These guidelines have been designed to help all participants get the most out of their e-Village experience. This is a public space for all members to enjoy equally, so remember to be civil and respectful to others. The following rules should prevent any misunderstanding or confrontation from occurring.
- The Web has a long memory so remember that what you say on the e-Village could be around for a very long time.
- Stick to your area of expertise and feel free to provide open and candid perspectives on non-confidential activities.
- Share your stories of professional practice as they will enrich the discussion. Just remember to de-identify any personal or client-specific information.
- Ask questions, seek answers and engage in dialogue with your peers. But try not to grumble in public if you don’t get what you want. It’s not a good look!
- If you have experience that might help another member of the e-Village, then feel free to approach them and act as mentor. Wisdom and kindness will always win you friends.
- Be polite, courteous and use common sense when interacting with other members of the e-Village. Your words have power.
- Welcome new members like you would in face-to-face environments. New social spaces can be daunting and a friendly gesture can go a long way.
- It’s fine to disagree with someone else’s opinion but do so respectfully. If things do start to get heated, try not to get defensive, or run away from the conversation. Try not to take it personally. The Community Manager is always available to mediate any disagreements.
- Be relevant, resourceful and sincere. Please don’t bother trying to post off-topic material as it won’t get published.
- Spam will not be tolerated and is cause for immediate cancellation of membership.
- Any illegal activity, bullying, sexual harassment and racial slurs are completely prohibited and will be referred to the relevant authorities.
Online engagement has its own distinct vocabulary of social cues that have evolved over many years as a means to maintain social cohesion to the best degree possible.
For these reasons please avoid the following:
- Shouting: Writing text in capital letters means you are shouting. This can unintentionally cause offence and won’t win you any friends.
- Flaming:Posting comments that provoke other members into responding won’t be tolerated. It’s a juvenile way to communicate.
- Trolling:Inflammatory or off-topic messages aimed to disrupt the flow of conversation is really unproductive. Don’t act like a troll, or respond directly if you run into one.
- Sockpuppeting:Using a false identity to deceive other members of an online community is seriously unprofessional. It won’t be tolerated under any circumstances and could lead to you being banned.
If you come across any of these activities on the e-Village please let us know immediately. The Community Manager will enforce these rules and take appropriate action to remedy any violations. The main thing to remember is to treat people with respect and be sensitive to the views of others. The e-Village is a shared space for everyone to enjoy equally.