Please Be Respectful!

[Alex Brecher 10,516]

Please Be Respectful – Reminder of VerticalSleeveTalk.com Terms of Service

We started VerticalSleeveTalk.com to help the gastric sleeve community. The site is dedicated to you whether you are a veteran sleever, a new gastric sleeve patient or someone who’s considering the vertical sleeve gastrectomy as a weight loss surgery option. We are proud of the wealth of information and resources available on the site 24/7. Our greatest asset is our members. You keep the site active and provide member-to-member advice and encouragement.

To promote a welcome atmosphere and recognize your value in VerticalSleeveTalk.com’s success, membership is free for everyone. Your free membership grants access to all site resources and also gives you full abilities to post on the boards. From the conversations on the boards and feedback we receive from members, we know VerticalSleeveTalk.com has been successful in reaching out to thousands of members and making a positive difference regardless of where you are in your weight loss journey.

The welcoming, respectful atmosphere of VerticalSleeveTalk.com sets it apart from many other online, public communities. All members should feel comfortable expressing their viewpoints, whether or not they agree with the majority.

Please Review the Terms of Service!

However, due to some recent incidents that have come to our attention, we at VerticalSleeveTalk.com would like to remind members of some of the board guidelines. These guidelines are within the Forum Rules. You must agree to the Terms of Service in order to use the boards, and violations may result in being banned from VerticalSleeveTalk.com. We encourage you to re-read the terms of service. These are some of the highlights.

• Be polite. VerticalSleeveTalk.com has a zero-tolerance policy for rudeness.
  
• Dissent is normal in any discussion. All members have the right to express their viewpoints.
  
• All members can expect to be treated with respect. Personal attacks are unacceptable.
  
• Anyone can join the boards. To protect yourself and others, do not post your private, personal information. Also, do not publicly post any private messages.
  
• Respect others’ experiences and opinions, even if they are different from your own.
  
• Violating these rules can get you banned from the board.
  

Please use private messaging to contact Alex Brecher, founder of VerticalSleeveTalk.com, if you have any concerns or if you feel that another member is violating the terms of service. We depend on members to keep VerticalSleeveTalk.com positive and welcoming so that all members can feel comfortable participating.

What Can You Do to Help?

Thankfully, the vast majority of our members are phenomenal community members! These are some of the ways that you can help maintain the integrity of our boards.

• If you see a post that violates the terms of service, report it by clicking on “Report Post.” We do our best to moderate the forums, but can’t possibly read each post.
  
• Be courteous, regardless of whether your post is in agreement or disagreement of other posts.
  
• Reread your post before posting. Is it really saying what you intend, or could another member accidentally read it differently and find it offensive?
  
• Reread others’ posts before taking offense. Maybe the post is badly worded and the member isn’t being as aggressive as it appears. Don’t respond to rudeness – remember that it takes two to have an argument!
  

Thank you to all of our members for your continued support of VerticalSleeveTalk.com. Each day, thousands of you contribute in positive and meaningful ways. Your participation and adherence to the terms of service let VerticalSleeveTalk.com remain at the forefront of weight loss surgery support groups.