Mindset for Positive Communication
Be nice. Be polite and respectful of others and their opinions. Do not assume others are less than perfect because they have different ideas or do things differently. Assume the best about people. Avoid anything that suggests a member (or group they belong to) is inferior or flawed. Focus on ideas and practices, not judging people.
Encourage constructive & respectful dialogue. Add positive, constructive thoughts. Support brainstorming and exploring ideas, including stories like “I once heard of…” or “didn’t I read somewhere…”. Avoid dismissive comments (“Citation needed”, “that’s BS”, “prove it”).
The art of disagreeing is in the wording:
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Not nice: “You’re wrong!” / “That’s a stupid idea.” / “Nobody does that!”
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Nice: “I have a different idea about that.” / “I didn’t have much luck with that.” / “Interesting idea. Another possibility might be…”
Share your position, not “The Truth.” Frame contributions as “my position”, “my experience”, or “what has worked for me”. Absolute declarations can stifle other valuable perspectives. If something reads as unquestionable “truth” and shuts down discussion, flag it “It’s Inappropriate” for review.
Stay on topic. Gribnitsa is for permaculture innovation, eco-building, grid alternatives, energy saving, homesteading, and permaculture design. Topics like GMOs, herbicides, politics, or religion belong elsewhere.
How to Participate Effectively
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Search existing topics before posting or replying to connect with like-minded people.
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Lurk a while, read the “Be Nice” threads and FAQs, and start small in the right sub-forum.
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Place posts in the correct category; read category descriptions.
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No cross-posting the same message in multiple threads.
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No empty/content-less posts.
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No thread hijacking or radical topic shifts; use “reply as linked topic” instead.
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No signatures on posts.
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Use the “Like” button instead of “+1” or “I agree” posts.
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Use forum tools (bookmarks, likes, flags, replies, edits, watching, muting) to improve your and others’ experience and highlight the best contributions.
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See a problem or bad behavior? Don’t reply — just flag it. Replying encourages it and wastes everyone’s time.
Content Policies
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Respect copyright. Do not post copyrighted material without permission. This includes links to unauthorized free copies of protected content.
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Keep language, links, and images safe for family and friends (no explicit, offensive, or hateful content).
Moderation and Enforcement
Gribnitsa is a privately owned space, not a democracy. The owner (@MironPlatte) has final say. Free speech does not mean posting anything here — content that violates these standards is removed. Moderators and site operators are not responsible for community-posted content.
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Promotions. Promotion of permaculture/homesteading products, books, videos, workshops, etc. is welcome when done in a non-spammy manner. See Making offers on Gribnitsa.
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Probation posts. Good posts with small issues are placed on probation. Staff will message you with the problem and ask for an edit to meet standards.
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Discuss moderation privately. Questions, comments, or complaints about moderation, staff, or bots belong only in the Feedback Loop. Such posts elsewhere will be deleted.
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For critical/urgent issues, contact moderators directly.