Discord Server Rules

The Bell Tree Forums has an official Discord server for community discussion and events. The Bell Tree Forums Discord server may be moderated more informally than the forum, but the Rules & Guidelines still apply. Please follow those guidelines and the rules below when participating in the Discord server.

1. Be Respectful

Treat all members and staff with respect, regardless of whether they are present in the server at the time. Behavior prohibited on the forums is also prohibited in the server.

2. Be Inclusive

The server should feel welcoming to everyone, and channels should be shared by all members of the community. Please help newcomers feel welcome, and avoid exclusionary behavior.

3. Keep Negativity to a Minimum

Occasional venting is fine, but persistent negativity or disruptive attitudes can create an uncomfortable space. Please keep the overall environment friendly and enjoyable.

4. Do Not Spam

Do not spam the chat with pointless or repetitive messages. Post when you have something to share, and others will respond if they’re interested. Avoid posting the same message in multiple channels; choose the most appropriate place and post it once.

5. Keep Channels On-Topic

Use each channel for its intended purpose. This keeps the server organized and conversations easy to follow.

6. Do Not Advertise

Do not use the server to advertise or promote other Discord servers, websites, social media accounts, or shops.

7. Forum Content Rules Apply

While moderation may be lighter than the forum, Prohibited Content rules still apply. Do not post or link to content that is prohibited on the forums, as it is also prohibited in the Discord server.

8. Do Not Post Generative AI Content

Do not post AI-generated content of any kind, including text, memes, images, videos, or audio.

9. Bots and Automated Features

Do not invite bots to the server unless approved by staff. Unapproved bots will be removed.

10. Reporting

The Discord server is not for reporting site issues or concerns. Instead, please make a thread in the Contact the Staff board, or use the "Report" feature where appropriate. To report an issue within the Discord server, you may ping a staff member using "@Staff".

11. Identifying Staff and Following Their Direction

Users listed as Staff moderate the Discord server. As on the forum, a red name indicates an administrator, a blue name indicates a moderator, and a green name indicates project staff. Please follow the directions of any staff member if they determine you are not following the rules.

12. Privacy and Boundaries

Do not share your own or others’ personal information, and do not pressure anyone into sharing personal details. Do not share others’ private messages or private off-site content without permission.

13. Comply with Discord’s Terms of Service and Community Guidelines

All users must follow the Discord Terms of Service and Discord Community Guidelines. As with the forums, you must be 13 years or older to use Discord.

14. Cross-Platform Moderation and Consequences

Depending on the severity of the behavior, breaking server or forum rules may result in removal from the Discord server and a forum warning or ban. Repeated or serious offenses may lead to longer bans. If moderators cannot identify your forum account to issue a warning, a longer Discord ban may be applied by default. You may use the Contact the Staff board to confirm your forum account so staff can apply a warning and reduce the Discord ban time if appropriate.