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Rules of Conduct

Revised on July 16, 2010

Executive Summary:

Using offensive language, either in TC forum postings or in e-mails to TC members, may result in termination of your TC membership.


THE FOLLOWING ARE THE BASIC RULES OF CONDUCT THAT GOVERN USER INTERACTION AND ACTIVITY WITHIN THE FORUMS OF TRANSLATORSCAFE.COM. FAILURE TO ACT RESPONSIBLY AND COMPLY WITH THESE RULES WITHIN THE TRANSLATORSCAFE.COM FORUMS MAY RESULT IN THE TERMINATION OF YOUR ACCOUNT WITHOUT ANY REFUND OF ANY KIND.
  1. You may not harass or threaten other users.
  2. You may not use any harmful, threatening, abusive, sexually explicit, obscene, defamatory, hateful, racially or ethnically offensive language.
  3. You may not impersonate any employee of TranslatorsCafe.com, past or present.
  4. You may not violate any local, state, national or international law or regulation.
  5. You may not modify any part of the Server or any part of the TranslatorsCafe.com Web site.
  6. You may not arrange for the transfer or exchange of any illegal or pirated software while on the TranslatorsCafe.com Web site.
  7. You will follow the instructions of moderators or administrators while on the TranslatorsCafe.com Forums.
  8. You may not give false information or purposely hide any information when registering for your TranslatorsCafe.com account.
  9. You will not attempt to interfere with, hack into, or decipher any transmissions to or from the servers running TranslatorsCafe.com.
  10. Copyrighted materials:
    • Posting. When posting any copyrighted material from another Web site, either obtain permission from the copyright owner or make a summary and quote only small parts (fair use). Always indicate the author and source (provide a link to the source). Certain public domain materials are exempt from this policy. For example, governmental materials or press releases that are provided for public use can be used as long as their authors and sources are properly indicated in the posting.
    • Use of materials from TranslatorsCafe.com Web site. Persons using materials from this site shall obtain permission from the author or quote the materials with credit to the author and with a link to TranslatorsCafe.com.
  11. Decisions of TC moderators are final.

Keep it nice policies

In addition to the general guidelines listed above, users are also subject to these supplementary rules while on TranslatorsCafe.com. This non-exclusive list provides a suitable foundation by which the users can determine what activities are appropriate.

  1. Foul language is not allowed, in any language.
    Excessive use of foul language in an unsuitable context, including racial slurs, swear words, and other language that is inappropriate and intended to hurt, will not be tolerated.
  2. You may not harass others.
    Harassment is defined as specifically targeting users to harm or inconvenience them. As harassment can be in many forms, the TC moderator involved will make a determination as to whether or not a "reasonable person" would feel harassed and act accordingly. If you feel you are being harassed by another user, please contact the moderator of the forum in question.
  3. You may not abuse other users or TC moderators.
    The following actions would be considered abuse:
  • Hate propaganda or hate mongering.
  • Sexual abuse or harassment.
  • Impersonating a representative of TranslatorsCafe.com, either its moderator or employee.
Note: This list is not all-inclusive. Other actions may be determined as abuse at the discretion of the TC moderators or site staff.

You may not post any material that:

  • Attacks or insults others on the forums. You may debate the idea, but do not turn your disagreement into an attack on the poster, or any person or group of persons.
  • Engages in harassment, name-calling, or threats. See above.
  • Contains vulgarity, obscenity, or profanity.
  • Defamatory of any religion, race, nation, gender, or sexual orientation.
  • Violates anyone's privacy or other personal rights.
  • Is off-topic for the forum.

Furthermore, you may not:

  • Post static and/or video images depicting blood and gore i.e., material generally considered emotionally shocking, disturbing and offensive. If it is necessary for discussion purposes to cite references to such images, this must be done in the form of a hyperlink along with sufficient, conspicuous warning(s).
  • Discuss named agencies and individuals in TC public forums. It is allowed only in the Hall of Fame and Shame Forum that is closed to search engines and general public (view the Hall of Fame and Shame Posting Rules).
  • Make numerous posts on the same subject for the purpose of getting attention.
  • Monopolize the front page of any forum by posting threads of the same or similar content.
  • Promote websites with content that violates these rules.
  • Advertise products or websites that are not related to TranslatorsCafe.com.
All of these rules apply to the forums as well as to the private messaging system. They do also apply to private e-mails sent to members as a result of a discussion on the forums even if messages are sent without using the mailing system of the site.

This does not mean that TranslatorsCafe.com is monitoring or regulating the content of private mail exchanges in any way, but that e-mail content regarded as offensive by the recipient and reported as such to the site's administration may result in moderators' action.

Actions that might be taken in regards to any post that violates these rules:

Persons who violate the rules of the forums may or may not receive any warning before any action is taken. In the event that a warning is given, the warning will be recorded upon the user account and may result in further action should the user show a pattern of engaging in prohibited conduct. Actions will vary depending upon the transgression. They could include any of the following (in order of severity):
  • Editing the post.
  • Deletion the post and/or thread.
  • Closing the thread.
  • A warning that is attached to a user's account. Any user that receives three warnings for bad conduct will have their account banned.
  • Suspension (results in the user being unable to log onto TranslatorsCafe.com and post messages for the duration of the suspension. Any subsequent warnings after a suspension will result in banishment).
  • Banishment (results in the user's account being cancelled. The user will no longer be able to access the TranslatorsCafe.com Forums).
  • Legal action (i.e. contacting law enforcement bodies in regard to a threat.)

Note: It is difficult to specify what action would be taken for which infractions, as many are situational. Let common sense be your guide.


Decisions of TC moderators are final. Any comments or queries relating to the editing, moving, freezing or removal of any post or thread by TC administrators or moderators should be addressed to TC administrators and/or moderators by private message and not within forum posts.

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