This is really the ultimate rule for behavior on this board. If you have ANY question of how this might apply to a given post, situation or subject, members are encouraged to contact a staff member for clarification.
2. No profanity or vulgarity. We don’t need to be exposed to stuff like that. When posting quoted text containing words that might be offensive to others, please make an effort to "star out" the bulk of the word(s) in question, (i.e. "That guy said he was just d******.") When video or audio is posted that contains inappropriate language, please make a text disclaimer of warning, (i.e. "This video contains obscenities being shouted by the crowd.") Also, post a warning if a site you link to may have an inappropriate ad. In all cases, the ETRT staff maintains the right to edit posts or attach disclaimers as needed to protect the "family environment" of the board.
*(Zero Tolerance Portion of rule # 2.) No links to immoral sites, derogatory text and/or graphic images where the entire site is filled with nudity and foul language. Again we don’t need to be exposed to stuff like that to know it is there. We are told to be careful what we look at and what we hear.
3. No blasphemy. Do not mock our God, beliefs or members. Such posts will be removed. People posting such are subject to warnings and/or banning.
4. No non-Biblical doctrines. Teachings that do not agree with the Bible are not to be taught here. This includes, but is not limited to: Mormonism, Jehovah's Witness, Scientology, Christian Identity, Emergent Theology, New Age Theology, Shepherd's Chapel, Sacred Name Movements, Roman Catholicism, The Holy Rosary and Seventh Day Advent teaching.
ETRT is open to the Messianic Jewish belief, and welcomes such Christian brothers and sisters. However, we do not believe that the various forms of legalistic Talmudism (the belief that certain portions of, or that the entire body of, Old Testament teachings are a requirement for, or a necessary display of, the salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ) are Biblical.
Postings that attempt to promote or uphold these as acceptable Christian doctrine are subject to immediate removal. Members that post such are subject to warnings and or banning.
5. No trolling, grieving or fighting. Communications are to be handled in a Christian manner. Failure to do such can be grounds for disciplinary actions, including the potential of permanent banning.
6. No name calling or personal Insults. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
7. Do not be abusive to other posters. If you happen to find someone you don’t get along with, then just ignore them and move on. There is no need to fight with them just so you can win.
8. Use of copyrighted material. The posting of articles should be limited to a few opening paragraphs and the link for any and all copyrighted material, unless we receive notification from the copyright holder that it may be posted here in full (official Government sites are considered Public Information). Exception to this rule: If you feel the article is at risk of being "pulled" or "removed" you may post the article in its entirety giving full credit to the author. "Fair Use" laws will probably apply to most uses. Requests to remove copyrighted materials originating from the copyright holder will be acted upon at once. No subscription-based materials are to be posted without written permission from the owner of the copyright of said materials.
9. Hotlinking: Hotlinking should be only done from personal web spaces, or from sites designed for that purpose. There are methods of uploading files to the ETRT server that are available to all members. Feel free to copy and store such files here.
10. Attack the argument, not the person! All topics should be discussed in a calm and polite manner. No arguing will be permitted on issues of doctrine, rapture views, or politics.
11. Date Speculation. There is nothing wrong with speculation, as long as it is noted as such. Use discernment, as provided by the Holy Spirit, when discussing such. We may not know the hour, but we will most certainly know the season.
12.Other Message Boards/Web Sites.. We would recommend using good sense when quoting from other forums. When you do so, please be sure to give an appropriate credit line to the source. If another board requests a post be removed, we will do so as soon as possible, provided such requests are directed to a moderator or administrator. Links for other web sites are allowed. However, the linked sites must be in keeping with the nature of this board--if the linked site violates our guidelines, the link must be removed. Links specifically promoting another web site can be posted in one thread only. Multiple threads promoting the other web site will be removed. Links can be added to the member's signature, again provided the web site linked to is not in violation of the spirit or guidelines of this board.
13. No Legalism: Do Not Judge In An Unrighteous Manner. Determining that someone is less of, or not truly a Christian, are sinning, or are in error in their Christian walk because of a perceived lack of spiritual gifts, worship style, observance or non-observance of holidays, feasts or Old Testament ordinances, because they are divorced or remarried, because of their political affiliation, because they are experiencing various trials, or because you feel or believe that someone who confesses they are saved by grace through faith in Christ isn't, is not judging righteously. All members are encouraged to examine and judge doctrine held by other members in light of Biblical truth, but their salvation is a matter to be judged by Christ alone. (Jhn 7:24; Mat 7:1-2; Jhn 5:25-29)
14. Rapture viewpoints. There will be no arguing over rapture viewpoints. This board believes the rapture of the Church will either be pre-tribulation or at mid-tribulation/pre-wrath. There is scriptural evidence to support both of these views.
The Bible promises deliverance from the "wrath to come" therefore we believe anything beyond pre-wrath/mid-trib is not supported in scripture. We believe that the blood of Christ is sufficient to pay our sin-debt in full for our salvation. Further purification during the time of wrath is not needed for a believer in Christ Jesus, who redeems us from ALL sin.
If a person posts in support of one of the above accepted viewpoints, and you do not agree, do not post your disagreement in that thread. Feel free to start a new thread showing support of your viewpoint. But, to be absolutely clear on this: There will be no arguing (debating, discussing the differences in, etc.) over rapture viewpoints. Failure to abide by this rule, or promoting a non-Biblical (as specified above) rapture doctrine (to include the "no rapture" doctrine) will subject the member to warnings and/or banning.
15. White Flag. The white flag smile
is to be recognized as the "Time Out" symbol. This means that a person has been subjected to a post that has potentially hurt or angered them. If you have posted something that another member has called "Time Out" on, please take all necessary steps to explain and/or repair the problems. We are a family and a fellowship. Sometimes things don't get communicated the way we intend. This is our method for saying, "Please, explain why you said that." If there is a post that has caused a member harm or injury in any way, a moderator should be contacted at once using the "report this post" button. ( ! )
16. Inactive Members: When a person is an authorized member, but has been inactive in the forums for a length of time over 60 days, or if a person leaves under circumstances that might be cause for monitoring the account (fighting, unhappy response to a warning/temp ban, making or being made "uncomfortable", etc.) that person will be removed from the "Registered Members" group to the group "Inactive." This is done as a security measure, since an unused account is not being watched by the owner, and would make an easier target for hacking into the forum.
Members placed in the "Inactive" group retain all the rights of a registered member, but they cannot post to any forum except the reactivation request forum. Inactive accounts will have no private messaging abilities.
There is a forum area that is accessible only to administrators and inactive members, titled "Inactive Member Reactivation Request" (which will appear to inactive members at the bottom of the forum listing on the main index page.) In this area, inactive members can place a post asking to be reactivated. An administrator, when finding this, can ask the user for proof of ID, such as the email used to register, the ISP that they used to register, or even ask for a phone number to call and verify that this is, in fact, the original account holder.
As soon as the member's ID is proven to a reasonable level, the administrator will go into the database, and remove them from the inactive group, and return them to the group or groups that they would normally be a part of.
If they cannot, or will not, prove their ID, then the request will be deleted, and the user account will remain inactive until ID is proven at a future time.
17. Conflict Resolution. If you have a problem with another member that can't be solved person-to-person, with a post or thread, or with a subject in general, you should contact one of the Moderators for assistance.
18. Moderator/Administrator Responsibilities: To Protect Confidential Information. Moderators and Administrators confirm and agree, upon continuation of their position, that any and all information that is published inside a protected area is to be considered "confidential." At no time is this information to be in anyway published in an area other than the protected area. People that are not directly involved with the actions of the staff of this board might not have the full story behind the activities mentioned. This could lead to a situation where problems would arise based on faulty or incomplete information. This could lead to the destruction of the witness of the forum, or the members there of.
Publishing of confidential information outside the protected areas will be grounds for immediate removal from the staff. Continued violations of this rule will be grounds for termination of membership to this board.
Should a person be removed from the staff, said removal in nowise relieves that person of their responsibility to maintain the confidentiality of protected information. As such, publishing such information after termination of Moderator or Administrator duties will be grounds for immediate removal of the person from the membership of the board.
19. Retention of Posts, Reuse of Posted Materials Material not otherwise copyrighted and so noted in posts in which it appears will be retained by ETRT. These posts are fully available for use on other web sites, provided the using sites agree with these guidelines. Upon cancellation of membership by request or for cause, it will be at the sole discretion of the staff of ETRT as to what posts are retained and what posts are removed. Full consideration will be given to removal requests, but ETRT staff will have final determination authority in this and related matters.
20: All communications to Administrators and Moderators should be done in a respectful manner. It is our job to enforce the rules of the board. Moderator or Administrator bad-mouthing will not be tolerated.
Policy for breaking board rules:
3 Strikes, you're out:
Each rule violation will result in a formal warning/infraction. You will receive a Private Message from a moderator informing you of a board rule violation, let you know that you have received a formal warning, and will include your post along with the rule that was violated.
Each formal warning/infraction will be active for 6 months.
If you receive 2 warnings within 6 months from the time of your 1st warning, your next violation will result in a permanent ban from the board.
Zero Tolerance:
Four (4), of the board's rules have a Zero Tolerance policy, which will result in immediate permanent banning from the board. Those rules are:
* The 2nd (last) paragraph of rule # 2
* Rule # 3
* Rule # 5
* Rule # 20
Procedure for closing a thread:
We have established a method that allows members to have direct input in closing threads which have reached the end of their useful lives.
If you are a registered member in good standing (not currently under warning or ban) and you would like to see a thread closed, please send a private message (PM) to a mod or admin.
The mod or admin will post a comment in the thread in question, along the following lines:It has been suggested that this thread has reached the end of it's useful life. Does any member wish to have this thread closed?
Any member at this point can simply post "Yes", if they want to start the proceedings to remove the thread.
The mod will, upon seeing a "Yes", post a message looking for a second (or more) to be in agreement.
If any member wishes to second the request, they should post something as simple as a "Yes".
If two or more members agree that the thread should be closed within a reasonable time (about 24 hours), then the thread will be locked.
If within the reasonable time there has not been two or more members agree that the thread should be closed, it will remain open.
We respectfully request that if this question is put to the fellowship members, and the thread remains open, please do not ask again for at least 1 day.
This is based on the Biblical principle found in 2 Cor. 13:1, second part of the verse:This [is] the third [time] I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.
This allows the members of this fellowship to be active participants in the oversight of the forums. By following an orderly, peaceful process, we set a witness to the world that we behave as Jesus Christ would desire us to, for the praise and glory of God Almighty.
As a side note: To be considered "in good standing" means a) no warnings/bans against that person, b) a regular poster with a history of forum interaction that has followed the Guidelines and Rule #1, c) with no traces back to any group, organization or entity that may be "wolf" in nature. If someone attempting to close a thread falls into one or more of these descriptions, the mod/admin may seek guidance from other members by PM, again seeking to follow Biblical principles for two or more witnesses. The spirit of these rules is to do our best to ensure that this board is self-policing. Mods and admins are here to help insure a peaceful environment for Christian fellowship, not to try to become self-appointed dictators.
This message board operates with a volunteer staff. Because of that, we can’t read everything posted. If you see a board violation please report it using the "report a post" button to contact a mod to report a post and we will do our best to get to it as soon as we can. We need everyone to help keep this board nice and clean. Thank you for your help.
And finally...
This is a message board that is funded by donations from people of like-mindedness to share their thoughts and ideas. We look at all of our members as brothers and sisters in Christ and as people we cherish. The ETRT staff do, however, reserve the right to edit or remove any postings that we feel are detrimental to the fellowship on this board, or detrimental to the witness of the board, as the board moderators and administrators see fit.
Please note: The staff of ETRT reserves the right to add to, or take away from, this list at anytime without prior notification so please check in every once in awhile.
On behalf of the staff and members of ETRT,
