The Executive of the Pagan Assembly of Nova Scotia (PANS) has approved the following moderation policy for official forums, mailing lists, and social media platforms.
Overview
All official PANS online spaces are moderated to ensure respectful, inclusive, and constructive communication. This policy applies to:
- PANS-hosted mailing lists, forums, and message boards
- Official PANS social media groups and pages
Moderation Structure
Mailing Lists and Forums
All official PANS-hosted lists and forums are moderated. The Moderator Coordinator is appointed by the Executive and may delegate responsibilities to moderators for specific spaces. Moderators serve at the discretion of the Executive.
Social Media
Official PANS social media groups are overseen by the Social Media Coordinator, appointed by the Executive. The Social Media Coordinator may designate moderators to assist in maintaining the tone and safety of these spaces.
Contact
Moderators may be reached at info@paganassemblyns.ca.
Moderation Guidelines
Our online spaces are intended to foster open, spirited, and respectful dialogue. While disagreement and debate are welcome, personal attacks, inflammatory language, or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated.
Unacceptable Behavior
The following are considered disruptive and may lead to warnings or removal:
- Excessive quoting or off-topic content
- Misleading or unclear subject lines
- Personal insults or threats
- Profanity or name-calling
- Defamation, slander, or character attacks
- Harsh sarcasm or inflammatory rhetoric
- Posting personal contact info without consent
- Sharing unsafe-for-work content
- Posting copyrighted material without consent
- Spam or unsolicited bulk messaging
- Threats of legal action as rhetorical weapons
- Advertisements not related to the Pagan Assembly or its mission
- Chronic disruption or refusal to follow moderator guidance
Platform-Specific Rules
- Forums: Encoded binary files (e.g., images, software) are not permitted.
- Social Media: Blocking moderators or admins is prohibited and may result in removal.
Moderator decisions are not up for public debate. Disruptive behavior is subject to their judgment.
Actions Moderators May Take
Moderators are empowered to:
- Approve, screen, or reject posts
- Issue public or private warnings
- Suspend participants after three warnings or immediately for serious violations
Suspensions
Forums and Lists
- First suspension: Up to 3 months, determined by the Moderator Coordinator
- Second or further suspensions: Duration determined case-by-case
Social Media Groups
- Non-members violating policy may be removed immediately
- Members:
- 1st violation: Minimum 3-month removal
- Repeated violations: Minimum 1-year removal
- Circumvention (e.g., rejoining with another profile): Permanent ban
Removal of Offending Material
- Posts/comments violating the policy will be deleted
- A screenshot will be taken before deletion for documentation
- The individual will be notified of the violation and action taken
Appeals
Appeals to moderation decisions may be submitted to the PANS Executive via info@paganassemblyns.ca.
Events & Advertising Policy
We welcome the promotion of community-relevant events, within reason and in appropriate forums.
- PANS-sponsored events may be advertised up to three times per season
- Local and regional events should be advertised only in relevant local/regional groups
- Pan-Pagan events may only be advertised if PANS is playing a major leadership role
- Workshops and classes should be posted in topic-appropriate spaces
- Podcasts & Videos: One post per episode/class
- Book launches: Once pre-launch and once post-launch, if relevant to Paganism, PANS, or Druidry
Approved Advertising Channels
- Members-only social media groups
- PANS public discussion lists
- PANS website (submit through the appropriate contact form)
For questions regarding moderation, events, or advertising, please contact info@paganassemblyns.ca.
Policy originally modeled on best practices from similar organizations. Most recent revision approved by the PANS Executive [insert date].