User Guidelines
Registered vs Unregistered users
Users of the South Ayrshire Community Conversations digital community engagement tool are either registered or unregistered. To view the content of the platform a user does not need to be registered. Anyone can normally view the content and conversations. However, to participate and add content to subject matter on the platform a user will need to register. Each registration is for a single user only. You are responsible for all use of the site made by you using your ID (your username and password are collectively known as your "ID") and for preventing unauthorised use of your ID. If you disclose your ID to another person, you shall also be responsible for their unauthorised use of the site using your ID.
Reply and responding to messages
The discussion area within South Ayrshire Community Conversations is a space where registered users – the public, South Ayrshire Council officers, Council partners, individuals, community groups etc. – can meet virtually, discuss and share their views on what they consider to be important about the conversation theme. We aim to respond to as many comments where a response is required or would add benefit. This isn’t always possible, and we can sometimes miss posts, particularly when there is heavy traffic. We will sometimes need to forward your questions to other colleagues to get the information you require. This means that we may not be able to provide an answer right away, but we will endeavour to get back to you as soon as we can. It should be noted that we do not monitor the platform 24/7. If your query is urgent, serious or involves personal details, please use our Contact us on the Council’s website where you will find links to make suggestions, feedback or complaints.
Age restriction
To participate in online discussions you must be 16 years or older.
Moderation
Where possible, we will rely on the measure of protection and intervention which the platform already has in place (e.g. against illegal, harmful or offensive content), for example by flagging comments or alerting them to breaches of the site’s terms and conditions. We also have some of our own rules. We reserve the right to remove any contributions that break the rules of the platform, or any of the following guidelines:
- Don’t post messages that are unlawful, defamatory or libellous, abusive, threatening, harmful, obscene, profane, sexually oriented, racially offensive or discriminatory.
- Don’t bully, harass or intimidate any individual or organisation.
- Don’t impersonate someone else.
- Don’t swear.
- Be civil, tasteful and relevant.
- Don’t post content copied from elsewhere, which you don’t own the copyright for.
- Don’t post the same message, or very similar messages, repeatedly (also called 'spamming').
- Don’t publicise your, or anyone else’s, personal information.
- Don’t advertise products or services.
- Don’t post political comments.
Defamatory comments
Please take care not to make defamatory statements when posting on our pages. By publishing such a statement we can both get into serious trouble. We will therefore take down any statement that we consider could be deemed to be defamatory.
Personal information
We encourage you not to share private or sensitive information on this platform. This is because other people will be able to see this information. If you want to share personal information with us, please use Contact us on the Council’s website to find out the most appropriate way to get in touch.
Blocking
If we block your account, it will probably be because you’ve contravened the rules (above) or that in our opinion you’ve joined purely to promote a product or service.
Sharing
We try to share information that we think will be of interest or use to South Ayrshire citizens and businesses. However, please don’t be offended if we don’t share something you ask us to – it’s important that we remain impartial at all times.
Posts of a political nature
The council must remain politically neutral at all times and we will, therefore, not mention, like or share any local / national politicians or people aligned to political parties. This is because the council is barred from either producing political publicity or assisting others to do so.