(
Posting rules and
chat rules are posted separately.
Copyright and
Solicitations policies are described in separate posts.)
Purpose: We are a peer support group here to share ideas and support as we clean to improve our living environments.
Credentials: Although this forum has been around since 2008 and its predecessor from 2001, this is a self-help group and we have no training except what we've learned through experience.
If you want medical or psychological help, please see a qualified professional. All suggestions offered to you may be accepted or not, at your own discretion and risk.
The administrators of Stepping Out of Squalor and the staff of our host ProBoards accept no responsibility for comments and advice given on the forum.
Age limits: In order to conform with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act), you need to be 18 years or older (or 13-17 with parental permission) to contribute to this site. You can
read all you like at any age!
Language: Certain words are starred out (including the L word, "l
az
y"). In addition, abusive language toward either oneself or toward others is not appropriate. We're dealing with icky stuff - we don't need to make it ickier when we talk about it. Profanity and sexually explicit language is strictly prohibited.
In addition, ProBoards'
Terms of Service requires that we refrain from content promoting the use of illegal drugs, alcohol, fraud, racism or hate crimes, or any illegal activity (as per California laws). Furthermore, we may not use profanity or depict sex, pornography, nudity, or any other form of adult content on the website. Links to such content is also forbidden. Failure to follow the so-called "Disney guidelines" could result in the deletion of
Stepping Out of Squalor without warning or recourse. Please do your part to keep this resource available to those who need it.
Post placement: Please read the descriptions of each forum to determine the best place for your post. We don't delete misplaced posts, but we may move them without warning.
Trolling: Posting inflammatory statements designed to cause an uproar is prohibited. As of January 2018, posting political content anywhere but the blogs board (with the clear permission of the person who started the blog) is considered trolling.
Lurking: "Lurking" is reading posts without signing up or joining in the conversations. This is fine. Lurk as long as you want. There are some parts of the website that are available to members only, however, so you will miss seeing those sections.
Posts by those who aren't "stepping out of squalor": If you are not living in squalor, but are curious about it, welcome. Read, listen, learn. The one thing that we ask is that you not offer unsolicited advice to those who are in squalor. Getting out of squalor may look simple from the outside ("Just throw everything out and CLEAN the place!"), but it's a little different on the inside. It's a bit like someone who's never had a weight problem telling an overweight person how to lose weight. Just eat less and exercise more!
Also, don't bother telling telling us that living in squalorous conditions is detrimental to our children's health. We know it and hate it. For mothers here, that fact is the single biggest issue behind the drive to change. If guilt is already partially paralyzing us, we don't need more guilt heaped on our heads as we try to alter our lifestyles. Offer support for change rather than condemnation.
