Discord server rules

We want to ensure the atmosphere on this server is professional, courteous, lively, and welcoming. We are happy for you to connect personally with others involved with our organization. We all have high ambitions – so please help us maintain decorum and stay focused!

Moderators have broad authority and will use their best judgement when the need arises. If in doubt, follow the spirit of these rules, and always feel free to ask the @Moderation Team for clarification.

Please note that at this time, we can only invite adults 18 and over. This helps us maintain a professional atmosphere and simplifies our compliance needs.

Rules

  1. This is for liability reasons and to ensure the safety of all participants in this server.
  2. This includes a policy for harassment
    • Questionable behavior will be handled on a case by case basis
    • Moderators will take appropriate actions based on the findings of any investigations, up to and including kicking or banning from the server
    • If you encounter any inappropriate behaviour, report it to a moderator immediately.
  1. Discrimination based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran’s status, disability status, marriage status, age, religion, retirement status, and discrimination against other classes protected under our Bylaws and/or US law is prohibited
  2. We also prohibit discrimination based on species identity, or on spiritual beliefs.
  1. As a quick test, just think: Would the content belong in a textbook or an academic conversation with a medical student or scientist? If so, it’s probably fine to bring up.
  1. Constructive criticism is welcome, but hostility is not.
    1. Attack the argument, not the person arguing.
  2. Unnecessary hostility will not be tolerated, including both openly hostile interactions and passive-aggressive attitudes.
  3. Slander of someone’s reputation will not be tolerated. Unless there is hard evidence to back the claims up, it be considered as slander and dealt with as such.
  4. Refrain from excessive cursing.
    1. Racist and sexist slurs will not be tolerated
    2. Curse words and some crude language will be allowed if not used excessively
  1. We expect you to have done your due diligence in validating any claims that you may have made.
    1. Do not mislead or misrepresent any matters you might address
    2. If you are uncomfortable with the discussion, politely withdraw from the conversation or move it to private message
  2. Established scientific consensus may be enforced by moderators.
    1. For example, we may enforce the factual broad usefulness of vaccines, the occurrence of climate change, the approximately spherical nature of planets such as Earth, and the impotence of homoeopathy beyond placebo use.
    2. Moderators are not obligated to explain their rationale for enforcing scientific consensus through moderator actions.
  1. The FFF is not a replacement for any physical or mental treatment. Please consult a certified and licensed doctor, psychologist, or psychiatrist if needed.
  2. Hypnosis or Lucid Dreaming: We do not permit discussing attempts or instructions on hypnosis or lucid dreaming. While other communities exist that address those topics, the Freedom of Form Foundation does not endorse any such resources.
  3. No advocating for/against drugs, for/against medical devices, nor for/against medical procedures, for personal use – whether legal or illegal:
    1. Advocating the use of drugs, devices, or procedures, for medicinal or recreational use, is not allowed, whether or not the drug, medical device, or procedure is legal/FDA-approved.
    2. However, the discussion of drugs, medical devices, or procedures in the context of research and speculation on their impacts in the field of morphological freedom is permitted, if treated clinically.
  4. Meditation, exercise, etc tips: While we appreciate the general usefulness of meditation or exercise, we nevertheless do not endorse discussion on specific tips for these activities. This is because health needs vary individual to individual. We recommend anyone planning to start a routine consult their physician.
  1. Do not undermine the authority of the moderators and admins by questioning their ability in the server at large. Bring it to PMs and bring it up with another moderator and/or admin.
  2. You are free to appeal the decision made with another member of the moderation team or to escalate the matter with an impartial party from management.

Unless otherwise specified, all users are free to discuss topics in politics, current events, and public figures at their leisure and as the conversation presents itself, provided the below general and political restrictions are followed.

General restrictions – How to generally treat current events, public figures, etc:

  • Such discussion should maintain the high quality and constructiveness everyone shows in our server.
  • We permit criticisms or support of current events, non-political public figures, etc. Criticism or support of legislation and politics may be permitted as well, but this must be compliant with legal requirements (see below).
  • No campaigning or calls-to-action to either support or pressure specific companies or non-governmental organizations may take place on the server, including but not limited to promoting funding drives or attempting to boycott any party, unless the campaign is authorized by the Board of Directors.
  • Generally, discussion of these topics should take place in general-off-topic or similar, unless the matter specifically pertains to science, policies, or other matters relevant to freedom of form (in which case, any other appropriate channel can be used).

Political restrictions – Activities which could be perceived as political by the IRS are prohibited, including but not limited to:

  • No lobbying or campaigning, such as for elections, takes place.
  • No recommendations or calls-to-action are made with respect to administrations, regulators, other government or elected officials, or for which party or candidate someone should vote.
  • No recommendations or calls-to-action are made with respect to pending or active legislation, executive orders, court cases which have the effect of interpreting law, etc.
  • No sharing of information about ways to disobey or protest against laws or regulations in countries where FFF operates legally, including the US and the UK.
  • Language that is aimed to cause someone to undertake a particular political activity is prohibited, whether the language is specific or coded. The substance of a message, not word choice, is important.

Absolutely factual discussions about political matters, as well as general advice for good citizenship, might be permitted, but must be treated with caution:

  • Encouragement to vote and participate in all civil activities is permitted and encouraged by the Board of Directors.
  • Factual discussion about the matters being discussed in current politics are permitted, provided that no interpretation, recommendations, or calls-to-action accompany that discussion.
  • Factual discussion about non-governmental organizations, such as the ACLU’s scope and current activities are permitted.
  • As long as you act in good faith, moderators will give you benefit of the doubt if a message crosses the line into political activities, even if a moderator needs to delete it.
  1. For example, activities that may occur on other servers, or via private messages, or communication methods outside Discord, that become known to us through legitimate means such as user reports by those actually affected, can be within our scope if we believe those activities are relevant to the health of our community.
  2. Actions may include moderation actions, cooperating as appropriate with Discord, or cooperating as appropriate with law enforcement.
  1. Don’t say “that’ll be impossible, we should give up.” A wholly negative outlook is not welcome.
  2. If a challenge seems overwhelming to you, that’s fine. Pick apart the problem. Discuss, analyze, team up, and take action.
  1. This is to ensure a professional, mature atmosphere.
  2. Interested parties below the age of 18 are encouraged to follow us on Twitter, YouTube, and other official media; and we will be happy to have you after you have turned 18.