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Discussion Boards

ASQ Discussion Boards Rules and Etiquette

Updated July 1, 2004

We welcome your participation in ASQ Discussion Boards. Our goal is to encourage lively and intelligent discussion on a variety of topics of interest to professionals working in quality.

ASQ Discussion Boards Rules

By participating in an ASQ Discussion Board, you are agreeing to abide by the following rules:

  1. No Advertising. ASQ Discussion Boards can be used only in a noncommercial manner. You cannot post messages containing any solicitation of funds, advertising or solicitation of goods or services. This includes (but is not limited to) posting of job openings, availability or position wanted messages.
  2. Do not post material that is protected by copyright, such as complete articles copied from another source, unless you are the copyright holder or have the author's permission. Fair use generally allows the posting of small excerpts. View the ASQ copyright policy if you have questions.
  3. We encourage lively discussion and debate but remember that disagreeing with an idea is different from attacking an individual. In that spirit, do not post messages that contain personal attacks against other individuals, including ASQ members or staff. Messages and materials that are defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive or illegal are strictly prohibited. Do not post anything on an ASQ Discussion Board that you would not want made public or that you would not want anyone to know came from you.
  4. When posting, please keep your comments consistent with the subject and purpose of the thread of discussion.
  5. Use caution when discussing products. Information posted on ASQ Discussion Boards is available for all to see, and comments are subject to libel, slander and antitrust laws. View the ASQ Disclaimer and Legal Rules if you have questions.
  6. The consequences of posting documents containing viruses are widely known. Therefore, do not upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any material that contains software viruses or any other computer code, files or programs designed to interrupt, destroy or limit the functionality of any computer software or hardware or telecommunications equipment.
  7. ASQ reserves the right to deny access to ASQ Discussion Boards or remove the posting privileges of members who violate the ASQ Discussion Board Rules and Etiquette requirements, the ASQ Disclaimer and Legal Rules requirements or other related ASQ policies. Members or guests violating the ASQ Discussion Board Rules and Etiquette requirements will receive a communication from ASQ and/or the applicable ASQ Discussion Board Moderator as to the inappropriate nature of the posting, which may lead to being denied further posting privileges. Should a second violation occur, the member or guest will be notified that any future inappropriate postings will result in the member or guest being denied ASQ Discussion Boards posting privileges. Should a third violation occur, the discussion board advisory group (members and staff moderators) will review violations and make a final determination whether posting privileges will be removed. Decisions may be appealed to the member ombudsman. Posting of illegal material will result in immediate revocation of posting privileges.

The ASQ Discussion Boards technology allows messages to be copied by others. ASQ cannot control this activity. While ASQ does not and cannot review every message posted on ASQ Discussion Boards and is not responsible for the content of these messages, ASQ reserves the right to delete, move or edit messages that we deem abusive, defamatory, obscene, in violation of copyright or trademark laws, or otherwise unacceptable.

ASQ reserves the right to deny access to ASQ Discussion Boards or remove the posting privileges of members who violate the ASQ Discussion Board Rules and Etiquette requirements, the ASQ Disclaimer and Legal Rules requirements or other related ASQ policies.

ASQ Discussion Boards Etiquette

As with any community, there are simple rules of etiquette that guide the group in communicating with ease and ensure a free flow of information:

  1. There are a number of ASQ Discussion Boards currently operating. While each have some overlap, select the one most appropriate ASQ Discussion Board for your posting. Should you receive limited responses, then post to a second or third ASQ Discussion Board.
  2. Include a signature tag on all messages. Include your name, affiliation, location and contact information.
  3. State concisely and clearly the specific topic of the comments in the subject line of the posting. This allows members to respond more appropriately to your posting and makes it easier for members to search the archives by subject.
  4. Send messages such as “thanks for the information” or “me, too” to individuals, not to the entire ASQ Discussion Board.