Forum rules and etiquette

The Terms and conditions have always been here
https://www.expat.com/en/terms.html

A few lines :

You fully acknowledge that when downloading or uploading any material on the Expat-blog’s server, or when communicating via Expat-blog (chat rooms, forums or any other kind of communication means on site), the following is strictly forbidden:

* Defamation, abuse, harassment, threat, heinous or discriminatory propaganda against human rights, including homophobic or racist propaganda, as well as any other violation of human legal rights, including privacy rights.

* Any illegal or indecent material for online publication, distribution, defamatory propagation, obscenity, pornography or sexually oriented purposes.

The website has the discretionary right to delete any user’s or member’s account if this agreement is not respected. The website has the discretionary right to delete any litigious or contestable content. The website also has the discretionary right to advise a user’s Internet provider of any inappropriate behaviour.

You acknowledge that contents published on the forums are public communications only. Moreover, you acknowledge that views, communications or contents expressed by other members cannot be imputed to Expat-blog.com. You also acknowledge that no communication can be considered as being previously selected, revised or approved by Expat-blog.com. 
You agree not to use Expat-blog.com for destroying, overloading or damaging the website by any means. You agree not to use Expat-blog.com for disturbing other members’ use of the site. You agree not to access other members’ account, systems or networks associated to Expat-blog.com without formal authorization. You also agree not to get, or try to get materials or information available at Expat-blog.com or provided by the website unintentionally.

...

A personal thought: humour is one thing and we encourage it. But as you perfectly know, we are a multicultural forum and sometimes humour perception is not the same for everyone.

As a famous french humorist said:

You can laugh about anything, but not with everyone

Please keep that in mind for the future.

Julien wrote:

A personal though: humour is one thing and we encourage it. But as you perfectly know, we are a multicultural forum and sometimes humour perception is not the same for everyone.

As a famous french humorist said:

You can laugh about anything, but not with everyone

Very valid point Julien, but it becomes clear to all when it gets to a personal level, now I have no problems with people having a dig at me in a humorous way, but what I would say is, that if one poster has an issue with another, use the PM function and keep it off the main board. If you don't do that, then what happens is valuable threads end up being deleted because of it, and information is lost.

I will also add that we are a small team and we try to provide you the best service, worldwide - for free -

You can help us to make this place better :
> report us all problems using the "report" link
> please self moderate
> do not provoke /humiliate other members
> respect the EB team

thanks

By the way:

> the discussions are generally not deleted, we usually move them to a private forum (for moderators only).

> when a problem happens, we usually ban users for 48h - the second ban is definitive.

Julien wrote:

By the way:

> the discussions are generally not deleted, we usually move them to a private forum (for moderators only).

> when a problem happens, we usually ban users for 48h - the second ban is definitive.

Because you are such a small team, would it not be a good idea (you might have already done this) to have one or two moderators dedicated to each forum by location ?. Now before anyone starts I am NOT looking for a job

Good Morning Folks!
As clansman mentioned without humour any place would wither...
Humour sparks life..
Yet, yes agree to this point that we must be careful , as multi cultured people are involved hence, it could get confusing, due to difference of expressions in various cultures in a different manner..
.
@clansman u looking for a job? LOL
Cheers!!

What the f* is going on here ? Someone asks me to clarify the terms and conditions and the same day I read a discriminative message. Am I supposed to consider it as a joke ?

ARE YOU PROVOKING US OR WHAT ??!!

exactly what I need - a whole box for tonight !

Oyi Julien...
here u need a laff
.
.
Little Red Riding hood didn't listen to her mother. Snow white lived with seven men. Pinnochio was a liar. Robin Hood was a thief. Tarzan walked without clothes on. These are the stories we were raised with and they complain that OUR generation is messed up
LmaOO!!

@ Clansman and Goldilocks:
I would agree that without humor, this forum will be dull provided though that it is not condescending.

@ Julien:
Being a moderator is one hell of a tough job although you are here to "moderate/warn/reprimand" the posts and replies of every member in this forum that you think has violated the T&Cs.

As the saying goes "Rules are there to break" so exercise your power if you deem it right.

Absolutely Marvin,
at the same time control over foul language is a healthy idea too, it leaves distaste to see someone being challenged, insulted, degraded, mocked on whether whatever cultural background, professional background, mental levels, physical levels etc.
There are better ways of expressing ones thoughts...

And for certain, any level of expression is acceptable between friends, as their share of enjoyment...whatever the level, if both or more of the parties agree! Keeping in mind not to thrash someones dignity and integrity inbetween..

I understand 'Julien' and his team, have responsibility of handling so many cultured backgrounds with balance, it's no joke and highly stressful, lets not cause these folks here a pain in the A@~?
.
No one is going to leave us their 'will' nor take us to 'plooto' for a free trip, by showing their standard or whatever they are trying to prove by being agressive, or condescending!!!

Cheers N hve A Rockin Time~

I forgot to mention...
Those with low self esteem, behave loud, wanting to be noticed...
'Lions need not ROaR!!'

well every lion i saw roared at some place, need or not:)

let's not exxegerate:)

A clan's man moderating sounds interesting though, like braveheart:)

TolgaU wrote:

like braveheart:)

Who was summarily "moderated" by the English....

lol@Tolgaue
Have a grt day
Cheers!

Sandman6 wrote:

TolgaU wrote:

like braveheart:)

Who was summarily "moderated" by the English....

Who then got their @rses well and truly kicked 9 years later at Bannockburn by the Scots Wha's Like Us? Damn Few And They're A' Died!

I agree with Julien, this is an Expat.com....not a blog about making fun or silly jokes about one person's country. Ok I understand you can have humour here and there but at the same time you got to respect and keep your boundaries not everyone finds the posts as funny as some people do!. Hope it's clear!

Quite right. Let's play cricket...


anyone wanna bet on the Paks?

Sandman6 wrote:

Quite right. Let's play cricket...


anyone wanna bet on the Paks?

Sure I'll  bet you 1000 bucks the Brits will be battered on the pitch today and you know it.

Pakistan TV Sports News:

"And if you don't want to know the result, please turn away now"

One new rule:

INSULTS = BAN

please remember the moderation team and I are not school teachers

Insults equals ban, sounds fair.
But how about when someone insults a whole country based on their single experience ? Who's to stand up for the country since it can not participate actively on the forum.  The locals might feel insulted since they make up part of the country along with family and friends, and if they respond cause their collective feelings get hurt, they risk losing face by getting banned.  And the whole purpose of the locals' presence, in the first place, is to be helpful and make friends, the exact purpose of this site.

So dear Julien, how shall we behave in such cases ? When reporting does not seem effective, and perhaps it is due to seniority on the site ? If it's a new member it carries less weight ? It is also interesting to note a member in particular that has posted more than 700 remarks, none of which are in the least usefull, other than to his Internet provider, although he's labeled an EB member.

Thank you for your time and patience with all of us,

P.s. Just to be fair, when there is a litigious argument among two or more parties and one of them is banned, would it not be fair to ban all the persons involved ? I think most persons that insult others directly or indirectly must have been provoked.  It would also help to avoid repeating the same mistake in the future if during the ban-period you also sent them a message specifing the statement that lead to their being banned to reflect upon.

Thanks again julien, and honestly I have met some very nice people abroad due
to your site and find it very helpful and extremly valuable.

well, one of our 2011 challenge will be to find a couple of (expat) moderators for the Libya forums ...

please note we are doing our best to be fair with everyone, and that this website is made for expatriates and Libyans who are willing to help them

A simple rule of thumb is before pressing 'SUBMIT', ask yourself:

Would I say this to the person if I was standing in front of them and not behind a keyboard ?

I've met quite a few people from the Forum, face to face, so the way I feel able to talk to them is on a different level compared to those I've not met but who are regular forum users, which in turn is different to how I talk to new users.

It's only a rule of thumb, but I try to keep to it. However, muppets will get what they ask for

It is much easier than that and it only takes a pinch of common sense dear Julien.  The same way as it is expected of members to not make hurtful remarks about ethnic minorities, members etc. You should also include not to insult or defamte a country as a whole based upon an individuals opinion since it will hurt all the locals feelings.  Whom by the way, their sole purpose is to be helpful and friendly, exactely what this site is about.
I have met and spoken to some of the members on this site, and in most cases I have met some very nice people. 
No one really likes to insult someone else unless they were provoced, and it is not flattering since it degrades the person insulting his or her fellow member and displays a further negative image of ones country.
This phenomenon is not typical of the Libyan forum, I won't mention which other counties have the same issue, although  I'd be glad to tell everyone if asked.
How hard can it be to understand that negative and harsh criticism about a country will upset the locals cause they are part of the country.
Mudman, it has nothing to do with being behind a keyboard, if you had the same wit to say what you say infront of the locals of any country, you should expect the same reactions you see here on this site.
So basically Julien, could you include a phrase in your list of proper behavior, that provocing the locals with general remarks and insulting their country is inappropiate since it hurts their feelings as much as insulting a member directly or an ethinic group etc.?
That's all it takes

Napalm wrote:

insulting their country is inappropriate

Of course it is inappropriate ! (keep sending us reports !)

What's the use of sending reports if you do nothing about it ?
well, except banning the person that makes the report when they take matter in their own keyboard...all in all my guess is the reports are effective if someone is a VIP member with more than 1000 posts on the blog.
And basically, you can insult a country ( including all its population ) but you can't answer back to the person that making that insult about one's country.

Sounds Halal-rious to me

Clansman wrote:

Now recently we seem to have had a spate of some bad tempered, and often insulting posts on the forum (yes I am aware that I am guilty of responding in kind). Would it be a good idea if the admins could clarify the T&C's for us all ?, or even highlight them to indicate that personal abuse will NOT be tolerated.

This forum can be a goldmine of information for ex pats and locals alike, and equally it can be spoiled by childish and ill informed posts. Humour is one thing, and I think it should be encouraged as it makes for a more enjoyable browsing experience, and without it's contributors like Mo, Sandman and Mudman (to name but 3)this place could turn out quite dull.

Just a Wednesday morning thought like

It is also Halal-rious that you say such a thing when you were in the habit of PM members and challenging them for a fist fight.

my guess is that the only Muppets around here are those that act only based upon "who" makes the report and their relative membership status; not taking into consideration what is being effectively said or challenged. Impartiality seems to be the "rule of thumb" ?

mate, you posted more than 100

welcome

on dozens of forum yesterday and it took me more than one hour to read all these non-relevant messages (instead of enjoying my family and friends). the only way to stop you posting these messages was banning your other account.

Now, regarding the reports, I personally read every single report and I decide whether I have to take action or not. OK ?

since my observations are "non-relevant", why don't you state it clearly that locals are banned apriory from this site ?

you knoow what ? since it's useless arguing with you and this is going nowhere, it's your site and you have every right to say and do what ever you think is fair.

viva Brazil

Julien wrote:

Napalm wrote:

insulting their country is inappropriate

Of course it is inappropriate ! (keep sending us reports !)

that's really funny, it shows a great deal about your impartiality and seriousness regarding the topic.
it also reinforces the idea that insulting anycountry on your site ( including it's population ) is perfectly fine.

are colored people allowed on your site ?

aka redsaraya

since my observations are "non-relevant", why don't you state it clearly that locals are banned apriory from this site ?

that's completely wrong and non relevant

are colored people allowed on your site ?

that's a really, really unpleasant remark, you should keep that kind of joke for you, that's not funny. Should I consider this as an offence/insult ?

Napalm wrote:

that's really funny, it shows a great deal about your impartiality and seriousness regarding the topic.
it also reinforces the idea that insulting any country on your site ( including it's population ) is perfectly fine.

no, that is not funny and I am not joking.

We are just doing our best to be fair with everyone. I moderated more than 50% of the messages you reported me. Freedom of speech is also important here and I can't delete every message you don't agree with

Julien wrote:

are colored people allowed on your site ?

that's a really, really unpleasant remark, you should keep that kind of joke for you, that's not funny. Should I consider this as an offence/insult ?

Napalm/Redsaray/whoeverthefookheis needs to keep his racist crap in his throat

no need to comment on that Sandman6