board, including elementary school children. Many of us use salty language
while we are out fishing, but on ifish we don't know everyone we're speaking
with.
Sharing, giving away, or lending your password for use by another
person, and letting them post as if they are you. This rule is especially
serious when given to a person who has previously been banned from ifish.
Personal/racial attacks. Avoid negative comments regarding
individuals. Racial slurs will not be tolerated. Harassment will not be tolerated.
You can disagree with other members without resorting to personal attacks.
Posting private e mails on the board. These are just that.
Private.
False Fishing Reports. Knowingly posting false fishing
reports will not be tolerated at ifish.
Publicly challenging the administration and moderators rules of
use. Discussing the rules is fine. Challenging, testing, pushing,
and refusal to recognize them is a problem. Please feel free to e mail your
concerns to the admins.
References to or photographs of banned users. Members will
be notified once that a post refers to a banned user and will be removed.
Repeated violations may result in the loss of posting privileges. This is
for the banned member's privacy, as he cannot respond.
Illegal statements or promoting illegal activities.
Multiple monikers or user names.
Ifish Community Vendor Rules: Please
note that advertisements, chain letters, pyramid schemes, multi-level marketing,
blatant cross-posting, promotion of competitive commercial or noncommercial
sites and/or their affiliates & organizations in the body of a message, falsifying
identity to promote a site or businesses in which you are involved and solicitations
of any manner are inappropriate in this BB and may result in immediate and
permanent revocation of your posting rights. Your personal web site may be
listed as an url once in your signature line. (Go to My home and personal
information)
If your intention on the message boards is to promote your products or service,
you are in the wrong place. Selling on the Ifish Community board is strictly
prohibited and rigorously enforced, with one warning and then account termination.
We define a vendor as any individual or company that sells a service or item
for the purpose of profit, regardless of the volume or dollar value of that
sale, whether incorporated or not. If you are here to simply converse with
fellow fishermen and women- enjoy! Vendors are not allowed to discuss their
competitor's products in any way shape or form. Vendors are far from impartial
and we don't feel it is ethical to allow them to evaluate their competition.
The Classified ad boards are for one time private sales. Multiple
production of one item may not be continuously advertised.
The Classified ad boards use excludes any legal business, unless those
businesses are specifically Ifish vendors. You may not advertise your line
of work on these boards.
www.ifish.net assumes no responsibility for items bought, sold or traded.
Transactions are between private individuals and normal caution should be
exercised.
If you donate a contest for the front page of ifish, you may use the resources
on ifish.net to advertise your product for the term in which you are being
displayed on ifish.
"Ready, Set" vendors are allowed reasonable advertising on the board.
(Reasonable, meaning casual mention of said product.)
Ifish reserves the right, at any time, to discontinue your services at any
time, for misuse of the board
If the bulletin board moderators decide that a post does not
conform to the intent of the board or contains inappropriate material you
may receive a private warning from the moderators. Moderators will act quickly
to edit or delete profanity, racial slurs, personal attacks, illegal statements
and inappropriate suggestive comments when they are brought to their attention.
If the behavior persists or the posting is particularly egregious the moderators
reserve the right to revoke your membership and place a ban on your address
to prevent your rejoining. Though we hope it rarely becomes necessary, the
moderators may also, for reasons of their own, choose to unsubscribe and ban
you without warning at any time. These actions are not taken lightly, but
unfortunately they can be necessary.
Dumb posts will be removed with no explanation. LOL
The moderators' primary goal is to keep the spirit of the board
a tightly knit community of folks with a common interest in friendly, if sometimes
barbed, banter about fishing. This can be a great resource to learn how, where
and when to fish. It can lead to new friendships. But it requires that everyone
show consideration to fellow subscribers.
If you don't agree with these rules, please do not register
an account with us. We try to let the forums run themselves as much as possible,
but do occasionally step in when these rules are violated.
We reserve the right to change these membership rules at any
time. Therefore, you should review them periodically to make certain that
you continue to agree with them.
Privacy Policy:
For a more in depth privacy policy, click here
Personal Information
We will not sell, trade, or give out e-mail addresses to companies or other
organizations. We will not intentionally disclose any personal identifiable
information about you as an individual user (such as, for example, your full
name, street address, telephone number or e-mail address) to any third party
without having first received your permission. We may request personal identification
information from you in connection with your use of, or participation in,
contests, sweepstakes, games, surveys, submissions, chat and bulletin boards.
However, we will only collect this personal information from you if it has
been voluntarily submitted to us.
Any personal information provided to us may be used in connection with the
activities previously referred to above. Should you send us an e-mail with
questions or comments, we may use your personal information in order to respond
to your questions or comments. We may also keep your comments or questions
for future reference.
It is important to note that if you give out personal information online,
through a message board or chat room, for example, that information may be
collected and used by third parties. Although we strive to protect our users'
privacy, we cannot guarantee the security of information you post in these
arenas. You disclose such information at your own risk.
One exception to this policy is that we will release specific information
about you or your account to comply with any valid legal process such as a
search warrant, subpoena, statute or court order.
Enjoy the contributions made to the board, and remember that you are among friends.
Welcome aboard!
