Community Guidelines and Moderation Policy

Effective as of May 6, 2025

Welcome to our Smoky Mountains Community Forum! We’re excited to have a place where residents and visitors of the Smoky Mountains can come together to share information, ask questions, and enjoy discussions about the region. To keep this community friendly, informative, and safe for everyone, we have established these Community Guidelines and Moderation Policy (“Guidelines”). By participating in the forum (posting, commenting, or otherwise using the site), you agree to follow these rules. These Guidelines exist to foster a positive environment and apply to all content and interactions on the forum. They supplement our other policies, including our Privacy Policy, which governs how we handle your personal data. Please read them carefully.

Our Goal: We aim to maintain a welcoming, respectful community where people of all backgrounds can discuss topics related to the Great Smoky Mountains (such as park information, travel tips, local news, hiking experiences, wildlife sightings, etc.) in a civil and constructive manner. Healthy debate and diverse perspectives are encouraged, but personal attacks, hate, and illegal content have no place here. The rules below explain what is expected of every member. They also describe how moderators may take action to enforce the rules and how users can appeal decisions. We strive to apply these rules fairly and consistently. Thank you for helping to keep this forum a great place to connect!

Community Rules

The following behaviors and content are not allowed on the forum. This list is meant to be thorough, but moderators may also remove other content that they determine to be harmful or inappropriate to the community’s mission. By participating, you agree NOT to post or engage in the following:

• Harassment, Hate Speech, and Bullying: Treat all forum members with respect. Do not insult, threaten, or harass anyone. This includes personal attacks, name-calling, or attempts to intimidate or demean another user. Absolutely no hate speech, slurs, or epithets targeting someone (or a group) on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability will be tolerated. We have zero tolerance for bigotry or discrimination. Be courteous and assume good intentions in others’ posts. If you disagree with someone, critique the content or idea, not the person.
• Obscene or Inappropriate Content: Do not post pornography, sexually explicit material, or overly graphic content (including images or descriptions of gore or violence). Content should be appropriate for a general audience, including families. Mild discussions of wildlife injuries or outdoor dangers are fine if relevant, but gratuitously violent or sexual content is prohibited. Avoid excessively vulgar or profane language. We want the forum to remain a comfortable space for all ages. Posts that are extremely vulgar or contain offensive imagery will be removed.
• Illegal Activities: Do not engage in or encourage any unlawful behavior on the forum. This includes posting instructions or advice for illegal acts, buying or selling illegal substances, soliciting crimes, or discussing ways to evade law enforcement. For example, do not post about poaching wildlife, vandalizing park property, trespassing in restricted areas, or using illegal drugs in the park. Also, do not share copyrighted materials (music, movies, software, articles) that you do not have the right to distribute. You are responsible for ensuring that anything you post (text, images, etc.) does not violate any law or someone else’s rights.
• Spam and Self-Promotion: The forum is not a place for unsolicited advertising or spam. Do not post commercial advertisements, promotional links, or referral codes for personal gain, especially if they are off-topic. It’s fine for active community members to occasionally share a relevant personal blog post or a local business recommendation in context, but purely promotional content or repetitive posting of the same link/product is not allowed. Do not create posts or messages that are just to drive traffic to your website or affiliate links. Additionally, mass-posting the same content across multiple threads or creating multiple threads on the same topic (flooding) is considered spam and will be removed.
• Off-Topic or Disruptive Posts: Please keep discussions relevant to the forum categories and the Smoky Mountains community. While we allow some friendly chit-chat, do not deliberately derail discussions or post content that is wildly off-topic in a thread. Repeatedly posting irrelevant content or nonsense messages that disrupt conversations will be treated as spam. If you want to discuss a new topic, find the appropriate section or start a new thread rather than hijacking an unrelated one. Posts that intentionally provoke others (trolling) or sow confusion may be removed.
• Impersonation and False Identities: Do not impersonate other people or organizations. You should not pretend to be another forum member, a celebrity, a government official, a park ranger, a moderator, or any person you are not. Similarly, do not misrepresent your affiliation with any entity. Your username and profile should not be misleading or intended to deceive others about your true identity. (Parody accounts, if clearly marked as such and harmless, may be permitted with prior moderator approval, but any impersonation that could mislead or defraud will result in an immediate ban.)
• Privacy Violations and Personal Data: Respect everyone’s privacy. Do not post personal or sensitive information about another person without their explicit consent. This includes real names (if they are using a pseudonym), phone numbers, physical addresses, email addresses, employer info, photographs of someone without permission, or any other personally identifying details (“doxxing”). Also, do not ask other users to publicly reveal sensitive personal information about themselves. You may share your own contact or personal info at your own risk (though we caution against posting things like your phone or address publicly), but you may not share someone else’s. If you’re quoting or reposting content from another user or source, remove any personal data unless you have permission.
• Copyrighted or Protected Material: Only post content (text, images, videos, etc.) that you have the right to post. Do not copy and paste large sections of text from copyrighted sources (news articles, books, etc.) into the forum. Instead, you may summarize or quote a short excerpt and provide a link to the source. For images, ensure you either own the image, have permission, or it’s in the public domain. If you share a photo you didn’t take (for example, a beautiful Smoky Mountains landscape shot you found online), credit the source and make sure it’s allowed. Any posts containing unauthorized use of someone else’s intellectual property may be removed if we receive a complaint (such as a DMCA takedown notice), and repeat infringement can lead to account termination. If you believe content you posted was removed by mistake, you can contact us (see Appeals below).
• Malicious or Disruptive Behavior: Do not attempt to interfere with the normal operation of the forum or other users’ use of the site. This includes activities such as: introducing malware or viruses; attempting to hack or gain unauthorized access to the site or other users’ accounts; performing attacks such as denial-of-service; or deliberately exploiting bugs or vulnerabilities in the software. Also, do not knowingly post links to sites that contain trojans, viruses, or other harmful content. If you discover a security flaw in our forum, please report it privately to the administrators rather than exploiting it. Any behavior that threatens the technical integrity of the forum will result in immediate and permanent expulsion from the community.
• Multiple Accounts and Evasion: Each individual should normally only have one forum account. Do not create multiple accounts (“sockpuppets”) to evade a ban, vote multiple times in a poll, impersonate others, or manipulate discussions (for example, by feigning support from multiple people). If you have a legitimate reason for an alternate account (say, one for personal use and one for professional use), you must seek permission from the moderators first. Users who have been suspended or banned are not allowed to create new accounts to circumvent those moderation actions. Doing so will lead to those accounts being removed and may lengthen or turn a temporary ban into a permanent one.

These rules apply to all content you contribute: including forum posts, comments, private messages, profile information, and any media (images, videos) you upload. Keep in mind that moderators may remove or edit any content that violates these rules or that is deemed inappropriate for other reasons, at their discretion (even if it’s not explicitly listed above). When in doubt, ask yourself if your post is something that contributes positively to the community and respects others. If not, reconsider before posting.

Note: If you ever see content on the forum that you believe violates these rules or is otherwise harmful, please report it to the moderators (most posts will have a “Report” or “Flag” option, or you can contact a moderator directly). Community vigilance helps us maintain a safe space. Do not engage with rule-breaking content; instead, report it and let moderators handle it.

Enforcement and Moderation Actions

Our moderation team (identified by “Moderator” or “Admin” badges on their profiles) is responsible for enforcing the above rules and maintaining a healthy community. Moderators have the authority to remove content and to take action on user accounts when rules are broken. Below are the typical actions moderators may take when a guideline is violated, in increasing order of severity:

• Content Removal or Edit: If a post or comment violates the rules, moderators will remove it (or in some cases, edit out the offending portions, with a note). The user may receive a note or warning referencing the specific rule that was broken. Minor first-time offenses often result in just a warning and removal of content. For example, a mildly off-topic post might simply be moved or removed with a reminder, while a harassing comment will be deleted and the user warned.
• Official Warning: For more serious or repeated violations, a moderator will issue an official warning via private message or email. The warning will outline what rule was violated and instruct the user to cease that behavior. Warnings serve as a documented notice. After a warning, continued violations will typically lead to more serious consequences. Please take warnings seriously and adjust your behavior accordingly.
• Temporary Suspension: If a user repeatedly or flagrantly violates the rules even after warnings, or commits a serious violation outright, the moderators may suspend the user’s account for a defined period of time. A temporary suspension means the user will not be able to log in, post, or interact on the forum for that duration. The length of the suspension can vary depending on severity – it might be 24 hours for a cooling-off period, a week, or even a month. The moderator will inform the user (usually via email or when they attempt to log in) of the suspension and its duration. While suspended, the user is expected to reflect on the Guidelines; upon return, they should follow the rules to avoid further action.
• Permanent Ban: A user who refuses to follow the rules after repeated interventions, or who commits an especially egregious violation of community standards, may be permanently banned from the forum. Permanent ban means the user’s account is deactivated indefinitely (and they are prohibited from creating new accounts). This step is not taken lightly – it’s reserved for severe misconduct such as persistent harassment, posting of illegal content, engaging in hate speech, or any behavior that severely undermines the community. In cases of a permanent ban, we may also block the user’s IP address or other identifiers to prevent re-registration. The banned user will be notified that they are no longer welcome on the platform.
• Immediate Removal/Ban for Extreme Violations: Certain behaviors can result in immediate content removal and account termination without the typical warning steps. For instance, posting explicit child pornography, credible threats of violence, or other content that is not just against our rules but is illegal and dangerous will trigger swift action. We will remove the content as soon as it is discovered, immediately ban the user, and, if appropriate, report the matter to law enforcement authorities. There is no tolerance for such extreme violations, and we prioritize the safety of the community above all else.

Moderators will make a good-faith effort to be fair and to communicate with users regarding moderation decisions. However, note that moderators cannot review every single piece of content instantly; they rely on community reports and their own oversight. If your content was removed or your account was acted upon, you will typically be given a reason (either through an automated notification or a direct message from a moderator). All users are expected to cooperate with moderators — arguing aggressively or disrespectfully with moderators after a decision, especially in public threads, may itself violate the rules (e.g., under harassment or disruption). If you disagree, please use the appeals process described below rather than attacking moderators or re-posting removed material.

Appeals and Dispute Resolution

We understand that moderation decisions can sometimes be controversial, and we want to ensure a fair process. If you believe a moderation action (such as removal of your post or a suspension/ban of your account) was unjustified or a mistake, you have the right to appeal or request further review. Here’s how the appeals process works:

• Contact the Moderation Team: To appeal a decision, privately contact the moderators rather than discussing it publicly on the forum. You can send a private message to a moderator or administrator, or use the contact form on the site (selecting an option related to moderation/appeal if available). In your message, be sure to include your username, the specific action you are appealing (e.g., “3-day suspension issued on [date]” or “removal of my post titled X”), and your reasons for requesting a review.
• State Your Case Calmly: When appealing, remain respectful and focus on the facts. Explain why you think the moderation action may have been in error or why your post didn’t violate the rules. If you have new information or context that the moderators might not have been aware of, please present it. For example, if your post was removed for impersonation but you actually had permission or were misunderstood, let us know. Personal attacks or angry rants will not help your case — remember that moderators are people too and can be more receptive when approached politely.
• Review by Administrators: Upon receiving an appeal, a different moderator or the lead administrator (who was not involved in the original decision, if possible) will review the situation. They may consult the moderation logs, the content in question, and other moderators’ input. They will then make a determination. This could result in one of several outcomes: (a) the action is upheld (meaning we still find the original violation valid), (b) the action is modified (e.g., a suspension shortened or a post reinstated with edits), or (c) the action is reversed (e.g., the post is restored or the ban is lifted) if we conclude it was made in error or the user has addressed the issue.
• Outcome and Further Appeals: We will inform you of the outcome of your appeal, typically via the same channel you contacted us (private message or email). The decision made upon appeal is generally final. We ask that you respect that final decision. Repeated appeals for the same issue after a final decision, or harassing moderators to overturn a decision, may result in further penalties. However, if you have truly new evidence or considerations, we won’t ignore them — just know that we can’t engage in endless back-and-forth. Our goal is to be fair but also to keep the community moving forward.

Note: During an appeal review, if your suspension period expires, you may regain access to the forum in the interim, but the review might still continue. A successful appeal on a permanent ban might result in reinstatement under certain conditions. We handle appeals on a case-by-case basis, striving for consistency. In extremely rare cases, we may convene a panel of multiple moderators to discuss a contentious situation. Above all, we want to ensure that if a mistake was made, we correct it, and if not, that you understand why the rule exists. Please also remember that while you are free to ask about a decision, posting angrily about it in public threads (e.g., creating a “Why was my post removed?!” thread) is against the guidelines. Keep it in private messages to maintain forum harmony.

User Responsibilities and Account Expectations

In addition to following the rules above, users have certain general responsibilities and expectations when participating in the forum:

• Honesty and Authenticity: Strive to be truthful in your contributions. Share accurate information to the best of your knowledge, especially when someone is seeking advice (for example, safety tips for a hike or directions to a location). If you’re sharing an opinion or joke, that’s fine — just don’t intentionally spread misinformation. If you’re unsure about something, it’s okay to say so or to refrain from posting until you can verify.
• Account Security: You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account login credentials. Do not share your password with others, and do not use someone else’s account. If you lose control of your account or suspect it’s been compromised (for example, you notice posts you didn’t write), contact an admin immediately so we can secure it. We recommend using a strong, unique password for this forum. The site administrators will never ask for your password.
• Appropriate Use of Forum Features: Use the forum tools and features as intended. For instance, the private messaging system is there for private one-on-one or small group conversations, not for spamming other users or circumventing public rules. The “Report” button should be used judiciously to flag genuine violations, not as a weapon to target someone you simply disagree with. Do not abuse reactions, likes, or other interactive features to harass (for example, do not “dislike” all of a user’s posts out of spite, if such a feature exists). Participate in good faith.
• No Expectation of Editorial Control: We do not pre-approve content before it’s posted (this is a moderated community, not a censored one). As a user, you acknowledge that you may come across content that you disagree with or even find offensive, despite our rules. We rely on members to help report problematic content. If you encounter something that you feel breaches the guidelines, report it rather than responding in kind. Also, understand that moderators might not catch every issue immediately; your patience and cooperation are appreciated.
• Follow Moderator Instructions: If a moderator contacts you with a request or instruction (for example, asking you to edit a post, or to take a heated argument to private message, etc.), please comply. Moderators may occasionally issue general reminders in threads (like “let’s get back on topic” or “cool down the language, folks”). These should be heeded by all participants in that thread. Ignoring moderator guidance can lead to formal warnings.

By keeping these responsibilities in mind, you help ensure the forum remains a friendly and useful place for everyone. Remember, each user plays a part in setting the tone of the community. Be the kind of community member you would enjoy interacting with.

User-Generated Content and License

When you post content on the forum (be it text, images, etc.), you retain ownership of your content. We do not claim ownership over the stuff you write or create. However, by posting on the forum, you are granting us a license to use that content on the Site. In legal terms, you grant the Site owner a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to host, reproduce, distribute, display, and create derivative works of your content within the context of the forum (for example, we might quote your post in a “Highlights of the Month” thread, or backup your content on our servers). This license is necessary for us to display your posts to other users and to maintain archival copies as needed. You can generally edit or delete your own posts, but be aware that other users might have quoted or referenced them, and we cannot retroactively erase those references if they exist. If you delete your account, as noted in the Privacy Policy, your past posts may remain visible under an anonymized username to preserve the continuity of discussions.

You also represent that you have the rights to any content you post. In other words, you promise that you wrote what you posted (or have permission from the author), and that posting it here doesn’t violate any copyright, trademark, or other rights. If you share something that isn’t yours, you should have permission or it should be public domain/fair use. If we receive complaints that content you posted infringes someone’s rights, we will investigate and may remove it. Repeated infringement could lead to your account being terminated.

All user-generated content on the forum is the sole responsibility of the user who posted it. We (the forum owners and moderators) do not pre-approve content and cannot guarantee its accuracy, integrity, or quality. While we have rules and will remove posts that violate them when we see them, we are not liable for what users post. The opinions expressed in the forum are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Site or its operators. We do not endorse any advice or opinion made by users. Always exercise caution and your own judgment when following advice given on the forum (for example, hiking or travel recommendations). If you see advice about something safety-critical (like wildlife encounters or backcountry hiking) and you’re unsure, double-check with authoritative sources. By using the forum, you understand that you may be exposed to content from many different users, and you rely on that information at your own risk.

Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

The Smoky Mountains Community Forum is provided as a platform for community interaction and information sharing. While we strive to maintain a high-quality, respectful environment, the Site and its operators are not responsible for the actions of individual users or the content they post. All content on the forum is provided “as is.” We make no warranties or representations regarding the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information on the forum. We disclaim any and all liability for any harm or damages that result from your use of the forum or reliance on information found here, to the fullest extent permitted by law. This includes, but is not limited to, advice or information on the forum that may be incorrect or misleading — you assume all risk for any actions you take based on what you read.

Specifically, the forum owners and moderators will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or any loss of data, opportunities, reputation, or profits arising from or related to your use of the forum. In plain language: if something goes wrong or you get into a dispute with another user, we are not financially responsible for that. Our liability to you, in any case, will be limited as much as the law allows. Some jurisdictions do not allow certain liability limitations or warranty exclusions, so some of these disclaimers may not fully apply to you — but in those cases, our liability will be limited to the minimum extent permitted by applicable law.

Please also note that while we do our best to keep the forum available and secure, we do not guarantee that the site will be available uninterrupted or error-free at all times. Outages, technical issues, or data loss could occur, and by using the forum you acknowledge those risks. We will endeavor to fix problems as they arise, but we shall not be held liable for any technical malfunctions, or for any damage to your computer or device that might occur in connection with using the forum (for example, due to viruses or attacks by third parties).

Nothing in these guidelines is intended to override any rights you have under law or any legal responsibilities we have that cannot be waived. These disclaimers are simply to clarify that being a forum host does not make us automatically responsible for everything our users do, and to set reasonable expectations for all parties.

Privacy and Data Protection

Your use of the forum is also governed by our Privacy Policy. Please review that policy to understand how we collect and use your information. In summary, by using the forum you acknowledge that communications on the forum (posts, etc.) are generally public, and you should have no expectation of privacy for content you choose to make public. We do, however, protect your personal account information according to our Privacy Policy. We will never sell your personal data, and we take measures to secure the information you provide to us. Keep in mind that if you voluntarily share personal information in a public post, that information can be seen and used by others outside of our control. For your own safety, avoid sharing sensitive personal details publicly on the forum. If another user is asking for personal data in a way that makes you uncomfortable or seems inappropriate, please report it to a moderator.

Also, as noted in our Privacy Policy, we utilize third-party advertising (Mediavine) and analytics which may collect certain information from you (via cookies, etc.). By participating in the forum, you consent to such data practices as described in the Privacy Policy. If you have privacy-related questions or need to exercise any data rights (like requesting deletion of your account data), refer to the Privacy Policy for instructions on how to contact us.

Changes to These Guidelines

Community standards may evolve over time. We reserve the right to modify or update these Community Guidelines and Moderation Policy as needed to address new issues or improve our community management. If we make significant changes to the rules or how we enforce them, we will notify the community — for example, by posting an announcement in the forum or updating this page with a notice of what’s changed. Minor tweaks or clarifications may occur more frequently and may not always be announced, so we encourage members to review this page periodically. The “Effective as of” date at the top will be updated whenever substantive changes are made.

If you continue to use the forum after an update to the Guidelines, that will constitute your acceptance of the new rules (of course, within legal limits). If you do not agree with a change, you should stop using the forum and can contact us to discuss any concerns. Our aim is always to make the community better and safer, so most changes will be in that spirit.

Contact and Questions

The moderation team and site administrators are here to help. If you have any questions about these Guidelines, need clarification on a specific rule, or have concerns about a particular moderation decision, please feel free to reach out. The best way to contact us is through the forum’s contact page or by sending a direct message to an admin/moderator. We will do our best to respond and address your inquiry. For example, if you’re unsure whether something you want to post might violate the rules, you can ask a moderator for guidance (we’d much rather help beforehand than have to remove a post afterward).

By working together and respecting these Guidelines, we can ensure that the Smoky Mountains Community Forum remains an informative, enjoyable, and safe place for all members. Thank you for being a part of our community and for contributing to its positive spirit. Let’s share our love for the Smokies and help each other out!