How to post a message

To post a message go to Create Content on the left hand side and click on New Forum topics or Just Joined Forum. If you have any difficulties please contact us through the contact section http://www.coap.co.uk/contact.  

When you join you can post a message in the Just Joined Forum that lets others know that you have just joined the COAP online community. 

You can also post a reply to someone else's message when you join. 

Please Read Before You Sign Up

Staying Safe Online - Signing up

Whenyou visit the COAP message board, sign in with a username, when you’re postingmessages make sure you don’t give out you real full name, your email address,your phone number, where you live, your school, and don’t send out a picture ofyourself.

Neveruse your own name or family surname when you register for an account to jointhe COAP online community.

Please make sure that you only use a username (a nickname), for example "heretotalk" or "flower" etc. Thisis for COAP members safety as some members may have a profile in anetworking site such as Facebook or Myspace, so by only using theusername (a nickname), this means people will not be able to identify youby looking in a search engine and finding your profiles. The message board canbe viewed by anyone, and those who create an account can read replies to posts,so to make sure no one else knows who you are, choose a nickname for yourusername. It is best to keep info like this to yourself, as you never knowwho might be in the forums, and who can see your details.

Pleasedon’t use an inappropriate nickname. If you use a nickname that is rude, vulgaror offensive you will not be able to post on the message board.

Be Aware

You cant always be 100% sure that people of your ageare in the forums. There could be an adult trying to pretend to be around yourage, trying to trick you or wind you up. Chat Safely!

Not using your computer to visit COAP!

If you visit COAP on a mobile phone or games console remember the same online safety rules apply.

Private passwords

Keep all passwords you use on the computer PRIVATE,keep them to yourself.

Messageboard rules

Dos

• Keep your messages on the message board clean and relevant to the discussion. Anything rude, crude, racist, threatening or otherwise upsetting will not get posted. 
• Make sure your message adds something meaningful to the post.
• Treat others the way you'd like to be treated - with respect.  

Don'ts 

• Don’t swear or post messages that are offensive.
• Don't write messages on the message board that are obviously suicidal or contain graphic descriptions of self harm as these can't be posted. If you are feeling this way contact Childline or Samaritans. 
• Don't arrange to meet anyone on the site, ask for anyone's personal details or give out your own details.
• Don't name individuals (such as family or friends) or say anything that is not true about another person that can easily be identified as this can amount to libel. 
• Don’t write a message stating your intent to leave the site (forever or for a short while) as this can leave other users feeling like they should convince you to stay.
• The discussion of illegal activities, such as software and music piracy and other intellectual property violations, are not allowed.  
• Any sexually oriented imagery or links to such content are unacceptable and will not be posted

By posting a message, you agree that we may use the whole or part of themessage for the purpose of site fundraising or promotion

Exceptfor comments by moderators, the views expressed either on or via these forumsare those of the author alone and are not necessarily endorsed or shared byCOAP.

Something bugging you?

If something is worrying you leave the forumstraight away and report it to COAP, also let someone else know. Save anyconversations with the date, day and time it happened, that you think couldprove someone has been making you feel uncomfortable, worried or upset. Toreport something to COAP contact us through the contact section.

Thinking of meeting someone?

NEVER arrange to meet anyone in the real world whoyou have met online, unless your parent/carer agrees and comes with you. Ifyour parent/carer does agree and comes with you, never arrange to meet at youronline friend at their house or yours. Meet in a public place like a shoppingcentre, or café; it’s safer. Meeting someone you have only been in touch withonline can be dangerous. 

No time for bad manners?

Report bad-taste and bad-attitude messages in theforums to COAP by emailing us through the contact section.

Email Nasties!

Viruses can spread through email attachments,causing serious damage or even destroy your computer. Make sure the emails arefrom people you know and trust before opening them. Even this does notnecessarily mean your computer is safe, so if you are not sure, scan it forviruses first or bin it.

Further information to help you stay safe online can befound on the following websites: 

http://www.childline.org.uk/.......staying safe online
http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/ 
http://www.kidsmart.org.uk/ 
http://www.parentscentre.gov.uk/usingtheinternet/

Moderation Policies

To ensure that the COAP messageboards  provide a safe and friendly userenvironment, all posts to the forums will be pre-moderated. 

Posts that breach any of the rules outlined in the message board rules will not be posted. 

Please note any users that post a message with an external link to promote a business or service that is not relevant to supporting others in the community will be deleted and the user will be banned from the COAP website.

Messages posted that fall into any of these categoriesbelow will be deleted and not displayed in the message forums.

- Pointless – the message contributes no value to the messageboards
- Crosspost – the message was posted to more than one forum  
- SPAM – the thread was advertising or thinly disguised market research 

Messages that do not fall exactly into one of the above categories, but whichare deemed inappropriate due to their content or nature will not be posted. 

Posting messages

Please note that it can take up to 24 hours for a message to be moderated and put up onto the site. All messages are moderated before they go up onto the site to ensure COAP members safety, so that personal details such as email addresses and phone numbers are not posted onto the website.

Taking care of yourself

Please remember to take care of yourself when visiting this website and reading other people's messages. Sometimes other people's messages may contain upsetting experiences that may trigger or deepen your own distress. You can always stop reading a message if its upsetting you and come back to it another time.

Please note

COAP does not offer an emergency service. If you consider your problem to be life threatening or if it is extremely serious we ask you to contact the emergency services or other appropriate agencies. Please see the links section for other important links.

Last updated [July 2010]