Community Guidelines

DisasterStory is for support, witness, and recovery. It is not a place for political fights, religious zealotry, harassment, or looking for dates.

Core Principles

Be Compassionate

Remember that everyone here has been through difficult experiences. Treat others with the same kindness you'd want for yourself.

Stay Support-Focused

Keep replies centered on care, practical support, and respectful witness. This is not a debate stage or a place to recruit people into your cause.

Prioritize Safety

Don't share identifying information about others without consent. Protect yourself and others in the community.

No Debate, No Preaching, No Cruising

This is a space for healing, not politics, religious pressure, sexual pursuit, flirting, or picking fights. Support the person or move along.

What's Allowed

✓Sharing your personal experience with disasters, accidents, or traumatic events
✓Expressing emotions honestly - anger, sadness, hope, or anything in between
✓Asking for emotional support, practical suggestions, or recovery resources
✓Sharing resources that helped you in your recovery journey
✓Offering encouragement and support to others
✓Anonymously sharing if you prefer not to use your real name

What's Not Allowed

✕Harassment or bullying of any kind
✕Hate speech targeting groups based on race, gender, religion, orientation, etc.
✕Promoting self-harm or suicide
✕Spreading misinformation about disasters or health crises
✕Sharing others' personal information without consent (doxing)
✕Commercial solicitation or spam
✕Political arguments or campaigning. DisasterStory is for support, not turning someone's trauma into your soapbox
✕Religious pressure or zealotry. You may speak from your own experience, but do not preach at, shame, recruit, or pressure others
✕Dating, flirting, sexual comments, or cruising. People come here for support, not to be hit on
✕Grandiose claims about cures or treatments for trauma

How We Moderate Content

Stories, comments, and photos may be reviewed before publication. Our moderation standard is strict because this is a support space:

Automated screening may flag prohibited, unsafe, or off-topic content
Human moderators may approve, reject, edit visibility, remove, or preserve content for safety/legal reasons
Users generally receive one warning for boundary-pushing behavior
After one warning, continued violations may result in removal, suspension, or permanent account termination without further notice

Severe abuse, threats, exploitation, sexual harassment, doxing, spam, illegal conduct, or attempts to bypass moderation may result in immediate removal without a warning. One warning is a courtesy, not a right.

Need Immediate Help?

If you're in crisis or need immediate support, please reach out to these resources:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357

Questions about our guidelines? Want to report something?