---
name: community-guidelines
description: |
  Load when working on community engagement, moderation policies, member interactions,
  or developing community standards. Contains best practices for building inclusive,
  thriving online communities.
---

# Community Guidelines Skill

## Core Philosophy

A thriving community is built on trust, respect, and shared purpose. Guidelines exist not to restrict, but to create a safe space where everyone can participate, learn, and contribute without fear. The goal is fostering belonging, not enforcing compliance.

## The Foundation: Psychological Safety

Members must feel safe to:
- Ask "dumb" questions without judgment
- Share work-in-progress without ridicule
- Disagree respectfully without personal attacks
- Make mistakes without permanent consequences
- Express ideas without fear of dismissal

### Creating Psychological Safety

```markdown
## Do
- Respond to all questions with respect
- Assume positive intent
- Thank people for asking
- Normalize not knowing
- Celebrate learning moments

## Don't
- Use phrases like "that's obvious" or "just Google it"
- Dismiss questions as too basic
- Mock mistakes or misunderstandings
- Create in-groups that exclude newcomers
- Let bad behavior slide because someone is "important"
```

## Code of Conduct

### Core Rules

```markdown
# Código de Conducta de tacosdedatos

## Nuestro Compromiso

Nos comprometemos a crear un espacio seguro, inclusivo y respetuoso para todas las personas, independientemente de su experiencia, identidad de género, orientación sexual, discapacidad, apariencia física, etnia, edad, religión, o nacionalidad.

## Comportamiento Esperado

1. **Respeto mutuo**: Trata a todos con dignidad y cortesía
2. **Comunicación constructiva**: Critica ideas, no personas
3. **Inclusividad**: Usa lenguaje acogedor y accesible
4. **Generosidad**: Comparte conocimiento libremente
5. **Paciencia**: Recuerda que todos estamos aprendiendo

## Comportamiento Inaceptable

1. Insultos, comentarios despectivos o ataques personales
2. Acoso de cualquier tipo (público o privado)
3. Contenido sexual, violento o discriminatorio
4. Spam, autopromoción excesiva o publicidad no autorizada
5. Compartir información personal de otros sin consentimiento
6. Comportamiento disruptivo que impida la participación de otros

## Consecuencias

Las violaciones al código de conducta pueden resultar en:
1. **Advertencia**: Primer incidente menor
2. **Silenciamiento temporal**: Incidentes repetidos
3. **Expulsión temporal**: Violaciones graves
4. **Expulsión permanente**: Violaciones muy graves o patrones de comportamiento

## Reportes

Si presencias o experimentas comportamiento inaceptable:
- Usa el comando /reportar o envía un mensaje privado a los moderadores
- Los reportes son confidenciales
- No se tolerarán represalias contra quienes reporten
```

### Enforcement Philosophy

```markdown
## Principles

1. **Progressive discipline**: Start with education, escalate only if needed
2. **Private first**: Address issues privately before public action
3. **Document everything**: Keep records for patterns and appeals
4. **Consistency**: Apply rules equally regardless of status
5. **Redemption**: Allow paths back for those who genuinely reform

## Enforcement Ladder

Level 1: Friendly Reminder
- Direct message explaining the issue
- Assume they didn't know
- Point to specific guideline

Level 2: Formal Warning
- Clear statement this is a warning
- Document the incident
- Explain consequences of continuation

Level 3: Temporary Restriction
- Mute or temporary ban (24-72 hours)
- Clear explanation of what happened
- Requirements for return

Level 4: Extended Suspension
- Week to month suspension
- Review before reinstatement
- Probationary period upon return

Level 5: Permanent Ban
- Reserved for severe violations
- Harassment, threats, illegal content
- May be immediate for severe cases
```

## Engagement Tactics

### Building Connection

```markdown
## Welcome Rituals
- Personal welcome message within 24 hours
- Introduction prompt with specific questions
- Community FAQ and resource links
- Buddy/mentor pairing for new members

## Daily Engagement
- Morning greeting or prompt
- Highlight interesting discussions
- Recognize helpful members
- Share relevant resources

## Weekly Rituals
- Monday: Learning question or challenge
- Wednesday: Member spotlight or project showcase
- Friday: Casual thread or weekend plans
```

### Conversation Facilitation

```markdown
## Starting Discussions

Good prompts:
- "¿Cuál es tu herramienta favorita para [tarea] y por qué?"
- "¿Qué estás aprendiendo esta semana?"
- "Comparte un error del que hayas aprendido algo"
- "¿Qué recurso te hubiera gustado conocer antes?"

## Keeping Discussions Alive
- Ask follow-up questions
- Connect people with similar interests
- Share related resources
- Summarize and highlight key points

## Handling Dead Discussions
- Don't force it - let natural lulls happen
- Revisit topics with new angles
- Tag relevant members (sparingly)
- Acknowledge if a topic needs more context
```

### Recognition and Appreciation

```markdown
## Ways to Recognize Members

Public:
- Shoutouts in announcements
- Special roles/badges
- Featured member spotlight
- Project showcases

Private:
- Direct thank you messages
- Behind-the-scenes involvement
- Early access to content
- Personalized recommendations

## What to Recognize
- Helpful answers
- Quality contributions
- Consistent participation
- Welcoming newcomers
- Creative projects
- Thoughtful feedback
```

## Community Tiers and Progression

### Member Journey

```markdown
## Newcomer (Days 1-7)
Goals: Feel welcomed, understand rules, make first post
Support: Welcome message, guided onboarding, low-barrier prompts

## Participant (Week 2-4)
Goals: Find their niche, help others, build connections
Support: Introduce to relevant channels, tag in discussions

## Contributor (Month 2+)
Goals: Regular participation, share knowledge, mentor newcomers
Support: Recognition, deeper involvement opportunities

## Champion (6+ months active)
Goals: Lead initiatives, represent community, shape direction
Support: Leadership opportunities, strategic input, special access
```

### Role Progression

```markdown
## Earning Roles

🆕 Newcomer → 👥 Member
- Complete introduction
- Read and accept rules
- Verify account

👥 Member → 📝 Contributor
- 30+ days active
- Helped others in #ayuda
- Positive interactions

📝 Contributor → ⭐ Champion
- 6+ months active
- Consistent positive contributions
- Community recommendation
- Moderator approval

⭐ Champion → 🛡️ Moderator
- Invitation only
- Training completion
- Demonstrated judgment
```

## Community Health Indicators

### Positive Signs
- New members introducing themselves regularly
- Questions getting answered quickly
- Diverse voices in conversations
- Members helping members
- Organic activity without prompts
- Low moderation incidents

### Warning Signs
- Declining activity
- Same few people dominating
- Unanswered questions
- Clique formation
- Increased moderation incidents
- Members leaving silently

### Intervention Strategies

```markdown
## When Activity Drops
- Check if prompts are resonating
- Try new engagement formats
- Reach out to formerly active members
- Inject new topics or events

## When Cliques Form
- Actively include outsiders
- Create cross-group activities
- Address exclusionary behavior
- Celebrate diverse perspectives

## When Conflicts Increase
- Review and reinforce guidelines
- Increase moderator presence
- Address root causes (not just symptoms)
- Consider structural changes
```

## Spanish-Language Community Considerations

### Regional Sensitivity
- Be aware of different Spanish dialects (Mexico, Argentina, Spain, etc.)
- Avoid idioms that don't translate across regions
- Use neutral Spanish when possible
- Welcome regional expressions and variations

### Inclusive Language

```markdown
## Guidelines for Spanish

Gender-neutral options:
- "Bienvenid@s" or "Bienvenides" or "Bienvenido/a"
- "Miembros" (already neutral)
- "La comunidad" instead of gendered terms

Welcoming tone:
- Use "tú" for friendly informality
- Avoid overly formal "usted" unless appropriate
- Be warm without being unprofessional
```

### Technical Terms
- Keep code and technical terms in English (industry standard)
- Explain concepts in Spanish
- Provide both Spanish and English resources when available

## Templates

### Community Announcement

```markdown
# 📢 [Título del Anuncio]

¡Hola, comunidad! 🌮

[Contenido del anuncio]

## Lo que necesitas saber
- Punto 1
- Punto 2
- Punto 3

## Próximos pasos
[Acción clara que deben tomar]

¿Preguntas? Déjalas en los comentarios o escríbenos.

¡Saludos!
Equipo tacosdedatos
```

### Community Survey

```markdown
# 📊 Encuesta de la Comunidad - [Fecha]

¡Queremos escucharte! Ayúdanos a mejorar con tus respuestas.

## Preguntas

1. ¿Qué tan satisfecho/a estás con la comunidad? (1-5)
2. ¿Qué es lo que más valoras de la comunidad?
3. ¿Qué podríamos mejorar?
4. ¿Qué tipo de contenido o eventos te gustaría ver?
5. ¿Recomendarías tacosdedatos a un colega? (NPS)

[Link al formulario - máximo 5 minutos]

¡Gracias por ayudarnos a crecer! 🙏
```

## Resources

- [CMX Community Management Guide](https://cmxhub.com/)
- [Discord Official Community Resources](https://discord.com/community-manage-engage)
- [Bevy Community Manager Guide](https://bevy.com/b/blog/community-managers-what-they-do-how-to-be-a-great-one)
- [Community Manager Skills 2025](https://bevy.com/b/blog/essential-community-manager-skills-the-complete-2025-guide)