Community Guidelines

Last updated: March 11, 2025

These Community Guidelines explain in detail what we expect from everyone who uses 3Z0—whether you're reading, commenting, building a profile, or contacting us. They work together with our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. By participating here, you agree to follow these guidelines and to treat others with respect. We encourage you to read them in full; they are designed to help you understand not only the rules but the spirit behind them.

1. Our Purpose and Values

3Z0 exists as a place to share ideas, learn, and connect. Our goal is to maintain a space where diverse voices can contribute without fear of harassment or exclusion. The following values guide everything we do:

• Inclusive — Everyone should feel they can participate regardless of background, identity, or perspective. We do not tolerate content or behaviour that targets, marginalizes, or demeans people based on who they are.
• Constructive — We welcome disagreement and debate. What we do not welcome is personal attacks, bad-faith argumentation, or behaviour intended to shut down conversation or drive people away.
• Honest — We expect you to represent yourself accurately. Use your real identity where we ask for it; do not impersonate others or create accounts designed to mislead the community.
• Safe — Threats, doxxing, and content that endangers anyone’s safety have no place here. We take safety seriously and will act quickly when we see violations.

These guidelines exist to uphold those values. We may update them as the community grows or as we learn from experience. Significant changes will be communicated where appropriate (e.g. via a notice on the site or an email to registered users). Continued use of 3Z0 after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated guidelines.

2. Be Respectful

Respect is the foundation of our community. Without it, constructive dialogue and inclusion are impossible. Here is what we mean by “be respectful” in practice.

2.1 Treat Others as You Would Like to Be Treated

Assume good faith when you can. Not every comment you disagree with is made in bad faith; not every mistake is malicious. Before responding harshly, consider whether a calmer or more clarifying response would better serve the conversation. This does not mean you must agree with everyone—only that you engage in a way that preserves the possibility of productive exchange.

2.2 No Slurs, Hate Speech, or Identity-Based Attacks

We prohibit content that attacks, demeans, or incites hatred or discrimination against individuals or groups based on protected characteristics. These include but are not limited to:

• Race, ethnicity, or national origin
• Religion or belief
• Gender, gender identity, or expression
• Sexual orientation
• Disability (physical, sensory, cognitive, or mental health)
• Age
• Appearance or body size
• Immigration or citizenship status

This includes slurs, stereotypes, dehumanizing language, calls for exclusion or violence, and content that glorifies or promotes hate groups or ideologies. Context matters (e.g. educational or historical discussion may be permitted where clearly framed), but we err on the side of protecting people from harassment and hate.

2.3 No Bullying, Name-Calling, or Sustained Personal Attacks

You may strongly disagree with someone’s views. You may not use that disagreement as a license to insult, mock, or attack them personally. Repeatedly calling someone names, questioning their intelligence or character, or piling on in a way that is clearly intended to humiliate or silence them is not acceptable. “They started it” or “I was just joking” are not excuses for crossing this line.

2.4 Respect Boundaries

If someone asks you to stop a line of discussion, to stop contacting them, or to drop a topic, respect that. Continuing to pursue them or the topic after a clear request to stop can constitute harassment. This applies in comments, in direct or indirect messages if such features exist, and in any other interaction on or related to the platform.

3. Keep Discussions Constructive

We encourage debate and a wide range of opinions. To keep discussions productive and useful for everyone, we expect the following.

3.1 Engage with the Substance

When you reply to a post or comment, engage with what was actually said. Add information, ask clarifying questions, or offer a different perspective with reasoning. Avoid responses that add nothing (e.g. “This,” “So much this,” “Nobody cares”) or that only express contempt without substance.

3.2 Avoid Derailing and Bad-Faith Tactics

Do not deliberately derail threads with off-topic rants, excessive trolling, or “strawman” arguments (misrepresenting someone’s position to make it easier to attack). Do not use whataboutism, sealioning (repeatedly demanding evidence or answers in a way that burdens the other person), or other tactics whose primary purpose is to frustrate or harass rather than to discuss.

3.3 No Spam or Flooding

Do not post the same or nearly identical content repeatedly across threads or over time. Do not flood a thread or a user’s activity with a high volume of posts or comments in a short period in a way that disrupts normal use. Such behaviour may be treated as spam and removed; repeated violations may lead to restrictions or bans.

3.4 No Unauthorized Advertising or Promotion

Do not use the platform primarily to advertise, promote products or services, or recruit (e.g. for commercial projects, multi-level marketing, or unrelated communities) unless we have explicitly provided a channel or permission for that. Occasional, relevant sharing of your own work or a useful resource in context is generally fine; turning the space into a billboard is not.

Moderators may warn, collapse, or remove comments that don’t meet these standards. Repeated violations may result in action against the account, including temporary or permanent restrictions.

4. Content Standards: What You Can and Cannot Post

We allow a broad range of content but draw clear lines where necessary to keep the community safe and legal. Below is a detailed breakdown.

4.1 What’s Allowed

• Original thoughts, questions, and constructive feedback — Your own ideas, experiences, and opinions, and respectful questions or feedback that move the conversation forward.
• Relevant links and citations — Links to articles, sources, or resources that add value to the discussion, as long as they are not spam, deceptive, or harmful. When possible, provide a short description so others know what they’re clicking.
• Humour and satire — Jokes and satire are welcome when they do not target individuals or groups in a harassing or hateful way. If the “joke” relies on demeaning someone’s identity or inciting harm, it’s not acceptable.
• Mature themes — Thoughtful discussion of mature or difficult topics (e.g. politics, religion, mental health) can be acceptable when it’s non-graphic, contextually appropriate, and not used to harass or spread harmful misinformation.

4.2 What’s Not Allowed — Detailed

Illegal content. Do not post content that promotes, depicts, or facilitates illegal activity. This includes but is not limited to: violence, fraud, theft, drug trafficking, exploitation (including sexual exploitation of minors), terrorism, or evasion of law enforcement. We may report such content to authorities where required by law or policy.

Harassment. We do not allow harassment in any form. This includes:

• Threats — Explicit or implicit threats of violence, harm, or other serious consequences directed at a person or group.
• Doxxing — Sharing someone’s private or identifying information (e.g. real name, address, phone number, workplace, private photos) without their consent, with the intent to expose them to harm or unwanted contact.
• Stalking or persistent targeting — Following someone across threads, accounts, or platforms to criticize, mock, or pressure them, or to encourage others to do so.
• Encouraging others to harass — Calling for or coordinating harassment, brigading, or “pile-ons” against an individual or group.
• Unwanted sexual attention — Sexual comments, advances, or imagery directed at someone who has not consented.

One incident may be enough to warrant action; repeated or severe harassment will result in serious consequences, including permanent bans.

Hate speech. As outlined in section 2, we do not allow content that attacks or demeans people based on protected characteristics, or that promotes hateful ideologies or groups. We do not permit coded or dog-whistle language used to evade this rule.

Graphic violence or gore. Do not post gratuitous, shock, or glorified violence. Graphic descriptions or images of real or realistic violence, gore, or death are not allowed. Discussion of violence in a non-graphic, contextual way (e.g. news, history, fiction) may be acceptable where it adds to the conversation and is not sensationalized.

Sexual content. We do not allow pornographic or sexually explicit content. Mature discussions that are non-graphic and contextually appropriate (e.g. in a thread about health or relationships) may be permitted. When in doubt, err on the side of not posting.

Self-harm and suicide. Do not post content that promotes or glorifies self-harm or suicide. We may allow supportive, informational, or crisis-resource content where it is clearly intended to help and not to encourage harm. We may remove or restrict content that we believe could increase risk to vulnerable individuals.

Misinformation. We do not allow the deliberate spread of demonstrably false information that could cause serious harm—for example, false health claims that could lead to injury or death, or false information that could lead to violence or discrimination. Honest mistakes, speculation, or good-faith debate are different; we focus on clear, harmful misinformation spread with intent or recklessness.

Impersonation. Do not pretend to be another person, brand, or entity in a way that could mislead others. Parody or satire accounts should be clearly distinguishable (e.g. in the profile or username) so that people are not deceived.

We may remove content that does not meet these standards and take action against the account, including warnings, temporary restrictions, or permanent bans. We may also remove content that does not explicitly violate these rules but that we determine is otherwise harmful to the community or the platform.

5. Usernames, Profiles, and Identity

Your username and profile are how others see you. They must not be used to harass, mislead, or impersonate.

• Accuracy — Choose a username and profile that do not mislead others about who you are. If you operate a parody, satire, or fan account, make it clear in your profile or username so people are not deceived.
• No hate or harassment — Do not use usernames, display names, or profile imagery that are hateful, harassing, or that target individuals or groups. We may require you to change them or may suspend the account.
• No impersonation — Do not use a name or image that implies you are someone else (a real person, brand, or organization) unless you have permission or it is clearly parody/satire.
• One identity, no ban evasion — Do not create multiple accounts to evade a ban, to manipulate voting or engagement, or to harass people. We treat ban evasion seriously and may extend restrictions to new accounts we link to you.

We may ask you to change a username or profile, or we may suspend or terminate accounts that violate these rules.

6. Intellectual Property and Attribution

Respect the work of others. Only post content you have the right to use.

• Ownership and permission — Do not upload or paste copyrighted material (e.g. long articles, books, paywalled content, substantial code, or images) without permission or a clear legal exception (e.g. short quotes, fair use, or content under an open license). When in doubt, link to the original and summarize rather than reproducing large portions.
• Attribution — When you use someone else’s work (e.g. images, quotes, code snippets), give credit in a way that is clear and appropriate (e.g. name, link, or license).
• Reporting infringement — If you believe your work has been used without permission, see our Terms of Service and contact us with the relevant details so we can handle it in line with our policies and applicable law.

7. Safety and Reporting

Your safety and the safety of others matter. We rely on you to help us identify violations.

7.1 How to Report

• Use the report option — Where available, use the “Report” or similar option on the relevant post or comment. This helps us find and review the content quickly.
• Contact us — You can also contact us via our Contact page. Include as much context as possible: link to the content, screenshot if relevant, your username if you’re reporting as a user, and a short description of why you believe it violates the guidelines.
• Include context — The more context we have (e.g. how the content affected you, whether it’s part of a pattern), the better we can assess and respond. We may not share the outcome with you in every case, but we do take reports seriously.

7.2 Emergencies

If you are in immediate danger, contact your local emergency services (e.g. 911 in the US). We are not a substitute for law enforcement or emergency help. If you have evidence of a crime or a threat to safety, we encourage you to report it to the appropriate authorities as well as to us.

8. Enforcement: What to Expect

We aim to be fair and consistent. How we respond depends on the severity and context of the violation, the user’s history, and any other relevant factors. The following are the types of action we may take; this list is not exhaustive.

8.1 Warning

A clear message that something you did broke the guidelines and that repeated violations may lead to further action. Warnings are often used for first-time or minor violations where we believe the user can correct their behaviour. They may be sent via in-product notification, email, or both.

8.2 Content Removal

We may delete or hide the specific post or comment that violates the guidelines. The user may or may not receive a warning at the same time, depending on context and history.

8.3 Temporary Restriction

We may temporarily limit your ability to post, comment, or use certain features (e.g. messaging, profile edits) for a set period. The length of the restriction will depend on the violation and your history. You will typically be informed of the reason and the duration.

8.4 Permanent Ban

We may permanently remove your access to the platform. This is typically reserved for serious violations (e.g. threats, hate speech, doxxing, sexual exploitation, repeated severe harassment) or for repeated violations after warnings or temporary restrictions. We may also ban accounts that we identify as created to evade a previous ban. Bans may apply to your account and, where we can reasonably do so, to evasive new accounts.

8.5 When We Skip a Warning

In serious cases we may not issue a warning before removing content or restricting an account. Examples include clear threats, doxxing, child sexual exploitation material, or other content that poses an immediate risk. We may also skip a warning when a user has already been warned or restricted and continues to violate the guidelines.

8.6 Your Responsibility

It is your responsibility to read and follow these guidelines. Ignorance of the rules is not an excuse. If you are unsure whether something is allowed, err on the side of caution or ask us before posting.

9. Appeals

If you believe we made a mistake—for example, your content was removed or your account was restricted in error—you may appeal.

9.1 How to Appeal

• Contact us through our Contact page.
• Clearly state that you are appealing a moderation decision.
• Include relevant details: your username, a link to or description of the content (if applicable), the approximate date, and a brief explanation of why you believe the decision was wrong (e.g. misunderstanding of context, mistaken identity).

9.2 What Happens Next

We will review your appeal as quickly as we can. We may ask for additional information. After review, we will uphold, reverse, or modify the decision and inform you of the outcome where appropriate. Our decision after review is final.

9.3 Abuse of the Appeals Process

Appeals are for good-faith disputes about moderation decisions. Abusive, threatening, or repeated frivolous appeals may result in further action, including extended restrictions or a permanent ban. Do not use the appeal process to harass staff or to repeatedly demand reconsideration of a decision that has already been reviewed.

10. Moderators and Staff

Moderators and staff enforce these guidelines and help keep the community running. They have the authority to:

• Remove or hide content that violates the guidelines.
• Warn users, apply temporary restrictions, or recommend or apply permanent bans.
• Lock or limit comments on a thread when necessary (e.g. to stop harassment or spam, or to preserve a constructive discussion).
• Pin or highlight messages when appropriate (e.g. official announcements or clarifications).

Moderators and staff are expected to act fairly, consistently, and in line with these guidelines. They are not permitted to use their role to favour friends, punish critics, or otherwise act in a biased or abusive manner. If you believe a moderator or staff member has acted inappropriately, contact us via the Contact page with as much detail as possible. We will look into it and take appropriate action.

11. Platform-Specific Notes

These guidelines apply across 3Z0. In addition:

• Blog posts and articles — Content published by 3Z0 or by authorized authors is subject to the same standards. Comments on blog posts must follow these guidelines; we may remove comments that violate them or that are off-topic in a disruptive way.
• User profiles — Profile information, bios, and any user-generated content on profiles must comply with these guidelines. Harassing, hateful, or misleading profile content may result in removal or account action.
• Contact and support — When you contact us (e.g. via the contact form or support channels), we expect the same respect. Abusive, threatening, or spammy messages to staff may result in account action and may be reported to authorities where appropriate.

12. Summary: The Golden Rules

• Be respectful. No harassment, hate speech, or bullying. Focus on content, not the person.
• Keep it constructive. Add value to the conversation; don’t spam, troll, or derail.
• Respect intellectual property. Post only what you’re allowed to use; give credit when due.
• Don’t endanger anyone. No impersonation, doxxing, or threats.
• Report bad behaviour. We take reports seriously and rely on the community to help us enforce these guidelines.

Thank you for helping make 3Z0 a place where everyone can learn and connect. If you have questions about these guidelines, reach out via our Contact page.