Posting rules: Disboard do's and don'ts

[Emzed]

Hi there! I know there's been discussion about what we are allowed to post on the DisBoards but I just wanted clarification on specific issues which I'm sure has been mentioned before; apologies for being repetitive if that's the case

In a meet group you cannot post a link to any other form of social media nor make any mention that such a group does or does not exist, correct?

Can you post a link to a Google Doc that has been created for a FE or other gift exchange?

Can you post email addresses?

Can you send information, if requested, via pm?

Can you post links to other websites (not Disney, not Dis) that provide information, advice, reviews, photos, etc on the cruises, excursions, ships or anything that might be considered related?

I may just be paranoid or, at the least, overly cautious, but with the best intentions I just wanted to know beforehand. I have heard of people being removed or restricted for posting what was intended as innocent helpful information.

Thanks in advance

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

No one should ever be paranoid or have any fear. These are good questions. A webmaster should answer. I think from other threads other people are as confused and fear the situation the same as you. Try not to worry.

 

[popisme]

From my personal experience the answer to all of those questions is NO....

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

From my personal experience the answer to all of those questions is NO....

Well this one:-

Can you post links to other websites (not Disney, not Dis) that provide information, advice, reviews, photos, etc on the cruises, excursions, ships or anything that might be considered related?

Seems yes and no some sites seem to be a yes and other sites no.

 

[popisme]

My personal experience with this issue was primarily focused in the meet threads where I was told that you could not link to any site that was not the DIS.... However you might very well be correct outside of the context of the meet groups...

 

[Dug720]

You can for sure not link to VisageNovel (think about the words), but for other sites, you have to put it in as a link and then preview - if it's allowed the link will show. Otherwise it will show ***********

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

My personal experience with this issue was primarily focused in the meet threads where I was told that you could not link to any site that was not the DIS.... However you might very well be correct outside of the context of the meet groups...

Yes I was going by OP saying posting rules do and do nots and he didn't mention cruise meets in the title or questions, and a lot can relate to all forums.

 

[Emzed]

How do you create a FE document then? On a previous cruise I helped with the FE by creating a Google Doc on which anyone from the group was able to amend as necessary (allergies, special occasions, etc) and put the link to it on the Dis meet page. How are you supposed to let everyone know who is on the list?

I've always felt these boards hold many answers to cruisers (and other Disney-minded vacationers) but I didn't realize it was restrictive in allowing information (or photos) that may NOT be found on this site to be shared. It would be a shame if people who are solely interested in sharing the best and most current advice would be restricted in doing so in order to protect what might be considered as selective interests.

I may be corrected and I hope that I am mistaken. Looking for some answers or suggestions on how to proceed with FE from others including (but not limited to) moderators of this site

Thanks

 

[lanejudy]

First, I'm not a Disney Cruise Line Forum moderator, but I will try to answer some questions:

In a meet group you cannot post a link to any other form of social media nor make any mention that such a group does or does not exist, correct?
correct, see this announcement: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3298909
and the policy here: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=52659395#post52659395

Can you post a link to a Google Doc that has been created for a FE or other gift exchange?
No, see the links above

Can you post email addresses?
No, see links above. Personally, I'd never advise posting your personal contact information on a public forum.

Can you send information, if requested, via pm?
You cannot share restricted information by PM on the DISBoards. Again, see links above.

This question is more general in nature, while the questions above seem more specifc to cruise meet threads.

Can you post links to other websites (not Disney, not Dis) that provide information, advice, reviews, photos, etc on the cruises, excursions, ships or anything that might be considered related? Generally, yes. Please post the full URL address/link. There are some sites that are not allowed site-wide, and those will result in ***** replacing the filtered words/names/URLs.

This is the link to the general DISBoards guidelines, to which all agreed when registering with this site: http://www.wdwinfo.com/guidelines.htm
and DISBoard Basics from the "sticky" near the top of the Disney Cruise Line Forum: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1010690

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[lbgraves]

Honestly, I don't know how a FE list can be maintained now. We used G Docs simply for the simplicity of it and ability to supply the link to anyone on the FE list. We used an email created specifically for the FE list for requests to join and that was posted in the first post of the meet thread. Knowing the ages of the kids, favorite characters and any allergies was just easier to keep track of on the spreadsheet. It made it possible for personalized items also, since the kids' names were not posted publically on the board. Prior to G Docs, we would do the same thing with the email and simply forward a regular Excel spreadsheet to everyone on the FE list via email.

I'm glad that the kids are older now and enjoyed the FEs when they were younger, along with the other aspects of meet groups who were free to post wherever they wished. Even before FB there were DISers who hosted servers for a meet website to keep some information password protected to members of the meet group. We also used other forums for chats. Having a new thread every couple weeks because of the number of posts made it difficult to keep track of the important info. There were always other places to extend the meet groups, even before current sites.

 

[Emzed]

Honestly, I don't know how a FE list can be maintained now. QUOTE]

That's what I was thinking!! If they don't want people to: a) give out e-mail addresses, b) link to Google Docs, or c) share personal information on this site then how on Earth are we supposed to know who is involved, their stateroom numbers or who in their room are what age, allergic to whatever, and celebrating anything?!?

...and don't even THINK of trying to get a group organized via the "social media site that dare not speak it's name"

I'm afraid that people will miss out on joining in on FE groups if this is the only way they choose to be involved with fellow cruisers. I totally respect those that wish to limit their involvement on other sites and much prefer the DisBoards for all things Disney but I seriously don't know what the harm is in any interested party (un-soloicitedly!!) participates in a FE where the information voluntarily given (I mean, how can you participate in one without divulging ANY personal information unless you go by an assumed name and hang your FE outside your neighbour's door!) is simply organized by a more user-friendly method (such as Google Docs; I only reference this because this is the only format that I have found to be user-friendly by all). I cannot imagine that the DIS would find that in any way competitive with what they are hoping to accomplish. If anything that seems like it would only enhance the ease of maintaining the FE; a fun activity that I have only discovered through this site

Okay... sorry if that seemed like a rant! I am just curious if there was a way to share information for an FE. Still stumped, however. Maybe I'll just pack a few things for the kids myself and pretend we are involved

 

[ZephyrHawk]

In a meet group you cannot post a link to any other form of social media nor make any mention that such a group does or does not exist, correct?

Apparently, you can't even explain to someone how they might go about figuring out on their own whether such a group exists.

 

[Mickeyhugger]

Honestly, I don't know how a FE list can be maintained now. QUOTE]

That's what I was thinking!! If they don't want people to: a) give out e-mail addresses, b) link to Google Docs, or c) share personal information on this site then how on Earth are we supposed to know who is involved, their stateroom numbers or who in their room are what age, allergic to whatever, and celebrating anything?!?

...and don't even THINK of trying to get a group organized via the "social media site that dare not speak it's name"

I'm afraid that people will miss out on joining in on FE groups if this is the only way they choose to be involved with fellow cruisers. I totally respect those that wish to limit their involvement on other sites and much prefer the DisBoards for all things Disney but I seriously don't know what the harm is in any interested party (un-soloicitedly!!) participates in a FE where the information voluntarily given (I mean, how can you participate in one without divulging ANY personal information unless you go by an assumed name and hang your FE outside your neighbour's door!) is simply organized by a more user-friendly method (such as Google Docs; I only reference this because this is the only format that I have found to be user-friendly by all). I cannot imagine that the DIS would find that in any way competitive with what they are hoping to accomplish. If anything that seems like it would only enhance the ease of maintaining the FE; a fun activity that I have only discovered through this site

Okay... sorry if that seemed like a rant! I am just curious if there was a way to share information for an FE. Still stumped, however. Maybe I'll just pack a few things for the kids myself and pretend we are involved

Agree with everything posted here.

 

[Deb in IA]

I checked in periodically to a Cruise Meet thread that was started before the restrictions were put in place.

It was heavily edited, so that many of the posts made no sense and no one knew where to look for lists, meets, mixologies, and sign-ups. It was very confusing, and I finally gave up on FE.

Sigh. Wish we were back in the good old days.

 

[aggiedog]

As a first timer, I was just glad to finally figure out why the meet thread seemed so odd, and why there was hardly any activity on it.

I've looked and looked all over the internet, with as many creative search terms as I can, for any thread related to our specific cruise for a more active roll call/meet. Can't find it. Either they've gone deep undercover, or it doesn't exist. Unfortunately, I have no way to know which it is.

 

[Emzed]

I checked in periodically to a Cruise Meet thread that was started before the restrictions were put in place. It was heavily edited, so that many of the posts made no sense and no one knew where to look for lists, meets, mixologies, and sign-ups. It was very confusing, and I finally gave up on FE. Sigh. Wish we were back in the good old days.

Yeah... That's exactly how I feel (missing the "good old days" lol!)! While I totally understand and respect this site's desire to protect the users from unwanted solicitation and being coerced to join others sites on which they would be uncomfortable, I also feel that current efforts to keep that sort of behaviour at bay is making this site less effective as a "meeting place" for group activities. I have been fortunate, I guess, that in any of my previous cruise experiences the information was similar regardless of whether it was this forum or another site's but now the same information cannot be shared equally.
I wonder if the DiBoards have thought this through; if it is easier to maintain a group forum on one site rather than another (that is to say if it is no longer as easy to keep them updated equally as it once was) which one do you think will last?
I prefer this site for SO many things Disney but recent restrictions have made it impractical as a cruise meeting site and that is sad

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Yeah... That's exactly how I feel (missing the "good old days" lol!)! While I totally understand and respect this site's desire to protect the users from unwanted solicitation and being coerced to join others sites on which they would be uncomfortable, I also feel that current efforts to keep that sort of behaviour at bay is making this site less effective as a "meeting place" for group activities. I have been fortunate, I guess, that in any of my previous cruise experiences the information was similar regardless of whether it was this forum or another site's but now the same information cannot be shared equally.
I wonder if the DiBoards have thought this through; if it is easier to maintain a group forum on one site rather than another (that is to say if it is no longer as easy to keep them updated equally as it once was) which one do you think will last?
I prefer this site for SO many things Disney but recent restrictions have made it impractical as a cruise meeting site and that is sad

On the other hand, the DISboards Cruise board was set up as a Cruising Information board. It wasn't until people starting massive amounts of cruise meet threads started overwhelming the main cruise board caused the powers that be to set up a separate Cruise Meet board that that board actually started.

So, the "good old days" could hark back to just using the Cruise board as a place to gather information.

 

[Emzed]

On the other hand, the DISboards Cruise board was set up as a Cruising Information board. It wasn't until people starting massive amounts of cruise meet threads started overwhelming the main cruise board caused the powers that be to set up a separate Cruise Meet board that that board actually started. So, the "good old days" could hark back to just using the Cruise board as a place to gather information.

Haha! I guess I mean the good old recent history days then!

But the question remains... How do we gather, share and organize information here for FE's or other meets? If we shouldn't post personal information and we are not allowed to use helpful internet tools to develop work sheets nor re-direct to a more user-friendly site (for that purpose only; I'm certainly not re-directing away from this totally awesome, educational and informative site which I absolutely love for all Disney related stuff oh please don't ban me!!!) how should we get our FE going? I am puzzled and wondering how to proceed. Does anyone have any advice on this? Perhaps I should start a new thread asking for help specific to that topic? Anyone?!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Haha! I guess I mean the good old recent history days then!

But the question remains... How do we gather, share and organize information here for FE's or other meets? If we shouldn't post personal information and we are not allowed to use helpful internet tools to develop work sheets nor re-direct to a more user-friendly site (for that purpose only; I'm certainly not re-directing away from this totally awesome, educational and informative site which I absolutely love for all Disney related stuff oh please don't ban me!!!) how should we get our FE going? I am puzzled and wondering how to proceed. Does anyone have any advice on this? Perhaps I should start a new thread asking for help specific to that topic? Anyone?!

As with any online site, posting personal info is up to each individual's comfort zone.

The first FE we participated in, the person organizing the FE had set up a FE-specific e-mail that she posted on the cruise meet thread. That e-mail was where we all put our information for the list that she was maintaining. Don't know how/where she was maintaining that list (whether she was using some other computer accessible site, or doing it manually. At the end of the time (when the FE lists were closed) she posted the FE list directly on the Cruise Meet thread on the DISboards for us to copy.

Yes, for someone who wanted to, there was probably a lot of information there that they could use for nefarious gain, but that's how we did it.

 

[Emzed]

According to this http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=3353477 you are no longer allowed to post e-mail in an attempt to "lure" (btw.. isn't that the absolute worst word to use?! It sounds SO creepy!) people to other non-Dis sharing. They make it sound so underhanded and evil; like someone posting a request for information while laughing "mwahaha" and twirling their waxed mustache or petting their evil cat plotting to get a group together to share fridge magnets, crafts and maybe get a group together for a mixology class!!