Guidelines

Last updated on February 24, 2023

The Local Universe is a vast network of communities that are created, run, and populated by you, The Local Universe users.

Through these communities, you can chat, discuss, learn, debate, support, and connect with people who share your interests, and we encourage you to find—or even create—your home on The Local Universe.

While not every community may be for you (and you may find some unrelatable or even offensive), no community should be used as a weapon. Communities should create a sense of belonging for their members, not try to diminish it for others. Likewise, everyone on The Local Universe should have an expectation of privacy and safety, so please respect the privacy and safety of others.

Every community on The Local Universe is defined by its users. Please abide by the rules of communities in which you participate and do not interfere with those in which you are not a member.

Below the rules governing each community are the platform-wide rules that apply to everyone on The Local Universe. These rules are enforced by us, the admins.

The Local Universe and its communities are only what we make of them together, and can only exist if we operate by a shared set of rules. We ask that you abide by not just the letter of these rules, but the spirit as well.

Rules

Rule 1

Remember the human. The Local Universe is a place for creating community and belonging, not for attacking marginalized or vulnerable groups of people. Everyone has a right to use The Local Universe free of harassment, bullying, and threats of violence. Communities and users that incite violence or that promote hate based on identity or vulnerability will be banned.

Rule 2

Respect the privacy of others. Instigating harassment, for example by revealing someone’s personal or confidential information, is not allowed. Never post or threaten to post intimate or sexually-explicit media of someone without their consent.

Rule 3

Do not share or encourage the sharing of sexual, abusive, or suggestive content involving minors. Any predatory or inappropriate behavior involving a minor is also strictly prohibited.

Rule 4

You don’t have to use your real name to use The Local Universe, but don’t impersonate an individual or an entity in a misleading or deceptive manner.

Rule 5

Ensure people have predictable experiences on The Local Universe by properly labeling content and communities, particularly content that is graphic, sexually-explicit, or offensive.

Rule 6

Keep it legal, and avoid posting illegal content or soliciting or facilitating illegal or prohibited transactions.

Rule 7

Don’t break the site or do anything that interferes with normal use of The Local Universe.

Enforcement

We have a variety of ways of enforcing our rules, including, but not limited to

  • Asking you nicely to knock it off
  • Asking you less nicely
  • Temporary or permanent suspension of accounts
  • Removal of privileges from, or adding restrictions to, accounts
  • Adding restrictions to The Local Universe communities, such as adding NSFW tags or Quarantining
  • Removal of content
  • Banning of The Local Universe communities