MESSAGE BOARD AND CHAT GUIDELINES
Followed by
DISCLAIMERS & PRIVACY DISCLAIMERS
Introduction
Thank you for your interest in the MSWorld®, Inc., message boards and chat. The purpose of the message boards and chat is to provide a safe forum for people with MS, and those who love them, to share ideas and help each other cope with the challenges of living with Multiple Sclerosis. We welcome those who believe that they might have MS and those whose illness mimics the symptoms of MS.
Registration
It is necessary to register in order to use the message boards or chat. We highly recommend that you use a nickname and not your real name as your user name for your own privacy. You will receive a confirmation e-mail and must reply to it or you will not be able to post.
When registering on MSWorld, the use of multiple registrations is prohibited and if our staff notices them we will take appropriate action to fix it. This might involve deleting or merging of all accounts and threads, to deletion of the accounts with lthe east amount of threads and posts or activity. If you run into a problem such as, a forgotten password or a technical issue, please be patient and send an e-mail to technicalsupport@msworld.org and let us fix it for you. This is more efficient than re-registering more than once to fix it yourself.
If you have multiple family members who use MSWorld, it is fine for them to have separate accounts. Please keep in mind that our software requires a different e-mail for each account. We currently do not use one registration per IP address and hope never need to.
Please make sure that your e-mail program will accept e-mail from msworld.org and that it will not send it to your junk/spam mail folder.
If you do not wish to change the settings on your e-mail program, please check your junk/spam mail folder to ensure that you do not miss the e-mail.
For information on registration, click this link: One time registration.
GUIDELINES FOR MSWORLD CHAT AND THE MESSAGE BOARDS
OVERVIEW:
The MSWorld guidelines have been developed to inform members of behavior that is and is not permissible in chat and on the message boards. These rules are designed to promote a forum in which exchanges of ideas and information may be made in a manner that respects other members, their ideas, and the rights of others.
Please note: all chat conversations are recorded 24/7 and reviewed & the message board threads and posts are fully moderated before publicly posted.
Chat Moderators and the Message Board Management enforce the guidelines. Chat Moderators and Board Moderators reserve the right to permanently ban someone from MSWorld for failure to follow the guidelines or for behavior that is not conducive to or creates a distraction from MSWorld's overall mission and purpose.
Chat and Board Moderator's determination on banning someone from the forum is final and not open to discussion. Additionally, Chat and Board Moderator's determination of what is appropriate, inappropriate, or a distraction in this forum is not open to discussion.
Members are reminded that Chat and the Message Board Moderators are volunteers who are also living with MS. Personal attacks on Chat and Board Moderators will not be tolerated. Questioning or discussing the moderation of chat or the message board in those forums will not be tolerated; posts on the message board that violate this will be removed.
If you do not understand something about how chat is moderated, please ask by a private conversation with the chat moderators or by e-mail to
chat@msworld.org.
If you do not understand something about how the message board is moderated, please ask Board Management by e-mail to
boardmoderators@msworld.org.
GUIDELINES:
1. HARASSMENT AND PERSONAL ATTACKS: Harassment and personal attacks on another member are strictly forbidden. This includes attacks on Chat and Board Moderators or on the moderation of chat or the message boards. Everyone is entitled to his/her opinion. You may disagree with that person, but you may not attack them or harass him/her based on that opinion. For example, you may say that someone's idea or opinion is the stupidest thing that you have ever heard, but you may not call that person stupid for saying it.
2. PERSONAL INFORMATION: Do not post personal e-mail addresses, phone numbers, addresses, or instant messenger identifications/names. They may be placed in your profile at your own risk.
3. URLs: There no longer will be hyperlinks to posted URLs. Posting website addresses (URLs) of reputable medical, professional, news, and government sources will be allowed. Cutting and pasting of information from another site is not allowed. Please use a URL to direct users to this information or ask a member to check your profile for contact information.
4. USE OF PROFANITY AND PORNOGRAPHIC/SEXUAL REFERENCES: Profanity is not allowed in chat or on the message board. Disguised profanity is also prohibited. Descriptive sexual conversation which has nothing to do with MS is prohibited. Pornographic material and URLs are also prohibited. Please remember that MSWorld is “G” rated. This guideline's application includes, but is not limited to, avatars, user names, and user titles.
5. PREJUDICIAL REMARKS: Posting prejudicial statements, comments, or remarks relating to racial or ethnic background, religion, sex, or sexual orientation in chat or on the message board is strictly prohibited.
6. In the same light, arguing about politics and religion is prohibited. Discussion and disagreeing is allowed. Moderators and Chat Hosts have the authority to determine when the discussion has turned to negative argument(s).
7. SELLING ITEMS AND SOLICITING MEMBERS: Posting or offering items for sale is not allowed. Sales solicitations of members by way of e-mail, private messages, message board posts, or in private chats are also not allowed.
8. PRESCRIPTION ITEMS: It is illegal to transfer prescription items such as medication or devices for injecting medication to someone other than the person for whom the prescription was written. Members are not allowed to offer to give or sell prescription devices to another. MSWorld will not facilitate such offers and does not condone this behavior.
9. SURVEYS AND RESEARCH: Use of chat and the message boards for gathering information for surveys and research is prohibited unless MSWorld Management has authorized it. Please e-mail Management for permission. Posts on the message board that have not received authorization will be removed immediately.
10. TREATMENT OPTIONS DISCUSSIONS: MSWorld supports discussions of different treatment options for MS as long as they do not mislead or misinform or become solicitations, aggressive, or hurtful to others. If a member violates this guideline, Chat and Board Moderators have the discretion to: ban or warn the member, remove incorrect or misleading information from posts, remove entire posts, and/or close posts.
11. MESSAGE BOARD DISCUSSION TOPICS: Management reserves the right to close any topic or remove any post that is deemed to be inappropriate for discussion or which creates a distraction to the message board's operation, purpose, or mission. Management's determination of what is appropriate or a distraction is not open to discussion. If you are unsure whether or not a subject is appropriate for discussion, please e-mail boardmoderators@msworld.org.
12. COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL: Although this is a public forum, copying material from posts on the message board (in whole or in part) and putting them on another website or using them without gaining the permission of MSWorld or the person who posted that material is strictly prohibited. Any person who violates this may be subject to legal action. Just because this is a public forum does not mean that the material is in the public domain.
DISCLAIMERS & PRIVACY DISCLAIMERS
AND
COPYRIGHTS© MSWORLD®
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
MSWorld® Inc. Disclaimer
MSWorld®, Inc. Privacy Disclaimer
MSWorld® Inc. Non-Discrimination Policy
MSWorld® Inc. Message Board and Chat Privacy Policy and Disclaimer
MSWorld® Inc. Unrestricted Educational Grant Acceptance Policy
MSWorld®, Inc. Disclaimer
MSWorld® Inc. is here to offer a platform for people coping with MS an opportunity to gather information and share ideas and concerns. Using or accessing activities of this website should not be interpreted as a substitute for medical evaluation and/or treatment by a qualified health care professional. Participation in all interactive areas and use of resources offered is at the user's own volition and is not intended to provide or confirm a diagnosis, nor is any claim made as to therapeutic efficacy. Users are advised to seek the advice of a health care professional.
MSWorld® Inc. assumes no liability whatsoever for direct or indirect, special or consequential damages relating in any way to the use of information provided here. MSWorld® Inc. does not endorse any of the sites to which it links. MSWorld® Inc. makes no representations, warranties, or claims as to the validity, authenticity, quality, or viability implied of the consultation, advice, or services offered by the practitioners listed as other sources. MSWorld® Inc. does not engage in online psychotherapy, counseling, or any such professional service. While psychotherapy may be the topic of one of our chats, we are not engaging in the practice of psychotherapy.
Participation in group discussions is at the user's own volition and MSWorld®, Inc. does not make any representations regarding the content of, or effects of, participation in online discussion groups. All transcripts recorded by hosts of MSWorld® Inc. support group meetings are the sole property of MSWorld® Inc. and may not be copied, reproduced or printed in any form.
Selected transcripts from MSWorld® Inc. online support group meetings are edited and printed in the Past Chats section in the Communications section of the MSWorld®, Inc.website. All email addresses are edited from these transcripts. If you are ever in a MSWorld® Inc. online support group meeting and have said something that you want omitted from the transcript which may be put in the Past Chats, please E-mail msworld@msworld.org and request that your comments be omitted. Your comments will be edited from the MSWorld®,Inc. transcript and never be made available to the public.
No Personal Advice:
The information contained in or made available through this site, MSWorld® Inc.(including but not limited to information contained on message boards, in text files, or in chats) cannot replace or substitute for the services of trained professionals in any field, including, but not limited to, financial, medical, or legal matters. In particular, you should regularly consult a doctor in all matters relating to physical or mental health, particularly concerning any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.
Neither MSWorld® Inc., nor any of its affiliated organizations nor any of its or their respective licensor's or suppliers make representations or warranties concerning any treatment, action, or application of medication or preparation by any person following the information offered or provided within or through the MSWorld® Inc., site. Neither we nor our affiliates or partners, or any of their affiliates, will be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.
MSWorld®, Inc. Privacy Disclaimer
MSWorld® Inc. recognizes the importance of protecting your personal information. Therefore, we have put together a privacy policy and approach that respects and accesses such needs.
We define personal information as any and all of the information specific to you that you provide us over the Internet or any other channel. This includes personal data as varied as the information you enter into an online membership request, questions you ask via E-mail and any personal information collected during a survey. Outlined below is our policy in the format of frequently asked questions. If you have any questions or issues, beyond those below, please contact us at msworld@msworld.org.
When does MSWorld® Inc.
collect Personal Information?
When you request to be added to our mailing list, we collect your email address and any other personal information. We may retain this information so that we can provide the best type of multiple sclerosis services for our members.
After you submit your E-mail address, we add you to our mailing list for the purpose of mailing you meeting notices and any other pertinent information about MSWorld® Inc.
When you send us E-mail, we will retain the content of the E-mail, your E-mail address and our response in order to handle any follow-up questions you may have. We also use it to measure how effectively we address your concerns.
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MSWorld® Inc. has the highest regard
for the privacy of its members
MSWorld® Inc. will use personal information as appropriate in the normal course of our business to provide the services you have requested. We will send meeting notices for each and every one of our chat meetings. On occasion, we also send E-mail updates on services and other information we believe may be of importance or interest. You may be removed from our contact lists by sending E-mail to msworld@msworld.org with a request for removal or by clicking here to unsubscribe yourself.
Does MSWorld® Inc. provide personal information to external parties?
Absolutely not!
MSWorld® Inc. does not and will not sell or provide personal information to anyone for independent use. Any personal information you send us is used only as a resource guide by the officers of MSWorld®, Inc., to better serve the needs of our multiple sclerosis community.
Can I confirm that the information MSWorld® Inc. collects is correct?
If you ever have questions or issues with the accuracy of your personal information at MSWorld® Inc., please contact us at msworld@msworld.org. We will investigate your issue and update our records as needed. We request that you keep your information as up to date as possible so that you may get the maximum benefit from MSWorld® Inc. In particular, please make sure that you inform us of E-mail address changes.
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MSWorld® Inc. Nondiscrimination Policy
MSWorld® Inc. does not practice or condone unlawful discrimination in any form against members, volunteers and applicants on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or veteran status.
a. Discrimination based upon race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or veteran status is in violation of federal law and MSWorld® Inc. policy, and will not be tolerated.
b. Retaliation against any person complaining of discrimination is in violation of federal law and MSWorld® Inc. policy, and will not be tolerated.
c. MSWorld® Inc. will respond promptly to all complaints of discrimination and retaliation. Violation of this policy can result in expulsion for members or discharge for MSWorld® Inc. volunteers.
d. Action for violations of this policy will be the responsibility of the President or Vice-President of MSWorld® Inc., as may be appropriate in accordance with applicable procedures.
e. MSWorld® Inc. hereby affirms its desire to maintain an environment for all staff and members that is free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and free from discrimination which is otherwise prohibited by MSWorld® Inc. policy or regulation. Unlawful discrimination is completely incompatible with the values and goals of MSWorld® Inc., and will not be tolerated.
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MSWorld® Inc. Message Board
and Chat Privacy Policy and Disclaimer
Thank you for visiting chat at MSWorld ® Inc. website and our message boards at MSWorld® Inc. website. The purpose of our chat and our boards is to provide safe forums for people with MS and those who love them to share ideas and help each other cope with the challenges of living with multiple sclerosis.
MSWorld® Inc. is the official chat and message board provider for the National MS Society, and we are just as concerned about protecting privacy as the national organization is. We hope that parents will join in the message board conversations and be part of the experience.
Our Privacy Policy is Clear:
We do not collect any personal information about you, unless you choose to provide it. We will never share this information with a third party, or advertiser nor do we acquire information via cookies. We will do everything in our power to keep children’s & teen’s E-mail addresses and any personal information off of the MSWorld® Inc. message boards and profiles.
When you link to other organizations via our website, you then are subject to the privacy laws of the new site. If you have any questions regarding our privacy policy please E-mail us at msworld@msworld.org.
Neither by accessing this site or by reviewing its contents has an attorney-client relationship been formed or established; and nothing contained in this site shall constitute the giving or rendering of legal advice or be construed as a legal opinion, legal consultation or guarantee of a particular resolution of a legal problem. This information is provided as a public service, and is not intended to be a substitute for competent legal counsel. The information provided is general in nature and may not apply to your circumstances. Under no circumstances should you make legal decisions solely based upon the information provided on this website. You should consult your attorney before making any important decision involving a legal matter.
If you have any other questions about our privacy policy, please contact us at: msworld@msworld.org
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MSWorld®, Inc.
Unrestricted Educational Grant Acceptance Policy
In order to ensure editorial integrity, MSWorld® Inc. has adopted the following principles to guide the acceptance and display of unrestricted educational grants in association with its content:
1. All educational grants shall comply with the laws and regulations outlined by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) guidelines. MSWorld® Inc. will make any necessary adjustments to the content so that it complies with these laws and regulations to the best of our ability.
2. MSWorld® Inc. shall have sole discretion for determining grant providers and the display of acknowledgments. All programs provided through an educational grant will be recognized as such.
3. Acceptance of educational grants shall in no way indicate MSWorld® Inc.’s endorsement of the grant providers products and/or services.
4. MSWorld® Inc. will not knowingly feature any procedures, products or services that are harmful to health.
5. Grant providers shall not dictate the form or substance of any content appearing on a supported program for MSWorld® Inc. or any of its third-party websites.
6. All continuing medical education programs provided by MSWorld® Inc. shall be developed in accordance with the guidelines of the ACCME, including the placement of a grant provider’s logo.
7. MSWorld® Inc. shall be directly responsible for communicating and ensuring compliance on the acceptance of unrestricted educational grants and the policy.
8. MSWorld® Inc.'s policy on the acceptance of educational grants will be available on MS World® Inc.'s Web site at www.msworld.org.
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