This forum may be different from other forums you've been to in that we have a lot of guidelines, and they are enforced. Because we want to create a supportive, safe environment, we err on the side of being restrictive rather than on the side of freedom.  If after reading the guidelines you feel this environment is not for you, that's perfectly understandable. However, if you decide to become part of our community, you are expected to abide by the guidelines. This doesn't mean that you can't ever question them in a respectful manner, either by a post or a PM (private message) to WoMDeb or a moderator.

The Message Board is Not Here for...

• No solicitation of any kind is allowed. Anyone who uses this site to promote a commercial product will be banned. This includes links in your signature, which should not lead to commercial sites.
• Anyone who is visiting strictly to save souls will likewise be banned. If you're depressed, we don't care what your religion is, but if you're just looking for vulnerable people to convert, you'll be banned.
• This is a support group atmosphere, not one-on-one therapy. No one here owes anyone else support. Anyone who tries to guilt another member into giving them help will be asked to re-consider their participation in the forum.
• Wing of Madness' purpose is to create a safe environment for discussing depression. We prefer to keep confrontation to a minimum; many of our members find it distressing. Therefore, it should be expected that moderators will step in on any topic that has become too heated or confrontational.
• This is not a place for heated debates of a political, religious, cultural, etc. nature. While we recognize that it's impossible to avoid conflict in a group this large, we prefer to keep it to a minimum. Any threads that get too heated or confrontational will be closed.

Usernames, Avatars and Signatures

• Each member is allowed one account, and one account only. Display names cannot be changed by a member. If you wish to change your name because you either don't like it or for privacy reasons, please contact WoMDeb or a moderator by PM. If your change is not due to privacy or security reasons, you will be asked to make a post on the board announcing it.
• If you're inclined to make your username sexually explicit, scatalogical or offensive in some other way, reconsider it. There are very few usernames changed by the admin, but realize that if you choose a username for its shock value, some members will be shocked and/or annoyed, not impressed.
• If your avatar depicts anything that might trigger someone (cutting, suicide method, etc.) you will be asked to change it.
• Image signatures are limited to 300x300 in dimension and 17k in file size. Although there is no limit to lines on text signatures, please remember that each signature adds to the time everyone spends scrolling through posts.

Respect for Other Members

• No personal attacks, for any reason.
• In this community, there is no "one true way" to handle depression. No evangelizing or preaching about any form of treatment.
• Do not in any way encourage someone else to commit suicide. Sounds incredible, but it has happened. This includes suicide pacts. This is a potential banning offense.
• Do not even consider faking your own suicide to get attention or sympathy. Everyone here is in a fragile emotional state, and a suicide has a devastating effect on the community. If you need attention that badly, please discuss your situation with a therapist.
• Never, never try to make other members feel guilty for how they treated you by talking about being suicidal or going into the hospital. You have no idea how this is going to affect the other members. If you feel a member has treated you poorly, please contact WOMDeb or a moderator.
• Triggers
• Non-depression related sexual content should be kept to a minimum. Some members are sexual abuse survivors. Discussion of sexually related side effects is permitted.

Problems and Personal Conflicts

• If you have a personal problem or personality clash with another member, please try to settle it between yourselves before coming to a moderator or WOMDeb. If someone is bothering you, please try blocking their posts and PMs before coming to us.
• If two members are having a disagreement in a thread, it should be taken to PM or email. No one else is as interested in your personality clash as you are and it upsets people.
• Anyone who publicly or privately attacks a moderator is subject to banning. The way to handle a disagreement or problem that you have with a moderator is to contact WOMDeb by Private Message.

Message Board Etiquette

• Don't SHOUT. Typing in all capital letters is the online equivalent of shouting. If you have any kind of disability that makes it necessary to type in caps, explain that if possible before the question comes up.
• Feel free to "lurk" (read but not post on the message board) until you're comfortable.
• No spamming or cross-posting (posting a message in more than one folder).
• Don't feed the trolls.
• Students, journalists, etc. - please do not use us for your research or articles. We are here to support each other, not provide you information. Please contact the webmaster at webmaster@wingofmadness.com for permission to post anything requesting volunteers. If you post without receiving permission, your post will be deleted.

Topics

• Any message that contains potential "triggers" such as self-injury, suicide or sexual abuse should be posted in the Trigger Topics forum.
• The Suicidal Thoughts folder is not somewhere to discuss specific ways to kill yourself and/or ask advice on how to do so.
• The Self-Injury folder is not to be used to encourage someone else to self injure.
• Off-topic messages (having nothing to do with mood disorders) should be posted in the "Off Topic" section.
• Religious discussion, excluding brief references, is limited to the "Spirituality & Depression" folder. Any messages that violate this rule run the risk of being deleted without notice. In this vein, no proselytizing (trying to convert others to your religion) is allowed.

Safety

• Use good judgement with information you receive on the message boards. Take all information given with a grain of salt and remember that it is not being given by a medical professional.
• For your own safety, don't post your phone number, mailing address or email address on the message boards. Remember that this is a public venue.

Crisis Situations

• Anyone who is severely suicidal should be encouraged to go the emergency room or to their doctor.
• Suicide prevention number listings: US: SuicideHotlines.com US/Canada/International: Hopeline
• Samaritans: Phone: UK 08457 90 90 90, Republic of Ireland 1850 60 90 90 Internet: http://www.samaritans.org.uk Email: jo@samaritans.org.uk

A good overview on how to behave on online forums is covered in this video .

And finally

A member may be suspended or banned for any activity on this board, or directed to another member, that in the sole opinion of the administrator could be viewed as criminal by law enforcement authorities, in the United States, the State of California, and/or any other political entity that may have jurisdiction. A member may be suspended or banned for any activity considered to be inappropriate for this board, whether covered by the guidelines or not, at the discretion of the administrator. In other words, if you do anything illegal or inappropriate that is not in the guidelines because it didn't occur to me that a reasonable person would actually do it, you still could be banned. Use your judgment, and if you're not sure if something will be frowned on, ask first.

Posted: Feb 08, 2009