BryceTalk Terms of Service
(or, How to Have A Happier Experience in BryceTalk)

Purpose

The BryceTalk module in Bryce4 is designed so that users of the software can talk with one another about issues related to the software, or simply to shoot the breeze.

These MetaQuette rules are here for everyone's benefit, and it's up to you to read them and understand what they're all about. If you have any questions about these rules, by all means please let us know. Once you start using BryceTalk, we'll be assuming that you've read and understood everything below.

MetaQuette Guidelines for BryceTalk

To know best how to conduct yourself in BryceTalk, it's good to understand what is taking place there.

Who is that on the other end of the line?

Behind a BryceTalk nickname, somewhere out there in the electronic ether, is a human being. You don't know anything about this person. You do not know whether this person is a woman or a man, a boy or a girl. All you can know about this person is whatever you see from the words typed in the BryceTalk window.

Likewise, the only thing that people know about you is what you type on the screen, the words that you use.

The result of this can be a wonderful thing--you are not judged on appearances. At the same time, it can lead to misunderstandings. Text on a screen has no tone of voice. It's not always easy to immediately understand or be understood.

Tone of Voice, Facial Expressions

When you are in a face to face conversation, you can see how your listener responds, and change what you say accordingly. But you don't have as much information to go by when you are typing.

Therefore an informal set of guildelines have evolved that help smooth understanding. Some people like to use little hints at emotion-- emoticons : ) (a smiley face-sideways) or LOL (which means "laugh out loud") or <g> (grin).

Rules

Please bear in mind the following:
You do not know what age your audience is--so please keep your language respectable. Excessively obscene language is not allowed in BryceTalk. We want this to be an area that is welcome and friendly for people of all ages.

No personal attacks --flaming. It's okay to disagree with someone. There are ways of stating your disagreement without personally attacking the person you disagree with. Keep the tone civil, and on the topic. (see the Dos and Don'ts for some examples)

No scrolling -- Scrolling is typing repetitive lines of text or symbols, resulting in the disruption of the flow of conversation in the room.

While we don't want to censor anyone here, we will have to take action if you harass, threaten, solicit, impersonate anyone online, or engage in illegal activities.

Your words are your own. MetaCreations will not control or edit the content of your messages. MetaCreations is not responsible for the accuracy or integrity of the message content in BryceTalk.

What happens if I cross over the line of proper MetaQuette?

MetaCreations reserves the right to suspend your access to BryceTalk if you cross over the line. We operate with a one warning system. If you violate MetaQuette, you'll first get a private warning via email. On the second offense, your account will be removed.

If, for some reason, we cannot reach you by email to deliver the warning (for instance, because of an invalid email address), your account will be temporarily suspended until we hear from you. Once we re-establish communication (including delivering the warning), your account will be reinstated.

What if?

What if you create a room name using obscene words?

MetaCreations reserves the right to close the room.

What if you repeatedly use obscene language in rooms occupied by lots of people, or people you don't know?

You'll get a warning, then if you don't clean up your language, you'll be booted off the system.

MetaQuette Dos and Don'ts

DO feel free to express your opinion

"I think that the moon is made of green cheese."

DO feel free to disagree.

"I don't agree; I think the moon is made of rock."

DO NOT flame, insult or harass

"You bozo cheesehead!" (flame)

"Anyone who thinks the moon is made of cheese is a moron!" (insult)

"I'm going to come after you and all other bozo cheese heads like you." (threaten, harass)

DO keep the discussion on the matter at hand

"Uh... say.. weren't we talking about the moon here? How about if we ask one of those astronauts who has actually walked on the surface."

DO feel free to contribute to the conversation, especially if you have something of substance to offer.

"I think that we might find some good information about the moon on the NASA website. Try http://www.nasa.gov/"

DO NOT advertise and solicit.

"Hey everyone! Go to this link - http://www.getmooncheesemiracleglow.com/ - to read all about Mooncheese Miracle Glow! There's a special on for this week- only $14.95! Act today!"

DO feel free to mention a commercial product if it fits the context of a conversation.

Other Person: I hear that miracle glow will help me make better nighttime images. So, does anyone know where I can get some miracle glow?

or

Other Person: Hey, I heard that you distribute moon cheese miracle glow. Do you have a link with that info?

You: Yes indeed! Here: http://www.getmooncheesemiracleglow.com.

Hints for disagreeing in a civil manner:

Try wording your statement with the word "I" in it. If you use words such as "I think" or "I believe" the statement will probably be more on topic and not inflammatory. Note: The statement "I believe you are a bozo" doesn't count. Yes, now we all know that it's your opinion ; ), but MetaQuette says that this is also unnecessary flaming. Please focus your discussion on the topic, not the person!

Have Fun!

Above all else, the BryceTalk space is for everyone- and these rules are simply here to "define the playing field" if you will. Come here to share, swap tips, images, ideas, stories, but please remember to be considerate of these guidelines and your fellow Meta-Community members at all times.

If you need to talk directly with a person from MetaCreations about any of this, please send eMail to metatalk@metacreations.com and we'll get a real, live answer back to you as soon as we're able.

That being said, enjoy!

©1999 MetaCreations Corp