There are a few simple rules that all of the members of our community agree to live by. Following are the rules of The Open Diary. Any entries or notes posted to the site that do not follow these rules will be removed, and the diary account of the person responsible will be subject to suspension or deletion by our staff.

Rule 1 - Anonymity

The Open Diary is a totally anonymous diary community. For your own safety, we don't want to know who you are, and we don't want your readers to know who you are. Therefore, please do not include any information in your diary that would explicitly identify you. Such information includes full names, street addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses that include your name in them (like JohnSmith@xyz.com).

We do not allow any such information on this site, and if you enter it, it will be deleted.

Remember, there is a potential audience of millions people on the Internet who could read your diary, we would prefer (and we think you would also) if they didn't know who your are. On the other hand, if you are keeping a diary and you want to tell somebody that a certain diary on this site is yours so that they can read it, that's your business.

Rule 2 - Be Careful With Your Language

We do not allow any racist, sexist, or otherwise derogatory or defaming language on this site. Sexually explicit language is also forbidden. There is a fine line between what is appropriate and what is not - if you need help seeing the line, think of the difference between an R-rated film and an X-rated film. R-rated is okay, X-rated is not.

Rule 3 - Respect All Members

Insulting, derogatory, or otherwise offensive language directed at other diarists in our community is strictly forbidden. If you do not agree with the viewpoints expressed by another diarist, please choose to simply not read their diary. Personal attacks will not be tolerated, and will result in removal of the offender's diary from the site. We believe that the opinions and views of all of our diarists are important, and should be respected.

Also, please refrain from harassing other OD members by repeatedly contacting or noting them, if you have been asked not to do so. If an OD member requests that you leave them alone, please respect their wishes.

Rule 4 - Use of Images

Linking to images or web pages outside of The Open Diary by use of HTML tags is allowed, but under certain restrictions. All pictures and links are subject to our content guidelines, and must be of a PG-rated nature or better. Posting obscene or offensive pictures or links to offensive sites in your diary may result in removal of your diary by our staff.

Also, you must have permission to link to images on other servers before doing so. Many other sites do not want to have their images accessed from outside sites (like OD), so please be sure that such linking is allowed.

Rule 5 - Copyrighted Materials

You must abide by all applicable copyright laws when posting text or images in your diary that were not created by you. If you are reposting text written by another diarist, please obtain their permission first. Do not post copyrighted materials (words or images) without explicit permission from the author or artist.

Rule 6 - Spam

Spamming other members' diaries with notes promoting products or services, or promoting the note author's own diary, is not allowed.

To report a Rules violation by an OD member : please go to the diary page on which the Rules violation appears. Then, click "Report Rules Violation" on the Help menu at the top of the page. Follow the instructions to report the violation to our DiaryMonitors.

We appreciate everybody's help in keeping Open Diary a community where everyone can feel welcome.