Updates to THF Code of Conduct & Moderation Enforcement

Dear Readers,

One of the missions of The Haiku Foundation (THF) is to foster fellowship among writers of haiku and related genres. While we rarely have discordant interactions on the site, we are moving to a more proactive approach than we have in the past to maintain the harmony we have developed over the years. To help us keep our Code of Conduct updated and to oversee moderation enforcement, we have created a Committee for this purpose.

In an increasingly hostile world, particularly on social media, THF strives to be a place of comfort and community — an oasis in a burgeoning drought of camaraderie. Because we wish to maintain a higher level of decorum, we have reviewed and revised our Code of Conduct and the policies and procedures surrounding it. While we rarely run into violations requiring action, our goal is to create and maintain a safer, more pleasant environment for our users with these changes.

Going forward, we will be enforcing these revised rules and tracking patterns of violations. Please review our updated policies below to ensure you understand them.

Note: All posts must contain the poster’s real name or pen name. Anonymous posts are now in violation of our Code of Conduct.

Because our volunteers can’t monitor every post every day, and we are part of a multicultural community, there will be times when moderators may not catch all potentially violating language or behavior. Users should not self-moderate in the comments. If you see a problem or someone is targeting you in the blog comments, please contact us to handle it. Site users can now submit potential violations to the President via the form at the bottom of the contact page.

We are pleased to have you here sharing your ideas with us and each other. We hope our site feels comfortable, pleasant, and safe for all users.

If you have questions or concerns about this or anything else regarding THF, please contact me via the form at the bottom of the contact page.

Thank you all for helping make THF a great place to learn and interact with others who share the same passion for haiku! We appreciate your help in keeping THF a safe and welcome place!

Robin Smith
President, The Haiku Foundation

Code of Conduct

These simplified guidelines aim to foster a welcoming and respectful community centered around the appreciation and discussion of haiku. By using clear and concise language, we hope to make the expectations accessible to all members, encouraging positive and meaningful interactions. We appreciate your adherence to the following rules and policies, which help us maintain a friendly environment on the site.

Your participation in our discussion areas is contingent upon your friendly interaction with the community and THF volunteers. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone, for any reason, at any time.

We appreciate your help in keeping THF a safe and welcome place; please report any potential violations to the appropriate moderator or the President. Likewise, we value the community’s questions and constructive feedback about THF features. Please email the host or the President with your ideas, suggestions, or questions.

1. Be Respectful and Kind
   Treat all members with courtesy and consideration. Avoid personal attacks, insults, or any form of harassment or stalking, including flaming moderators.
2. Participate in Site Activities in Good Faith
   Do not cheat (kukai vote stuffing or multiple Touchstone Award nominations by individuals, for example). Do not plagiarize or “borrow” from others without permission and citation, etc.
3. Stay On Topic
   Keep discussions focused on haiku and related subjects. Refrain from delving into unrelated topics such as religion, politics, or other potentially divisive issues. The topic of each blog post is reflected in the title. Do not use posts to complain or advertise.
4. Embrace Diversity
   We welcome individuals from all backgrounds. Discrimination based on age, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other personal characteristic is not tolerated.
5. Use Appropriate Language
   Communicate in a manner that is suitable for a diverse audience, including minors. Avoid offensive, vulgar, or inflammatory language.
6. Be Transparent About Your Identity
   Posts must be signed with your given name or pen name. No disposable IP addresses or fake contact information is allowed.
7. Follow Moderator Guidance
   Respect the decisions and directions provided by our volunteer moderators. Their role is to ensure a harmonious and constructive environment for all.
8. Report Concerns Promptly
   If you encounter behavior that violates these guidelines, please report it to the appropriate moderator or the President.
9. Understand the Consequences
   Violations of this code may result in content removal, warnings, or, in severe cases, suspension from the community. (See Moderation Enforcement below.)
10. Accept the Consequences
    Do not attempt to evade a ban or use multiple accounts to avoid moderation enforcement. Do not contact staff members in an attempt to evade your ban.

Moderation Enforcement

When users violate the Code of Conduct as determined by THF volunteer staff, a step-up approach to enforcement typically follows the pattern below.

1. Rule Reminder
2. Warning
3. One-month ban
4. One-year ban
5. Indefinite ban

Moderators may skip any step(s) of the moderation enforcement process if they feel it is warranted.

Moderators may delete comments or threads, or close comments for anything that violates the Code of Conduct. The Haiku Foundation is not responsible for deleted material, posts, images, poems, comments, or any other material that may or may not have value to you or others.