You wouldn't exactly say Victoria's Country Fire Authority is an 'out there' organisation in comparison to, say, mega-brands such as Apple or Virgin.
I was therefore very surprised - pleasantly so - to check out the terms and conditions on the CFA's 'Connect' website, which read (in the introductory part, any way) as if they were indeed written by Sir Richard Branson's personal copywriter i.e. real language with a touch of humour.
Like all online forums, CFA Connect has a set of terms and conditions you need to accept before you can become a member.
However, unlike virtually all Ts & Cs I've ever had the misfortune to encounter, the CFA has managed to work both with the lawyers and circumvent them at the same time. BRILLIANT!
The problem with most guidelines for online behaviour is they're written in overbearing dictatorial tones, full of legalistic jargon that, let's be real, no-one ever reads. I think the lawyers forget that terms and conditions are as much a communications tool as a layer of protection.
Here is how the CFA kicks off its terms and conditions (see screenshot below):
Okay, so we just wanted to say play fair, play nice, stay relevant and, particularly in the forum, don't say anything you wouldn't say to someone's face. And if you are the kind of person who says nasty things to people's faces, don't do it here!
But that didn't cut it with the lawyers, so you've got to agree to the stuff below as well, which gives you some more details and also lets you know we won't tolerate no monkey business!
THEN...
They include the jargon-laden legal stuff (that no-one will read anyway).
What the CFA has managed to do here - in one hit - is to satisfy its legal team (and protect itself) while at the same time effectively communicate what is expected of members posting on its forum.
Who would have thought the CFA would become the new 'poster child' for online forum terms and conditions?
Great stuff, and congratulations to all involved!
(Click on image to enlarge)
