Code of Conduct!

In this document, "we" refers to Chatway, "user" refers to you, and "chats" or "chatrooms" refers to our chatrooms, message boards, and any other method of communication with other users. "Standards" refers to the rules set out below.

As a user, you are subject to the terms of the Chatway standards, and other rules that may be published from time to time by Chatway.

Chatway is provided currently as a free service to users who agree to abide by the terms and conditions of our standards. Chatway reserves the right to change the nature of this relationship at any time. Users who violate the terms of our standards may permanently be banned from using Chatway.

Your right to speak freely here must be exercised with courtesy and self-restraint. When you enter Chatway, it is the same as entering any real privately owned facility, like a conference room, movie theater, restaurant, or shopping mall. The manners and laws of real life apply, and we have the right to remove you if you exceed the standards below.

When you enter a chatroom or use a message board on Chatway, that constitutes your acceptance of the terms and conditions listed below. If you do not agree to abide by our standards, please do not enter Chatway chatrooms or message boards.

At Chatway, we wish to promote communication in an atmosphere of mutual respect. We remind all of our users you are entirely responsible and liable for all activities conducted through your chat or message board on Chatway.

Here are our standards:

We don't tolerate harassment.

We welcome people of all ages, races, religions, genders, national origins, sexual orientations and points of view. We don't tolerate expressions of bigotry, hatred, harassment or abuse, nor will we tolerate threats of harm to anyone.

Because we encourage discussion and exchange of ideas, we don't allow threatening, defamatory, abusive, tasteless or indecorous statements.

We recognize that kids and teens need to have rooms that nurture them. Rooms designated for kids or teens have standards that, in addition to all other standards, do not allow sexually suggestive conversations or names. In addition, we do not allow rooms that suggest or encourage interaction between kids and teens and adults for improper or illegal purposes. For the same reason, we don't allow sexually suggestive innuendoes or double entendre. Topics dealing with human sexuality and other similar subjects can be discussed, but in an educationally structured and monitored environment.

We encourage chatroom participants not to give personal identifying information or passwords to anyone in the chatrooms. Users should be aware that, when they disclose personal identifying information such as their actual name, member name, email address, etc., in a chatroom, the information may be collected and used by others to send that person unsolicited email from other parties. We do not provide offer e-mail service to users and cannot act directly to prevent or stop unsolicited or harassing email.

We allow only legal activities.

Although this seems obvious, we don't allow any illegal activities. Specifically, we won't let you advocate illegal conduct or participate in illegal or fraudulent schemes. You can't use our chatrooms (channels) to distribute unauthorized copies of copyrighted material, including photos, artwork, text, recordings, designs or computer programs. In addition, we do not allow the trading or swapping of images that are sexually explicit, obscene or vulgar. Because there can be no way of ensuring compliance with this section, rooms titled for the purpose of exchanging or swapping images are not allowed. Even though it's not exactly illegal, we won't let you impersonate someone else, including one of our trained chat hosts.

Stalking of others, in our chatrooms or in other manners, is a serious offense. In many areas, such behavior is considered to be a criminal act. We reserve the right to release information to the proper authorities, because of a violation of our standards or because of unlawful acts, if the information is subpoenaed, and if we deem it necessary and/or appropriate.

We cannot guarantee the content of comments that you will receive while you are online. Other people's comments may be offensive, harmful or inaccurate.

While Chatway conducts chats on a broad range of topics, the Chatway staff and volunteer hosts do not offer professional advice of any kind. Hosts speak from their own experience and voice their own opinions when helpful for conducting a conversation. Chat hosts claim no professional or expertise or authority, and Chatway claims no responsibility for their remarks.

We do our best to encourage comfort and discourage disruptive communication.

Chatway doesn't allow posting or use of computer programs that contain destructive features, such as viruses, worms, trojan horses, etc.

We also discourage disruptive conduct: persistent off-topic comments in a topic-oriented conference, or the physical act of "scrolling" (repeatedly hitting the return key in a conference) all are considered disruptive.

The use sounds in a repetitive manner that disrupts the topic or conversation in a room, is not allowed. Users inviting others to visit web sites with content that would not comply with Chatway standards are considered to be in violation of our standards.

We do not allow unauthorized commercial activity.

We encourage communication between our members, but posting or transmitting of unauthorized or unsolicited advertising, promotional materials, or any other forms of solicitation to other users, in Chatway, except in those areas that maybe designated for such a purpose, is not allowed.

We encourage your participation in upholding Chatway standards.

We want your visit here to be enjoyable. If you have questions about Chatway standards, or need to report a violation, please email us. We reserve the right to immediately terminate or suspend access to our chats for conduct that we believe interferes with other peoples' enjoyment. We also reserve the right to amend or change these guidelines at any time and without notice.

Here is some very specific legal langauge:

Neither Chatway, it's partners, advertisers or third party content providers make any warranty with respect to any content, information or services provided through or in conjunction with our chats and our site. Chatway, its partners, advertisers or third party content providers are not liable for conduct by any user in chatrooms, private messages, profiles or message boards. Chatway, its partners, advertisers or third party content providers make no guarantee of the accuracy, correctness or completeness of any information on the site, and are not responsible for: (i) any errors of omission arising from the use of such information; (ii) any failures, delays or interruptions in the delivery of any content or service contained within the site; (iii) any libelous or unlawful material contained within user profiles or postings. As a user, you agree to indemnify Chatway, its partners, advertisers or third party content providers against any and all claims and expenses, including attorney's fees, arising from the use of chatrooms and our site. This expressly includes: (i) user responsibility for any and all liability arising from the violation or infringement of proprietary rights or copyrights, and (ii) any libelous or unlawful material contained within user chat comments, profiles or message board postings.

When in doubt about appropriate behavior here, remember that Chatway is an electronic world, but the people here are real. So, just as when you join any gathering of people, we ask that you treat others with respect and with care.