Chat  Etiquette   

Striking Up The Right Conversation
 How to talk to people. Saying a nice greeting to everyone is the best way to catch someone's attention. If that doesn't work usually it's best to address someone with a question. For example, to ask someone a question you may want to use this format to do it and to talk to others the same way:  

At GrandsPlace interupting a conversation is allowed when people are just talking informally and you have a crisis or serious question you need help with.

Join an Existing conversation.
All polite views are welcome here.  Feel free to add your two cents worth to any conversation.

Do Not Yell
Using all capitals is considered yelling and offends many. Use capitals only when you mean to yell.

Don't Be A Chat Hog
Everyone needs a chance to talk. Even though your issues might be the most important things in your life others have the same feelings. Keep conversations brief and respect the rights of others.

Attack Issues Not People
You might think that the point of view being expressed is wrong. It's all right to disagree.  It is not all right to call names and engage in other insulting behavior. Just be sure you respect the right of others to their opinion as we respect your right to yours.

Be Aware of Trolls
Trolls are people that go to chat rooms to start arguments, incite discord, or lurk hoping to obtain information about our members. When a new member enters the chat say Hello, be polite, but do not discuss sensitive information that could come back later and bite you if it fell into the wrong hands. Wait until you get to know a chatter for that. If a chatter is making you uncomfortable please report it to the chat moderator. The moderator has the magical power to make Trolls dissapear.

Greetings and Good-Byes
Chat is like visiting with friends. Its appreciated when you greet existing members of the chat upon arrival and wait for members to say good-bye before you leave.

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Chat Rules

GrandsPlace Chat is intended for grandparents and other kinship caregivers to come together in love and support. .

We encourage you to be responsible and to respect our community as well as others participating within the community. Your conduct should be guided by common sense, basic "netiquette", and these chat guidelines.

We discourage any of the following activity that:

Repeatedly uses language inconsistent with the community standards that might offend others. This includes vulgar sexual language and language peppered with words of hatered and intolerance of others.

Impedes or otherwise prohibits communication; disrupts the discussion including, without limitation, using screen names is that are offensive to the Grands community. 

Contains highly explicit or graphic descriptions or accounts of sexual acts, including but not limited to sexual language of a violent or threatening nature, directed at another individual or group of individuals, particularly when unsolicited.

Contains vulgarities directed toward another individual or group. 
Depicts violence in a gratuitous manner, without journalistic or artistic merit, primarily intended to agitate or cause emotional distress.

Is intended to victimize, harass, degrade or intimidate an individual or group of individuals on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, race, religion or sexual orientation. Hate speech is unacceptable anywhere on the service.

Solicits personal information. Personal information includes full name, home address, home telephone number, or other identifying information that would enable "offline" contact.

Contains or facilitates the transfer of software viruses or any other computer code, files or programs designed to interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications equipment.

Contains material that defames, abuses, threatens, promotes, or instigates physical harm or death to others, or oneself.

Is illegal or incites illegal activity, such as instructional information on how to build a bomb and/or make counterfeit money.

Infringes anyone else's intellectual property rights, including, but not limited to, any copyright, trademark, rights of publicity, rights of privacy, or other proprietary rights.

Attempts to harvest or collect member information, including screen names.

Impersonates or represents any person or entity in an attempt to deceive, harass or otherwise mislead another member. You may not pretend to be an employee or representative of GrandsPlace.

Attempts to get a password, or other private information from a user. 

Links to and/or references content not allowed under these guidelines.

Otherwise uses the service in a manner deemed inappropriate
 

Note: It is important to remember safety while online. Always use caution when providing any personal information about yourself anywhere online. It's also a good rule-of-thumb to check the Privacy Policies of any unfamiliar or new web sites you visit. When communicating in a chat room be mindful that many people will be able to view it and the inclusion of information such as your name, your address or telephone number is never recommended.