Newbies Please Read Before Posting

[Ohiogal]

What is the name of your state? Any and all

1) The first big rule is you see the line above this one -- the one that states -- WHAT IS THE NAME OF YOUR STATE? Guess what. That is a question. It needs answered. Laws differ by state. We need that information to help you.

2) Don't lie. Don't mislead. Don't pretend you are someone else in situation. Be straight about it. Don't post from the other perspective. Don't pretend you are mom or dad when you are a stepparent. Don't pretend you are dad when you are mom. Don't pretend you are the obligor when you are the obligee. Don't do it. That is called LYING. Most first graders know that. And it won't do anything but piss off the people who can help you.

3) Don't use "we" if you are referring to you and someone else and one of those two is not the parent (as in the actual mom or dad). NOPE. Not gonna do it. The child has two parents. THE STEPPARENT is a legal stranger now and forever. Deal with it. If you are just the bedwarmer, girlfriend/boyfriend, significant other, sex toy, yep you are legal stranger. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and any other family relation are legal strangers.

4) Do NOT use the word BIO or even shorten it to BM or BF unless this is an adoption situation. END OF STORY. If you use it in referring to the other parent, prepare to be stomped. Do not insult the ex with the child. Doesn't matter who they are. They are the parent of your (or your love's) child. It ranks up there with referring to them as BM or BF. Except this also applies to adoption threads.

5) PUT WHITE SPACE IN YOUR POSTS. Yes I know I re-edited this to add white space because entering at the end of every paragraph didn't do it. And I needed reminded by LD. But I thought it would have white space due to the entering. So reread your posts AFTER it posts to make sure it makes sense and you do have white space.

6) DO NOT SHARE USERNAMES. I don't care if you are married, living together, soulmates, the parent, whoever. ONLY ONE PERSON PER USERNAME. Then refer to all other rules. Okay?

7) Before diving in to post something, read the rules. Read the TOS.

8) DO NOT decide that getting snarky with senior members or more senior than you members is the way to go. IF you are here any length of time you will earn our respect (hopefully) and you will find that we senior members know our stuff. We disagree at times but we don't get rude, arrogant and name calling. If you however as a new member decide to get rude with us, all bets are off.

9) DO NOT DOUBLEPOST. You like your problem? Nice> But we do not need to see it repeated twelve times. We don't care that much. And yes before anyone says that this has been posted before, it was suggested that I close the other thread and repost it for the simple reason that I will keep adding rules suggested by members and keep it circulating.

10) DO NOT HIJACK. If you have a question dealing with your own situation, start ONE thread (note rule number 13 please) about it and ask your questions there. Don't explain your situation on someone else's thread. It is rude, distracting and may result in the OP (original poster) not getting the information they need.

11) Do not delete your thread when you are done. We post because we hope that others might learn from these threads. Others read these threads other than you. If you do delete your thread, be aware that you will find yourself getting very little, if any, help from knowledgeable members again.

12) DO NOT POST IN ALL CAPS. See like what i just wrote. It is considered shouting and it is also rude. *Yeah well stick around and you will find out I am considered rude. But I don't want help, am not asking for help, and am here to give it. (Oh there are TWO different sets of rules -- one for the askers and one for the answerers in some situations. For the answerers you will learn them by the time you reach SR status -- or you won't reach senior status.)

13) ) Do answer the questions that are asked in order to clarify your situation, such as "Who are you in this scenario?" or "When did that happen?" or "What does the court order say?" or "Can you afford to pay the mortgage?" or "Did you report it the police?" without getting all snippy and acting insulted or claiming that people are trying to pry into your personal business. When you ask a question without providing context you are unlikely to get an answer that will really be helpful to you.

14) RE: Locking posts: If you want an answer, do not lock your post. If your post is locked then either YOU or the moderator locked it. No one else can do so. Either way no one can answer. If you did not lock it then the moderator locked it and it was locked because the thread was getting out of hand and/or you had already received your legal answer.