1. Moderation Philosophy

Moderators should guide discussions, not dominate them. The goal is education, de-escalation, and community health—not punishment.

2. Progressive Enforcement

Moderation actions should generally follow this order:

1. Friendly reminder

2. Official warning

3. Temporary suspension

4. Permanent ban

Immediate bans may be used for severe violations (hate speech, threats, spam bots).

3. Transparency and Consistency

Apply rules evenly to all members regardless of experience level, callsign, or tenure. Document actions for internal review.

4. De-Escalation First

When conflicts arise:

• Encourage cooling-off periods

• Split heated threads if necessary

• Lock threads only as a last resort

5. Editing vs. Deleting

• Edit posts for minor rule violations when possible

• Delete posts only when necessary (spam, abuse, illegal content)

• Leave moderator notes when appropriate

6. Handling Technical Misinformation

Incorrect technical advice should be corrected politely. Dangerous or illegal advice should be removed immediately with an explanation.

7. New Member Protection

Encourage and protect new hams. Elitism, gatekeeping, or mocking beginners is not acceptable.

8. Vendor and Manufacturer Conduct

Vendors must disclose affiliations. Undisclosed promotions or deceptive marketing are prohibited.

9. Appeals and Feedback

Members may appeal moderation decisions via private message or designated feedback channels. Appeals should be reviewed by more than one moderator when possible.

10. Moderator Conduct

Moderators must:

• Remain calm and professional

• Avoid public arguments

• Refrain from moderating threads they are personally involved in

• Lead by example