The number one rule that is ancient, well worn and tried n' true applies to all things on IGUIBPA:
"Treat others the way you want to be treated."
Here are some other guidelines to consider:
1. GIVE CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE: Please make sure that if you are posting a photo and you did not take it to give credit by name or by website. Unless of course, you took the photo--then add to your post: "Photo by __________". Be careful of copyright laws.
2. PLAY NICE: It's important to remember that what you say on the internet follows you the rest of your days and also whomever you are speaking about. Rule of thumb: If you would not want someone criticizing your own mother online then don't do it to others. Your words are powerful and can wound or heal. This goes for speaking poorly about the dead. They are not here to defend themselves. Comments of this nature will be removed either by the moderators or yourself.
3. NO CAMPAIGNING: Although some topics verge on the edge of politics due to the nature of discussions on zoning, taxes, etc--we advise that we stay away from either critiquing or endorsing political candidates. Remember that a single entity/organization is not the devil or responsible for every ill that small towns experience.
4. PERSONAL POSTS: If you want to post about your dog groomer doing a great job or occasionally post about something you are doing in your professional life--that's fine. Personal diatribes about your ex husband or how your day is going ("I burnt the brownies, ran over my flowerbed, lost my job...etc) are better for your own page. EXCEPTIONS: You may gripe about the winter weather! LOL
5. NO FLOOD ZONE: Please keep your posts to a maximum of four main posts per day. Comment with either words or pics are greatly appreciated so do those a lot! Why only four posts? Because if you flood the entire scroll page with your photos, it does not allow other members to comment/absorb what is posted and also pushes out other posts on the page that others may have wanted to look at. So please, no flooding.
6. NO SELLING OR ADVERTISING BY OWNERS: Member are discouraged from selling items, homes, automobiles or products on the site, etc. Hey we think you are great too so thats why a few times a year we have IGUIBPA Biz Face which allows you to promote your businesses or website during those times. This keeps the site clean. The EXCEPTION: If you are a friend or family member and do not own the business then feel FREE to promote area businesses if you have had a good experience. Keep it positive and uplifting! We love it when the area of Bradford is promoted!
ALSO, if you are a business owner and you are willing to give all or a portion of your proceeds to a local AREA charity or philanthropic project then fabulous! We love Philanthropy, Charity, ect. But please MESSAGE the MODS first for approval!
7. KEEP POSTS ABOUT THE BRADFORD AREA: This is an hour's drive anywhere around Bradford. The EXCEPTION: If you want to post pics of Erie thats fine as long as there is a reference of how Bradford could be like Erie (more businesses, safe parks, etc) or how its great to live in an area where we can drive to NY State or parts of PA within easy access. We are looking to promote what a great location we are in.
8. YOUR KID'S FUNDRAISER: We love children. I even have some of my own. If your kid is selling candy bars to go to band camp or Disney Land then probably not the place to post. BUT if your kid is selling candy bars for uniforms, maintenance of a field or raising money for a local charity--PLEASE POST! This goes for 'online voting'--if its for a good LOCAL cause that's great.
9. CONTENT: Please keep it Bradford Area related or Pennyslvania/New York (close to PA) related. We get occasional posts like recipes, sales of fancy shoes, Funny Unrelated Youtube Videos or pictures of your Aunt Marg's trip to Bali. Those we will delete. Sorry!
10. THIS AIN'T AMERICA'S MOST WANTED: We do not report crimes or auto accidents or horrible deaths. We are not a journalistic news source although we report positive news on occasion. No searches for people are allowed on the site. We cannot investigate every reason as to why someone is looking for someone. We have to assume that there may be occasions where the person may not want to be found...please use your own page and friend base to search for old friends on facebook. EXCEPTION: You see someone on the site and say hello and connect. WE LOVE THAT!!
11. CONSPIRACY THEORY: You may think that your web cam is being used by special government forces, or you might dislike our current government (local, state or federal), or that Bradford is no longer where you want to live. Then we suggest you either take a current governmental role for change, volunteer community work or post your theories and political opinions on your own facebook. It would be like posting the New York Times editorial in Taste of Home Magazine. It does not fit.
EXCEPTION: Coming up with great, POSITIVE IDEAS for the Bradford area to improve its city and surrounding towns. That's ALWAYS welcome!
All our Bradford Area Best,
Kim Nicholas, Greg Dennis and Dave Ross
