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NOTE: Fraudulent complaints received
may be copied to the account that is the target of the
complaint should they become excessive about non-abusive things. By mailing a complaint about a user that does not
violate our policies you agree to the user receiving a copy.
If the user is violating our policies, the account will be
terminated without warning or notification.
Table of Contents
Q: Will we terminate an account for
spamming?
A: Yes, if it is really spam. Our definition of spam is
lots of messages essentially saying the same thing. We judge
against the Breidbart
Index. We will terminate an account for BI 20.
We will not take action because a user posted something
someone thinks violates a FAQ and therefore has labeled the
post spam. We will take action if the user is flooding a
newsgroup.
If the user is posting a URL or advertisement:
We will take action if it is posted to many groups. We
will also take action if it is a commercial advertisement
posted to groups where the general topic of the group is
completely unrelated. Affiliate links count as
unrelated.
Q: Will we terminate an account for
forging?
A: Yes. If it really is a forge. A forge is not having
the same name, it is having the same email address. If a
user is posting with your email address in their From: line
we will terminate the account.
In extreme circumstances (it must be obvious and it is
our judgment that is used) we will terminate an account if a
user is deliberately spoofing you to cause trouble, but we
will first warn that user to stop.
Please note that we do not act on third party complaints
for spoofing.
Q: Will we terminate an account for
posting something someone found offensive?
A: No. Usenet is a global unmoderated discussion forum,
there is such a vast range of who finds what offensive that
there will always be something someone finds offensive in
this type of environment. The answer to this is to ignore
what you find offensive.
Q: Will we terminate an account for
using filthy language?
A: No. It is a subjective term that becomes even more so
in a global environment.
Q: Will we terminate an account for
trolling?
A: No. It takes two parties to troll, one to post a troll
message and one to reply. Both those that post the initial
message and those that reply are responsible for the
trolling. Nearly every time we have investigated a complaint
it is nearly impossible to tell who is trolling who, so we
do not involve ourselves in these situations.
However, if one of our users is in a group primarily to
cause disruption above and beyond what looks to us to be
normal for the group, we will warn our user and term the
account if the behavior continues. We support freedom of
speech to disagree, not to just be disruptive.
Q: Do we condone
trolling?
A: No.
Q: Will we terminate an account for
posting binary messages in a non-binary group?
A: We will first ask them to stop. If they refuse we will
terminate.
Q: Will we terminate an account for
posting child pornography or links to advertise child
pornography?
A: Yes.
Q: Will we terminate an account for
flaming?
A: No. Discussions often degenerate into flamefests on
Usenet when there are disagreements. We do not take sides in
a flamefest.
Q: Will we terminate an account
for posting personal information about another?
A: Yes if our user continues to do it deliberately to
harass. While it is not illegal to post publicly available
info, if it is being done as a means to harass and attack,
we will terminate the account. Please note that personal
info means name and address or phone, not name alone. Email
address does not count as personal information.
Please note that we do not act on third party complaints
regarding personal information.
Q: Will we terminate an account for
posting off topic?
A: No.
Q: Will we terminate an account for
posting racist messages?
A: No. One of the things we promote is freedom of speech.
Although many find some views offensive, it is just a
viewpoint. It is when that view becomes an action that
causes harm that it should not be tolerated. Harm does not
mean someone getting converted to that view.
If you are being attacked or harmed, it has crossed into
a legal issue, then you should be pursuing this in a legal
forum. We will comply with a subpoena for our logs.
There are instances, however, that we feel cross bounds
and we will act on, e.g., deliberately posting racist
messages just to stir things up rather than debate.
Q: Will we terminate an account for
posting against the charter?
A: For the most part charters are a guide, especially in
the alt hierarchy. We will not terminate an account for
posting against some FAQ someone decided to post as rules in
an alt group nor will we for posting off charter in an alt
group. We are more strict regarding the big 8 and may issue
a warning if someone refuses to abide by the charter when
the majority in the group do.
Q: Will we terminate an
account for forging approval headers or cancels?
A: Yes.
Q: Will we terminate an account for
excessive morphing to evade kill files?
A: We will first warn them and if they do not stop, we
will term the account. Please note that morphing involves
changing the email address. Simply changing the from name is
not morphing. You should be kill filing on email address,
not name.
Q: Will we terminate an account for
libel?
A: If it is proven in the court of law, yes. We are
unable to judge whether something is libel. Only a court can
judge libel. We will comply with a subpoena for our
logs.
Q: Will we terminate an account for
being annoying?
A: No. Usenet spans all race, age, sex, ideological, and
cultural boundaries. It is a place where children act like
adults and adults act like children.
This is why kill files exist. If someone annoys you by
what they say, ignore them.
Final notes:
If you have questions about the BI or feel that these
policies are unfair then visit news.admin.net-abuse.usenet.
If they feel something in our policies is wrong, we will
adjust it.
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