Terms and rules

The providers ("we", "us", "our") of the service provided by this web site ("Service") are not responsible for any user-generated content and accounts. Content submitted express the views of their author only.

This Service is only available to users who are at least 13 years old. If you are younger than this, please do not register for this Service. If you register for this Service, you represent that you are this age or older.

All content you submit, upload, or otherwise make available to the Service ("Content") may be reviewed by staff members. All Content you submit or upload may be sent to third-party verification services (including, but not limited to, spam prevention services). Do not submit any Content that you consider to be private or confidential.

You agree to not use the Service to submit or link to any Content which is defamatory, abusive, hateful, threatening, spam or spam-like, likely to offend, contains adult or objectionable content, contains personal information of others, risks copyright infringement, encourages unlawful activity, or otherwise violates any laws. You are entirely responsible for the content of, and any harm resulting from, that Content or your conduct.

We may remove or modify any Content submitted at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Requests for Content to be removed or modified will be undertaken only at our discretion. We may terminate your access to all or any part of the Service at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice.

You are granting us with a non-exclusive, permanent, irrevocable, unlimited license to use, publish, or re-publish your Content in connection with the Service. You retain copyright over the Content.

These terms may be changed at any time without notice.

If you do not agree with these terms, please do not register or use the Service. Use of the Service constitutes acceptance of these terms. If you wish to close your account, please contact us.

Forum Rules

Posts are to be made in the relevant forum. Users are asked to read the forum descriptions before posting. Posts made in the wrong forum will be moved by a moderator. Users consistently posting to the wrong forum may be given a warning (see policing below).

Users should post in a way that is respectful of others. Trolling, flaming, bullying or abusing others in any way will not be tolerated and will lead to a warning and their post will be removed.

Users are asked to not act as "back seat moderators". If users note an issue which contravenes something in this policy document they are welcome to bring it to the attention of a member of the Website Committee, BOD, or Officer. Users who consistently "act" as moderators may be warned.

Users should remember this board is aimed at a general Jeep audience. Posting profanity, pornographic or generally offensive text, images, links, etc. will not be tolerated and will lead to a warning and their post will be removed.

Users are asked to respect the copyright of other users, sites, media, etc. Users linking to or re-printing material without permission will receive a warning and their post will be removed.

Users should post in a way which is consistent with "normal writing". That is users should not post excessive numbers of emoticons, large, small or colored text, etc. Similarly users should not SHOUT or use excessive punctuation (e.g. ! and ?) in topic titles or posts. Users consistently abusing this will be warned.

Users are welcome to use the test forum for general "test purposes". These may include checking signatures, testing a link or image, etc. (subject to previous points on decency, etc.). Users posting in the test forum just to increase their post counts will be warned.

Spam is not tolerated here under any circumstance. Users posting spam will be warned and their post removed. If the user's sole purpose on the forum is to spam, their account will immediately be banned.

The Website Committee reserves the right to edit or remove any post at any time. The determination of what is construed as indecent, vulgar, spam, etc. as noted in these points is up to the Website Committee and not users. Questions concerning their actions can be addressed to them via email or personal message. Any post made regarding actions taken will be removed.

The above forum rules where applicable also apply to private messaging. Abuse of the private messaging system may lead to warnings (as above) and/or the revocation of private messaging. Also use of the private messaging system is for 'private' discussions between parties. At no time should private messages be quoted in the public or private forums, unless permission has been obtained from all parties involved.

Signatures

Text sizes should be between 9 and 12 (small and normal). Text in signatures is subject to the same conditions as posts with respect decency, emoticons, etc.

Links are permitted in signatures. Such links may be made to non-Nova Jeepers material, commercial ventures, etc. Links are included within the text and image limits above. Links to offensive sites may be subject to removal.

Animations that do not exceed standard sig limitations are allowed on a temporary basis and subject to review, and may be removed by the Website Committee. Users abusing these rules will be warned

Avatars

Users are permitted to utilize a gallery avatar or to link to one of their own. User defined avatars may not contain images which attempts to portray the user as having an official status here (e.g. mimicking ranks).

Avatars are subject to the same conditions as posts with respect decency, etc.

Policing

Northern Virginia Jeepers Association operates a warning based policy for all forum users and club members. Continued display on the forum of prohibited behavior will result in actions by the Website Committee, Officers, or BOD.

For inappropriate content, behavior, language, and inappropriate advertising/spam offending individuals will receive a single "warning point" that expires 5 years after the warning is issued. As warnings accumulate, the following actions will be taken: After a single warning, a message will be sent to the offending individual outlining the inappropriate behavior and notifying that a warning has been issued. After 2 warnings, a two week temporary ban will be automatically applied After 3 warnings, a one month temporary ban will be automatically applied After 4 warnings, a permanent ban will be automatically applied

Arguing with, or posting regarding a received warning will lead to an immediate additional strike. Should this exceed to the third strike a temporary ban will be put in place immediately and the User Account will go under review.

Users who feel they have been unfairly warned are welcome to contact the relevant persons by personal message. If they feel you were treated badly they may remove a warning. If you feel their decision is also unfair you may contact an Officer. Their decision is final. Contacting Officers over warning matters should be done so as a very last resort.

Any attempt to circumvent a temporary ban will lead to that ban being made permanent. Circumvention includes re-registering under a non-banned username, changing IP addresses to evade an IP ban, or registering a new email account of evade an email ban. Circumvention also includes posting as another user.

An exception to the three strike rule applies when users contact Website Committee members, Officers, or a member of the Board of Directors personally (via any method) and post insulting, indecent or vulgar material. Such users may be subject to an immediate and/or permanent ban.

Permanent bans are a last resort and thought is given before implementing them. A permanent ban will be decided based off a vote by the Board of Directors, Officers, Website Committee and/or all three depending on user's access.