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FURTHER LEFT CHAT DESCRIPTION

What is background of our chat room?
The chat room was initiated on Yahoo in August 2003 and remained there until removed by that system in June 2005. It then operated on the IRC network and was moved to Paltalk in mid April 2007. It is managed by members of the chat room's Further Left Group in the manner noted on our Help Wanted page. A supporting Library with materials for reading or downloading was created in March 2004. In October 2005, we added a Forum to which anyone may contribute. The chat room incorporated music in November 2007. User control is explained on our Music Page.

How can the chat room be reached?
Our chat room is located on Paltalk. Use requires installation of its software on your computer. There is no cost. If you are not already a user, click this link to Install Paltalk. The Further Left chat room is in Paltalk's Social Issues and Politics section and Government and Politics subsection.

What is the purpose of the chat room?
Its purpose is to encourage support for oppressed people seeking relief as they see fit. The title word "Further" should be taken to emphasize a process rather than position. Our interest is where people might move rather than where they stand. "Left" is understood as a direction toward inclusive societies based on social justice. The choice of path to be taken is left for those who do the walking.

What is the chat room's nature?
It adheres to its purpose, uses English language, and is configured for text input only.

Why is there no video?
We have made our room available to minors in cognizance children of today will lead tomorrow’s struggles. However, there are less savory reasons for reaching them that contradict our purpose and host's terms of service. Facilitating those could jeopardize the room's existence. Video is an easy tool to that end. We at times disable cam use by red dotting names.

Why is there no voice?
Voice impedes rather than enhances our intent. We seek change through serious international participation. Text better facilitates translation to natural language than local mannerisms, accents, and slang of another. We may at times disable mic use by red dotting names.

May I play music in the chat room?
Users may control selections being played in the chat room. Our Music Page explains how.

Is English language required?
No, however it is preferred for being the most inclusive international online language. There are provisions on this page for translating to several others.

Who may use this chat room?
The room is mantained for private use of Further Left Group members. There are no rights of public use. Others may participate as guests if they act as such and contribute to the room's purpose within Paltalk's terms of service.

What is the preferred room netiquette?
The key to useful participation is to read, sincerely question, add by granting value to previous content, and offer more in relation that will stand on its own merit.

What is not welcomed?
We are not a competitive debating society where one scores by diminishing what has been said and thereby, no matter how subtly implied, the person saying it. Devaluation of our purpose, contributors, or their posts is unwelcome.

The following disqualify room use regardless of where, when, or how exhibited: Targeting users, threats, harassment, name calling, personality denigration, impersonation, imitation, mimicking, defamation, breaching anonymity, expressions of bigotry, profanity for the sake of same, dominance, diversion, surreptitious name change, disputing purpose, and any form of malicious disruption inimical to the room's function.

How is room decorum maintained?
Chat Room "moderators" ensure the room meets its purpose. Our Help Wanted page lists criteria for their appointment and other ways to support the room.

Does our chat room gather personal information?
Full disclosure and discussion is in our Privacy Policy.