Guideline Reminder - Be Cautious with PMing/Emailing

[Kizzie]

As those of you who have been here for a while will know, occasionally we will post a guideline reminder.  Today's is about PMing/emailing with another member outside of OOTS.  Unfortunately, as our guideline suggests people are not always who they say they are so please use caution if you do decide to PM/email. 

Off-Board Information/Relationships

Protecting the confidentiality and privacy of members at OOTS is paramount to our members' sense of safety and community.  One risk to this lies in using the Private Message (PM) feature or emailing in off-board relationships, and revealing personal information to someone who is not trustworthy. While building friendships here at OOTS is encouraged, the fact of the matter is this is the Internet and people are not always who they say they are.

You are not obliged to answer any PM you receive or to provide any personal information to any individual, no matter how friendly or trustworthy they may appear. If you receive a first time PM which seems inappropriate, report it and the Moderators will discuss it with the sender. Members are strongly encouraged to go slowly and cautiously in any off-board PM relationship. If you start having red flags or the relationship has devolved into something negative, please be aware that Moderators cannot become involved in what inevitably turns into a "he said, she said" situation.  What we recommend if you do experience this, is to: a) end the relationship immediately; and, b) block the person's emails/PMs.

[Kizzie]

Just pinging this as a reminder to be cautious with any invitations to PM or email as people are not always who they say they are on the Internet.  This is not to discourage any friendships that may develop here, just a note of caution about connecting in private and perhaps giving out too much info too quickly to someone you don't know IRL. 

Be friendly, but stay safe 

[Kizzie]

Just pinging this again and encouraging everyone to go slowly and don't reveal too much identifying info if you are emailing/PMing privately with another member.  We all need connection and friendships but we also need to be safe.