Koan exists because we believe that honest, thoughtful conversation is possible — and that the design of a platform determines whether it happens. These Community Standards are how we hold ourselves and each other to that belief.
Violating these standards damages everyone's experience. Consequences range from warnings to permanent suspension depending on the severity and pattern of behaviour. We understand that context matters and that anyone can have a bad day — correction is often more appropriate than punishment, and we will make those judgements case by case.
We act with integrity
Disagreements are welcome — they are often the most useful thing on the platform. But disagreements must remain honest. No personal attacks, no deliberate misrepresentation of what someone else has said, no misinformation or disinformation. If you make a factual claim in a Sense-Making or Education topic, you are accountable for its accuracy.
We treat each other with respect
Koan is not a place for bigotry of any kind. Every member is entitled to be treated with dignity, including when we disagree. Disagreement with an idea is legitimate; contempt for a person is not.
We understand that context matters
Humour, satire, parody, and irony are welcome on Koan. The key is that the context is clear, and "it was a joke" is never a defence for harassment or abuse.
We take privacy seriously
You may not share personal information about another person without their consent. You may not reveal someone's identity if they have chosen to share less than their full details. Everyone has the right to decide how much of themselves they share.
We follow each channel's standards
Different channels have different standards, and those standards exist for a reason. Sense-Making topics require sources. Exploration topics require you to flag speculation as speculation. These are not bureaucratic rules — they reflect the kind of thinking we are trying to model and protect.
We do not erase
Koan preserves a record of deleted posts. This is intentional. The practice of deleting posts after they have been replied to — particularly in political contexts — is a form of manipulation. On Koan, your words remain attributed to you even after deletion, visible as a tombstone. Think before you post.
We report honestly
The moderation system exists to protect the community, not to silence disagreement. Reporting content you simply disagree with, rather than content that genuinely violates these standards, undermines the system for everyone.