- Forbidden Content: General
- Do not insult other members.
- Please refrain from posting disparaging comments about any racial, ethnic, or religious group, or any profession, hobby/interest, disability, seuxal/gender identity, sexual orientation, age, or similar demographics. Political or partisan disagreements should be expressed in a respectful manner.
- The above clause applies to privileged groups as well as underprivileged groups. Note, however, that verbally analogous remarks may have more severe implications to some groups than others.
- Do not post support for recognized hate groups/terrorist groups.
- You agree to respect the gender identities of our members when speaking to/of them, including using appropriate pronouns.
- When responding to people's posts in the forums, please address them directly (in the second person) when reasonable. It can feel alienating to have two or more members speak about/over you on a topic, and we ask that we all try to keep this site welcoming and inclusive.
- We insist that you keep your responses to forum questions relevant to the original question asked and/or the direction of the discussion.
- Do not threaten other members or post content that would put members in danger.
- Do not post instructions on how to commit crimes or encourage other members to commit crimes.
- Forbidden Conduct: Asexuality-Related Matters
- We recognize the validity of all sexual orientations, including all forms of allosexuality. As such, we do not tolerate asexual elitism.
- Our members range from fully allosexual to extremely sex-averse/nudity averse. To keep our members comfortable, we ask that you properly give a content warning about all sexually implicit/sexually explicit content. (The distinction is elaborated below.) Furthermore, we ask that you restrict sexually explicit content to the 18+ forums.
- Remember that what you read about a user on this site is only a small snapshot of xyr life experience. If a user identifies with a certain sexuality or gender identity, you do not have the authority to contradict xem.
- However, if a user is questioning xyr gender identity or sexual orientation and asks for opinions, you may offer your opinion.
- Use of the 18+/17- Forums
- To our members under the age of 18: We understand that this is the age where it is common for you to be questioning your sexual orientation, and that some of your experiences may involve sexually suggestive scenarios. We ask that you only post about those scenarios in the 17- forum.
- Sexually explicit content must be clearly labeled, spoilered, and kept in the 18+ forums. Examples of sexually explicit content are:
- Images (photographic or cartoons) of sexual organs, breasts, or buttocks
- Images where the subject can easily be interpreted to be in a sexual situation (partnered or alone)
- Images depicting sexual fluids, condoms, or sex toys
- Verbal descriptions of sexual situations
- Particularly detailed verbal descriptions of breasts, buttocks, or sexual organs
- The lone exception to the above rule is the following: A user under the age of 18 may post verbal description of xyr experiences in the context of inquiring as to xyr sexual orientation or addressing another user's question about sexual orientation. In such a case, the user is advised to spoiler the comment, and, if possible, leave the post in the 17- forum.
- Sexually implicit content must be clearly labeled and spoilered, but may be posted in any forum. Examples of sexually implicit content include:
- Images where the subject is in particularly revealing undergarments
- Images where the subjects' nipples, sexual organs, or buttocks are particularly prominent underneath xyr clothes
- Images where the subject is scantily clad and making a suggestive pose or gesture, such as being about to remove xyr clothes or making a sexual gesture with xyr hands
- In contrast, images of people in normal swimwear are neither considered sexually explicit nor sexually implicit.
- Use of Asexual Community Forums to find a romantic partner: We certainly understand the difficulties of finding a romantic partner/queerplatonic partner as an asexual. We would like to provide an environment where asexuals can find love. As such, we allow our site to be used as a dating site, but only for our adult members. Here are the reasons for that restriction:
- We'd rather not be accused of sexual encouragement of minors.
- We can't truly verify anyone's age.
- Adult members are likely to be better judges of character than underage members are.
- We'd have to be incredibly certain that our site was safe for us to endorse minors using our site to find romantic partners. We cannot guarantee that anyone is who xe says xe is.
- Sexually implicit content must be clearly labeled and spoilered, but may be posted in any forum. Examples of sexually implicit content include:
- Course of Action for Reported Content: When the moderating team is notified of possibly problematic content, they must balance efficiency with thoroughness. As such, this is the course of action:
- Initial Judgement: The moderators most familiar with the forum in question and the relevant clauses of the terms of service will convene and make an initial decision. If no action is taken, the reporter (plaintiff) will be notified. If disciplinary action is taken, then both the plaintiff and the original poster (defendant) will be notified. The report and the decision will be logged under "Proceedings of the Moderating Team"
- Small-Team Hearing: If the plaintiff and/or the defendant objects to the decision, xe may insist on a hearing of at least three moderators. The moderators should be among those most familiar with the forum and the terms of service clause in question. If the dispute relates to content in another forum, the plaintiff and/or defendant may summon the moderator of that forum. The hearing will consist of those moderators, the defendant, up to one person that the defendant chooses to provide literary/oratory assistance, and up to two plaintiffs/assistants to the plaintiff. The moderators will hear the arguments and discuss appropriate action, with the course of disciplinary action dictated by median vote. Each moderator involved must either draft an explanation of xyr position or endorse another moderator's explanation. Each explanation and its list of concurring moderators will be logged under "Proceedings of the Moderating Team."
- Full-Team Appeal: If the plaintiff and/or defendant objects to the decision, xe may request to have the matter evaluated by the full moderating team. The moderators excluded from the original small-team decision will vote on whether or not the objection has enough merit to hear the appeal. If not, then the original small-team decision will stand. If they do hear the appeal, there will be a hearing with all moderators, the defendant and up to one assistant, and up to two plaintiffs/assistants to the plaintiff. The moderators will hear the arguments and discuss appropriate action, with the course of disciplinary action dictated by median vote. Each moderator involved must either draft an explanation of xyr position or endorse another moderator's explanation. Each explanation and its list of concurring moderators will be logged under "Proceedings of the Moderating Team." This decision will be final.
- Types of Disciplinary Actions: Asexual Community Forums has a strict speech code. To recognize this, we also have fairly lenient punishments.
- Single-post censorship: This is where the moderating team decides "It really would have been best if you hadn't said that. At least, not in the way that you said it." There's no great shame in this, we all say things that we later regret. In this case, your post will either be hidden or have the wording changed by a moderator. You will be notified of the action.
- Site ban: This is obviously not a lenient punishment, and is exceedingly rare. This punishment is reserved for cases where the moderating team decides that your presence on Asexual Community Forums is overall a negative one. This punishment is reserved for users whose main purpose seems to be to post irrelevant content or users who so frequently antagonize other members and show themselves to be repeatedly irreceptive to the reminders from the moderating team to adhere to the terms of service. In the latter case, this punishment would require an extended history of abuse of other members, and an overall sense that this member is a more negative presence than a positive one.
- Moderator Recall: Typically, moderators need to defend their positions every year. However, if a moderator is found to be abusing xyr position, xe may be recalled early. In such a case, a special election will be held. The moderator may run to keep xyr position, and other members may run against xem.
There is some debate, especially within Western urban/suburban spaces whose members are primarily of the academic social class, about what constitutes antisemitism. As this is a United States-based forum and the United States is party to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) we will be using both the US Department of State (USDOS) definition and the IHRA working definition of antisemitism. That is, anything in violation of either definition should be censored or otherwise removed from ACF.
Below is a summary of both definitions, along with a justification of each point of each definition and some common contemporary examples (as of 2022) of forbidden content. In some cases, there are common analogous anti-Arab or Islamophobic statements made by those defending the actions of Jews and/or Israelis. Some of these examples of forbidden anti-Arab/Islamophobic statements are included so that there be no ambiguity that such statements are forbidden.
Summaries: The following summaries are offered by USDOS and IHRA:
"Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities." [USDOS]
"Manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish
collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be
regarded as antisemitic. Antisemitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it
is often used to blame Jews for “why things go wrong.” It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms
and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits." [IHRA]
This is rather straightforward. In particular, the exclusion of criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against other countries is consistent with the viewpoint that statements with negative implications toward a racial group are not necessarily racist, only biased statements with such implications are problematic.
The following specific examples are listed by USDOS and IRHA:
Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology
or an extremist view of religion. [IHRA]Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews (often in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion). [USDOS]
This is self-explanatory. There is arguably no right greater than the right to life.
Examples:
- Calling for a global intifada
- Supporting intifada in Israel
- Supporting Palestinian terror attacks on Israeli civilian homes, such as by qassam missiles or incendiary devices
- Classifying Palestinian terror attacks as "resistance" or "self defense"
Analogous Islamophobic example:
- Advocating collective punishment against Palestinians, to punish the culture of supporting terror
"Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such
or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a
world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other
societal institutions." [IHRA and USDOS]
Harmful conspiracy theories are always problematic. Insinuating that such a small demographic can control much of anything is ridiculous.
Examples:
- Asserting that mainstream accounts of the Israel-Palestine conflict (acknowledging the internationally-recognized border) are biased in favor of Israel.
- Theorizing that United States politicians' support for Israel is due to AIPAC donations or other donations, rather than the will of median voter.
"Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, the state of Israel, or even for acts committed by non-Jews." [USDOS and IHRA]
"Holding Jews collectively responsible for actions of the state of Israel." [IHRA]
It's well-established that holding and individual responsible for the actions of xyr cohort is wrong.
Examples:
- Accosting Jews and either punishing them for Israel's actions or insisting that they denounce Israel's actions, without their having supported any problematic actions of Israel in the past.
- When Jews make statements that do not pertain to Israel's actions toward Palestine, responding with statements such as "Free Palestine" or images of the Palestinian flag. (Note that such remarks are acceptable in other contexts, just not in the context of holding Jews responsible for Israel's actions.)
"Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust. Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the
Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices
during World War II (the Holocaust). " [USDOS and IHRA]
As mentioned before, conspiracy theories are problematic.
Natural Extension:
- Denying the extent of anti-Israel sentiment in Palestine and other Arab countries, including denial of Israel's legitimacy, attempts to overthrow the Israeli government, funding for terrorist attacks, and/or prohibition of Jewish land ownership.
Analogous Islamophobic Example:
- Denying the expulsion of many Arabs from Israel's borders during the war for Israeli independence, under an operation known as "Tochnit Dalet" in Hebrew and "Al Nakhba" in Arabic.
"Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews
worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations."
There is a long, despicable history of accusing ethnic minorities of being double-agents.
Example:
- Asserting that Jews are trying to replace "true" citizens.
"Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, and denying Israel the right to exist" [USDOS]
"Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence
of a State of Israel is a racist endeavor." [IHRA]
This is perhaps the most widespread antisemitism in Western urban/suburban spaces whose members are primarily of the academic social class. The simplest explanation as to why this is antisemitic is as follows: There is no objection to recognizing the breakup of the Ottoman Empire. There is similarly no objection to formation of the countries of Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Yemen, or other Arab countries in the former Ottoman Empire. Objection to the formation of Israel can only be explained by objection to a Jewish country, which is antisemitic, and similar to racist gerrymandering in the United States to limit Black political power.
Examples:
- Asserting that Israel is the result of colonialism
- Claiming that Zionism is inherently racist or violent
- Claiming that all land in the Arabian peninsula is inherently Arab land
- Depicting the land within Israel's borders as being part of Palestine, either explicitly or implicitly by coloring it with the colors of the Palestinian flag or as an image to go alongside pro-Palestine rhetoric
- Falsely claiming that Palestine was its own country before 1948
- Asserting that Israel's legitimacy is contingent on Jewish indigeneity
- Maps depicting the undeveloped land in the desert climate as "Arab land" in an attempt to make the partition appear unfair
- Claiming that Israel is stolen land and that Palestinians have the right to retake it
- Supporting efforts that would inevitably lead to the destruction of Israel, such as Israel's allowing Palestinian military action to go unchecked or allowing all descendants of displaced Arabs to return to Israel, ignoring the stipulation of UN Resolution 194 that Arab refugees willing to live peacefully alongside their Jewish neighbors return
- Referring to cities within Israel's borders as being part of Palestine
- Objecting to people referring to Israel by name, saying it's really Palestine
Analogous Islamophobic Examples:
- Denying the legitimacy of Palestine as a country, with borders consistent with UN resolution 194
- Depicting the land within Palestine's borders as being part of Israel, either explicitly or implicitly by coloring it with the colors of the Israeli flag or as an image to go alongside pro-Israel rhetoric
- Legitimizing Israel's expansion into settlements on the Palestinian side of the border
"Applying double standards by requiring of it a behavior not expected or demanded of any other
democratic nation." [USDOS and IHRA]
It goes without saying that double standards are problematic.
Examples:
- Condemning Israel for arresting suspected terrorists or launching airstrikes on suspected sites used for terrorist or military purposes. This is especially true when failing to act would cause use of human shields to become a successful strategy.
- Asserting that all Israelis are valid targets because of Israel's compulsory military service
- Claiming that any internal disputes or theocratic tendencies are grounds for an Arab overthrow of the Israeli government
"Using the symbols and images associated with classic antisemitism (e.g., claims of Jews killing
Jesus or blood libel) to characterize Israel or Israelis." [IHRA]"Using the symbols and images associated with classic anti-Semitism to characterize Israel or Israelis" [USDOS]
As mentioned before, conspiracy theories are problematic.
"Drawing comparisons of contemporary Israeli policy to that of the Nazis" [USDOS and IHRA]
To be clear it is not antisemitic to state that some activity was unethical when the Nazis did it and therefor is also unethical when Kach does it. "Drawing comparisons" in this case must be interpreted as stating that Israel's actions are either overall similar to the Nazis or comparable to the worst of Nazi Germany.
Example:
- Classifying Israel's actions as genocidal
"Blaming Israel for all inter-religious or political tensions" [USDOS]
This is another example of an antisemitic conspiracy theory.
Examples:
- Claiming that the world would be at peace if Israel were destroyed
- Claiming that ISIS/ISIL is secretly funded by Israel to make Muslims look bad
"Multilateral organizations focusing on Israel only for peace or human rights investigations"
While the above is despicable, unless someone in a position of authority such as the secretary of the UN or president of Amnesty International makes an ACF account, it is unlikely that any ACF members can violate this condition.
"However, criticism of Israel similar to that leveled against any other country cannot be regarded as anti-Semitic." [USDOS and IHRA]
As mentioned above, statements with negative implications toward Jews are not necessarily antisemitic, only biased statements with such implications are problematic.
Examples of permitted statements that many Zionists object to:
- Displaying the Palestinian flag
- The statement "Free Palestine" in isolation
- Condemning Israel's expansion across the border with Palestine
- Classifying Israel's designation of areas as "area C" with building restrictions as excessive
- Advocating boycotts or economic sanctions as a deterrent for Israel's expansionism
- Advocating monetary reparations for property lost during Tochnit Dalet/Al Nakhba
Our guidelines for what constitutes transphobia:
At this time, we consider this set of guidelines to be a good one.
