Community Chat Etiquette, Organization Rules and Moderation
Like our reading lists, we model our approach to moderation after finding some inspiration from them. A shortcut to our founding rules is to skim through the 3 major rules (International, Golden and Internet).
The International Rule: Consider your audience. They're wide and diverse. Communicate explicitly and clearly with written intentions and conclusions.
The Golden Rule: Don't be a jerk. Don't cheat yourself.
The Internet Rule: If it's already published in every news outlet and social media, don't post it here. Share your own unique opinion instead of just parroting and commenting your takes on whatever the front page of google feeds you.
As of August 2024, the tentative rules for the website are:
- Standard EU and US rules of etiquette apply.
- No discrimination and hatred of any form.
- Give out a kind energy and receive the same energy in reciprocation. Give and take is always a winner.
- Be superficial in appearance but inquisitive in depth.
- Lawyering, jestering or interrogating is forbidden. Provocative questions and aggressive fact-finding inquiries are a no-go. They're often a red flag that tells me that you've been interacting in a slightly-negative to chronically online attitude.
- Ambiguity and vague statements are forbidden. Be direct. If you're posting a poem, perhaps it would be a good idea to mention that you are in fact writing a poem. It doesn't hurt to SPECIFY something about what you're doing.
- Algorithm-curated contents from contemporary sources like Facebook and Instagram are forbidden.
- News-curated contents from contemporary mediums like podcasts, video shorts and front page newspapers are forbidden.
- Online-related discourses like Youtube comments, Twitter tweets, and Reddit discriminations are forbidden.
Given the website's humanitarian position, I am aware that it is far easier to browse and discuss viral issues in places where it is appropriate to discuss them. Indeed, there are many place to debate current events among like-minded communities which are active and vibrant. Unfortunately, this website will not participate in any viral or sensational trends because it remains committed to humanitarian causes that are unbiased, unique and selfless.
Consequently, the present rules are not meant to deter nor change behavior but moderation will nonetheless make an effort to push contemporary "noise" out. Our rules are meant for the internet's varied behaviors which largely depend on the type of digital ecosystem they reside in; most behaviors are likely contained in their respective places. Nonetheless, rules are rules and everyone must abide by them.
If you're unsatisfied with how moderation works, you are more than welcome to publish your thoughts elsewhere where an appropriate online system will promote and tolerate your behavior.
Retroactive rules introduced (effective 2025):
- Family and Kin of Contributing Authors are BANNED from participating in any of our mission's stated goals. That means no publishing, selling, commenting or even speaking on behalf of our contributing authors. Boundaries exist, get over it.
Humanitarian Learning is a humanitarian website with no national boundaries. We hold responsibility over its jurisdiction and administration. Writings produced by the organization or her contributing authors may not be distributed for profit. Nonetheless, all materials are free and creative works are meant to spur humanitarian involvement. Any profit-venture moves on any of the published materials are forbidden.
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Addie Gauthier