Please note that the sharing of information and an exchange of ideas is encouraged and welcome on the message board. While you may not agree with every message posted, flames (messages which are insulting or inflammatory in nature, generally used to judge or criticize someone, to belittle their ideas or just to be abusive), put-downs and general rudeness are discouraged on the message board.

Usernames or user profiles deemed objectionable by stlbiking may be deleted at our discretion without notice or explanation.

While Stlbiking and/or its moderators may monitor or review postings, we are NOT under any obligation to review every forum and post, or even ANY forum or post. We expect you to be mature, courteous and thoughtful in your postings to our boards. In fact, as a rule our involvement in conflict resolution is minimal (unless we feel our intervention is absolutely necessary, which will be at our discretion). As situations intensify, we may suggest options forums can utilize to bring about change and resolution, but the job will ultimately rest on your shoulders. Each discussion has its own unique dynamics and we expect each of you to take ownership and be responsible for protecting what is important to you.

You acknowledge that Stlbiking.com does not control the information available in the interactive forums and that any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers or other information or content presented or disseminated on any interactive forum are those of their respective authors who are solely liable for their content. Please note that we cannot confirm the veracity of any poster's identity (i.e. we make no guarantees that any poster is who or what they say they are).

Messages express the views of the authors of the messages, and reflect solely on these authors. They are not necessarily the views of this community or any entity associated with this community. Offensive/objectionable posts may be removed at our discretion, but mostly will remain on the record where they can continue reflecting on the author(s) who posted them.

Stlbiking.com reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to edit, refuse to post or remove any material submitted to or posted on any interactive forum without notifying the author. Furthermore, you understand that Coincide Media is under no obligation to remove that which offends you.

You acknowledge that Stlbiking.com may remove any user and/or posting privileges from its message boards for any reason without notice or explanation. Posting on our boards is a privilege, not a right. While banning is done infrequently, once you're banned from one or more of our sites, you're banned. If you try to circumvent a ban, we may take further action. If you post on behalf of a banned member, you may also be banned. You may email us for an explanation, but we are not obligated to respond (in most cases, people know why they are banned).

A word on censorship and "freedom of speech": The US Bill of Rights allows citizens the right to free speech in a public forum without limitations imposed by the State. ("Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech.") Coincide Media sites are not a "public forum"; these sites are private forums open to the public. As a general rule, however, we uphold the ideals of the Constitution and do not condone the censorship of ideas. We allow relatively free and open discussion about just about anything. However, we do adhere to a simple tenet of respect. There is no place here for personal attacks. Debate, fault, discuss the action - and don't abuse other members of the site.

When in doubt, please remember this golden rule of message board ettiquette: It's not just what you say, it's how you say it.

Click for more information on What You Can and Can't Get Away With Online

Some other considerations
As a reminder for anyone who needs to have a refresher in message board netiquette, please consider the following before you post:

1. Does your message have anything to contribute in a positive way to the thread?

2. Would you say it to the person if she were standing right in front of you? Would you say it to your best friend or loved one? Are you calling someone names?

3. How would you feel and react if faced with the same message from someone else? If it would anger or upset you, you might consider reframing your thoughts in a less objectionable tone. People are much more likely to see your point of view when it is sweetened with honey. Most people tend to shut down their minds to any different ideas in the face of condescension, insults or anger.

4. Message boards, unlike face-to-face conversation, lack tone and other nuances of expression. Be aware that when you post, what you mean and what others read may be very different! This is why "smileys," or emoticons, were created.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and respect for all of the people who visit this board, no matter what their personal stance on any given issue.