At OCD Action, we want you to feel safe and secure while using the forums.
To help make this forum safe for everyone, our forum moderators review all posts. They moderate with a “light touch”. But they will step in when appropriate, for example, when forum guidelines aren’t being followed.
If you ever feel unsafe or are worried about your privacy on the forums, please contact the moderators at forum@ocdaction.org.uk. They’ll assist you as quickly as possible.
PERSONAL details & staying safe on the forums
Help us to help you stay safe by always communicating with other users “inside” the forums. We can help you if you have problems while using the forums. But if you communicate “outside” of the forums, it may be difficult for us to help.
Tips for personal safety and security:
- Do not post personal details, for example, your “real world” name, email address, social media account details, phone number, address, etc. If posted, these will be removed by the moderators. Users who repeatedly post personal details may have their accounts blocked.
- Communicate with other users by posting on the forums. We strongly advise that you do not contact users outside of the forums. This helps to ensure you’ll be safe, because posts are public, and everyone can read them.
- Keep your forum login and account details private. Never give these to another user – or ask for theirs.
- Remember that a crime in the virtual world can be as serious as in the real world!
younger forum users
If you’re a younger user, it is extremely important that you do not give any personal details to others. In addition to the details described above, this includes where you go to school. Please communicate by forum post only and never contact others “outside” of the forums.
BULLYING, HARASSMENT AND ABUSE
Bullying, harassment and abuse, including violent and aggressive behaviour both on and off the forums will not be tolerated by OCD Action. If you feel you are being bullied or are having problems with another user, please contact the moderators. Please do not try to deal with this in public in a forum post.
Supporting others on the forums
You’re very welcome to share your own experiences of OCD, including your diagnosis and what treatment worked for you. And please remember:
- You can make suggestions to others regarding OCD (or any other health condition) but you cannot tell them what to do
- You cannot make diagnoses or state what treatment is best or “right” for others. This simply isn’t safe. Only a qualified medical professional can diagnose or treat others.
- Be careful that your post doesn’t give others the impression that you are a medical professional (or any other professional) when you are not.
PRIVATE MESSAGES
To protect the safety, security and privacy of users, our forums do not allows users to contact each other using private messages (PMs). Forum posts are a much safer way to contact and support others than PMs. Not only is a post public – but by posting, you can support others too!
Please note: forum moderators (only) can contact individual forum users using the moderator direct message function. You can reply to moderator direct messages.
REPORTING A POST
Help us keep the forums safe! You can report a post that you believe doesn’t follow our forum rules or guidelines. The post could be insensitive or abusive, have illegal content or be selling a commercial product. Report it to the moderators by:
- clicking on the “REPORT” link on top right side of the post or
- emailing forum@ocdaction.org.uk Emails must include a link to the post with a brief explanation of why you’re reporting it.
The moderators will log your complaint, investigate it and get back to you as quickly as they can.
OUTSIDE LINKS
Moderators check all links in forum posts. However, it is not always possible to determine if a link has a virus or other malware attached to it. If a link with a virus etc. is detected, then the post and link will be deleted. A message will be posted by the moderators on the forums.
Links to inappropriate material, for example pornography and advertising, are also deleted. Users who post links that violate forum rules will be contacted by the moderators, and appropriate action taken as necessary.
Forum users should satisfy themselves about the safety and suitability of any links. OCD Action cannot be held responsible for any external content.
Our advice is to have an anti-virus/malware facility on your PC and ensure it is up to date and to determine the suitability of material shown using, if appropriate, parental controls. Some ISPs provide a free anti-virus/malware service. Anti-virus/malware software is readily available online and from computer outlets.
Helpful links
Before using the forums, please read the following: