We created MarriageMate to provide users with a positive and interesting environment where they can connect with other couples, share stories, vent, feel that they are not in it alone, give and get advice, laugh, and more.
We understand that your time is precious so MarriageMate should be a place where users can come and feel welcome and safe and not be subject to personal attacks or disrespectful behavior. These guidelines are intended to make MarriageMate a great place for as many users as possible.
When thinking about what is acceptable on MarriageMate, think about what is acceptable in a public establishment of business. As "customers" of the business, all MarriageMate members should act as if you were in a public establishment. As the "owner" of the establishment, the MarriageMate Team will take actions similar to what a business owner would do.
Our/Your Responsibilites
We will not look at every post, photo or comment made on the site nor do we guarantee the integrity of every member on the site. But, if we catch something that we believe violates our guidelines or the MarriageMate Terms of Service either because we noticed it or you reported it, we will act on it.
When you report something to us that you believe violates these guidelines or the MarriageMate Terms of Service, we will do our best to review it. We will not always agree with you that there is a problem. When we do agree, we will take the action that we feel is appropriate. While we listen to our members, we have the final say on whether content or conduct is permissible under these guidelines and our Terms of Service.
We generally won't take action against older content that violates these guidelines. We feel our efforts are better spent focusing on current issues on
the site.
You have the tools to remove comments made to your journal posts, photos, and chatterboxes. Please use these tools at your own discretion and, if appropriate, before you report an issue to us.
You also have the tools to control who sees the content you post. Utilize these privacy settings as you see fit to protect you and your family's information. We want everyone at the site to be comfortable and feel safe.
Groups are run by the users who started them, not MarriageMate. Group owners are responsible for making their own guidelines for the group and enforcing them as desired. Group owners are able to remove posts, comments and members from their groups. If a group owner needs help with an issue that they cannot deal with on their own, they should contact us for assistance.
We always have the right to remove postings, lock postings, warn members, suspend accounts, and/or cancel accounts to enforce these guidelines or the MarriageMate Terms of Service or as we deem necessary to maintain the integrity of the site of our business. Whatever action we choose to take, our decision is final. We will not always explain our actions, but rest assured we do not take these decisions lightly.
We are not responsible for what happens off the site, even if it was organized on MarriageMate. Be careful whom you talk to, whom you trust, and what you do in the real world based on what you read online.
Finally, please remember that we are just trying to make this the best site possible for as many users as possible. If we feel that by removing a post or a member we can make the site experience better for the rest of the members, we will do it. Or, we could decide that a posting that you find objectionable is within the guidelines. You may not always think our decisions are fair and you may not always agree with us. Arguing with us or harassing us will not change our minds. Let's all treat each other with respect and work together to make this a great place for users.
These guidelines are a work in progress. We may revise these guidelines at any time and without prior notice.
The following are rules you should keep in mind when using MarriageMate. Failure to follow these rules can result in termination of your account. Click
on any rule to read about it in more detail.
Above all else, be nice to the people you meet at our site and give each other the benefit of the doubt. If we all do this, the site will be a great place to hang out.
Be respectful of others, especially when disagreeing with them.It's simple. Be nice to others. This is the most important thing for everyone to remember.
You can be opinionated. You can say that your opinion is better than someone else's. You can be opposed to the ideas or opinions of others and can say so. But don't be nasty about it. Mean people are not welcome at this site.
Debate is great, but it should be done in a constructive way.
Discussion and debate are not only allowed, they are encouraged. But, if a healthy discussion breaks down into an exchange of attacks and insults or becomes too heated, we will take measures to end the discussion.
When a discussion gets heated or involves a topic you feel passionate about, it's sometimes tempting to cross the line and stop talking about the issues and instead talk about the people involved. Don't do it. No name calling. If you must "vent" your feelings about another MarriageMate member, do it without identifying them. Don't use their screen name or any other information that is likely to make them recognizable to other members.
You may not like everyone on MarriageMate. But don't harass someone or tell all your friends to go harass someone because you don't like something they said.
Slurs, stereotyping, and hate speech are not tolerated.
Slurs, hate speech and attacks aimed at any race, color, religion, national origin, disability or sexual orientation are not tolerated at all on MarriageMate and will be removed. Don't stereotype people, it isn't funny and it isn't acceptable.
Don't annoy others by posting the same thing again and again.
Don't post the same thing multiple times. Don't post the same thing multiple times. Don't post the same thing multiple times. Don't post the
same thing multiple times. Don't post the same thing multiple times.
It's annoying right? Also, don't make new posts that simply link back to old posts. Don't post the same photo over and over again. Do something once and see what happens; don't try to force your ideas on people by reposting. In addition, don't cross-post on multiple groups. Once or twice is fine, but more than that is spamming.
If you're going to post something controversial, be prepared for others to disagree with you and your ideas.
Remember that when you post something, especially about a controversial topic, expect that your viewpoints and opinions may be vigorously questioned, challenged, and held up to scrutiny. If having your opinions challenged and being expected to defend your position will make you uncomfortable, please don't post about that topic.
Posts designed solely to upset another user or group of users have no place at MarriageMate. They simply pollute the air and make it a less inviting place for everyone.
Don't ask other members for help in the form of money, gifts or donations.
It is not acceptable at this site to ask another member for money, goods or services. We appreciate the stress on you and your family resulting from
financial pressures. You can, however, suggest that members donate to official charities (like the Red Cross or March of Dimes). We have compiled a list of organizations that provide help for people in need on the Member Resources page.
Be respectful of others when posting any content that is adult in nature.
We all have different thresholds for what we are comfortable seeing and reading. In order to make the site comfortable for everyone, please adhere to
the following guidelines when posting content that may not be suitable for everyone.
Cursing and adult content are prohibited in the public areas of MarriageMate. This includes: avatars, screen names, thought bubbles, profile pages,
journal post titles, group names, group descriptions, group avatars, signatures, widgets, and other similar places.
If you post a photo that is adult in nature, check the box on the upload page where it says the photo might not be suitable for everyone. Pictures
flagged this way will have a yellow sash over them which partially hides the content. The yellow sash serves as a warning sign to users who are browsing the site. If a member decides she wants to see a picture that is draped with a sash, she simply clicks on the picture and the sash is automatically removed.
If your journal post contains cursing or adult topics, check the box where it says the post might not be suitable for everyone. Your post will be flagged with a yellow "yield" sign for users browsing the site so they know only to click if they don't mind reading adult content. There are cases where cursing or content will be so extreme that it will be removed regardless of whether the content is flagged correctly. We're all adults, there's no need to go to an extreme.
Have fun, participate in lively discussions and debates, bare your soul but not your body. Nudity is not permitted in this establishment. The exception to this rule is that you may post breastfeeding or birthing pictures. But if pictures show private parts, they should be "sashed" (see no. 11b above).
Don't post or link to photographs or images of abortion.
We don't allow photographs, illustrations or other images depicting abortions. We understand the rationale for why users might want to spread this
kind of information, but MarriageMate is not the right place to do this.
Don't share your personal information with someone unless you're absolutely certain it is safe to share with that person.
Would you give your phone number, street address or anything else to a user you just met? Maybe if you trusted them or knew someone in common. But you probably wouldn't give it out to someone you knew little about. The same is true online. Don't give out your personal information to anyone else unless you're sure it's safe.
And don't give money to people who ask for it online. While their stories may move you, you have no way of knowing if they are legitimate. We can't verify the identities of everyone on the site and you use the site at your own risk. We urge you to learn and follow best practices for staying safe online.
Don't share personal information about anyone else.
You should also not share or post anyone else's personal information. Don't repost messages from private groups or messages in public places. If the
information was posted in a private group, assume that the member wants it to remain private.
If you suspect that someone on the site is an imposter or not legitimate, report the problem to the MarriageMate Team and we will deal with it.
If you think you've found an "imposter" or suspect that a member is not "legitimate," let us know by contacting us. We will investigate promptly. Do not threaten, harass or make journal posts about your suspicions. Doing this will only interfere with and slow down our efforts to get to the truth quickly. Likewise, if we discover that you are pretending to be someone you are not, we will cancel your account.
Help us keep the site orderly by reporting any problems you see on the site including posts that violate these rules.
If you see something that violates these rules and it bothers you, then report it to us and we will do our best to investigate it. You don't need to report things multiple times or have your friends also report the same issue. We try to review everything sent to us and sending it multiple times just slows things down for everyone.
Don't do anything criminal or illegal on MarriageMate or encourage anyone else to do so.
Any postings that we reasonably believe or suspect are criminal or illegal in nature will be removed and any conduct that we suspect is illegal or which poses a threat of illegal activity will be reported to the appropriate authorities. We will cooperate with authorities to prosecute anyone who breaks the law while using our site. Do not link to sites containing criminal or illegal activity.
You may discuss MarriageMate's policies, but only in the designated area.
Don't agree with MarriageMate policy and want to your voice to be heard? Contact Us and discuss with us why the policies are the way they are and help us shape what the policies should be.
We are open to constructive feedback and will be honest with everyone about the reasoning behind our policies.
