TheFoothillsForum

The Foothills Forum Terms & Conditions, Rules, and Policies

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Rules regarding accounts

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Rules for general discussion

• Summary: Act like a civil adult. Be polite, do not be offensive or malicious, do not break the law.
• You agree that the operators of The Foothills Forum have the right to remove, edit, move or close any topic at any time should they see fit.
• If you want to promote something that might be considered 'competition' The Foothills Forum, please consult the Administrator before posting.
• No discussion of religion is allowed.

Additional rules for Local Classifieds

• Selling of animals is not allowed. Responsible adoption/rehoming with a fee is allowed and encouraged. All dogs/cats advertised for adoption must be spayed or neutered - it's the law in LA.
• Selling or exchange of anything illegal is not allowed.
• Selling or exchange of alcohol, tobacco, drugs/medications and/or firearms is not allowed.

Thank you for not:

• Using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
• Personally attacking other members
• Baiting other members
• Arguing for the sake of arguing
• Using hyperbole when something less will suffice
• Using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
• Making the same point over and over again
• Being annoyed by the existence of this list
• Posting under the obvious influence
• Claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
• Claiming your opinion isn't allowed when the manner in which it was expressed violated the rules

Disciplinary Measures
A first violation of these rules can result in a warning sent to the offending member by a moderator or administrator. Subsequent violations by the same member can result in further warnings, temporary suspension, and/or indefinite suspension from The Foothills Forum depending on the severity and/or number of the rules violations as deemed by the moderators/administrators.

New Rules (Added 7/13/2011)

• Duplicate posts are not allowed. If the same post is made in multiple locations, the duplicates will be deleted.
• Posting "real life" personal information about another user, such as their real name or phone number, is not allowed unless that user has previously publicly posted the information themselves. By posting your real name, phone number, or other personal information publicly, you grant permission for other users to repeat that information publicly. Posting of personally identifying information is permitted only when it clearly adds value to the conversation at hand. Posting personal information repeatedly, and/or without demonstrated value, and/or to single out someone with an opposing viewpoint, is not allowed.

Thank you for posting this Mike. I'd like to suggest an amendment to these rules along with a possible change to the forum.

Many churches and organizations with religious affiliations are restricted from promoting their community and events by the no religion rule. This means the entire S-T community will never be entirely represented on this forum.

I'd like to see a new forum area specifically for "Religion" just like there is currently one for "Pets & Animals" and "Off Topic". There are additional moderators now who can enforce posting religious content to just that forum. It becomes just another channel on the TFF and participation there is entirely voluntary.

Just a suggestion.

Nice work guys! Looks great!

Thank you very much all moderators and Admin...this is a great document to have and I am very grateful that you all worked so hard to accomplish it.
Terre Gold Leaf

Churches and people are (and always have been) free to promote events. The 'no religion' rule applies to discussion of religion(s). This rule exists because historically it's the one topic that turns to a flame war within 4 posts, and drives people away from participating. Promoting events, service dates/hours, soliciting opinions on which local church to join are all completely acceptable.

Politics does the same thing IMO.

hee hee hee, this is my favorite part of the list:

"Being annoyed by the existence of this list"

Nice job. I hope everyone reads the list thoroughly. I love a lively discussion, but not the kind that has happened here of late.

Again, nice job

Hi Admin,
As an experienced rescuer, I would respectfully ask you to amend the above highlighted passage. You've probably heard the old saying "People don't value what they get for free". This is generally true in the world of domestic animals. People should be discouraged from giving an animal *free to a good home* for a number of reasons. A responsible rescuer would never, ever do so.

People who acquire a free animal often do so on a whim, with no regard to the longterm commitment required. Asking for a modest adoption fee to reimburse your vet/care expenses, or a donation (to a charity if you are not a 501c3 rescue) can deter these casual - and often short-term, disastrous acquisitions. In addition, there are *bunchers* - people posing as adopters, who purposely deceive in order to obtain animals to sell to research labs. L.A. is a major dog-fighting hub and *free to a good home* ads are where bait animals are found - used solely for improving a dog's fighting skills. Asking for even a modest fee/donation knocks these folks out of the running.

Here's a brief article that covers some main points: http://www.pets911.com/animal-academy/d ... good-home/

IMHO, what should be stipulated instead, is that ALL dogs or cats posted for adoption be spayed or neutered. Kittens & puppies, included! If they're too young to sterilize, they're too young to be adopted. Period. If folks are squeamish about that, I would encourage a Google search keywords:*early age sterilization*. Besides that, it is the law in Los Angeles that all dogs, cats, puppies, kittens over 4 months of age be sterilized. http://laanimalservices.com/Laws_Polici ... inance.htm

Thanks for your consideration.

Respectfully,
Marsha

This was intended to prevent home breeder types from trying to sell animals on the forum, e.g. "purebred puppies $400". It was not intended to cover the adoption fees most rescues charge. I will see what we can do to clarify the intent of this rule.

Thank you!

Please note the updated rule about selling pets in the 'classifieds' section.

Thank you, admin & Queen. Not only for creating the guidelines but your consistent openness to work with TFFers when questions, clarifications or other stuff comes up.

p.s. oh, and for creating TFF when the other one disbanded!

Thanks for the updated pet rule since ESRA has an adoption fee as well. Also, thanks for the above rules and the time and effort you and the team have put into TFF. I am grateful for this site.

Please note two new rules have been added today (7/13/2011):

Duplicate posts are not allowed. If the same post is made in multiple locations, the duplicates will be deleted.

Posting "real life" personal information about another user, such as their real name or phone number, is not allowed unless that user has previously publicly posted the information themselves. By posting your real name, phone number, or other personal information publicly, you grant permission for other users to repeat that information publicly. Posting of personally identifying information is permitted only when it clearly adds value to the conversation at hand. Posting personal information repeatedly, and/or without demonstrated value, and/or to single out someone with an opposing viewpoint, is not allowed.

Sent a PM to you. Disagree with #1 big time.