Our HIV Chat Rooms' Rules:

1. You must be at least 16 years of age (and less than 100 years old) to chat on this privately owned IRC server with other adults. Sometimes safe sex talk, medical marijuana usage, drug/alcohol abuse risks, common swear words and other adult conversations will take place. We are not a nasty chat, yet we are not a suitable place for children. You will be banned from the entire server immediately (you should be told why first) if you are under 16 years of age (OPs use BAN Command).
   
   
2. Use only the rooms that are relevant to your needs. If you are not HIV+, then you belong in the HIV affected (#HIVaffected) chat channel. All the other rooms are for HIV support for HIV+ individuals only. You will be moved to HIV affected chat room if you are HIV negative (OPs use NEGATIVE command).
   
   
3. No attempts of hacking or sending malicious viruses. All users should use antivirus software at all times if connected to the internet, even to protect against seemingly harmless web pages. Report hackers/spammers here. You will be banned if proven you are a hacker (OPs use BAN Command).
   
   
4. New members will not be "opped" until they have proven themselves as decent people and have come in to chat on a regular basis, we like to wait at least 30 days to determine this. Members who become regulars may be eligible for "auto ops" (automatic operator status once nickname verified). An "OP" is slang for a channel operator (they can ban abusers and "OP" others, OPs have a @ in front of their nickname). OPs still must obey the rules and enforce them too. OPs could loose their privildges and even possibly be banned for the rest of the day (maybe longer if major issues) if requested by others (DaveyBoy decides).
   
   
5. No constant suicide talk (it is ok to discuss it briefly for support and to see how others deal with it, but professional help is recommended as we do not have medical staff or hired counselors), suicidal thoughts can spread like wild fire amongst some depressed HIV positive people. Please call an AIDS hotline or a suicide prevention hotline as they have qualified people to deal with this! You may get support here when you feel depressed, however telling people that you are going to kill yourself will result in your local police being called (for your own good) with help from your ISP (your internet service provider will cooperate with authorities if it's a life VS. death situation). Not sure how to handle this (DaveyBoy).
   
   
6. If you are idling in the chat room and not chatting, you will be removed after 30 minutes. If I allowed everyone to just hang out and not chat, there would be about 500 people not saying anything, plus it is hard on my old chat server! Many members complain about the people who idle, they feel as though they are being spied upon. You will be moved to the unmonitored HIV chat room for the remainder of your idling (OPs use MOVE command).
   
   
7. Rude, hurtful and hateful comments to any person is not tolerated. Being rude back is also against the rules (use the ignore feature in the chat, type: /ignore NickName). No HIV bashing! No threats! You will be banned for the rest of the day if you are being a "meanie" (OPs use BAN Command).
   
   
8. Please keep politics and religion out of general conversations as everyone has different opinions that they may be sensitive too. We do not want to read arguments on what leader or God is better. It is okay to tell everyone what belief you have and what you like about it, just do not get fanatical. Basically, no forcing your values on others who have different ideas (free world). You will be moved to the unmonitored HIV chat room if enough people request it (OPs use MOVE command).
   
   
9. Type normal 5-20 word sentences majority of the time. No fast repeating text (give 20 seconds between each line typed) as this can trigger an automatic security feature for flooding (you could get banned for 24 hours). No using gibberish or senseless chatter. Example: kjfd7efljkh afk&^%gfasl or weird nonsense chatting like: He then went up the market to near that was close to time while shaving the back of his silver buckle. You will be moved to the unmonitored HIV chat room for this (OPs use MOVE command).
   
   
10. Chat nicknames not suitable for a HIV/AIDS chat room will be expelled. Please use the same nickname for all your visits to the chatroom (it's common to make a change or 2 until you find the right nick that suits you in the beginning). You should register your nickname so no one else can pretend to be you. You will be moved to the unmonitored HIV chat room for unwanted nicknames (OPs use MOVE command).
    
    
11. If you are asked ("are you POZ?") if you are HIV positive, you must answer the question or be removed to the "HIV affected" chat channel. Avoiding this question only sparks suspicions! The main chat lobby is for HIV pozitive people only - "no ifs, ands or buts about it"! You will be moved to the unmonitored HIV chat room if you refuse to answer (OPs use MOVE command) or if you are not HIV pos, you will be moved to HIV affected chat room (OPs use NEGATIVE command).
    
    
12. All data in chat rooms is confidential. Please do not discuss other member's situations unless they are in the chat discussing it themselves openly. No copying of any typed text data from any of the chat rooms (no logging), no writing down emails for future use (only use emails with permission), no reposting of data, so discussing other members when they are not here in chat (possible gossip or may upset the other person when they find out), etc... You will be banned for "gossip" (if continues after warning) or digitally tracking people (OPs use BAN Command).
    
    
13. This is a HIV/AIDS support chat, we do not discuss profane activities (keep R rated sex talk to private messages if the other person agrees, private chats are not seen by DaveyBoy or anyone else other than whom you are privating). Anyone trolling only for virtual sex will be expelled (banned immediately). Casual flirting is accepted, but please keep to a minimum when there are "newbies" chatting (give them a chance to meet people incase they need some help, that's what the chat is for). You will be removed to the unmonitored HIV chat room if you do not listen to the warnings (OPs use MOVE command).
    
    
14. No telling DaveyBoy or channel operators (OPs) how to run things (they are too busy)! We are here for HIV/AIDS support and information, not arguing! You are more than welcome to set up your own support online group like we have here where you can do things your way. The founder has tried many different ways to run this AIDS support chat site over the last 10+ years and these rules seem to keep people being nice to each other the best. We do not want to wind up like the Yahoo HIV-AIDS chat room where it's mostly bashers and scammers (10% POZ, 90% fakers). You will be removed to the unmonitored HIV chat room if you do not listen to the warnings (OPs use MOVE command).
    
    
15. No claims similar too: "I have the cure", "HIV cure in 2 weeks", "CURE for AIDS", "cure yourself of HIV" or know some unknown magical remedies to help get rid of HIV or AIDS (THERE IS NO CURE YET). No telling members that praying will cure them, no telling members to drink certain fluids to cure them, etc. We report scams and false cures to National AIDS Health Fraud Hotline at 1-888-332-1820 first, then we take your computer information (only DaveyBoy can access chat server logs) and report you to more places found HERE, so be advised not to bother! You will be banned immediately for "spamming" (OPs use BAN Command).
    
    
16. No spamming (unwanted advertising, no paid sites) and no selling of services or goods is allowed (no solicitation/soliciting). You can post links to real HIV/AIDS organizations (sites like www.thebody.com, ageis, government sites, university links) and registered AIDS charities. Do not post links to profiles from sites not owned by DaveyBoy as they may be fee based (like HEPC/POZ dating). You may make a basic dating ad or pen-pal profile (your email is protected and only other HIVdate members can contact you) with an uploaded digital photograph of yourself on www.HIVdate.com for free and post it (site owned by DaveyBoy) to people in the chats. You will be banned for the rest of the day if you are a "spammer" (OPs use BAN Command).
    
    
17. No anti HIV/AIDS theories (ex: AIDS dissidents). Aids dissidence is a belief that HIV does not cause AIDS, "they" try to get us to quit our medications and disbelieve our doctors and scientists. You will be banned without warning if you are a "dissiDUNCE" (OPs use BAN Command).