after joining:  new members must intro within 72 hours of being added and reply to at least 75% of comments received.  you do not need to drop intros in the activity drop-off post.  however, new members who haven't run the friends' button within 48 hours or who haven't responded to intro comments in a timely manner may be subject to removal.

the location:  feel free to check out the wiki for information about the city!  real life locations can be used, as well as member businesses for rp purposes.  if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask.

1.  one (1) substantial entry with comments enabled or
2. one (1) substantial entry without comments enabled and one interactive post in our random subcomm, inlets, or
3.  one (1) substantial entry without comments enabled and six links to comments made on the friends' page.

substantial updates are any in-character posts that show effort and add meaningful content to the community.  examples include:  social media posts with multiple slides or parts, narratives of 350+ words, multimedia posts with multiple sections, or plot posts where the host replies to most comments.

other updates might include ffas, single-slide social media posts, single entry multimedia posts, or narratives under 350 words.

comments:  we ask that members show signs of life on the friends' page at least once per week.  this can include commenting on a new member's intro, replying to others' updates, or participating in ffas.  please note that if we don't see any activity on the friends' page for seven (7) consecutive days, a member will be subject to removal. (we'll be tracking this as a team, from monday through sunday, and removing inactive members on sunday.)

our goal as mods is to encourage members to interact and build connections with one another.  we'll always consider the broader context (such as overall engagement, holidays, or personal obligations) before taking any action.  we know this is a hobby and that everyone has responsibilities outside of it.  as long as you're communicative with us, we will absolutely be flexible with you.  still, a community is only as strong as the activity and energy of its members.

removals:  activity removals take place at the end of each month.  any member who hasn't met the activity requirements by that time will be removed.

members added after the 15th of the month are only required to post an introduction and reply to at least 75% of their comments to fulfill their first month's activity.

occasionally, we may post an activity check-in if we feel it's needed.  members who don't respond to a check-in will be removed.

lastly, please keep your friends' list updated.  if it hasn't been refreshed within ten (10) days, you may be subject to removal.

our goal is to keep the community active, connected, and current for everyone involved.  these rules aren't meant to be punitive;  they're here to make sure participation stays fair and consistent for all members.

extensions/hiatuses:  all you have to do is ask!  we're happy to grant a hiatus of up to three (3) weeks, with a check-in at the two-week mark.

if you request an extension, please note the following: all activity, including no less than 75% of comment replies, must be met by midnight (est) on the extension date provided by the mods, or your character will be removed.

we completely understand that life happens.  you can always request additonal time if needed; just keep us in the loop so we can work with you.

smaller or more casual events are always welcome!  we just ask that everyone keep an eye on the upcoming events calendar to avoid overlap or double bookings.

apps: we strongly discourage the use of messenger apps (e.g., wire, telegram, discord) for in-character activity.  our goal is to keep the focus on journal-based storytelling and community interaction.

character limits: we ask that members limit themselves to three (3) characters in the community.  this operates on an honor system, and we trust our members to be mindful of their activity levels and balance.

pb limits: changing pbs is limited to two (2) times.

matchy is our optional dating app community.  if you choose to participate, please post your dating app post in your own journal and backdate it so it doesn't appear on the friends' page.  once posted, you can share a link to your entry in the matchy community.

harassment/bullying: we have zero tolerance for harassment or bullying in this community.  we expect all members to act with respect and maturity.  any reported issues will be reviewed by the mod team, and we will take the action we believe is appropriate for the situation.

inclusivity: our goal is to maintain a safe and inclusive environment for all members, both ic and ooc.  homophobia, racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination against marginalized groups have no place here.  creating a climate of respect and inclusivity is the responsiblity of everyone in the community, including the mod team.  if you believe a member is making the community unsafe or unwelcoming, please report it to us.  all reports of behavior that undermines safety or respect will be reviewed, and the mod team will take appropriate action, up to and including removal.

plagiarism is a form of theft, and we take it very seriously.  passing off someone else's words, ideas, or work as your own without proper credit is not acceptable.  while inspiration from other writers is natural in a collaborative hobby, all substantive writing must be your own or properly credited.  members found to be plagiarizing the work of others, whether on-site or off-site, will be removed.  if you use artwork by another artist, please make sure to credit the original creator somewhere in your bio or updates.

banned members will not be allowed back into the community with new characters.  if we receive reports that a banned member has returned, we will take action to remove them again.

questions about why someone was rejected, removed, or banned may not always be answered.  if we determine that a member is not a good fit for the community or is causing repeated issues, we reserve the right to take action for the well-being of the community.

anonymous issues/complaints: issues brought to our attention by members using their journals take priority.  we want everyone to feel comfortable raising concerns, and we will never retaliate against members for reporting issues.  that said, we reserve the right to handle situations as we see fit.  we do not respond to anonymous complaints or issues submitted via number journals, and we strongly discourage participation in off-site anonymous activities.