ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS
By using the WSPCR forum in any way, you are agreeing to comply with the following Terms, having fully understood them.
INTERPRETATION
In these Terms of Use, unless the context otherwise requires, "WSPCR" means the Westcoast Society for the Protection and Conservation of Reptiles, as represented by its elected officers (Directors) as defined in the Society's by-laws, and by any person appointed by the former to act as Administrators of this forum.
"Personal attack" means a strong critique of a person or group, or a person's or group's actions or character, often compounded with outright or insinuated insults.
"Flame war" means a heated argument between posters, which does not discuss ideas but focuses on perpetuating hostility.
"Trolling" means posting controversial, irrelevant or off-topic messages, with the intention of baiting other users into an emotional response, to disrupt normal on-topic discussion, or to monopolize discussion to further a private interest. Repeated and frequent complaints on the same issue, posted serially on many discussion threads, and unsubstantiated allegations of any type, also constitute trolling.
NATURE AND SCOPE OF THIS FORUM
You understand that this forum is an online community that the WSPCR makes available to those of its members and of the general public who have access to the internet.
You acknowledge that the purpose of this forum is to discuss subjects related to reptiles and amphibians and to make information about this subject available, without any guarantee about the accuracy of such information.
You understand that in no way this forum may be intended as a site where the official positions of the WSPCR are expressed. You understand that in no way this forum may be intended as an efficient communication tool of the WSPCR, because it cannot reach all of the WSPCR members. And you understand that in no way discussions, statements or announcements made on this forum may be intended as a substitute or equivalent of discussions, statements or announcements that take place during a Membership Meeting of the WSPCR, or are published in the WSPCR Newsletter or on the WSPCR website.
You acknowledge and agree that attempting to represent this forum as what it is not, or attempting to use it as something that it explicitly is not (for example by conducting business reserved for a General Meeting of the WSPCR) is a violation of these Terms.
CONTENT
You understand that all postings, messages, text, files, images, photos, or other materials ("Content") posted on, transmitted through, or linked from the WSPCR forum, are the sole responsibility of the person from whom such Content originated.
You are entirely responsible for all Content that you post, email or otherwise make available via the WSPCR forum.
You understand that the WSPCR does not control, and is not responsible for Content made available through the WSPCR forum, and that by using the WSPCR forum, you may be exposed to Content that is offensive, indecent, inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise objectionable. You agree that you must evaluate, and bear all risks associated with, the use of any Content, that you may not rely on said Content, and that under no circumstances will the WSPCR be liable in any way for any Content or for any loss or damage of any kind incurred as a result of the use of any Content posted, emailed or otherwise made available via the WSPCR forum.
You acknowledge that the WSPCR does not pre-screen or approve Content, but that the WSPCR shall have the right (but not the obligation) in its sole discretion to refuse, delete or move any Content that is available via the WSPCR forum, for violating the letter or spirit of the Terms or for any other reason.
You acknowledge and agree that the WSPCR may, in its sole discretion, preserve or disclose Content, as well as email addresses, IP addresses, timestamps, and other user information, if required to do so by law or in the good faith belief that such preservation or disclosure is reasonably necessary to: comply with legal process; enforce the Terms; respond to claims that any Content violates the rights of third-parties; or protect the rights, property, or personal safety of the WSPCR, its users or the general public.
CONDUCT
You agree not to post, email, or otherwise make available through the WSPCR forum, Content that:
- is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, pornographic, libelous, or invasive of another's privacy
- harms minors in any way
- harasses, degrades, intimidates or is hateful toward an individual or group of individuals on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, or disability
- contains advertisements like spam, junk mail, chain letters, etc, or links to such.
- infringes any patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright or other proprietary rights.
- constitutes abuse as per the definition given in these Terms Of Use.
LIMITATIONS ON USE
You acknowledge that the WSPCR establishes limits concerning use of the WSPCR forum, including the retention period of the Content, and size limits on postings, email messages, or other Content that may be transmitted or stored by the WSPCR forum. You agree that the WSPCR has no responsibility or liability for the deletion or failure to store any Content maintained or transmitted by the WSPCR forum.
You acknowledge that the WSPCR reserves the right at any time to modify or discontinue the WSPCR forum (or any part thereof) with or without notice, and that the WSPCR shall not be liable to you or to any third party for any modification, suspension or discontinuance of the WSPCR forum.
You agree that the WSPCR, at its sole discretion, may delete your profile, block your email or IP address, or otherwise terminate your access to or use of the WSPCR forum (or any part thereof), immediately and without notice, and remove and discard any Content within the WSPCR forum, for any reason, including, without limitation, if the WSPCR believes that you have acted inconsistently with the letter or spirit of the Terms.
Specifically, you understand that the WSPCR limits the discussion of WSPCR internal affairs to the WSPCR Members section of the forum and you acknowledge that discussing these affairs in the section accessible to the general public constitutes a violation of these Terms.
Moreover, you agree that the WSPCR may relocate any Content within the WSPCR forum, or change its original subject, if the WSPCR believes that it has been posted in an inappropriate location or is likely to cause confusion if it remains in that location or with that subject.
Further, you agree that the WSPCR shall not be liable to you or any third-party for any termination of your access to the WSPCR forum. Further, you agree not to attempt to use the WSPCR forum after said termination.
ABUSE
The WSPCR reserves the right to take any actions necessary to rectify abuse and prevent it from reoccurring, such as removing Content, banning IP addresses, or using IP addresses to track down and report to ISPs.
Abuse is defined as any violation of these Terms including personal attacks towards other posters or the WSPCR, flame wars and trolling.
Posters will have their IP addresses temporarily banned for posting personal attacks, instigating or heavily participating in flame wars, or trolling. Posters will be banned for 2 weeks for their first offence, 1 month for the second offence, and permanently if there is a third offence.
Note that personal opinions are welcomed and encouraged! People should feel free to post their opinions (as long as these are relevant to the scope of the forum), agree and disagree with others, even argue -- as long as it is done in a respectful way.
PRIVACY
The WSPCR will collect an IP address and email address from every user who posts on the forum. All other information users may supply is voluntary.
The IP address and e-mail address are not visible to other users of the forum. They are, however, visible to the administrators. Therefore no poster should assume they are anonymous even if they do not provide any identifying information. The IP address collected may be used by the WSPCR to track down perpetrators in cases where these Terms are violated.
"Cookies" are used by the board to identify repeat visitors. They are stored on your own computer and are not used to collect information, track online activity, or any other privacy violating purpose.
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