The HiA Way

INTRODUCTION

The HiA Network prides itself for having created a welcoming environment where our members can engage with one another in the spirit of mutual respect. This is the very essence of Ubuntu (I am because you are), a principle that underpins everything we do at the HiA Network.

We therefore call on all our members and visitors to observe this holistic way of being and refrain from Objectional Behaviour and/or sharing Objectional Content, neither of which will be tolerated on any of the HiA Network spaces.

To that extent we set out the following, which are to be read as being part of our Terms and Conditions.

By engaging in the HiA Network, Members and visitors agree to our ZERO tolerance for Objectionable Behaviour and Objectionable Content.  

DEFINITIONS

Objectional Behaviour:

• Harassment and any form of bullying;
• Sharing personal information of any person on or off the HiA Network without their consent; 
• Making or sharing Defamatory statements;
• Sharing or communicating offensive or derogatory content including racial, ethnic, sexist and other derogatory or discriminatory words, symbols or images;
• Use of foul language for insulting or degrading purposes; 
• Sending spam messages or posting spam on Network or Community Feeds and their comments;
• Sharing misleading links, fake content and potential or actual malware;
• Impersonating other persons, organizations, Communities or groups on or off the HiA Network;
• Words, symbols or images depicting violence directed at an individual, group, organization, personal property or animals;
• Ban evading to access Communities or the HiA Network;
• Sharing Objectionable Content;
• Tagging, naming or otherwise including other Members or other persons alongside Objectionable Content; 

Objectional Content: 

• Inappropriate content that is mature or sensitive;
• Pornographic material or lewd sexual material that is not pornographic;
• Words, symbols or images depicting extreme violence;
• Misleading or false information;
• Racial, ethnic, sexist and other derogatory or discriminatory words, symbols or images; 
• Defamatory material; 
• Spam, misleading links, fake content, potential or actual malware and false advertising;
• Material promoting dangerous actions or practices. 

Offending Members & Offending Communities: 

• An Offending Member is any Member who has been reported by any other HiA Network Member for Objectionable Behaviour or Objectionable Content.
• An Offending Community is any Community that has been reported by any other HiA Network Member for being or becoming a space – whether by intention or negligence – for Objectionable Behaviour or Objectionable Content. 
• Organizers and Moderators are directly responsible for Community content and will be considered Offending Members whenever their Community becomes an Offending Community. 

SOCIAL SAFETY FEATURES

We provide the following functions within the HiA Network to protect Members from Objectional Behaviour and Objectionable Content: 

Reporting

Network Feeds & Community Feeds:

Any posts on any of the HiA Network Feeds may be reported if they amount to Objectional Behaviour or contain Objectionable Content

Please see illustration below on how to report a feed post.

On the offending post, click the three small dots, followed by the Report Post button, This will reveal a pop up form where you can chose one of the pre-set categories or the Other category, where you can set out a brief description of the issue.

Reporting will trigger a notice and appropriate action from the HiA Management, which will be communicated – separately – to the reporting Member(s) and to the offending post’s author(s). The actions open to HiA Management shall range from:
(1) issuing warnings,
(2) suspension of Member(s), or
(3) expulsion of Member(s).

These options and shall be exercised at the exclusive discretion of the HiA Manegement, taking into account matters such as the severity, and frequency of the Objectionable Behaviour/ Content sharing committed/ reported.

Communities:

Any Community may be reported if they, by intention or negligence, are or become a space for Objectional Behaviour or Objectionable Content by one or more of its Members. Organizers and Moderators form part of a Community’s Membership.

Please see the illustration below on how to report a Community.

Reporting will trigger a notice and appropriate action from the HiA Management, which will be communicated – separately – to the reporting Member(s) and to the Offending Community and its Organizer(s) and Moderator(s). The actions open to HiA Management shall range from:
(1) warnings,
(2) suspension of Member(s), or
(3) expulsion of Member(s), and/or
(4) closure of the Community if applicable.

These options shall be exercised at the exclusive discretion of the HiA Management, taking into account matters such as the severity, and frequency of the Objectionable Behaviour/ Content sharing committed/ reported.

HiA Chat:

Any Member may be reported if they exhibit Objectionable Behaviour or share Objectionable Content over HiA Chat.  From the Members area or directly from a Member’s profile you can access both the reporting & blocking facility.

Please see the illustration below on how to report a Member.

If the HiA Chat used for Objectional Behaviour or sharing of Objectionable Content forms part of a Community, the HiA Management will also investigate whether it was allowed to continue by intention or negligence of the Community Organizer(s) and Moderator(s). 

Reporting will trigger a notice and appropriate action from the HiA Management, which will be communicated – separately – to the reporting Member(s) and to the Offending Member(s). The actions open to HiA Management shall range from:
(1) warnings,
(2) suspension of Member(s), or
(3) expulsion of Member(s), and/or
(4) closure of the Community if applicable.

These options shall be exercised at the exclusive discretion of the HiA Management taking into account matters such as the severity, and frequency of the Objectionable Behaviour/ Content sharing committed/ reported.

Blocking

Any Member is able to block any other Member at any time and without delay to deter interaction between them. From the Members area or directly from a Member’s profile you can access both the reporting and blocking facility,

Please see the illustration below on how to block a Member.

Blocking may be applied towards Offending Members exhibiting Objectional Behaviour or sharing Objectionable Content; as well as for personal reasons. In the case of the former, it is strongly recommended that affected Members also report the Offending Member so that the appropriate action can be taken by HiA Management.