Guidelines to foster a positive and engaging environment while setting clear expectations

1. Be Respectful and Courteous
   Treat all members with kindness and respect, even if you disagree. Personal attacks, insults, or hostile language have no place here.

2. Stay On-Topic
   Keep your comments relevant to the discussion. Tangents or unrelated topics can disrupt the flow of conversation.

3. Use Constructive Criticism
   If you disagree with someone, provide thoughtful, constructive feedback. Critique ideas, not individuals.

4. Avoid Offensive Content
   Do not post anything that could be considered hateful, discriminatory, or vulgar. This includes language, images, or links.

5. Be Open-Minded
   Welcome diverse perspectives and be willing to learn from others. Respectfully challenge ideas, but remain open to new viewpoints.

6. No Spamming or Self-Promotion
   Avoid posting repetitive content, advertisements, or excessive self-promotion unless it’s relevant to the discussion and permitted by the blog rules.

7. Protect Privacy
   Do not share personal or sensitive information about yourself or others. Respect the anonymity of other users.

8. Cite Your Sources
   When referencing facts, quotes, or external content, give proper credit and, where possible, include a link for further reading.

9. Report Issues, Don’t Escalate
   If you encounter inappropriate content or behavior, report it to the moderators instead of engaging directly.

10. Follow Blog-Specific Rules
    Some discussion threads may have unique rules or guidelines. Be sure to read and follow them.