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YOUBOWL FREE EXPRESSION POLICY

What, exactly, is the "YouBowl Free Expression Policy"?

The YouBowl Free Expression Policy are the set of principles that govern the spirit and decorum of discourse on any YouBowl managed forum or other medium of discussion. Through the Free Expression Policy, YouBowl seeks to encourage a free-flowing exchange of thoughts and opinions that are -- at the same time -- entertaining, provocative and enlightening.

While not presented with legalese and other formal jargon, the Policy does outline guideposts with which individuals can govern and police his/her manner of discourse, thereby enhancing the user/contributor experience throughout the YouBowl Community as a whole.

Some general rules of thumb regarding personal discourse...

-- if it is harmless, honest, thoughtful or entertaining, then it is generally permitted;

-- if it is disparaging, hateful, inciteful or of little redeeming value or virtue, then it is generally not permitted.

A bit vague? Below are detailed principles that govern discourse on YouBowl...

1) REASONED AND WELL-INTENTIONED DISCOURSE -- Any and all thoughtful, opinionated or critical discourse, on any forum, chat or discussion throughout the YouBowl Community, of a reasoned and well-intentioned nature, are safeguarded under the Policy;

2) RESPECT FOR BASIC HUMAN DIGNITY AND STATE OF BEING -- Everyone in the YouBowl Community shall extend to others basic human dignity and benign acceptance of others' innate state of being under the Policy;

3) INDEPENDENCE OF THOUGHT AND EXPRESSION -- Within the bounds of reasoned discourse and basic human dignity, independence of thought and expression are safeguarded under the Policy -- no school of thought, orthodoxy or any other form of group-think shall undermine or compromise anyone's exercise of independent thought and expression;

4) FREEDOM FROM POLITICAL CORRECTNESS -- Within the bounds of reasoned discourse and basic human dignity, freedom from political correctness is enabled under the Policy -- no school of thought, orthodoxy or any other form of group-think shall implicity or explicity impose a "correct" manner of thought or expression, or unduly penalize an "incorrect" manner of thought or expression, at the expense of independent thought and expression;

5) NOTHIING IS SACRED -- Within the bounds of reasoned discourse and basic human dignity, no topic, subject or issue is exempt from, or beyond the reproach of, critical discourse under the Policy;

6) RIGHT OF ANONYMITY -- Within the bounds of reasoned discourse and basic human dignity, everyone is entitled to anonymity via use of a screen name under the Policy;

7) LIMITATIONS TO RIGHT OF ANONYMITY -- In addition to other appropriate actions, YouBowl reserves the right to limit or rescind anonymity, or to "out" anonymous individuals, under the following circumstances

(a) on certain forums, chats and other discussions where anonymity is expressly not permitted;

(b) where, as determined by YouBowl, that an individual is using the "cover" of anonymity to

      (i) engage in extraordinarily provocative personal attacks on individuals or groups

      (ii) engage in frivolous and/or unproductive discourse of little or no redeeming value to the YouBowl Community

      (iii) engage in provocative "call outs" to other individuals or groups without apparent intent of follow-up or follow-through

      (iv) engage in any other acts that are forbidden and/or not permitted under the Policy

(c) any member of the YouBowl Community, who has been the object of anonymous attacks may request an "outing" of the anonymous attacker(s), and YouBowl reserves the sole discretion on matters of anonymity rights and limitations

(d) YouBowl shall reserve the sole right to limit or rescind the anonymity of any anonymous individual within the spirit of advancing the best interests of the YouBowl Community

8) EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN -- Irrespective of the letter, spirit or interpretation of the aforementioned rights and entitlements under the Policy, the following actions ARE EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN

(a) any discourse involving any manner or form of explicit or implied profanity directed at any individual or group, or any manner or form of explicit or implied profanity possessing dubious literary or artistic value or virtue (safe bet: don't use any profanity, explicit or implied)

(b) any discourse involving any manner or form of non-construcitive personal disparagement of any individual (e.g. belittling insults, personal attacks)

(d) any discourse involving any threat of physical harm or violent acts upon any person or group

(e) any discourse conveying any intention, or complicity with any other expressed intention, to commit any unlawful act

(f) any discourse advocating, or inciting public sentiment in favor of plans or actions entailing, any form of sedition or subversive action of a non-constitutional nature (e.g. public incitement, coup d'etat) against any sovereign or chartered governmental authority

Simply stated..,

SAY WHAT YOU FEEL, FEEL WHAT YOU SAY, ALWAYS RESPECT OTHERS, KEEP IT PEACEFUL, AND NEVER STOP MAKING SENSE!