1. Preamble

The Museum of Telephony (or sometimes identified as Clickford’s Museum of Telephony) is intended to be a safe community of like minded humans who are interested in the one of the oldest forms of social media. It has been a passion since Day One (June 5th, 2012) to try to get all audiences of all types (not a specific stereotypical group) and connecting to neighbors in other borders of this planet called Earth. We are legally and realistically distant and expects that reality but in some ways there’s “closeness” to this community.

2. Definition of Community

Via the New Oxford American Dictionary, they define “community as”

Citing relevant uses from Merriam-Webster, they define it as

1a unified body of individuals: such as

a: the people with common interests living in a particular area

broadly : the area itself

b: a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society

a community of retired persons, a monastic community

c: a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society

the academic community

the scientific community

d: a body of persons or nations having a common history or common social, economic, and political interests

the international community

Individuals from unique backgrounds whether it’s professional or not, from lineman, to a support specialist with the interest of the invention of Alexander Graham Bell and marketed by Elisha Grey (or one of the other first marketers); people who have modest and self-controlled obsession or special interest to this technology.

3. Site’s 2025-present Philosophy

Sharing is Caring – I share my history per to my editorial standards. People who care much like a real community would engage back.

Empathy matters (despite what others say…) . Sharing experiences should be encouraged. Liking people first, things come second.

We’re full of personality – we have a life too, but not one person is here to run away from present issues.

“You and I” make – “we”. To ensure the community isn’t some clustereff or an enmeshed family, everyone has their own likeness and identity and interests, “we” flattens everyone as more of the same, and the strength in numbers should only be used when it warrants. Also “you” statements are often used to attack, so let’s be statically positive by using “you” in more positive settings.

— Acceptable Usage Practices —

4. General Expectations 

Identity 

Please leave a first name and a valid email. Annoymity  in the extreme is not tolerable. If you are demanding anonymity you maybe a “phreaker” and well no pun intended you’re most likely a “freak” anyways, and we do not support anti social behavior”. On the flip side, no referring to full names on social media in replies or tagged handles.

Be mindful of how you engage.

With this being mostly a male platform, they prefer to be “direct” in communication, to others that may be seen as degrading. Examples like making “short” “you-statements’ or engage in high conflict environments degrading or being completely rude. Be constructive, and think before you type.

Do not order people around

“Archive that now!” or “DON’T DO THIS” equates to ordering people around that are not in your agency. This kinds of comments will result in restrictions or straight out bans, as that can be considered to be criminal harrasment.

Don’t gatekeep

I am guilty of this too

5. No Harassing the Curator off Platform

In instance around 2018, someone who found me through enterprise telephony was so desperate to get a PBX functioning they not only contacted TMOT’s Messenger but to my own. But sent a message every few hours. This is straight up harassment, and this is seen as needy or desperate. One blurb per instance place. Treat Messenger like email, you don’t constantly reply to emails demanding an answer, no?

6. Right to prohibit

TMOT deserves the right to prohibit any user access to comments or even access if it feels it’s necessary to do so.

7. Expectation to Compliance

TMOT also has the right to issue requests to unlink this site from yours in the name to protect its integrity by not having the appearance of affiliating with misinformation.

8. Pictures can be shared ONLY with credit to TMOT via the URL and Site’s Name.

THE PICTURED CONTENT IS FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES, NON COMMERCIAL AND PERSONAL USE ONLY. These photos are not for stock, any attempt to use it for Ebola eBay, is direct violation of the COC, and we will take criminal actions if you do not respond to  kind requests to comply in the spirit of the community.

9. TMOT Respects Other’s Work that maybe posted here as fair-use

TMOT respects any take downs if it feels it’s necessary (cited content from other’s work as an example) if you’re nice to start. The Fair Use Doctrine (since the site is hosted in the United States) has a general protection of sharing works of others that are used for educational purposes, however letter of the law vs the spirit of the law does not match up. The Fair Use Doctrine does not provide blanket protection (see the spirt of the law), however if a use of a copyrighted video of 30 seconds is allowed, then anything past that would possibly be a violation, therefore the fair-use justification would be to allow an additional 15 seconds to add “context”. This won’t be shared publicly, but these are internal editorial decisions to protect my rights. Most often, fair use justifications will likely be just a sentence long on published content.

10. Subject to Change Without Notice

Nothing more, nothing less

Initial Impliementation September 13th, 2025

Ver 1.0