The Articles of War: Terms of Service for horatians.org

THE ARTICLES OF WAR

Article I. Agreement to Terms of Use

HORATIANS.ORG is non-profit website by and for the fans of C.S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower series. By using this site, participants agree to be bound by and to abide by all the Articles of War (our terms of use) as set out below. HORATIANS.ORG may alter or amend these terms at any time without notice. By posting or providing any content to this site, users agree and acknowledge the following:

Section One: Content.

HORATIANS.ORG does not pre-screen any content, including but not limited to forum messages, chat room messages and links to third-party websites, posted by users of the site, and shall not be responsible for monitoring or editing such content. However, HORATIANS.ORG does have the right, but not the obligation, to monitor such content, and does have the right, within its sole discretion, to alter or remove any content, in whole or in part, that the site believes to be in violation of the Articles of War, or which it believes to be illegal or objectionable for any reason. Users remain solely responsible for the content they submit to the site, and users agree to indemnify and hold harmless HORATIANS.ORG and its agents as to any claim based upon the transmission of content.

HORATIANS.ORG may preserve and disclose all content, and the source of such content, including the identity of the user, as the site believes it is required to do so by law, or is reasonably necessary to protect the site, its users, and the general public, to respond to claims that content violates the rights of third parties, to operate the site, to enforce the Articles of War, and for any other reasonable purpose.

Users are encouraged to report any objectionable content to the Admiralty for possible removal if they believe such content violates the Articles of War or would otherwise outrageously offend our sensibilities.

Section Two: Third-Party Website Links.

HORATIANS.ORG is not responsible for the operation of third-party websites to which links are provided for on this site, including but not limited to links posted in the forum or the chatroom by a user, links posted at the Links page (with hyperlink), and links to HORATIAN.ORG fundraising affiliates. Likewise HORATIANS.ORG is not responsible for the legality, accuracy, reliability or decency of the content of such third-party sites, and encourages users to take whatever steps they deem necessary to satisfactorily investigate the practices, products and services of such sites before entering into transactions with them. HORATIANS.ORG does not endorse such products or services offered by third-party sites, and users waive any claim against HORATIANS.ORG with respect to such sites.

Article II. Copyright Disclaimer

The copyright of the HORNBLOWER books written by C.S. Forester are owned by the estate of C.S. Forester. The copyright on the television miniseries is owned by Meridian and A&E. The copyright of the 1951 film CAPTAIN HORATIO HORNBLOWER is owned by Warner Brothers. HORATIANS.ORG claims no copyright, trademark or any other ownership rights in these works. HORATIANS.ORG believes all references to any and all copyrighted works whatsoever on the site are permissible under the Fair Use clause of United States copyright and trademark law.

We're just really, really obsessed fans who are here to enjoy our obsession.

Users are requested and required to refrain from posting copyrighted material in full on the forum. Providing a URL link to the original is the preferred method of sharing information with your fellow Horatians.

If your copyrighted material is inadvertently included on this site, please contact the Admiralty for removal.

Article III. Conscription Age

While His Majesty’s Navy may not have been particular about the age of its sailors, HORATIANS.ORG is so particular in order that it does not run afoul of the “Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998”, Title 13 of the United States Code, Section 13, and the regulations so provided for by the United States Federal Trade Commission.

HORATIANS.ORG does not specifically target any of its content to children under the age of 13 years, nor does it knowingly solicit, collect, gather, receive, accept, or store personal information from children under the age of 13 years.

HORATIANS.ORG is intended for an adult audience and requires that participants at this site be age 13 years or older. By submitting any content or information to this site, including but not limited to registration to use the message board and use of the chat room, such person is acknowledging the age requirement and is confirming to HORATIANS.ORG that he or she is age 13 years or older. Anyone found to be in violation of this age requirement will be thrown overboard, and will be banned from participation on the site.

Article IV. Rules of Engagement

Section One: Belay that!

HORATIANS.ORG requests and requires that you keep your language and manner civil. The Admiralty encourages crew members to enjoy themselves on shore leave, but do endeavour to behave in an honourable manner. Think twice before you post. Would you want your mother/your teenaged daughter/the object of your affection/his wife/girlfriend/mother to see it? Because they just might.

Section Two: Fire Ships Prohibited.

That’s right, no flaming fire ships in this harbor.

Constructive critical debate between board participants is welcome and encouraged, but HORATIANS.ORG follows a code of honour and strictly forbids anyone to post, transmit or otherwise make available on or through this site content or information that either intentionally or unintentionally insults, intimidates, harasses, defames, impersonates or threatens any individual or group of individuals. HORATIANS.ORG specifically notes that it does not tolerate needless and malicious personal criticism of celebrities or persons of high profile. That’s just tacky.

HORATIANS.ORG will remove any such post deemed to be flaming, trolling, or otherwise objectionable and reserves the right to ban the user from further participation on the site. HORATIANS.ORG may report ISP information on users who are deemed to be threatening, stalking or harassing any individual in violation of any law to the proper authorities.

Section Three: No Spam here, just Hard Tack.

Do not post commercial messages in the message forum or chatroom. If you have a commercial site that is of interest to Horatians, you may post a link on the Links page, which the Admiralty may remove at their discretion. You may include a small text link in your signature on the forums. Posts that are nothing more than an advertisement for a commercial website or service will be removed at the discretion of the Admiralty.

Section Four: Dunnage.

We endeavour to maintain a lighthearted atmosphere on the forums. We are supportive of the occasional post asking for emotional support in a difficult time; however, we ask that you not make a habit of it. Overladen emotional baggage will be struck into the hold next to the trunks containing Lady Barbara's French gowns, because there's just no room for them in the main cabin of this frigate.

Section Five: Another Dozen and He'll Coo Like A Dove.

The vast majority of visitors to horatians.org are adults. As such, we are accustomed to certain standards of written language. While netspeak is fine on teen-oriented boards or chatrooms, it is not appropriate on horatians.org, and gives the senior officers a throbbing pain directly above the left eye. Occasional forays into slang are acceptable, but please try to keep it to a minimum.

We also ask that you please use proper punctuation and capitalization. Using capitals when appropriate (proper names, start of sentences) and punctuation (end of sentences, using commas) would be recommended. Senior officers find sentences that contain no punctuation difficult to read.

The Admiralty appreciates your consideration of this matter. We would like to stress that the intent of this policy is to address excessive and gratuitous netspeak. We have no interest in becoming the grammar patrol. This guideline is NOT directed at our international visitors whose first language is not English.

Section Six: The Scuttlebutt.

Guidelines specific to the Brown Chicken, the HORATIANS.ORG chatroom:

1. The Brown Chicken is like the Fight Club: Outside the Brown Chicken, you don't talk about the Brown Chicken. Don't post or discuss or otherwise refer to something said in chat in the forum or elsewhere unless you have the permission of the person who said it.

2. During regularly-scheduled general chats, users are requested and required to confine conversation to topics of general interest. Please feel free to duck out of the main room and go into another room or use the AIM room if you want to have more intimate conversations. All chatrooms are available for use at any time. Drop in if you feel like chatting, or suggest a chat time on the forum.

3. The Brown Chicken does not hire or employ Gushers. All such activity is provided to the Brown Chicken by independent contractors, who are responsible for supplying their own remote controls, chewing towels, sofa cushions, drool buckets, and mops for clean-up. Likewise, no Workers Compensation coverage is provided for any slip-and-falls on slick, drool-covered floors. Please heed all Slippery When Wet signs.