Here Media Community Guidelines
Last revised: September 21, 2009
Your use of our websites and services constitutes your acceptance of the terms
and conditions of the Here Media the Privacy Policy, of
the User Agreement
and of these Community Guidelines. You are responsible for reviewing and
becoming familiar with all of these terms. As a participant in the Here
Media community, you agree to act in accordance with the guidelines that
follow.
In exchange for your compliance with our guidelines, Here Media's customer and
member care team ("CMC") is committed to nurturing a respectful, fun
and lawful environment where lively discussions of LGBT issues are celebrated
and honored, and where appropriate action will be taken against reported
violations of this safe haven.
Adult Content
Individual Here Media properties may or may not allow adult content, including
adult photos. By signing up for any of our premium service(s) on our
various properties, you are certifying that you are 18 years of age or
above. Premium services are for adults only and may contain adult images
or graphic language not suitable for youth.
Adult Photos
Any member, 18 years of age or older, can upload adult photos to their
profile. If you do not identify an adult photo as being adult, we will do
it for you. You may also make an adult photo private if you want more control
over who can see it. We reserve the right to determine which of your
photos are adult, and to deny approval of photos that do not meet our
guidelines. For example, adult photos will not be approved if they depict
anyone who appears under 18 years of age, or sexual activities such as bestiality,
masochism, sadism or abuse.
What we mean by "Adult"
Depictions of the naked body, including individuals in sexual postures or
activities and sexual engagements between or among individuals are considered
adult. Every depiction that falls into this category must be identified
as "adult" by you, the user.
What types of photos are not allowed?
While we celebrate the diversity of the LGBT community, we do not permit
certain pictures that we believe would place our business and/or our members at
risk. The types of images or pictures we may immediately remove in our absolute
and sole discretion are:
*
Copyrighted images where it's clear that you do not own the copyright or have
permission to use; this includes cartoons and other images you may have found
and downloaded while searching the web.
* Pictures of children, including pictures of you as a child. (We realize you
may have the best of intentions, but in interest of keeping children safe
online it is best to avoid uploading any child photos).
* An animal in any sexual position.
* Any drug paraphernalia or icons, including "poppers".
* Any sort of nudity and/or sexual activity that you did not mark as
"Adult".
* Any pictures where an erection is clearly visible (clothed or not) that you
did not mark as "Adult".
* Any "scat" pictures.
* No "water sports" or urination pictures allowed.
* Any photos depicting blood or violence, including photos of guns, knives,
razors, etc.
Objectionable
Content
Member submissions that warrant further investigation and that are subject to
immediate removal from the site include depictions or descriptions of violence,
bestiality, incest, child pornography and any other objectionable violations of
law or user safety. Depictions that fall into the category of
unacceptable adult materials are ultimately subject to Here Media's litmus test
of violation, not the user's personal opinion. Here Media reserves the
right but is not obligated to remove any profile, including content and images,
which we deem inappropriate for a particular site and its viewers.
Don't Be Afraid
Here Media is a community dedicated to providing a conversational safe haven --
an online world where you can openly discuss the issues important to you.
If you are new to the community, participating may be a scary
proposition. But try it out. We encourage you to jump into the
conversations and see what a friendly welcome you receive.
Keeping Quiet Is Okay
Just like any community, at our various Here Media properties every member has
a different way of approaching new people. If you are not the forward
type, feel free to enter any of the chat rooms and look around, listen for a
while. While we suspect you'll be chatting up a storm in no time, we want
you to know it's okay to watch.
Taking It Offline
While Here Media is a place to make friends and acquaintances, we encourage all
members to act responsibly in choosing their offline interactions and in being
conservative in the distribution of personal information, such as name, phone
number and address. We cannot accept responsibility for what happens as a
result of a connection made through Here Media services. Here Media does
not conduct background checks or otherwise pre-screen members for criminal
histories, mental illness, etc.
Republishing Your Words and Images
As we are dedicated to sharing the best of the Here Media community with a
broader audience, we may republish your words and/or image(s) across other
segments of our properties and you grant us full rights to do so without
restriction.
No Hate Here
Expressions and/or threats of bigotry, hatred, harassment and abuse are not
tolerated on the Here Media network of properties. Bashers are subject to
immediate removal from the site no matter the status of your membership.
Support Each Other
This is your community and we encourage you to interact with each other
respectfully, peacefully and thoughtfully and in accordance with the law.
Below are a few things to keep in mind.
- Welcome Newcomers.
Remember what it was like to be new to the site yourself. When you
see someone new, welcome him or her and show him or her around!
- Don't Attack Each
Other. Always "cease and report" when
faced with a potential "flame" war. If another member
writes or says something that offends or irritates you, think before
responding! The CMC team is here to support you and we ask that you
report the member to us, rather than engaging hostile people. We
want to take appropriate action to keep a civil, courteous and lawful
atmosphere here at Here Media, but we need your help to do it.
While strong opinions and lively debate are welcome and encouraged, name-calling or personal attacks directed towards other members using our service is not allowed and violators will be subject to removal from the site. Please keep the conversation respectful of differing opinions, and carefully consider your comments. We urge members to work out personal differences privately. - Keep It Kind.
Hate speech is taken extremely seriously. It is a violation of our User Agreement and
will not be tolerated. This type of communication subjects you to
immediate and permanent suspension of membership privileges and/or
termination of your account without any right of a refund. In
addition, we respectfully request that you refrain from profane,
defamatory, or communications that otherwise violate the User Agreement.
If you feel another member is communicating in this fashion, tell us about
it.
Here Media asks that you refrain from using extremely explicit or vulgar
language. We do allow discussion of sexual topics, but we ask that
members refrain from using terms or words normally considered vulgar or rude.
Stating
your opinion and observations about a subject is appropriate in a topical
discussion. When stating a position as "fact," you should
provide supporting documentation or a source for your position.
Youth
Online
A vital part of the Here Media community is LGBT youth–those under 18 years
of age. While Here Media endeavors to build a single safe haven where all LGBT
can gather and connect, our safety standards require that we uphold distinct,
specific guidelines for youth areas of the site:
1. In areas designated for youth, solicitation for sex, intimate relationships
and/or offline engagements is expressly prohibited. Likewise, explicit
conversations regarding sexuality are not tolerated. Adults are
prohibited from entering these areas.
2. Areas that fall into the Youth category are the Youth Floor and other areas
that are labeled "Youth."
3. Youth are prohibited from areas that are not approved by Here Media for
youth participation.
4. Youth are prohibited from creating premium personals. Any premium
personal account reported to us that either has a stated age below 18 or that
has a photograph depicting an individual who appears beyond a reasonable doubt
to be below 18 will be immediately removed. No refunds for these accounts
are available.
5. Finally, if you are under 13, you may not make any submissions or
register for any aspect of membership on the Here Media network of properties.
See the User Agreement
for more information on this.
Be Considerate
The time and energy of every member at Here Media is valuable. We
respectfully request that you refrain from repeatedly sending messages, or
extending a single monologue, even with different ideas. In other words,
let others into the conversation!
Members that post commercial advertisements, including web pages that redirect
users to membership-based pay-per-use sites and escort services, are subject to
suspension of membership privileges, removal of content or removal from
community areas. To pursue a partnership with Here Media, email us.
Posting offers for sale of products or services is not allowed in any part of
our service with the exception of areas that we designate. If you do offer for sale products or
services, you must do so in the appropriate categories only in those areas that
we designate.
Stay Focused
A great deal of thought goes into the determination of topics and in the
interest of the communities that gather in those given areas, members are
required to stick to the topic. Area names and titles specify the
interests of those in that area. Please use these areas for the topics
they were intended. Repeatedly straying off-topic may result in the
suspension of membership privileges.
Copyrighted Information
Information copyrighted by an individual or entity other than the author should
never be posted or pasted within the Here Media community. In the event
this does occur, the individual posting or pasting this information will be
held responsible. Here Media cannot accept responsibility for this type
of unlawful communication. See our User Agreement and Legal Notice for more
information.
Customer & Member Care Team
The CMC team reserves the right but is not obligated to hide inappropriate
comments, messages and/or image(s), suspend members and block select
privileges, based on the standards set here and in our governing User Agreement.
Above all, the CMC team has complete and sole discretion in determining if a
member is complying with these guidelines or the User Agreement.
Ask Us!
If you feel another member is violating these guidelines or the User Agreement or are
uncertain whether you might be or will be in violation, do not hesitate to contact
us to find out for sure.