Focus on the Family forums or blogs exist to provide a safe place for fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, singles, students and ministers to build a positive community with one another. While it is our desire for those involved to discuss issues, ask questions, and receive encouragement, suggestions or prayer from each other without having to weed through the often offensive content found on other forums or blogs, we also realize that people often look to us as an expert resource on family-related matters. On occasion Focus on the Family would like to share our perspective via forum moderation. Our ministry staff and moderators can be identified by the Focus on the Family logo in their signature.
To post messages to these forums or blogs, you must register as a member. This registration is free of charge. By registering, you indicate your acceptance of the following Terms of Membership:
Joining our Forums or blogs or Blogs
For the Marriage Forum, you must be at least 18 years old to register as a member and post.
For all other Focus on the Family forums or blogs, you must be at least 15 years old to register as a member and post. You must have your parent’s or legal guardian’s permission to register as a member if you are under 18.
Registration
When you register on our forums or blogs we collect your e-mail address and member name. Periodically we may use this information to contact you regarding site updates, ministry events and promotions or a violation of these terms of service. However, we will never rent or sell your personal information. Please see our Privacy Policy.
Avatar/Author Icon/Photo Guidelines
By submitting a photo to illustrate your post or to use as a custom avatar, you are granting us permission to display the photo on our Web site. Please ensure that the photo is modest, was not taken by a professional photographer, and contains no information that would identify your home, church, school, or community. Photos should not include anyone’s likeness other than your own. In addition, do not post images that are copyrighted by or are trademarks of third parties. You may have two approved avatars at one time.
User name Guidelines
Our forums or blogs software does not allow for duplicate user names and e-mail addresses. If the name or address you enter is already in use, you will be prompted to choose another one.
To prevent a member from using another member’s user name, each user’s account is password protected with e-mail verification. When you register, you will receive an e-mail verifying the user name and password you chose. If you forget your password and cannot obtain it through the forum’s e-mail my password process, we are unable to provide it for you. Instead we will reset it and inform you of the temporary password so you can access your account and create a new password.
Using the Forums or blogs
Messages posted on our forums or blogs express only the views of the author of the message and do not necessarily reflect the views of these forums or blogs or any person or entity associated with them. Therefore, you agree that neither Focus on the Family, nor any person or entity associated with these forums or blogs, may be held responsible for the contents, accuracy, completeness or validity of any information contained in them.
Focus on the Family moderates all posts before they are made public. This policy is to help foster a safe environment for all forum users. Any user who believes that a posted message is objectionable is encouraged to contact us immediately by e-mail at [email protected]. Upon receipt of such notification, we will make every effort to take such action as we deem necessary within a reasonable period of time. Since this is a manual process, you are advised that we may not be able to remove or edit particular messages immediately.
You agree that you will not use our forums or blogs to post any comments or material, or links to any material, which is knowingly false and/or defamatory, inaccurate, abusive, vulgar, hateful, harassing, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, threatening, invasive of a person’s right of privacy or publicity, an infringement on the copyright of any third party, or otherwise in violation of any law. This includes disguising profanity through mixing letters and symbols. Any posts containing profanity or disguised profanity will be edited or removed.
You agree that you will not misrepresent your identity or impersonate another person, including utilizing their user name, photo, or other account information. The information you provide during registration should be accurate and current. You are and shall remain solely responsible for what is distributed under your user name.
You recognize that the online community is for public not private communication and therefore you have no expectation that the information you share is secure. You make disclosures of your personal information at your own risk, including but not limited to your name, e-mail address, and image. Focus on the Family is not responsible for the use or misuse of your personal information by third parties.
Also, you should be skeptical about information provided by others and understand that your use of any information posted is at your own risk. To further clarify, we are not responsible for and disclaim any and all liability for the opinions, advice or recommendations posted or sent by users.
We are unable to ensure that other users will comply with the Terms of Use that we have in place. Therefore, you assume all risk of harm or injury that may result from a lack of compliance on someone else’s part.
Links to other sites that take you outside of Focus’s sites are beyond our control. Therefore, we are not responsible for those sites or what they offer. We strongly urge you to perform due diligence before moving forward with any transaction with other parties. Also, we cannot be held responsible for the accuracy, legality, or decency of any material contained on sites outside of our own. In addition, you waive any claim against Focus on the Family with regard to content you give to third party sites, including credit card and other personal information.
If you purchase or utilize any of the products, businesses, or services advertised or offered by users on this site, you do so at your own risk. This is also true of any response to solicitations or contributions and donations.
Focus on the Family forums or blogs do not permit name calling or personal attacks. Posts that attack and/or disrespect others, Focus on the Family or Christianity will not be allowed. Disagreements will arise and we ask that they are addressed respectfully.
Advertisements, chain letters, pyramid schemes, journalism, personal research, marketing and solicitations are not allowed.
Focus on the Family reserves the right to delete or block access to websites posted by forum users.
Focus on the Family reserves the right to edit or delete any message for any reason whatsoever, at our sole discretion. You agree that you are solely responsible for the content of your messages and that you will indemnify and hold harmless Focus on the Family, Jive Inc. (the software manufacturer) and their agents and employees with respect to any claim based upon the appearance and/or transmission of your message(s).
Focus on the Family, at its discretion, may bar registration from any specific e-mail service or ISP or inactivate a user’s membership.
You agree that you will not post any copyrighted third-party material without the express permission of the copyright holder.
In the event of legal action arising from any message posted by you, Focus on the Family reserves the right to reveal your identity and any other information we may know about you.
Thank you for joining our forums or blogs.
