Community Code of Ethics

Why this code exists

The fastest way to break a good project is to treat community like a growth hack. When attention becomes the currency, people become content — and trust becomes collateral damage.

CFOD is built for something quieter: continuity, encouragement, and shared presence without pressure. A community code of ethics is part of that design. It’s not here to police people. It’s here to protect the lane.

If you’re here in good faith, this page should feel obvious — like rules you already live by. If you’re here to exploit, recruit, harass, or dominate, this page is the boundary.

Stewardship-first ethics

“Stewardship First” means we choose care over hype. In community terms, that translates into three priorities:

• Protect people — especially newcomers, quiet participants, and those having a difficult day.
• Protect the practice — keep the lane steady, not performative.
• Protect trust — honesty, restraint, and respect matter more than speed or scale.

The business model matters too. We don’t fund this space by selling attention. See Why we don’t use ads and Paying the rent.

The core agreement

Participation here is simple:

• Be kind. Treat people as people, not obstacles, targets, or trophies.
• Be calm. Keep the tone steady. Don’t turn every thread into a debate or a stage.
• Be honest. Don’t misrepresent who you are, what you’re doing, or what you’re offering.
• Be careful. Protect privacy — yours and others’.

This is not a “win” space. It’s a “keep going” space.

Respect and human dignity

We expect respectful language and behaviour. That includes:

• No harassment, bullying, hate speech, threats, or intimidation.
• No humiliating or mocking someone’s practice, background, pace, or questions.
• No dogpiling — if multiple people are “correcting” one person, step back.
• No sexual content or predatory behaviour (especially toward minors).

If you disagree with someone, you can do it without demeaning them. If you can’t, take a breath and step away.

Privacy and consent

Privacy is part of safety. Here are non-negotiables:

• Don’t share personal data about others (names, contact details, locations, screenshots, quotes) without explicit consent.
• Don’t pressure anyone to reveal identity, background, affiliations, or private circumstances.
• Don’t dox, triangulate, or hint at private identity.
• Don’t repost content outside the community without permission.

If you want the system’s privacy stance in plain English, see Privacy & GDPR and Data Retention & Memory Ethics.

No recruitment, no solicitation

This space is not a recruitment channel, a marketplace, or a lead funnel. That includes:

• No pressure to join groups, organisations, chats, or events.
• No sales pitches, affiliate links, or “DM me for details” offers.
• No fundraising campaigns without prior explicit approval.
• No proselytising at people who are here for quiet support.

If someone asks you directly for resources, you can answer kindly — but keep it light and consent-based. The moment it becomes pressure, it stops being stewardship.

No medical, legal, or crisis substitution

Encouragement is valuable. But encouragement is not treatment. Please don’t position yourself as a professional or provide directives that could cause harm.

• No diagnosis or medical directives.
• No legal advice framed as certainty.
• No crisis handling claims — if someone is in danger, encourage real-world help.

If a conversation crosses into risk or emergency territory, the best help is often offline: trusted friends, local services, professionals.

Truthfulness and representation

Independence matters here. So does honesty about what you represent.

• Don’t impersonate other people, moderators, or organisations.
• Don’t claim endorsement or official status you don’t have.
• Don’t present rumours as facts, especially about people or groups.

For the project’s boundary statement, see Independent Project Disclaimer.

Attention hygiene and tone

Many online spaces reward heat: outrage, takedowns, dunking, tribalism. We’re doing the opposite: we want the space to feel like a steady room, not a stadium.

• Don’t provoke for entertainment or engagement.
• Don’t escalate — if you feel activated, pause and come back later.
• Don’t perform — the point is support, not status.
• Don’t flood — excessive posting can crowd out quiet people.

A calm relay requires restraint. Restraint is a form of care.

Disagreement without harm

Disagreement can happen — but it must remain humane. If you need a simple test, try this: would you say it the same way in a quiet room with a kind person present?

• Address ideas, not personal worth.
• Ask first — “Can I offer another perspective?”
• Exit gracefully — you don’t have to win; you can simply stop.
• Don’t litigate someone’s lived experience.

If a thread starts to feel like a contest, it’s usually time to step away.

Moderation is stewardship, not policing

Moderation exists to keep the lane usable. It is not a performance and not a power game. Typical actions may include:

• Removing content that violates this code.
• Rate-limiting or pausing accounts that flood or disrupt.
• Warning when behaviour is drifting into harm.
• Suspension for repeated violations or severe harm.

We prefer gentle correction when possible. But safety and trust come first.

Note: Integrity and uptime transparency live here: System Integrity & Uptime.

How to report a problem

If something feels unsafe, misleading, or exploitative, please report it. You don’t need to argue in public or take on the burden yourself.

• Use Support to report the issue.
• Include what happened, when it happened, and any relevant context.
• If someone is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services.

We aim to handle reports calmly, respectfully, and with follow-through.

What this code protects

This code is a protective boundary around three things:

• People — dignity, privacy, and safety.
• Practice — steady support without performance pressure.
• Trust — clear incentives, no ads, and honest boundaries.

A community isn’t defined by what it says it values. It’s defined by what it protects.

• 1) Continuity over competition - This is not a contest. We value overlap, handover, and shared presence — not individual performance.
• 2) Respect privacy - Some people appear as someone. This choice is respected fully and without question. Privacy & data
• 3) No pressure, no guilt - Stopping is allowed. Silence is not failure. The relay may rest, and it may begin again.
• 4) Care for the shared environment - How we show up here shapes the space for everyone. We carry the relay lightly, respectfully, and with care.
• 5) Stewardship, not ownership - No one owns the chant. Some people maintain the infrastructure, but the relay belongs to all who participate.
• 6) Transparency and trust - No ads, no sale of personal data, no hidden incentives. Changes are introduced carefully and explained openly.

FAQ

Is this a religious rulebook?

No. It’s a participation ethic for a digital space: keep it kind, calm, and safe.

Can I share resources if someone asks?

Yes — if it’s clearly asked for and done without pressure. Consent-based sharing is fine; recruitment is not.

What happens if someone breaks the code?

We aim for gentle correction when possible, but we will remove harmful content and protect the space as needed.

Where do the privacy rules live?

See Privacy & GDPR and Data Retention & Memory Ethics.