Community Guidelines

Rules and expectations for participating in the Thamizhi community.

These guidelines ensure Thamizhi remains a trustworthy, respectful, and effective platform for decentralized journalism.

Core Values

1. Truth First

Verify before submitting: Ensure your information is accurate
Cite sources: Provide evidence for your claims
Correct errors: Admit and fix mistakes quickly
Be transparent: Disclose conflicts of interest

2. Respect Everyone

No personal attacks: Focus on issues, not individuals
No hate speech: Discrimination is not tolerated
No harassment: Bullying or intimidation is prohibited
Be constructive: Offer criticism that helps improve

3. Community Over Self

Serve the community: Your contributions should benefit others
Collaborate: Work together for better outcomes
Support newcomers: Help others learn and grow
Share knowledge: Contribute to collective understanding

Submission Guidelines

Content Standards

Factual accuracy: All claims must be verifiable
Clear sourcing: Provide evidence for statements
Fair representation: Include multiple perspectives
Appropriate content: No graphic or disturbing material without warning
No plagiarism: Original content only

What We Don’t Allow

Misinformation: False or misleading information
Disinformation: Intentionally false content
Spam: Repetitive or promotional content
Harassment: Targeting individuals or groups
Illegal content: Content that violates laws

Quality Requirements

Clear headlines: Descriptive and accurate
Comprehensive content: Complete information
Proper grammar: Readable and professional
Relevant media: Images and videos that support the story
Appropriate length: Enough detail without unnecessary padding

Review Guidelines

Being a Reviewer

Be fair: Evaluate content objectively
Be constructive: Provide helpful feedback
Be timely: Review promptly when possible
Be consistent: Apply standards equally

Review Standards

Focus on facts: Not opinions or preferences
Check sources: Verify references when possible
Consider context: Understand cultural and social factors
Be specific: Point out exact issues
Suggest improvements: Help authors succeed

What Makes a Good Review?

Specific feedback: “The third paragraph lacks sources” vs. “This is bad”
Constructive suggestions: “Consider adding statistics from…” vs. “This is wrong”
Fair assessment: Based on guidelines, not personal opinion
Helpful tone: Encouraging rather than discouraging

Community Behavior

Positive Contributions

Help others: Answer questions and provide guidance
Share expertise: Contribute specialized knowledge
Report issues: Flag problems that harm the community
Celebrate success: Acknowledge good work
Mentor newcomers: Guide new members

Negative Behaviors to Avoid

Trolling: Deliberately provoking others
Griefing: Intentionally disrupting discussions
Spamming: Repetitive or promotional content
Doxxing: Sharing private information
Brigading: Coordinating attacks on content or users

Enforcement

Warning System

First offense: Warning with explanation
Second offense: Temporary restrictions
Third offense: Extended suspension
Serious violations: Permanent ban

Violation Categories

Minor: Spelling errors, minor inaccuracies
Moderate: Uncivil behavior, low-quality content
Major: Harassment, misinformation
Severe: Illegal content, hate speech, doxxing

Appeals Process

Submit appeal: Explain your perspective
Review committee: Community members review appeals
Decision: Final determination communicated
Implementation: Changes applied if appeal granted

Special Cases

Sensitive Topics

Health information: Extra verification required
Legal matters: Professional review recommended
Financial advice: Clear disclaimers needed
Political content: Multiple perspectives required

Breaking News

Speed vs. accuracy: Always prioritize accuracy
Update regularly: Mark stories as developing
Clarify uncertainty: Be clear about what’s confirmed
Correct promptly: Fix errors immediately

Controversial Content

Extra verification: Additional review layers
Balanced presentation: Include opposing viewpoints
Clear context: Explain why this matters
Moderated discussion: Enhanced oversight

Platform-Specific Rules

Account Requirements

One account per person: No multiple identities
Real verification: Identity must be verified
Age requirement: Must be 13+ (or local equivalent)
No impersonation: Be who you claim to be

Content Ownership

Original content: You must own or have rights to content
Licensing: Content licensed for platform use
Attribution: Credit original sources
Removal rights: You can request content removal

Technical Rules

No hacking: Don’t exploit platform vulnerabilities
No bots: Automated submissions not allowed
No scraping: Don’t extract data without permission
No DDoS: Don’t disrupt platform operations

Community Self-Governance

How Rules Evolve

Community input: Suggestions from all members
Open discussion: Transparent rule development
Consensus building: Majority agreement on changes
Regular review: Rules updated as needed

Your Role

Follow guidelines: Know and follow the rules
Report violations: Help maintain standards
Provide feedback: Suggest rule improvements
Lead by example: Demonstrate good behavior

Getting Help

Resources

FAQ: Common questions answered
Support team: Contact for specific issues
Community forums: Peer-to-peer help
Documentation: Detailed guides and explanations

Reporting Issues

Use the report button: For content violations
Contact support: For personal issues
Community forums: For general questions
Feedback system: For suggestions and improvements

Remember

These guidelines exist to protect the community and ensure Thamizhi remains a trustworthy platform for decentralized journalism. Every rule serves a purpose in maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of our collective work.

The goal: A community where truth thrives, respect is universal, and everyone can contribute to better journalism.