If gagged you will be able to read the forums but you will not be able to post messages of your own. If expelled from the forums you will be unable to read or post. Gagging or expulsion from one forum does not necessarily mean you will be gagged or banned at the other forum, however dual gagging or banning is possible. When a gag or ban is placed on a user it is at the complete discretion of the Teen Advice Guide and/or the Forum Assistants. Gags or bans are indefinite and can only be lifted by the Teen Advice Guide. If you have been gagged or banned and would like to have it lifted please feel free to contact the Teen Advice Guide with the details of your case. All people who ask that their status be reconsidered will be given a chance to make their case and if the requests is reasonable, show themselves able to follow the forum rules.

Please note; these rules are in addition to those outlined in the About.com User Agreement and by Delphi. Nothing in this list nullifies or supercedes the expectations as outlined by About.com. Where there is a discrepency between any rule listed here and the About.com User Agreement, the About.com User Agreement takes precedent. If you have any questions or concerns about these rules, or if you need further clarification, please contact the Teen Advice Guide.

1. No threatening, crude, rude, racist, violent or sexually explicit posts will be tolerated. If asking a question of a sexual nature please do not offer illicit details, include only that information that is absolutely essential to the question. If the question is very personal consider keeping it off the boards and seeking one on one expert or peer advice.
   
   
2. No insults, put downs or threats directed at other posters or forum assistants.
   
   
3. No bully posting - posts intended to hurt someone's feelings or cause them embarassment. If you have a beef with somebody, be it on the internet or somewhere else, handle it with dignity - don't lower yourself to name calling or mud slinging. Slamming others is so not worth it!
   
   
4. You can not post anything that you know will upset other people or start an argument - this is called flame posting or flaming. It is not acceptable at Teen Advice. However, debate on sensitive issues is permitted. It is not WHAT you post about but HOW you post about it that determines whether it is a flame or not.
   
   
5. Any links posted on the board must be suitable for teens ages 14 - 19. If the link is meant for a specific age group (example: ages 16 or older) please say so in the post. Pornographic, violent or other adult content is expressly forbidden.
   
   
6. No posting of full names, addresses, email addresses, phone numbers or other clearly identifying information - your's OR anyone elses.
   
   
7. No posting pictures of other people, whether you know them or not, without their explicit and verifiable consent.
   
   
8. You can not sell things, or send people to links that sell things - this is called spamming.
   
   
9. Try not to post ALL IN CAPITALS - to other posters this is the same thing as yelling and may result in others being upset or insulted by what you post.