AOL T.O.S - Interesting Link Although It Seems To Be Old..

[Lee]

[These are samples from AOL's "Secret TOS Policy", the terms-of-service
"enforcement" manual for America Online "guides" (sysops), as
applied to "offensive" speech by AOL members. The document was
revealed by a former AOL "guide" who blew the whistle. Please sit down
before reading this. It may shock you. Among the list of terms
considered "unconditionally vulgar" or "conditionally vulgar", and to be
censored, are these words:

69, blow, bondage, boys, cross dressing, defecation, dom, domination,
douche, erotic, fetishes, gay youth, gay teens (but, somehow, not "gay
young adults"), genitalia, girls, hot, leather, lingerie, lust,
masturbation, oral, panties, penis, pervert, queer, sadomasochism,
semen, sexual devices, shaved, slave, spanking, teens, transsexual,
transvestite, ts, sub, submissive, underwear, urination, vagina, wet,
whips & chains, and youth, among others.

Use any of these words more than twice when an AOL sysop is spying on
you, and AOL will terminate your account.

NEW: At the end is a new (as of July 1996) article, excerpted from
Computer Privacy Digest, on AOL's "policing" of private chat rooms, and
termination of accounts for even being "in" such a chat room if AOL
belives the room was created for illegal purposes by someone else. This
is followed by a brief note from Aug. 1996, regarding a short-lived
English-only rule, to make enforcing the TOS easier.]





OFFENSES



An offense is a verified TOS violation that counts against the
member. Members start out with no offenses on their record.
Violations through E-Mail, chat, message boards, or instant
messages can bring violators to their first, second, and third off
ense. Generally, the first offense yields a reminder of the Terms
of Service, but no action; the second offense yields a bump or a
stern E-Mail warning; and the third offense brings termination.



Once an account is terminated, we usually do not reactivate them.
If the member feels there are extenuating circumstances that merit
reactivation, or revocation of a warning, they may send a letter to
"TOSAdvisor" in E-Mail if they are still online, or to the Terms of
Service Advisor via U.S. Mail. Each case will be considered
individually.

Any time a violation occurs, a history is left on the violator's
account, and on the victim's account, if any. These histories stay
active for six months. Thus, violations have a built-in statute of
limitations of six months.

May 26, 1992



TYPES OF VIOLATIONS

The following are considered Terms of Service violations:

- Vulgar language: We generally go by prime-time television
standards, but do not allow sexual references. See the Vulgarity
document for specific details.

- Scrolling/room disruption: "Scrolling" means repeatedly typing a
line into a public room, causing everyone's screen to scroll too
fast to read other conversation. Room disruption is defined as a
violator not allowing normal conversation to flow in the room (e.g.
interfering with a Trivia game, or a debate). It can also be used
when somebody is "inciting members to riot" and violate TOS.

- Harassment/Guide harassment: This area is the least defined of
all TOS violations. Often, staffers will feel that a member
deserves a harassment bump for simply antisocial behavior. This is
not the case; we can only consider a violator as harassi ng if the
violator has actually targeted a specific member, staffer, or
group. Personal judgement is involved here.

- Impersonation of Staff: Any member who misrepresents himself,
through screen name or false statements, as an America Online staff
member or employee.

- Discussion of Illegal Activities: We do not permit members to
commit, or discuss with intent to commit, pirating, phreaking, drug
use, child pornography, or other illegal activities via our
products.

- Solicitation/Commercial Activities: We do not allow AOL to be
used for commercial purposes, such as sending mass mailings to
solicit for a real-estate scheme, or opening a room to advertise a
product. Our online vendors, of course, are exempt from this
policy.

January 26, 1992




This section contains examples of vulgar, conditionally vulgar, and
acceptable phrases and subjects. Synonyms of these are usually
unacceptable. Gender should not be taken into account; if "men on
men" is not allowed, neither is "women on men". As terisks and
other symbols cannot be used to "mask" a violation if any letters
of the vulgarity are still present. "F--- you" is vulgar, but "my

Staff should use judgement in warning members who ask if certain
things are vulgar. If the member appears genuine, the staffer
should answer the question via IM or E-Mail, or refer the member to
TOSAdvisor if they feel uncomfortable answering; they should also
suggest that the member restrict future questions to E-Mail or IMs.
If the member begins to use the "question" format to spout
vulgarity, the member should be given a friendly reminder to keep
such things to private communication. If the member continues, a
warning is in order.

If a phrase comes up that is not listed here, use your judgement to
decide whether to warn the member, and send E-Mail to your online
supervisor to obtain an official decision.



69 - rooms (sexual)
adultery - OK
anti-AOL - (6)
anti-Guide - (6)
ass - vulgar
bare skin - OK
bears - OK
bearskin - OK
bi - OK
bitch - (2)
blow (job) - vulgar
bondage - vulgar
bound to tease - OK
boys - rooms (sexual)
clit - vulgar
cock - vulgar
come - (3)
cornhole - vulgar
couples - OK
cross dressing - rooms
cum - (3)
cunnilingus - vulgar
cunt - vulgar
damn - OK
defecation - vulgar
dick - vulgar
do me - rooms
dom - rooms
domination - rooms
douche - vulgar
dykes - vulgar
erotic - rooms
fags - vulgar
fart - vulgar
fascism - (7)
fellatio - vulgar
fetishes - rooms
flirt - OK
fuck - vulgar
gay - OK
gay bears - OK
gay couples - OK
gay lovers - rooms
gay teens - rooms
gay young adults - OK
gay youth - rooms
gay videos - OK
genitalia - vulgar
gif - (4)
girls - rooms (sexual)
graphics - OK
graphic exchange - (4)
hell - OK
horny - vulgar
hot - (8)
hot men/women - OK
hot tub - OK
hot videos - OK
insults - rooms
KKK - (7)
kinky - rooms
lambda - OK
leather - rooms (sexual)
lesbian - OK
let's go private - OK
lingerie - rooms
looking for - OK
lust - rooms
masturbation - vulgar
men for men - OK
men on men - rooms
men to men - OK
men - OK
Nazi - (7)
****** - vulgar
nudity - (9)
oral - rooms (sexual)
panties - rooms
penis - vulgar
pervert - rooms
piss - vulgar
private rooms - OK
pussy - vulgar
queers - vulgar
racial issues - (7)
sadomasochism - vulgar
sapphos - OK
semen - vulgar
sex - (10)
sexual devices - vulgar
shaved - rooms (sexual)
shower - OK
shit - vulgar
slave - rooms (sexual)
slut - vulgar
spanking - rooms
stud - OK
sub - rooms
submissive - vulgar
swingers - OK
suck - (5)
teen shower - rooms
teens - rooms (sexual)
teens wanted - rooms
tit - vulgar
transsexual - vulgar
transvestite - vulgar
ts - rooms
tv - OK
twat - vulgar
underwear - rooms
urination - vulgar
vagina - vulgar
video - OK
virgins - OK
wanted - OK
wet - (8)
whips & chains - vulgar
who like - OK
who love - OK
who want - rooms (1)
women for women - OK
women on women - rooms
women to women - OK
women - OK
youth - rooms (sexual)


Key:
VULGAR: Unconditionally vulgar.

ROOMS: Vulgar in room names or screen names.

ROOMS (SEXUAL): Vulgar in room names or screen names if possibly
sexual. These words are only allowed in screen names or room names
if other phrases clearly make them not sexual. For instance, a
member may not create a room "Oral," but "Oral Robert s" is
permitted. " Slaves here" is not allowed, but "Free the slaves"
is. "Jimmy69" would be fine, but "Ilike69" would have to be
deleted.


OK: Acceptable. These words do not, in and of themselves,
constitute vulgarity or sexual connotations. Thus, if "Hot Tub" is
OK, and "Teens" is rooms (sexual), then Teen Hot Tub is acceptable
as well.


Notes:


1 * who want *: If referring to peopl e, this is not allowed in
room names. For instance, "Men who want women" is vulgar, while "
Men who want a car" is not.

2. Bitch: Vulgar if an insultable person, place, or thing is
being called a bitch. "Life's a bitch" is fine, "My mom is a
bitch" is vulgar.

3. Come/cum: Vulgar if used in a possibly sexual manner.
Spelling doesn't count. "Cum over here" is fine, "I come when I
think if you" isn't.

4. GIF/Graphic Exchange: While not vulgar, this is not allowed in
room names due to the probability of illegal GIFs being exchanged.
Do not hide rooms that don't include mention of "exchange" or
"trade"; for example, "Computer Graphics" would be f ine.

5. Suck: Vulgar if used in a possibly or probably sexual manner
("suck me"), or if an insultable person, place, or thing is said to
suck. "The Redskins suck" is fine, "Life sucks" is fine, "Jimmy
sucks" is not fine.

Exception: A member may say that AOL, or any manifestation such
the Guide program, sucks.

6. Anti-AOL: We do not want to appear to censor members who speak
out against us. Anti-AOL rooms, or rooms protesting manifestations
of AOL such as Guides, should not be hidden. However, rooms which
insult or harass individual Guides or AOL emplo yees should be
hidden.

7. Racial Issues: Racial slurs are not allowed. Rooms promoting
racism (KKK Unite) are not allowed, but discussion of racial issues
(KKK Discussion) are.

8. Hot, wet: These are borderline words. Use your judgement, and
consider it vulgar if they're talking about "hot" as in sex, or
"wet" as in feminine moisture. Hot men/women/cars/videos/etc. are
fine, as "hot" could be referring to "good looking " or some other
non-sexual thing.

9. Nudity: Discussion of nudity is fine; nude room names are a
judgement call. If it appears to be a "naturist" room, leave it,
but obviously sexual rooms like Nude Hot Tub or Topless Babes
should be hidden.

10. Sex: This is a judgement call. "Sexy" is fine, as an
adjective. The word should never appear in room names or screen
names as a noun (ILikeSex). In other situations, use the context to
determine whether the member was committing a TOS violatio n. For
instance, "Hey babe, anyone here wanna have sex" would be a
violation. "I didn't let my child see the movie because of the sex
in it" would not be a violation.


REPORTING PROCEDURES

(NOTE: Q-Link users should send mail to "QTOS", not "TOSAdvisor".)

The procedures for reporting a violation differ according to the
method by which the violation was committed.

E-MAIL, INSTANT MESSAGES, OR CHAT THAT YOU DID NOT WITNESS

If you did not witness the violation, take no action. Do not even
unofficially warn the alleged offender; do not take sides. Simply
refer any complaints to the screen name "TOSAdvisor." Members
should forward any offensive E-Mail to that name, and send any chat
logs. Instant Messages should be cut and pasted, where possible;
otherwise, they should be directly quoted. We cannot promise that
we will take action on each complaint, but they will be read,
replied to, and actioned where appropriate.

CHAT THAT YOU DID WITNESS, OR EMAIL/INSTANT MESSAGES TO YOU

FIRST: Send a friendly on-screen warning, referencing:
- The violator's screen name
- The violation being committed
- The Terms of Service

For instance: "Steve C, vulgar language is not permitted here. See
our Terms of Service, keyword TOS."

SECOND: Write down the following information:
- Screen name of the violator
- Room name the violation occurred in
- Type of offense
- A quoted example of the violation

THIRD: If the member continues to commit TOS violations, contact a
Guide using keyword GUIDE PAGER, or send an IM to a Guide that you
saw in the Lobbies before you started your room. (NOTE: The
keyword GUIDE PAGER will remove you from your room on an Apple II
and PC-Link. Apple or PCL users should, instead, select Guide
Pager from the People Connection menu.) Be sure to provide the room
name, the problem member's name, and your staff position.

FOURTH: Once you're done hosting the room, send the information
you wrote down to the screen name "TOSAdvisor" in E-Mail. Again,
be sure to note your staff position. Do not include warnings you
gave to members who were later warned when you called a Guide.

SCREEN NAMES OR PROFILES

If you see a screen name or profile that is blatantly vulgar,
contact a Guide.

January 23, 1992


[end]



[Article excerpted from Computer Privacy Digest:]

------------------------------

From: "Prof. L. P. Levine"
Date: 06 Jul 1996 11:30:37 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: AOL Now Polices Private Rooms
Organization: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Taken from fight-censorship-digest Friday, 5 July 1996 01:161

This was reported as coming from an alt. newsgroup. Note that it
requires that if a person visits (by accident or otherwise) a chat room
where illegal activity (such as distribution of illegal software) goes
on the person will lose their AOL account. The email letter indicates
quite strongly that if you have entered such a room you better inform
the Community Action Team immediately with the 'or else' indicated by
implication.

Len Levine; UWM EE&CS Department

Newsgroups: alt.aol-sucks
Subject: AOL Now Polices Private Rooms
from: never@dave-world.net (BANE)
Organization: Your Organization
Date: 03 Jul 96 04:06:21 GMT

After being kicked out of the private room warez2 by an aol staffer
here is the letter they sent me.

Subj: TOS Violation Report
Date: 96-07-02 00:45:49 EDT
From: CATWatch05
To: Han1234567

Dear Member,

This e-mail has been sent to all of your screen names. If you have
already read it under another screen name, please disregard this
copy.

A screen name associated with your master account recently entered
the chat room warez2 This chat room is reportedly being used to
illegally trade software in violation of U.S. law and AOL=EDs Terms
of Service. In accordance with our Terms of Service, AOL reserves
the right to treat as public any private chat room whose directory
or room name is published or becomes generally known or available.
Please be advised that members found in these rooms may lose their
AOL membership without further warning.

If you entered this room in response to offers of "free online
time", "upgrades of AOL" or the like, you should be aware that
these offers are fraudulent. AOL does not issue credit through
private rooms, and upgrades of our software are only available in
designated free areas of AOL. If you come across any of these
false offers, we would appreciate it if you would report them to
the Community Action Team (keyword:TOS). If you believe you have
entered such a room by accident, please contact the Community
Action Team as soon as possible (keyword:TOS).

We remind you that the AOL community depends on our members abiding
by our community rules. If you are unfamiliar with these rules,
please take the time to read AOL=EDs Terms of Service, which is
always available free online by going to keyword "TOS".

If you have any questions or comments regarding this situation,
please feel free to contact us at the screen name TOSEMAIL1.

Regards,
The Community Action Team
America Online, Inc.

--
Leonard P. Levine e-mail levine@cs.uwm.edu
Professor, Computer Science Office 1-414-229-5170
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Fax 1-414-229-2769
Box 784, Milwaukee, WI 53201
PGP Public Key: finger llevine@blatz.cs.uwm.edu




***************************************

[Excerpt from Seidman's Online Insider, Aug. 4, 1996.]

AOL BACKS DOWN ON ITS STANCE and does away with the ban on posting to its
message board in foreign languages. America Online said the stance was
implemented because it could not ensure its Terms of Service were being
upheld if messages were posted in foreign languages. But AOL took some
bad press on this, and heard some cries of discrimination, and has changed
its stance. Whether "Ay, caramba!" will be a TOS violation remains to be
seen.

[...]

To subscribe to this newsletter by e-mail:
Send an e-mail message to LISTSERV@PEACH.EASE.LSOFT.COM and in the
BODY of the message type:

SUBSCRIBE ONLINE-L FIRSTNAME LASTNAME

[...]

A Web-based version of the newsletter is available at:
< http://www.netguidemag.com >.

http://www.eff.org/Censorship/Online...tos.manual.txt

I thought it was interesting to see how things seem to have changed over the last few years after reading this, there are numerous screennames and rooms on AOL and other online services that use these 'keywords' in them these days.

Strange to think that back in '96 this was considered 'the norm' LOL

Regards,

Lee

[HotMaleVideos]

VERY old. But interesting. As a former community employee before last winter's layoffs (keep the rocks and eggs to yourselves :devil: ), their modern guidelines are very reasonable as far as chat room names and the like are concerned.

There wasn't even a web to speak of in 1992 yet. LOL. They only had probably 100K-200K members at that point. Very hobbyist and controlled environment at the time. It was rare to see a gay chat room other than just "M4M" and "Muscle M4M". Nowadays GLB chat rooms dominate the listings.

[Bec]

verrrrrrrrrry interesting ... it was actually a board moderator's insistence at deleting posts on the aol lesbian "The Porch" board containing the word FART that prompted us to move off to our own domain and chatboard. Like, get a grip! :wacko: