Posting Policy

One of the reasons we have a blog and groups on the iParent web site is that in all our research and discussions with parents in town, the single comment that keeps coming up is our desire to have more of a feeling of community – that we’ve lost that “town square” feeling of a small town.  In the age of the internet, our goal is to recreate that feeling by encouraging discussions and open public forums to discuss issues important to parents. We want to hear people's stories, questions, suggestions, ideas, and reactions. In many respects, the blog is an open window into life our tri-town area of Mansfield, Ashford and Willington.

If you are a parent in our tri-town area, this is an opportunity to connect and engage with other parents. With our towns so geographically dispersed, this will be an opportunity to talk to your neighbors and to participate in a lively exchange from the comfort of your own computer.  We welcome you to our blog and appreciate your input and ideas as part of our broader virtual community.

Here are just a few ground rules for commenting on the blog:

1. Ideas
This is an open exchange of ideas. Feel free to discuss, challenge, and propose your own ideas. We like ideas and think all ideas should be subject to discussion and challenge. It just makes them better.

2. Stories
We also love stories. We love personal stories of what parenting ideas you’ve found to work in your own family.  By sharing, we’ll really get to know how others are handling the typical situations that arise in all families.  When “Johhny” comes home and says all the other parents are letting their kids do it, you’ll know for sure what the real story is! Feel free to post your stories.

3. Names
Community is about people and relationships.  The more you can reveal about yourself, the more real connections you’ll make.  However, we also want to make it comfortable for you to post anonymously so that even the most uncomfortable issues can be discussed within our community.   That being said, people have a funny way of getting a bit nasty and mean spirited when they are allowed to post anonymously and we don't want that. So anonymous comments (or ones under made up names or email addresses) will be deleted if they begin to cross that line.
 
4. Civility
Civility is the rule for all discussions. No name calling, baiting, or personal attacks. It is in the complete discretion of the moderator when someone has crossed the line from civility to incivility. When that line is crossed, your comment will be deleted. If it becomes a continuing problem. we will ban you from commenting.

5. Public
The blog is limited public forum intended for public dialogue, however only those who are members of the iParent Network will be allowed access to the site’s tools.  Anyone can read the static pages and access the resources it offers, but the tools that allow you to talk to one another will be strictly for the use of members of the iParent Network.  Since this is a public forum, please do not post anything here that you would not be comfortable saying in a public place.

6. Be Smart

Before posting photos of your friend's kids, please check with them first to make sure they are ok with that.  Do not post anything specific relating to any children, including where they will be at any particular time.  You may even want to create a pseudonym for them rather than referring to them by name.