Community Guidelines
# Kalona.chat Community Guidelines
Kalona.chat exists to give people in and around Kalona a place to talk, ask questions, share information, support local businesses, discuss community issues, and connect with neighbors.
We're aiming for a community where people can disagree without turning every disagreement into a personal fight.
## 1. Be Respectful
Treat other members with basic respect.
Disagreement is allowed. Personal attacks, harassment, threats, and bullying are not.
## 2. Keep Discussions Constructive
You're welcome to:
* Disagree.
* Ask difficult questions.
* Criticize policies.
* Discuss local government.
* Discuss businesses.
* Share personal experiences.
* Debate community issues.
Focus criticism on ideas, decisions, policies, services, or experiences rather than attacking people personally.
## 3. Don't Post Threats
Threats of violence or harm are prohibited.
Threatening another member, business, public official, employee, or any other person may result in immediate removal and account action.
Serious threats may also be reported to appropriate authorities.
## 4. Don't Dox People
Do not post private personal information such as:
* Home addresses.
* Personal phone numbers.
* Personal email addresses.
* Financial information.
* Passwords.
* Private photographs.
* Government identification numbers.
* Information intended to help others locate or harass someone.
Publicly available business contact information may be permitted when used appropriately.
## 5. Local Business Discussions
Local-business discussions are welcome.
However:
**Do not knowingly post false accusations.**
When discussing a business, consider clearly identifying statements as your personal experience or opinion.
For example:
> "I had a bad experience with this contractor."
is different from presenting an unverified allegation of criminal conduct as established fact.
## 6. Reviews Must Be Genuine
Do not:
* Create fake reviews.
* Buy reviews.
* Sell reviews.
* Coordinate fake reviews.
* Create fake accounts to manipulate ratings.
* Review a business you have never dealt with while pretending you did.
* Intentionally misrepresent your experience.
Businesses should not use Kalona.chat to manufacture positive or negative public opinion.
Federal rules address deceptive review practices, including fake reviews and certain compensated reviews.
## 7. Political and Government Discussions
Political and civic discussion is allowed.
Users may discuss:
* City government.
* County government.
* Elections.
* Candidates.
* Taxes.
* Local ordinances.
* Public projects.
* Community issues.
Political disagreements must still follow the general rules against threats, harassment, doxxing, and knowingly false information.
## 8. Buy, Sell, and Trade
When buying or selling:
* Be honest about what you're offering.
* Don't knowingly misrepresent an item.
* Don't use the forum to conduct scams.
* Be cautious when meeting strangers.
* Don't send money to someone you don't trust.
Kalona.chat does not guarantee transactions between members.
## 9. Spam
Don't flood discussions with:
* Repeated advertisements.
* Automated posts.
* Referral spam.
* Unwanted promotional messages.
* Malicious links.
* Repeated self-promotion.
Local businesses may participate in the community, but excessive advertising may be restricted.
## 10. Illegal Content
Content involving illegal activity may be removed.
Kalona.chat may cooperate with appropriate authorities where required by law or where necessary to address serious threats or criminal activity.
## 11. Moderation
Moderators may:
* Remove posts.
* Edit posts where appropriate.
* Close discussions.
* Lock threads.
* Remove accounts.
* Temporarily suspend users.
* Permanently ban users.
Moderation decisions may consider context, history, severity, and community safety.
## 12. Report Problems
If you see content that violates these guidelines, use the site's reporting function or contact the administrators.
Please don't engage in a public fight with the person you're reporting.
## 13. Good-Faith Participation
The best way to keep Kalona.chat useful is simple:
**Discuss the issue. Help your neighbors. Share useful information. Have fun.**
We're all part of the same community.
Kalona.chat exists to give people in and around Kalona a place to talk, ask questions, share information, support local businesses, discuss community issues, and connect with neighbors.
We're aiming for a community where people can disagree without turning every disagreement into a personal fight.
## 1. Be Respectful
Treat other members with basic respect.
Disagreement is allowed. Personal attacks, harassment, threats, and bullying are not.
## 2. Keep Discussions Constructive
You're welcome to:
* Disagree.
* Ask difficult questions.
* Criticize policies.
* Discuss local government.
* Discuss businesses.
* Share personal experiences.
* Debate community issues.
Focus criticism on ideas, decisions, policies, services, or experiences rather than attacking people personally.
## 3. Don't Post Threats
Threats of violence or harm are prohibited.
Threatening another member, business, public official, employee, or any other person may result in immediate removal and account action.
Serious threats may also be reported to appropriate authorities.
## 4. Don't Dox People
Do not post private personal information such as:
* Home addresses.
* Personal phone numbers.
* Personal email addresses.
* Financial information.
* Passwords.
* Private photographs.
* Government identification numbers.
* Information intended to help others locate or harass someone.
Publicly available business contact information may be permitted when used appropriately.
## 5. Local Business Discussions
Local-business discussions are welcome.
However:
**Do not knowingly post false accusations.**
When discussing a business, consider clearly identifying statements as your personal experience or opinion.
For example:
> "I had a bad experience with this contractor."
is different from presenting an unverified allegation of criminal conduct as established fact.
## 6. Reviews Must Be Genuine
Do not:
* Create fake reviews.
* Buy reviews.
* Sell reviews.
* Coordinate fake reviews.
* Create fake accounts to manipulate ratings.
* Review a business you have never dealt with while pretending you did.
* Intentionally misrepresent your experience.
Businesses should not use Kalona.chat to manufacture positive or negative public opinion.
Federal rules address deceptive review practices, including fake reviews and certain compensated reviews.
## 7. Political and Government Discussions
Political and civic discussion is allowed.
Users may discuss:
* City government.
* County government.
* Elections.
* Candidates.
* Taxes.
* Local ordinances.
* Public projects.
* Community issues.
Political disagreements must still follow the general rules against threats, harassment, doxxing, and knowingly false information.
## 8. Buy, Sell, and Trade
When buying or selling:
* Be honest about what you're offering.
* Don't knowingly misrepresent an item.
* Don't use the forum to conduct scams.
* Be cautious when meeting strangers.
* Don't send money to someone you don't trust.
Kalona.chat does not guarantee transactions between members.
## 9. Spam
Don't flood discussions with:
* Repeated advertisements.
* Automated posts.
* Referral spam.
* Unwanted promotional messages.
* Malicious links.
* Repeated self-promotion.
Local businesses may participate in the community, but excessive advertising may be restricted.
## 10. Illegal Content
Content involving illegal activity may be removed.
Kalona.chat may cooperate with appropriate authorities where required by law or where necessary to address serious threats or criminal activity.
## 11. Moderation
Moderators may:
* Remove posts.
* Edit posts where appropriate.
* Close discussions.
* Lock threads.
* Remove accounts.
* Temporarily suspend users.
* Permanently ban users.
Moderation decisions may consider context, history, severity, and community safety.
## 12. Report Problems
If you see content that violates these guidelines, use the site's reporting function or contact the administrators.
Please don't engage in a public fight with the person you're reporting.
## 13. Good-Faith Participation
The best way to keep Kalona.chat useful is simple:
**Discuss the issue. Help your neighbors. Share useful information. Have fun.**
We're all part of the same community.