Group Guidelines

Because Doha Mums is comprised of “known mums”, our Discussion Forum guidelines are somewhat different than those of other online groups in which you may have participated.  Our focus is on providing a positive, supportive atmosphere in which members can exchange information and our guidelines are intended to help us provide this for our members.

1. What is said on the forum stays on the forum.  Do not forward messages outside the group. If you feel that someone has a "right/need to know", then please contact the Group Administrator. Violating this important rule will be grounds for immediate removal from the group. 

2. We take our members' privacy very seriously.  With that in mind, do not harvest members' personal information for business purposes, regardless of whether it is your business or a business owned by someone else.  Violating this important rule will be grounds for immediate removal from the group. 

3. Members may post anonymously about sensitive topics.  Examples may include but are not limited to marital counseling, plastic surgery, impending international moves and mental health issues.   Moderators may reject anonymous posts without explanation if they do not appear to meet the sensitive topic requirement.  Anonymous posts are entirely anonymous, and we have no way of contacting you to explain why your topic was rejected.
   
   Therefore, if you have a topic that upon first glance may not seem sensitive, please explain your need for anonymity.  For example, if you are looking for a high-risk obstetrician but you are not ready to announce your pregnancy, just explain this in your post.  When in doubt, ask a moderator or administrator - we will maintain your confidentiality.

4. Please use the Classifieds section of the member site to advertise your items for sale.

5. Own a business?  Please see our guidelines for advertising your business to the group in the Own a Business? page of our website.

6. When posting a negative review in the Reviews section of our member site, the reason for the negative review must be fully explained.  Out of fairness to the service provider, please do not list "contact me for details" as the reason for a negative review.

7. If you are offended by a particular post or feel it is inappropriate, please call it to the Administrator's and Moderators' attention checking the "flag" button in the message/comment.  The posting will be discussed amongst the Administrators and Moderators and handled according to their consensus. 

8. When responding to another member's request for information or opinions, keep your comments objective and constructive.  It is perfectly acceptable to disagree, but please do so respectfully.  While acceptable in other online forums, our Discussion Forum is not a place for snarky comments.

9. Do not post the following types of emails:
   

   • Jokes

   • Links to videos, unless they are truly parenting-related (e.g. carseat safety)

   • Chain e-mails

   • Spam - repeated copies of the same message or too good/bad/scary to be true e-mails

   • Religious comments or comments on any theological beliefs

   • Racial comments or any comments denigrating an ethnicity, sexual preference, country of origin or lifestyle choice

10. Members should refrain from any personal attacks or the use of profanity and should conduct always themselves with courtesy and respect at all times.  This applies in the general forum, TentMail (private messages), and personal e-mails arising from forum topics.  Please take the higher road and walk away when potentially inflammatory topics arise.  If you receive an inappropriate message, even privately, please contact an Administrator or Moderator rather than responding to the message.

11. Two Strikes rule - For the first gross violation of the Group Guidelines (as determined by the Moderators), a member will be removed from the group for one month, at which point she can contact the Moderators to be reinstated.  A second gross violation of the Group Guidelines results in permanent removal from the group.

12. No Drama.  If you are repeatedly disruptive to the forum, to other members or to the lives of the moderator(s) you may be placed on moderated status or removed from the group.  Members need not have received a strike for the No Drama rule to apply.

The Administrator and Moderators may (or may not) issue a written reminder to anyone who violates these guidelines.  Any individual violating these guidelines may be subject to moderation or membership suspension/termination.

These guidelines may be revised from time to time as the need arises.  Please contact the Administrator and Moderators if you have any questions or concerns.