Grounds for Immediate Post Removal or other action

Including profanity, vulgarity, hate speech, disruptive, or hostile comments, interpersonal disputes, or threats of violence in a post.

"Profanity" The prohibition against profanity includes attempts to mask or misspell words so that they are still recognizable, ie, attempting to circumvent the spirit of the rule while abiding by the letter of it. There is no automated vulgarity filter on the boards. Each member must choose not to type or paste vulgar words in order to abide by this rule. In other words: No cussing. "Vulgarity" includes references to bodily elimination.

"Hate Speech" includes using offensive or inciting language in reference to groups, such as:

• nationalities
• religions
• creeds
• gender
• sexual orientation
• age
• physical appearance or features
• other matters of such fundamental nature

The internet generally, and eBay specifically, provide a context within which such divisions no longer exist unless we bring them forward. It is up to us to nurture our humanity. Live and let live.

Profanity, Vulgarity, and Hate Speech are also prohibited in user ids. Please use the Report link to alert the moderation team to posters whose user ids contain violating language, and such members will banned from posting until they change to a more suitable user id. You may also with to report these separately to Customer Support, so that the user can be asked to change their user id for any further activity on eBay. Please be aware that you should not address posts to members whose user ids contain prohibited language, nor should you include such language in your posts regardless of where it is found such as in item titles or descriptions, as doing so may cause your own posts to be removed (the language is violating regardless of reason for posting it). In such situations, please refer to the member by the timestamp on the post or some other, non-violating method. Please also report such to the appropriate eBay departments using the webforms found in the eBay Help pages.

"Disruptive or Hostile Comments" includes derogatory name-calling and rude behavior. Courteous posting is expected of all participants.

Examples of violations include:

• making insulting comments to or about others for any reason
• aggressively challenging members for engaging in appropriate behavior such as using the Report Button or for posting a contrary opinion or offering advice that one disagrees with
• accusing others of being some other person, and telling members that they are not wanted on the board

"Interpersonal Disputes" includes both parties or "sides" in any ongoing disagreement. It includes actions in which someone may claim they were "only" defending themselves. "He said/she said" is not a defense. Debate about issues, opinions or practices should be conducted without rancor and without making negative comments about the individual with whom one disagrees.

"Threats of violence" means just that. Do not joke about this, as such references are treated seriously by members and staff. There is no tolerance for threatening harm to others. Making threats of physical violence may result in immediate Board Sanction and/or eBay Suspension.

-- Edited by johnb@ebay.com at Oct 7, 2011 1:26 PM PDT Reason: cleaned up formatting