Make Your Posting Policies Clear
By Troy on Feb 28, 2008 in community
If you run a free-flowing message board, or even a blog, you have to make it clear to your community just what behavior is acceptable and what is not. This is usually done through a “terms of use” or even a posted message called a “posting policy.”
There is nothing worse than removing a post or comment from your blog, and then having the poster in question rallying the troops, protesting that a post was deleted, crying censorship, and creating infighting and chaos on your board or blog. By adopting and posting specific guidelines, you will at least have something you can point to and say “this is the reason why.” This may or may not prevent a flame war, but at least you have something behind you.
What constitutes a good posting policy? That is up to you. I try to be more open and free in my community requirements, so my posting policy may simply state
- No advertisements
- No flame wars
- No “I’m leaving the board forever” posts
- No profanity
Simply, sweet and to the point. This will give you the backing you need if you ever need to delete or hide somebody’s post/comment. In the end, it is your community, and you have the power (and the right) to deleted anything for any reason (posting on your board is a privilege, not a right) – but at least now you have something in writing that you can refer people to.
Do you have a “posting policy” on your board/site? What does your say?
