Community Guidelines

Effective Date: January 1, 2025

Our Philosophy

Topical is built on the idea that meaningful conversations happen when discussions stay focused on specific topics. We believe in:

  • Topic-Focused Discussions: Every conversation has a clear subject
  • Respectful Dialogue: Disagreement is welcome, disrespect is not
  • User Ownership: You own your content and data
  • Democratic Moderation: The community helps decide what's appropriate
  • Dignity-Based Enforcement: Warnings before bans, education before punishment

1. Stay On Topic

The core principle of Topical is that conversations should remain relevant to their designated topic.

✅ Good Examples:

  • In "2024 Presidential Election": Discussing candidates, polls, campaign strategies
  • In "ChatGPT and AI Regulation": Sharing AI policy proposals, safety concerns
  • In "NFL Playoff Race": Analyzing team performance, playoff scenarios

❌ Bad Examples:

  • Posting about cryptocurrency in a topic about healthcare policy
  • Derailing a sports discussion with unrelated political arguments
  • Repeatedly bringing up personal grievances unrelated to the topic

2. Be Respectful

You can disagree strongly with ideas while still treating people with respect.

DO:

  • Challenge ideas with evidence and reasoning
  • Acknowledge when others make good points
  • Assume good faith in discussions
  • Use "I" statements ("I think..." vs "You're wrong...")

DON'T:

  • Attack people personally for their views
  • Use slurs, hate speech, or discriminatory language
  • Harass, threaten, or doxx other users
  • Engage in coordinated harassment campaigns

3. No Illegal Content

Content that is illegal or promotes illegal activity is strictly prohibited:

  • Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM): Zero tolerance. Immediate permanent ban + law enforcement notification
  • Terrorist Content: Content promoting or glorifying terrorism
  • Illegal Goods/Services: Selling drugs, weapons, stolen goods, etc.
  • Copyright Infringement: Posting copyrighted material without permission
  • Threats of Violence: Credible threats against individuals or groups

4. No Spam or Manipulation

Topical is for genuine discussions, not promotional spam or manipulation.

Prohibited:

  • Posting the same content repeatedly across multiple topics
  • Creating multiple accounts to manipulate votes or discussions
  • Excessive self-promotion or commercial advertising
  • Link farming or SEO manipulation
  • Coordinated inauthentic behavior

5. Protect Privacy

Respect the privacy of others:

  • Don't share others' personal information (doxxing)
  • Don't post private conversations without consent
  • Don't share non-public photos of others
  • Be thoughtful about sharing your own personal information

6. Quality Over Quantity

We value thoughtful contributions over volume:

  • Read the existing conversation before posting
  • Add value rather than repeating what's been said
  • Use proper grammar and formatting for clarity
  • Link to sources when making factual claims
  • Edit or delete posts with errors rather than posting corrections

Enforcement

We use a dignity-based, progressive enforcement system:

1️⃣ First Violation: Info

Educational message explaining the issue. No account restrictions. Helps users understand expectations.

2️⃣ Second Violation: Warning

Formal warning logged to your account. Still no restrictions, but pattern is being tracked.

3️⃣ Third Violation: Final Warning

Final warning with temporary restrictions (e.g., 24-48 hour posting suspension). Last chance to improve.

4️⃣ Continued Violations: Suspension or Ban

Temporary suspension (1-30 days) or permanent ban depending on severity and pattern.

Note: Severe violations (CSAM, credible threats, doxxing) skip this process and result in immediate permanent bans.

Appeals

If you believe you were unfairly moderated:

  • Review the specific violation cited in your warning
  • Email appeals@topical.app with your appeal
  • Include your username and the warning/ban ID
  • Explain why you believe the decision was incorrect
  • Appeals are typically reviewed within 2-3 business days

Reporting Violations

Help us maintain the community:

  • Use the "Report" button on any post that violates guidelines
  • Select the appropriate violation category
  • Provide additional context if helpful
  • False reports or report abuse may result in warnings
  • For urgent issues (CSAM, threats), reports are prioritized automatically

Updates to Guidelines

These guidelines may be updated as the community evolves. Significant changes will be announced to users. Your continued use of Topical constitutes acceptance of updated guidelines.

Contact

Questions about these guidelines? community@topical.app

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