Forum Rules

These rules relate to our discussion forums.

Multiple user accounts
Please do not create multiple accounts on the website. On rare occasions when a second account is needed, please consult us first. If a member is found to have multiple accounts, we shall ask that member to select their main account and the other one(s) will be deactivated. If you feel there is a genuine need to have more than one account, please contact us - see below.

Banned/deactivated members
If you break our rules, you will be banned or deactivated. Do not contact us asking to ban members you don't like. By all means bring any issues to our attention. We will suspend or ban any member who, in our reasoned opinion, repeatedly disrupts discussion threads, insults other members or who calls the integrity of the website or its admin into question. Open and free discussion is encouraged, but abrasive, rude and insulting posts are not.

Members Only forum
We have a Members Only forum which is only visible to logged in members. You cannot start threads in this forum but you can reply to them. We will move any threads to this forum that, in our view, ought not to be visible to the general public but deserve not to be deleted.

Discussion of other websites
Any mention of, and link to, another website must be editorially relevant and in context. Any posts from members joining to promote their site will be deleted (unless they are within the other rules stated here). You are welcome to refer to and discuss what you see anywhere on the web but don't start a thread just to attack another website's community or a member of another website. We don't want to spark any animosity across the web.

Promoting your own business
We understand that many members run their own businesses or home-based sales operations and we don't want to stop you mentioning this. Please keep your talk of business, however, within the context of editorial conversation. If someone has a discussion with you about what you do, fine. Don't, however, respond opportunistically to threads just to promote your services. Anyone trying to fool the system by starting fake conversations will have their posts removed without comment.

Research
A lot of people join the forum to ask for help doing research. Bear in mind that if you, a stranger, walk into a room full of friends and ask them to fill in a questionnaire, you are likely to be met with derision. That said, we do allow you to post requests for help with research but ONLY in the I'm Doing Research forum.

Signatures
You may include a text link in your signature, but not advertising text. Anyone using their signature to blatantly advertise will have their signature edited without comment. Also, any links in your signature must be for your own site and not a site owned by someone else.

Advertising childcare services
You are not allowed to advertise your services as a nanny, childminder or babysitter on the website. Ever. If you spot anyone doing this please let admin know so we can remove the message.

Classified adverts
You may use our classified adverts to sell anything that is legal, or to advertise any service. We are not liable for any fraudulent sellers or buyers. Buyers should beware before parting with money. We will take action to block any sellers or buyers who are found to be untrustworthy or unreliable.

Insults and foul language
Our attitude to the Parents Lounge forums is that everyone is an adult and they should be able to hold a civilised conversation. When they can't, they should be able to sort out their differences. We will step in when absolutely necessary to remove posts, ban members or stop things getting out of hand but, be warned, this is a grown up site for grown up people who are responsible for their own actions. Anyone persistently using abusive language or insults to attack other members personally will be banned from the site.

How to view latest posts
If you want to see what new posts have been added since you last logged in, click on the text link on the top right, which takes you to here:
http://www.parentslounge.co.uk/forum/search.php?search_id=newposts
Also, if you want to keep track of favourite topics, you can click the link at the bottom of the topics that says "Add to Favourites". Then you can click on Favourites at the top of the page to view your favourite topics.

If you need help
If you are having trouble using the site, or have an issue that needs dealing with, please contact an admin or moderator.

Reporting things to Admin or to Moderators
If you see something getting out of hand or a member you believe to be breaking our rather laissez faire rules, please contact me via PM or email. Admin is stevieboy. Site-wide mods are Cariad, EmmaB and Zerosugar.