Forum Posting Etiquette

If you are new to forums, please review the following guidelines before posting in the SMPS Forums on MySMPS:

• Search the other posts (using a keyword search) to see if your topic is already covered before creating a new thread.
• Use a descriptive title for your thread.
• Please keep your posts relevant to the forum’s topic and membership.
• Post your message once. There is no need to double post or cross post messages as members may search the forums by keyword.
• When quoting a previous post, delete all but the relevant portions of the text.
• Text typed in uppercase letters is the Internet equivalent of shouting.
• If an unrelated issue comes to light during a discussion, start a new thread rather than posting   new issues in someone else's thread and interrupting the flow of the discussion.
• Do not post content that violates a copyright.
•   Do not post “empty” responses, such as “me too” or “lol.” Only post responses when you have something to contribute.
•   If you have a comment relevant to only one member, e-mail the individual privately instead of posting your comments on the forum.
• Do not post any information that you want private. Posts should not contain personal, identifiable information or content embarrassing to others.
• Refrain from promoting your services (or those of your firm) in this forum. Also, do not post commercial offers or promotions.
• Be professional. Personal differences should be handled through email, phone, or IM and not through posts that are displayed to the entire MySMPS Community.
• Report posts that you find offensive or inappropriate using the symbol that looks like a red triangle.
• If you appreciate the messages posted, take a minute to rate the thread and/or add to the reputation of forum participants.

The following are the rules and conditions established for all SMPS forums:

SMPS Forums are provided as a service of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS). SMPS accepts no responsibility for the opinions and information posted in the forums by others. SMPS disclaims all warranties with regard to information posted in the forums, whether posted by SMPS or any third party; this disclaimer includes all implied warranties of merchantability and fitness. In no event shall SMPS be liable for any special, indirect, or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever resulting from loss of use, data, or profits arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of any information posted in the forums.

Do not post any defamatory, abusive, profane, threatening, offensive, or illegal materials. Do not post any information or other material protected by copyright without the permission of the copyright owner. By posting material, the posting party warrants and represents that it owns the copyright with respect to such material or has received permission from the copyright owner. In addition, the posting party grants SMPS and users of this list the non-exclusive right and license to display, copy, publish, distribute, transmit, print, and use such information or other material.

Messages should not be posted if they encourage or facilitate members to arrive at any agreement that either expressly or through implication leads to price fixing, a boycott of another’s business, or other conduct intended to illegally restrict free trade. Messages that encourage or facilitate an agreement about the following subjects are inappropriate: prices, discounts, or terms or conditions of sale; salaries; profits, profit margins, or cost data; market share, sales territories, or markets; allocation of customers or territories; or selection, rejection, or termination of customers or suppliers.

In the event that any inappropriate posting comes to SMPS’s attention, SMPS will take all appropriate action.

SMPS reserves the right to terminate access to any user who does not abide by these guidelines.