Keep it civil aka don’t be a jerk.

We’re going to get into the thick of a lot of heated discussions and that’s okay. These discussions often entail topics that we all personally care a lot about and will passionately defend. But in order for discussions to thrive here, we need to remember to criticize ideas, not people.

So, remember to avoid:

• name-calling
• ad homonym attacks
• Responding to a post’s tone instead of its actual content.
• knee-jerk contradiction

Comments that we find to be hateful, inflammatory, or harassing may be removed. If you don’t have something nice to say about another user, don’t say it. Treat others the way you’d like to be treated.

Always strive to add value to every interaction and discussion

There are a lot of discussions that happen every day on Disqus. Before joining in a discussion, browse through some of the most recent and active discussions happening in the community, especially if you’re new there.

If you are not sure your post adds to the conversation, think over what you want to say and try again later.

Keep it tidy

Help make moderators’ lives easier by taking a moment to ensure that what you’re about to post is in the right place. That means:

• don’t post off-topic comments or discussions: check the Explore page to find the appropriate channel for your topic
• don’t cross-post the same thing multiple times
• review any specific posting guidelines for the community: some communities such as a movies community may have specific rules regarding spoilers.
• check if another active discussion on your topic has already been posted

If you see something, say something

Moderators are at the forefront of combating spam, mediating disputes and enforcing community guidelines and, so are you.

If you see an issue, contact the moderators if possible or flag any comments for review. If you believe someone has violated the Basic Rules, report it to Disqus by flagging the user’s profile.