Disabled World Chat Room Rules

These Terms of Service are a binding contract between you and Disabled-world.com regarding your use of Disabled World Chat. If you use this Site, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. In consideration of your use of the Disabled World Chat Service, you represent that you are of legal age to form a binding contract and that you have read and understand these Terms of Service.

The Disabled World chat rooms are provided as a free service. As such, there are no guarantees given or implied. Use of the chat rooms is at your own risk. Your use of the chat rooms constitutes an agreement that you will not hold disabled-world.com or its affiliates liable for anything said or done in the service to anyone at anytime.

To safeguard our chat environment if we have reason to think that a user tends toward or conduces to illegal activity, including but not limited to threats, hacking etc., we will take action (which may range from chatting with the person in question to banning the user from our website and/or seeking prosecution). Also the users Internet service provider (ISP) will be sent email with a log, ip address, and time stamp of said incident seeking termination of their Internet services under their ISP's acceptable use policy.

Chat room Freedom of speech can be taken too far and some people think they can say whatever they want, whenever they want, and about whoever they want. There appears to be a fairly common mis-perception that freedom equals license; that being free to do something means you possess an irrevocable license to do it. Freedom of expression has never meant that a person could use language however she or he sees fit.

If you are asked to stop discussing objectionable subject matter and you continue to discuss it. It is no longer chatting it is harassing.

By using the Disabled World FREE chat rooms, you agree that Disabled World will not be held liable in any case and for any reason. You also agree, that if you do for any reason attempt to take legal action against disabled-world.com or its affiliates, to pay any lawyer fees and other costs to us regardless of outcome.

Use of the chat room signifies that you are in total agreement to the terms contained here within. If you disagree with any of these terms, then please do not use the chat rooms. If you use the chat room and do not agree to these terms disabled-world.com will not be held responsible.

Disabled-world.com and its affiliates reserve the right to ban anyone from using Disabled World chat rooms at any time, and for any reason they deem necessary. In addition we reserve the right to seek all remedies available at law and in equity for violations of these Terms of Use, including the right to block access from a particular Internet address to our web site.

Chat Etiquette

Remember when in the Disabled World Chat Rooms you aren't talking to other computers; you are talking to real, live people with feelings, moods, and interests who happen to be communicating via computers. As in real life, some people may seem rude or offensive. Humor works better at diffusing potential problems than anger does. Ignoring them works even better. If you don't get along with another chat user try one of our other chat rooms. Remember, you are responsible for anything you say or post in the Disabled World Chats.

1/ AGE

We require all chat users to be over the age of 18 to participate in chat conversations. Younger persons wishing to chat should visit http://www.ablelink.org/public/new/index.html

2/ Disclosing personal details

You ARE permitted, but strongly advised NOT to give out personal details such as yahoo, MSN id's, or email addresses in the chat. If you divulge your email or any other form of id you do so at your own risk.

3/ Usernames

The use of multiple usernames is NOT permitted as it causes confusion for other users. Ask a moderator if you wish to change your username, they will never say no as long as they are aware you need to change your name and as long as you do not change it frequently.

4/ Language

English only is to be used in the chat.

5/ Spamming

No advertising, this includes posting links to other websites and chat rooms. The only links permitted to be posted in chat are links that may help answer users questions on disability or medical conditions.

NOTE: Certain words when typed in chat will "trigger" links to relevant sections of Disabled World that provide further information.

6/ Typing in all capitals

We ask you do NOT type with caps lock on or in capitals as it can prevent screen readers reading the text. The occasionally use of capitals will not result in a ban, but continued and excessive use may. We also request you no longer use the scrolling text code. Also in regards to screenreaders we request you keep unneccessary punctuation such as ((((()))))) or !!!!! to a minimum.

7/ No fighting or Name Calling

You may sometimes disagree with a member, but calling them names or flaming their character is not allowed. If you have a personal issue to discuss with a member, please take it private and discuss via Private Message.

8/ No flooding or unnecessary repetition

Interrupting the flow of the chat sessions with the use of large fonts, repetitive typing or other forms of flooding makes it hard for other chatters to continue their conversation.

9/ Courtesy

Do not interrogate new users when they enter the chat. When you join a room full of people in the "real" world you do not immediately start to question them on their personal affairs, consider the chat rooms as you would consider a get together in real life and welcome all new users to the chat and treat other chatters the way you would like to be treated.

Chat Monitors and Bans

Moderators are volunteers that donate many hours of their own time to help in the chat rooms. The monitors are there to watch over the chat rooms, promote fellowship, and protect the chat rooms when necessary. Their job is stressful enough. Don't add to their stress by disputing their actions, especially if it involves someone else and not you. For example, if you see a monitor kick someone, and wonder why, don't worry about it. The monitor probably knows something you don't. Have some trust in the monitors, appreciate them, and respect their oversight of the chat rooms.

Admin and monitors MAY issue bans from the chat rooms for violating the following:

1/ Refusing to obey the directions of a moderator - 1 day ban. (several warnings will be given to the user first.)

2/ Repeatedly using language inconsistent with the community standards. 1 week ban (several warnings will be given to the user first.)

3/ Impersonating or representing any person or entity in an attempt to deceive, harass or otherwise mislead another member. You may not pretend to be an employee or representative of Disabled World unless you have been appointed moderator status. - 1 week ban.

4/ Intending to victimize, threaten, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation - Life ban.

5/ Is a known scammer or spammer - Life ban.

If a banned user continues to attempt to enter a chat room via a different name or proxy this may be interpreted as violating our server security and result in possible litigation to recover costs AND a report may be sent to the users ISP seeking disconnection of their Internet service under their ISP's acceptable use policy.

Disabled World reserves the right to amend or change these rules at any time without notice. You agree to periodically review this document to ensure you are complying with our chat rules. For the full terms and conditions that govern your use of the Disabled World website see our Terms of Service