Introduction
Several of the Chi Rad Fae chat rooms operate on the following policies. If you’d like to check whether a specific room utilizes these policies: ask the room stewards.
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Chat Guidelines
- All users must be +18 years old.
- In absence of clarity, assume positive intent.
- No transphobia, racism, misogyny, antisemitism, homophobia, xenophobia, or other hateful or harmful content in original or reposted material (text, video, or voice message), or in user profiles (name, bio, or photo).
- Several of our chat rooms run on a Fair Speech Policy [details below].
- The Radical Faeries are a sex positive subculture. Keep everything consensual – no exceptions. Consent is required to post any photos / videos which include other people.
- No harassment, dogpiling, or doxxing users.
- No law enforcement personnel allowed.
- For the safety of our community, never post anyone’s private information on social media, in a group chat room, or in any other public spaces (including addresses, dead names, and government names).
- All events, workshops, classes, etc. are strongly encouraged to be NOTAFLOF (no-one turned away for lack of funds).
- No misinformation, unverified, or false information posted as facts. If you are joking, or want to post a critique, please label your content as “misinformation.” Never share false or misleading information that may lead to physical harm.
- Responses to violations of these guidelines can vary – ranging from receiving a warning, to temporary probation, or even being permanently banned. The stewards of the chat room are fully empowered to make these decisions at their sole discretion, and the actions taken will be based on the severity of the infraction, as well as the user’s past behavior.
Fair Speech Policy
The following is Kanz-ul-eman’s explanation of Fair Speech:
The hate speech vs free speech boundary is thin. Hate speech provokes violence, whereas free speech stimulates debate. Because both deal with the free exchange of ideas and sentiments, some individuals confuse hate and free speech. In reality, hate speech is not illegal in the United States because it would imperil free speech. Furthermore, these expressions are fostered because of the confidentiality given by digital progress.
However, when we compare free speech vs hate speech, we can see some limitations. Free speech allows people to express their thoughts and beliefs freely; regardless, there are limits to this right. On the other hand, hate speech encourages others to cause harm or violence while ignoring relevant boundaries.
Hate speech encourages violence by criticizing the opposing party and inciting discriminatory action, whereas free speech encourages debate by portraying both sides of an issue liberally but courteously. Hate speech produces undesirable factions within a society due to its hostile nature, contributing to further societal breakdown. Whereas, free expression is typically linked to societal advancement.
Even though there are some differences, the overall result is a favorable one that promotes healthy societal growth. Hate speech discriminates against minorities by making extreme views public, but free speech defends minorities by encouraging tolerance and recognizing each group’s distinctive contributions. When people conduct free speech in conformity with a system of rules, they are not marginalized.
Moderation
Our chat rooms operate as a federation, with all decisions for each room being under the complete control of the room’s stewards [the Signal app calls these “admins”]. While stewards regularly work together to address problems, suggest improvements, and improve transparency; each room’s policies & procedures are enforced independently. All stewards have the right to moderate their own rooms as they see fit.
If you’re experiencing an issue with an steward of a chat room, you’re encouraged to bring this to the Psychic Friends Network for mediation & resolution.
Steward Guidelines
Note: not all chat rooms utilize the following guidelines for the resolution of actions. Please reach out the stewards of a specific chat room to identify what specific policies the room operates under.
Taking Action
- Determine what action is appropriate, and identify the steward consensus required (details below).
- Get consensus from stewards, and take action(s), as required.
- Post the final decision, and any / all actions taken, to the other stewards of the chat room, or to the chat room itself, as appropriate.
No Steward Consensus Needed
The following actions can be taken by any steward, at any time, in their chat room:
- Moving a conversation from the current chat room to a more appropriate chat room.
- Warning a user that their actions go against these guidelines, and that further violations could evoke action from the chat room’s stewards.
- Minor edits to room name, description, or guidelines.
Full Steward Consensus Required
All stewards in a chat room must agree for the following actions to take place:
- Major edits to room name, description, or guidelines.
- Placing a member on probation (removal from the chat room for 24 hours or more).
- Permanently banning a member from the chat room.
48 hr Wait Period
Sometimes, stewards will include the membership of a chat room as part of the discussion making process for specific changes (e.g. room guidelines).
When this occurs, the stewards will typically post the proposed change to the room, and wait for a period of 48 hours. After that time has elapsed, if there are no dissenting voices: the change is enacted.
If one-or-more members dissent: the stewards and members will deliberate further. Once a new solution is reached, it will once again be proposed – with the same 48 hour waiting period – before being enacted.
Emergency Situation
Rare circumstances may arise where a chat room steward feels the need to act immediately – rather than forming consensus with other chat room stewards.
Some examples of this include: a user with an inappropriate name joining the chat room, a user posting extremely hateful content, or a user sharing the private information of another community member without consent.
Emergency actions are allowed by any stewards, but please:
- Ensure that emergency action is absolutely warranted
- Ensure the other stewards of the chat room are made aware of the actions that were taken, and the reasoning behind those decisions.
Please use this sparingly. Violations of the Emergency Situation policy could result in steward privileges being revoked.