Rules tell us what not to do rather than what to do. They’re imposed by those with power on those without. They create a divide between those who are subjected to them and those who enforce them. To avoid the issues with traditional rules, we can decide what to do as individuals in a community.

  • Be civil. Remember that you’re talking to an actual person.
  • Be mindful when discussing hot-button topics, such as discussing things you dislike about a particular language, editor wars, discussion about moderation, etc.
  • Be aware of how you’re affecting the atmosphere. Things like trolling, baiting, or splitting messages into multiple lines reduce the signal-to-noise ratio and can permanently lower the channel quality over time.
  • Be liberal with NSFW labels. If it’s not socially accepted to show it to other people’s kids, label it NSFW in the same message.