Community Guidelines
These guidelines help create a welcoming, inclusive, and productive environment for all community members. They complement our Code of Conduct and provide practical guidance for everyday interactions.
Core Principles
Respect and Dignity
- Treat all members with respect: Everyone deserves dignity regardless of background, experience, or viewpoints
- Value diverse perspectives: Different viewpoints strengthen our community
- Practice empathy: Try to understand others' perspectives and experiences
- Be patient: Remember that people have different skill levels and learning styles
Constructive Communication
- Focus on ideas, not people: Criticize ideas respectfully, never attack individuals
- Use clear, kind language: Communicate clearly while maintaining a friendly tone
- Listen actively: Give others your full attention and consider their points
- Ask questions: Seek clarification when you don't understand something
Collaborative Spirit
- Share knowledge freely: Help others learn and grow
- Give credit: Acknowledge others' contributions and ideas
- Work together: Collaborate rather than compete
- Support community goals: Align personal actions with community objectives
Platform-Specific Guidelines
Matrix Chat
- Stay on topic: Keep discussions relevant to the channel purpose
- Use threads: Use threaded replies for detailed discussions
- Respect notifications: Use @mentions thoughtfully
- Keep it conversational: Chat is for real-time, informal communication
Forums (Lemmy)
- Search before posting: Check if your question has been answered
- Use descriptive titles: Help others find and understand your posts
- Provide context: Give enough information for others to help
- Follow up: Update the community on resolution of issues
Collaborative Documents (CryptPad)
- Collaborate respectfully: Work together without overriding others' contributions
- Use comments: Use comment features for suggestions and discussions
- Save regularly: Protect everyone's work by saving frequently
- Organize content: Maintain document structure and organization
Video Conferencing (Jitsi)
- Test your setup: Check audio/video before important meetings
- Mute when not speaking: Reduce background noise for others
- Use video when possible: Visual cues improve communication
- Respect time: Start and end meetings as scheduled
Content Guidelines
Acceptable Content
- Community-relevant: Content should relate to community interests
- Educational: Share knowledge, tutorials, and learning resources
- Collaborative: Projects and initiatives that involve multiple members
- Constructive feedback: Helpful suggestions and improvements
Content to Avoid
- Off-topic discussions: Content unrelated to community purpose
- Commercial promotion: Spam or excessive self-promotion
- Divisive content: Content intended to create conflict or division
- Misinformation: Unverified or deliberately false information
Content Moderation
- Community-driven: Members help identify problematic content
- Transparent process: Clear procedures for content review
- Fair application: Guidelines applied consistently to all members
- Appeal process: Fair way to contest moderation decisions
Privacy and Security
Personal Information
- Protect privacy: Don't share others' personal information
- Be cautious: Think before sharing your own personal details
- Respect boundaries: Honor others' privacy preferences
- Secure practices: Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication
Digital Security
- Report issues: Notify administrators of security concerns
- Follow best practices: Keep software updated and use secure connections
- Protect accounts: Don't share login credentials
- Be aware: Watch for phishing and social engineering attempts
Conflict Resolution
Preventing Conflicts
- Communicate clearly: Misunderstandings often lead to conflicts
- Assume good intent: Give others the benefit of the doubt
- Address issues early: Don't let small problems become big ones
- Seek clarification: Ask questions when something seems unclear
Resolving Conflicts
- Direct communication: Try to resolve issues directly with the other person
- Seek mediation: Ask a moderator to help facilitate discussion
- Formal process: Use formal conflict resolution procedures if needed
- Community healing: Focus on restoring relationships and community harmony
Escalation Process
- Informal resolution: Start with direct, respectful communication
- Moderator assistance: Involve moderators for guidance and mediation
- Formal complaints: Use formal procedures for serious violations
- Administrative action: Administrators handle severe or repeated violations
Participation Guidelines
Active Participation
- Regular engagement: Participate consistently in community activities
- Contribute meaningfully: Add value to discussions and projects
- Stay informed: Keep up with community news and decisions
- Vote responsibly: Participate in community decision-making
Quality Contributions
- Thoughtful posts: Take time to craft meaningful contributions
- Helpful responses: Provide useful answers and assistance
- Constructive criticism: Offer feedback that helps improve things
- Creative ideas: Share innovative solutions and suggestions
Community Building
- Welcome newcomers: Help new members feel included
- Share expertise: Teach others and share your knowledge
- Mentor others: Guide less experienced members
- Build relationships: Form connections with other community members
Special Situations
Community Events
- Be punctual: Arrive on time and stay for the duration
- Participate actively: Engage in activities and discussions
- Respect organizers: Follow event guidelines and instructions
- Provide feedback: Help improve future events with constructive feedback
Community Projects
- Meet commitments: Follow through on what you promise to do
- Communicate status: Keep others informed of your progress
- Ask for help: Reach out when you need assistance
- Document work: Keep records of project progress and decisions
Emergency Situations
- Stay calm: Remain composed during technical or community emergencies
- Follow instructions: Listen to administrators and moderators
- Offer help: Assist others and the community as appropriate
- Be patient: Understand that resolution may take time
Continuous Improvement
Feedback Culture
- Give feedback: Offer constructive suggestions for improvement
- Receive feedback: Accept suggestions gracefully and consider implementation
- Regular review: Participate in regular review of community guidelines
- Adaptation: Support evolution of guidelines as community grows
Learning and Growth
- Stay curious: Continue learning about community topics and technologies
- Share learning: Teach others what you've learned
- Embrace change: Adapt to new tools and procedures
- Personal growth: Use community participation for personal development
Community Evolution
- Support innovation: Embrace new ideas and technologies that benefit the community
- Maintain values: Ensure changes align with core community values
- Democratic process: Participate in discussions about community direction
- Long-term thinking: Consider the long-term impact of decisions and changes
These guidelines are living documents that evolve with our community. They represent our shared commitment to creating a space where everyone can contribute, learn, and thrive together.