FOFP Listserve Code of Conduct
By subscribing to this listserve, you agree to follow this Code of Conduct. FOFP reserves the right to exercise discretion when determining violations and suspend or revoke listserve membership for anyone who violates the Code. FOFP reserves the right to modify the Code of Conduct at any time. Please send questions to fofp-owner@friendsoffivepoints.org.
General
The Friends of Five Points listserve aims to enhance the quality of residential life in and around the Five Points neighborhood of Athens, Georgia by facilitating communication amongst neighbors. The listserve provides an electronic forum for announcements, questions, and discussion pertaining to living in the Five Points community. Any views or opinions expressed in e-mails (and attachments) posted to the listserve are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Friends of Five Points neighborhood organization.
This is an un-moderated listserve. Listserve contributions that are posted correctly are sent immediately to members without having to go through an approval step. The role of the listserve administrators is to manage subscriptions and monitor communications for violations of the Code of Conduct.
Eligibility
FOFP maintains this listserve for the benefit of people living in the Five Points area, including residents, property owners, and the business community. Upon requesting a subscription, you may be asked to prove your association with Five Points. If you have an alternate connection to Five Points that you feel makes you eligible for participation, please explain this, and the administrators can use discretion to determine eligibility.
Post Reasonably and Responsibly
Use the listserve to engage in respectful and courteous information-sharing and discussion. When posting about potentially controversial topics, please communicate in a way that is informative and constructive. Your posts should make a positive contribution to the Five Points community.
Be Kind and Respectful
Kindness and respect are required. The following will not be tolerated: provocation, trolling, personal attacks, ranting, name-calling, bullying, sarcasm, harsh or uncivil language, profanity, or inappropriate attachments. No defamatory postings about persons or businesses. Degrading comments, especially about race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender, or identity will not be tolerated.
Use Your True Identity
Use your real name (the name you use when introducing yourself) when subscribing and posting to the listserve.
Use Clear Subject Lines
Use descriptive headings in the subject line of your posts.
Respect Privacy
Do not post someone’s home address, phone number, photo, or forward someone’s private or personal correspondence without their written permission.
Commercial Postings
Local business owners may share occasional information about special events of interest or emergency services. Occasional postings about personal services (babysitting, dog walking, etc.) are welcome. Fundraising posts for local causes (i.e. school fundraisers, local pet rescue, local arts organizations, charity walks/runs, local disaster relief, kids’ bake sales, lemonade stands, or similar youth efforts) are allowed. Requesting money for one’s own personal expenses or business needs is not allowed. If you are unsure about a commercial post you want to make, please contact the administrators (fofp-owner@friendsoffivepoints.org) for guidance/permission.
Items for Sale
Subscribers may post an item for sale on the listserve only once and may follow up with a post when that item has sold.
Political Discussions
Healthy debates are natural, but kindness and civility are required. Announcements and discussions about local political issues are allowed. Discussions about national politics are not allowed. We rely on every member to use their good judgment and restraint to keep listserve conversations respectful and constructive. Respond only to the specific opinions that have been offered instead of responding to or referencing the specific people who offered those opinions. Refer to the “Be Kind and Respectful” section of this Code.
Political Campaigning
Political candidates may introduce themselves once. Posting about voter registration drives, candidate forums, yard sign pick-up locations, and rallies is allowed. Posting about political fundraising events is allowed, but event announcements may not include explicit donation requests. You may not tell your neighbors how to vote on a specific issue or candidate.
Do Not Police the Listserve
Do not make public posts about perceived listserve violations. The listserve administrators monitor listserve traffic and address violations privately. If a subscriber sees a potential violation and is concerned the administrators have not seen it, they may simply forward the e-mail, ideally without commentary, to the administrators for review.
Violations
The FOFP board reserves the right to use discretion when determining violations and suspend or revoke listserve membership for anyone who violates the Code of Conduct. The FOFP board also reserves the right to modify the Code of Conduct at any time, without prior notice.
The FOFP Listserve Code of Conduct was last updated by the FOFP Board on October 24, 2020.