K
Kitti
Guest
In the past, there has been some confusion regarding what spaces on Iwaku are considered "private" and whether the rules count. Let me first say, on Iwaku, the rules count everywhere. From roleplay threads to private messages, as long as they are part of the site, they fall under the domain of the administrators. With that said, I'm going to delve a little more into the ins and outs of privacy on different areas of Iwaku for you.
Roleplays/ General Chatting
Privacy: Lowest tier
When you post on the forums, your comments are visible to the greatest number of people. For roleplays in particular, staff try to make a pass through to ensure both that everything is tidy, tagged, and graveyarded if need be and also that everything is following the rules. It's a hefty task but most are perused eventually.
Members can also view these threads and make reports if they spot rule-breaking behavior.
Blogs
Privacy: Some privacy settings
The privacy settings in blogs can limit the number of normal members who can view your content for your own purposes but the blogs are still subject to the terms of the site, even if they're set to private! That means that airing grievances (dirty laundry) about another member on Iwaku, even if you don't name them specifically, is not permitted in blogs. Staff can still see even the private blogs.
Roleplays/ General Chatting
Privacy: Lowest tier
When you post on the forums, your comments are visible to the greatest number of people. For roleplays in particular, staff try to make a pass through to ensure both that everything is tidy, tagged, and graveyarded if need be and also that everything is following the rules. It's a hefty task but most are perused eventually.
Members can also view these threads and make reports if they spot rule-breaking behavior.
Blogs
Privacy: Some privacy settings
The privacy settings in blogs can limit the number of normal members who can view your content for your own purposes but the blogs are still subject to the terms of the site, even if they're set to private! That means that airing grievances (dirty laundry) about another member on Iwaku, even if you don't name them specifically, is not permitted in blogs. Staff can still see even the private blogs.
Private Chatboxes
Privacy: Some privacy
The private chats that you can create can be password protected to limit the number of normal members who can view your conversations. There is some leniency in topics as discussing personal matters in private chats is more acceptable but these chats are still expected to follow the rules. Subject matter like discussion of suicide or airing dirty laundry are still not allowed. Staff can still view these chats and report rule-breaking content.
Private Messages
Privacy: High
Your private messages have more privacy than other content on the site and it is more relaxed here to chat with friends. To respect privacy, private messages are only accessed by staff in rare circumstances.This does not mean that private messages are a free-for-all! Rule-breaking behaviors such as harassing someone via private messages can be reported and handled by security. Another important note is that the rules regarding sexual content still apply. Sexual content outside your age grouping and prepubescent characters in sexual settings can still earn you a ban even in private messages.
Reports
Privacy: High
When you submit a report form, it gets sent tidily off to the security staff and normal members can't see it at all. We don't post records of it anywhere else and we typically handle the issue as efficiently and cleanly as possible, involving the fewest number of people - usually just you if we have further questions and the one whose content is reported. When you submit a Report Staff form, this gets sent off to just the administrators and not even the rest of staff are able to see your report.
This said, there are still rules. Don't be afraid to use the report forms but remember to use them in good faith. You think that someone is harassing another member? Report it, even if you're not sure. You really want that member that you don't like banned so you report all of their content ever and try to explain why you think they suck? Not a proper usage. Only report things that you think break the rules - if you want to get to help decide who gets banned, you're going to have to try to take Grumpy's job from him first.
Offsite
Privacy: High
The Iwaku Discord server is still counted as part of Iwaku and is not really "offsite". Other servers that are not directly affiliated with Iwaku are mostly outside of Iwaku's jurisdiction. However, this comes with some caveats, namely when members of Iwaku use an offsite venue in order to coordinate rule-breaking behavior on Iwaku, such as harassment. Members who are caught using Iwaku as a medium to find members outside their age group for sexual solicitation and similar behaviors will also meet disciplinary action.
As always, if you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask staff! We'd much rather answer your question and help you understand the rules than have you getting talked to later by Security for breaking them.
