The Tradie forums is a growing community where you can meet all sorts of different people in Australia and around the world. We want this to be a safe and friendly place where you can interact with the community just like in the real world. Being part of a community means respecting and valuing each other. Any potentially defamatory comments will be removed and the user warned and/or banned from participating.

1. No profanity or excessive use of capitals.
This includes images. Saying things in capitals feels like being shouted at. It's not pleasant in real life, and it's definitely not pleasant online.

2. No racist or otherwise hateful messages
Subject matter of a racist/stereotypical tone or topics that will incite hateful responses will not be tolerated. Treat people the way you want to be treated and respect other people's cultural and religious backgrounds.

3. No sexually explicit material
Think about your grandmother, siblings or friends that might be coming to this forum, and please keep it clean. The internet is a public place where once you post something, it can spread to other places and to people you might not have expected to read your words.

4. Do not post inappropriate images
Do not post or link pictures of other people unless you have their consent or, if they are children, the consent of their parents. Do not post pictures of another person and claim you are that person. Do not post pictures promoting illegal products and/or activities (e.g., drugs, underage alcohol consumption, weapons).

5. No advertisements or advertisement spamming
While you are allowed to talk about your favourite website and/or personal website, advertising of another website, product, and/or service via a new topic is strictly prohibited. If it is evident that a member's primary intention on The Tradie's forums is to advertise another website/referrals, they will be banned immediately. Spamming also includes referral links, such as Free Ipods, Free PSP, etc.

6. No post/topic spamming
Do not post the same topic and/or post in multiple forums. We realise sometimes this happens within the same topic due to technical issues but other than that this is not allowed.

7. Stay on-topic
Please try to keep the discussion centred on the subject. If posts start to veer off-topic, then simply create a new thread in the appropriate area. Thread titles to topics and posts should be clear as to their meaning, and contribute to the forum or thread. Uncertain thread titles such as "Please read this!" create confusion and make it difficult for people to figure out your purpose.

8. General anti-social behaviour
If it is evident that your general behaviour on www.thetradie.com.au is to be disruptive in nature, then you will be warned and/or banned. This includes (but not limited to) constant instigation of arguments among/between other members, persistent flaming and harassment of others, persistent and inappropriate expressions. We have a legal obligation to remove any posts that may be defamatory or potentially defamatory. This basically means that if you say anything that might lower or damage someone's reputation in the eyes of others, it will be removed (regardless of whether or not it is true).

The rules are general guidelines for accepted behaviour on The Tradie forums. We list these specific items, so you can have a general understanding of what is and isn't allowed. There is no realistic way to itemise each and every single thing and new situations can arise in immediate exclusions and/or additions to the rules mentioned. It is at the discretion of the moderator and/or administrators to ultimately decide if a user's actions on the forums are appropriate. This means that items do not have to be explicitly stated here to be considered a violation of the forum rules.

We expect our users will respect each other and our forums, so we appreciate your cooperation. Most of all we want you to enjoy your time here on our website!