DeafQueer Chatroom Etiquette

DeafQueer Chat is a place where Deaf Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Questioning and open-minded friends and visitors can feel at home, chat about the latest events, network, get support, make new friends and maybe find that special someone.

For the enjoyment and comfort of everyone in our chatroom, we ask you to observe the following chatroom rules:

1. Please treat everyone in the chatroom in a respectful and courteous manner. The chatroom is for everyone's enjoyment. Hateful, racist, sexist, misogynist, homophobic, transphobic, defamatory, libelous or ethnically demeaning language will not be tolerated. If you are being disruptive or abusive, one of our Chat Hosts may give you a warning and/or ask you to leave. Chat Hosts also have the ability to ban disruptive visitors from further access to the chatroom.
   
   
2. No advertising. Do not advertise products, services, other chatrooms or commercial websites in our chatroom publicly or privately. If someone tries to advertise a service, product or website to you in private chat, please inform a Chat Host. It's fine to share your personal (non-business) homepage link and the links of nonprofit organization websites.
   
   Not Okay: "Check out http://www.sidekick_pagers_unlimited.com for information about SideKick pagers." (This is advertising for a business.)
   
   Not Okay: "I was just over at gay.com chatroom..." (This is advertising for a chatroom, even if unintentional.)
   
   Okay: "Check out http://www.rad.org for information about the next RAD Conference." (RAD is a nonprofit organization.)
   
   
   
3. Please be courteous. When entering the chatroom, please take a moment to say "hello". When leaving, let people know you are leaving. While you may not be able to see the people in the chatroom face-to-face, you are still entering and leaving a room filled with other people. Saying hello and goodbye is common courtesy.
   
   
4. Private Messages. If you would like to send someone a private chat message (also called a "PC"), ask for their permission first in the public chatroom before sending your message. Wait for their reply. If they do not respond, please accept that as a "no" and continue to talk with them in public chat. Please note that some people's computers are old and sending a PC may crash their web browser. Not everyone has the ability to use the private chat feature. Please ask before you use this feature.
   
   
5. Please do not type in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. This is considered shouting and is also hard on the eyes.
   
   
6. Please respect the chatroom space that has been set aside for specific segments of our community. The Deaf Lesbian Chatroom, for example, is only for lesbians and bi women. Men should refrain from entering this room. Likewise, the Men's Locker Room is only for gay and bi men. Some rooms, such as the Lobby, are open to everyone. Please see the list of Room Descriptions for further information.
   
   
7. Chat Hosts. Chat Host screennames are displayed in blue. They are here to make your chat experience an enjoyable one. Please cooperate and abide by the decisions made by our Chat Hosts. If you disagree with a decision a Chat Host has made or feel that s/he has acted inappropriately, please feel free to let us know. Send your email to feedback@deafqueer.org.

We hope you enjoy the time you spend at DeafQueer Chat.

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