Rules and Code of Conduct

Rules

  • Be kind. We don’t all have to like a book that someone enjoyed or dislike a book someone hated.
  • Don’t trash talk a book in the public group chat or during social gatherings; hold it for the actual book discussion so that you aren’t discouraging people reading it.
  • If you catch yourself talking a lot more than someone else in a meeting, take a step back and let them have the floor. Encourage others to share their thoughts and opinions.

    • Code of Conduct

    This code of conduct outlines our expectations for participants within the Rather Be Reading community, as well as steps to reporting unacceptable behavior. We are committed to providing a welcoming and inspiring community for all and expect our code of conduct to be honored. Anyone who violates this code of conduct may be banned. Put simply, the acceptable amount of abuse is zero.

    Our community strives to:

    Be friendly and patient.
    Be welcoming: We strive to be a community that welcomes and supports people of all backgrounds and identities. This includes, but is not limited to members of any race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, colour, immigration status, social and economic class, educational level, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, size, family status, religious beliefs, and disability status.
    Be respectful: Not all of us will agree all the time, but disagreement is no excuse for poor behavior and poor manners. We might all experience some frustration now and then, but we cannot allow that frustration to turn into a personal attack. It’s important to remember that a community where people feel uncomfortable or threatened is not a productive one.
    Be careful in the words that you choose: Do not insult or put down other participants. Harassment and other exclusionary behaviors aren’t acceptable. This includes, but is not limited to:
    Violent threats or language aimed at another person, whether direct or indirect.
    Discriminatory jokes and language. Intentional racism, white supremacy, homophobia, transphobia, and trolling will not be tolerated.
    Publishing or joking about sexually explicit or violent material.
    Posting, threatening to post, or using other people’s personally identifying information (name, dead name, address, contact information, etcetera) in ways in which they have not given you explicit permission. (“doxing.”)
    Personal insults, especially those using discriminatory terms.
    Unwelcome sexual attention or unwelcome attention around relationships of any kind.
    Advocating for or encouraging any of the above behavior.
    Repeated harassment of others. In general, if someone asks you to stop, then stop. Don’t belabor the point because you think you’re right.
    Unless behavior is in conflict with another rule, disagree respectfully. Failing to disagree respectfully will likely conflict with another rule.
    Potential agressors take note: In cases where there is a gap in the evidentiary record, reasonable inferences will be made that are favorable to the members filing the report. Similarly, if multiple long-standing members explicitly request that another member be removed in whole or in part due to violations of these rules, the requests of those long-standing members will be taken seriously. You are advised to act accordingly.

    Diversity Statement
    We encourage everyone to participate and are committed to building a community for all. Although we may not be able to satisfy everyone, we all agree that everyone is equal. Whenever a participant has made a mistake, we expect them to take responsibility for it. If someone has been harmed or offended, it is our responsibility to listen closely, carefully, and respectfully, and do our best to right the wrong. You will find no better examples of this than in your admin team.

    Although this list cannot be exhaustive, we explicitly honor diversity in age, gender identity, gender expression, culture, ethnicity, language, national origin, political beliefs, profession, race, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and disability status. We will not tolerate discrimination based on any of the protected characteristics above.

    Reporting Issues
    If you experience or witness unacceptable behavior or have any other concerns, please report it by contacting Mia, Sanho, or any other member of the admin team on Telegram, Zoom, teamTalk, or by email. All reports will be confidential. No incident is too small. In your report please include:

    Your contact information.
    The names of any individuals involved.
    If there are additional witnesses, please include them as well.
    Your account of what occurred, and if you believe the incident is ongoing.
    If there is an available record (e.g. messages or notes of what happened, please make us aware.
    Any additional information that may be helpful.
    We will respect confidentiality requests for the purpose of protecting victims of abuse. Anyone asked to stop unacceptable behavior is expected to comply immediately. If an individual engages in unacceptable behavior, a moderator may take any action they deem appropriate, up to and including a permanent ban from our community.

    Updated 4/12/22