Community Principles
Our goal is to build an inclusive, nonpartisan community here on Forward. As long as you align with our community principles, you are welcome here.
We are Forward-Thinking
We believe in a world that is better than the world that exists today. The status quo is unacceptable; we can do better. You’re here to find ways we can create positive change and address global challenges, starting right here in our local community.
We are Kind and Respectful
We lead with kindness and seek to understand each other, not prove each other wrong. Empathy is a critical skill for participating in Forward.
We Value Safety
We follow all laws and take care of each other. Whenever possible, complete Actions with friends. Be smart about where, when, and how you participate. Under the umbrella of safety, we include not only the physical but also the emotional safety of all members, particularly people of color, women, people with disabilities, LGBTQIA individuals and others from marginalized communities.
We Vet Information
We believe in science. Our goal is to find answers using reliable, vetted information. Whenever possible, examine the funding sources of the information you share and include references.
We are Creative
We celebrate creativity, unique approaches to problem solving, and out-of-the-box thinking.
Community Guidelines
By posting on Forward, you’ll be contributing to independent, community conversation. Please follow these guidelines to help keep things on track:
In brief:
- Don’t attack people and don’t respond to attacks – report them and move on
- Keep your comments on topic and constructive
- Take responsibility for the quality of the conversations you take part in
- Above all, respect others and their opinions.
In detail:
Be considerate
We’re here to talk about ideas, not the people behind them.
We’ll delete: personal attacks directed at anyone; all forms of discrimination (or posts that could be interpreted as such); posts we believe exist only to provoke or mislead; posts identifying or sharing the personal information of another person (including children) without their consent; and comments that are commercial or repeatedly shared external links.
Be respectful
Treat people with the respect you’d like to receive. Admit when you’re wrong. You’ll come across opinions you disagree with. That doesn’t make them invalid.
Be on-topic
Keep comments relevant to the post and replies relevant to the initiating comment. We reserve the right to delete off-topic comments to keep threads on track.
For example: in an post about the policy response to climate change, comments about the science of climate change will be considered off topic.
Be constructive
Explain why you disagree or agree with something. Your reasoning is as important as your opinion.
“This article sucks”
will be deleted.
“I disagree with this article. Here’s why…”
won’t be.
“You’re an idiot”
will be deleted.
“Have you considered…”
won’t be.
Back up your ideas with evidence and fact where possible. If you’re claiming something as scientific fact, try to provide credible references. Ask any questions you have for the author or your fellow commenters.
Aim to add a new idea to each approach rather than repeating what’s already been said. Move on if things get stuck.
We’ll distinguish between constructive comments and smear campaigns. We’ll remove any deliberate attempts to misinform, distort facts or misrepresent the opinions of others.
Be legal
Don’t post anything that may put us in legal jeopardy – nothing defamatory, nothing in breach of copyright.
Be proactive
Take responsibility for the quality of the conversations you participate in; only reply to things you consider worth your attention.
Report posts you think violate these standards. Tell people when they post something you appreciate and press the ‘Recommend’ button on their post.
What we’ll do
We reserve the right to remove comments that breach these standards and lock accounts of commenters who breach them repeatedly. We take a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination.
Replies to comments that have been deleted may themselves be deleted, either to remove the thread or because they don’t make sense out of context. Comments may be closed if these standards aren’t met.
Terms and Conditions
Last Modified: 7/7/2022
Introduction
The Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) shall manage your use of our platform, The Forward Game, accessible at https://joinforward.org. Please read these Terms carefully because they form a contract between you and Forward Labs LLC, our partners, employees, officers, and directors (“we” and “us”).
The ”Services”: Forward Labs LLC uses our website, apps, games, and experiences to increase civic learning and community engagement. Forward Labs LLC helps everyday people build the skills needed to make change happen, starting in their local communities.
These Terms will be applied fully and affect your use of the Services. By using the Services, you agree to accept all terms and conditions written herein. These Terms will remain in effect even after you have stopped using the Services. If you are using the Services on behalf of an organization, you are agreeing to these Terms for that organization and promising that you have the authority to bind that organization to these terms. If you are agreeing on behalf of an organization, “you” and “your” will refer to that organization.
Minors or people below 13 years old are not allowed to use the Services. By agreeing to these Terms, you are representing to us that you are over 13 years old, and if you are under 18 years old, have received permission from your parent or guardian before participating in any game.
You may use the Services only in compliance with these Terms and only if you have the power to form a contract with us and are not barred under any applicable laws from doing so. These terms create a binding contract. If you do not agree to be bound by these terms, you must not use the service.
Access to the Services
Only you may use the Services. You must keep your account and passwords confidential and not authorize any third party to access or use the Service on your behalf. It is your responsibility to contact us immediately if your account is hacked, compromised or otherwise misused. You are responsible for all activities that take place with your account. We will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from any unauthorized use of your accounts.
If a third party such as an employer gave you your account, that party has rights to your account and may: manage your account, reset your password, or suspend or cancel your account; view your account’s usage and profile data, including how and when your account is used; and read or store content in your account.
Consent to Electronic Communications
By registering with us, you understand that we may send you communications or data regarding the Services. We give you the opportunity to opt-out of receiving non-mandatory electronic mail by setting your email preferences in the Account menu.
We may also send you, in electronic form, mandatory notices about the Service and information the law requires us to provide. Mandatory or required notices emailed to you will be deemed given and received when the email is sent. You cannot opt-out of receiving mandatory or required notices. If you don’t consent to receive mandatory or required notices electronically, you must stop using the Service.
Intellectual Property Rights
Other than the content you own, under these Terms, Forward Labs LLC and/or its licensors own all the intellectual property rights and materials contained in this site. All trademarks, copyrights, software, content, know-how, proprietary technology and information, goodwill, and other intellectual property created, developed, or licensed by us is our exclusive intellectual property.
You are granted limited license only for purposes of viewing the material contained on this Website.
Restrictions
You are specifically restricted from all of the following:
- publishing any Website material in any other media;
- selling, sublicensing and/or otherwise commercializing any Website material;
- publicly performing and/or showing any Website material;
- using this Website in any way that is or may be damaging to this Website;
- using this Website in any way that impacts user access to this Website;
- using this Website contrary to applicable laws and regulations, or in any way that may cause harm to the Website, or to any person or business entity;
- engaging in any data mining, data harvesting, data extracting or any other similar activity in relation to this Website;
Certain areas of this Website are restricted from being accessed by you, and Forward Labs LLC may further restrict access by you to any areas of this Website, at any time, in absolute discretion.
Suspension and Termination of Use
You may stop using the Service at any time. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time, in our sole discretion, with or without cause, and with or without notice, without incurring liability of any kind. For example, we may suspend or terminate your access to or use of the Service for: (a) the actual or suspected violation of these Terms; (b) the use of the Services in a manner that may cause us to have legal liability or disrupt others’ use of the Services; (c) scheduled downtime and recurring downtime; or (d) unplanned technical problems and outages.
In addition to other termination provisions, we at our discretion may terminate your account if: (a) you do not engage in any activity in your account within thirty (30) days after becoming a registered user, or (b) you do not engage in any activity in your account for any period of one-hundred and twenty (120) consecutive days.
Your Content
In these Terms, “Your Content” shall mean any audio, video text, images or other material you choose to display on this Website. By displaying Your Content, you grant Forward Labs LLC a non-exclusive, worldwide irrevocable, sub licensable license to use, reproduce, adapt, publish, translate and distribute it in any and all media.
Your Content must be your own and must not be invading any third-party’s rights. Forward Labs LLC reserves the right to remove any of Your Content from this Website at any time without notice.
DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY
THE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS,” WITH ALL FAULTS, AT YOUR OWN RISK, WITHOUT EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF ANY KIND. WE ALSO DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT.
WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY CONTENT THAT YOU STREAM OR DOWNLOAD OR OTHERWISE OBTAIN THROUGH THE USE OF THE SERVICES OR FOR ANY DAMAGE OR LOSS OF DATA THAT MAY RESULT. WE DO NOT WARRANT, ENDORSE, GUARANTEE, OR ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY THIRD-PARTY APPLICATION OR SERVICE THAT PROVIDES ACCESS TO CONTENT MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR SERVICES.
WE FURTHER DISCLAIM ANY WARRANTY THAT CONTENT WILL BE DELIVERED FREE OF TECHNICAL FAILURE OR DEFECT OR THAT WE WILL MONITOR OR MANAGE ANY RIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH ANY CONTENT.
NOTHING CONTAINED ON THE SERVICE SHALL BE INTERPRETED AS ADVISING YOU.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
IN NO EVENT SHALL FORWARD LABS LLC, NOR ANY OF ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, OR PARTNERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY GENERAL, DIRECT, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY LOSS OF OPPORTUNITY, BUSINESS, PROFIT, REVENUE OR ROYALTIES, HOWEVER CAUSED AND WHETHER ARISING UNDER CONTRACT, TORT, NEGLIGENCE, INFRINGEMENT OR OTHER THEORY OF LIABILITY, EVEN IF WE, OUR OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, OR PARTNERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
Indemnification
You hereby indemnify to the fullest extent Forward Labs LLC, our officers, directors, attorneys, agents, employees, and licensors (the “Indemnitees”) and hold the Indemnitees harmless against any and/or all liabilities, costs, demands, causes of action, damages and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) incurred by us and any Indemnitee resulting from or arising out of your violation of any law, breach of any representation or warranty in this agreement, or infringement of the rights of a third party, including intellectual property rights.
Severability
If a provision of the Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions of the Terms will remain in full effect and an enforceable term will be substituted reflecting our intent as closely as possible.
Changes to these Terms
Forward Labs LLC is permitted to revise these Terms at any time as it sees fit, and by using the Services you are expected to review these Terms on a regular basis. If you do not agree to the modified terms for a Service, you should discontinue your use of that Service.
Assignment
The Forward Labs LLC is allowed to assign, transfer, and subcontract its rights and/or obligations under these Terms without any notification. However, you are not allowed to assign, transfer, or subcontract any of your rights and/or obligations under these Terms.
Entire Agreement
These Terms (including the Privacy Policy) constitute the entire and exclusive agreement between Forward Labs LLC and you in relation to your use of the Services, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings. These Terms create no third-party beneficiary rights. Our failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver of our right to do so later.
Governing Law & Jurisdiction
This Agreement and the validity thereof shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the substantive laws of the state of Wisconsin, USA, excluding its conflicts of laws principles. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, shall be finally settled by arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association in accordance with its Commercial Arbitration Rules, and judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof. The seat of arbitration shall be the city of Madison, Wisconsin USA.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about these Terms, please contact us.