Code of Conduct – NeuroPawn

NeuroPawn Community Code of Conduct

Effective Date: July 5, 2025

Last Updated: July 5, 2025

1. Introduction

Welcome to the NeuroPawn community! Our community spaces are designed to foster collaboration, learning, and innovation in STEM, specifically neurotechnology. This Code of Conduct applies to all NeuroPawn community platforms and governs your participation to ensure a respectful, productive, and safe environment for everyone.

2. Scope and Applicability

This Code of Conduct (the "Code") applies to all NeuroPawn community spaces, whether directly operated or officially endorsed by NeuroPawn ("Community Spaces"), including but not limited to:

Discord Server: Real-time chat, voice channels, and community discussions.
YouTube Channel: Comments, live chat, and community posts on official NeuroPawn channels.
Product Reviews: Reviews posted on the NeuroPawn Site and official NeuroPawn product listings on third-party platforms.
Forums and Discussion Boards: Dedicated technical support forums and general discussion boards hosted by NeuroPawn.
Official Social Media: Interactions on official NeuroPawn accounts across platforms (e.g., X/Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram).
Events: Official NeuroPawn virtual and in-person meetups, webinars, workshops, and conferences.
Research Collaborations: Officially sanctioned community-driven research projects and data sharing initiatives facilitated by NeuroPawn.

By accessing, participating in, or contributing to any of our Community Spaces, you agree to be bound by this Code.

3. Core Community Values

3.1 Respect and Inclusivity

Treat all community members with dignity and respect, regardless of their background, experience level, or role.
Embrace and celebrate diversity of backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, age, disability, socioeconomic status, and other personal characteristics.
Use inclusive language and actively avoid discriminatory, prejudiced, or exclusionary remarks, slurs, or stereotypes.
Respect privacy and personal boundaries. Do not share private information about others without their explicit consent.
Be mindful of cultural differences and communication styles.

3.2 Scientific Integrity

Share accurate, evidence-based information and cite sources appropriately when presenting facts or data.
Clearly acknowledge when you're uncertain, speculating, or expressing a personal opinion rather than a factual statement.
Respect intellectual property and research ethics, giving credit where it's due and not misrepresenting others' work.
Promote critical thinking and evidence-based discussions. Be open to having your own ideas challenged with reasoned arguments and data.

3.3 Constructive Collaboration

Provide helpful, constructive, and actionable feedback aimed at improvement, not denigration.
Ask questions respectfully and endeavor to answer them patiently and clearly.
Share knowledge, resources, and insights generously to benefit the wider community.
Support fellow community members' learning journeys, offering encouragement and guidance.
Focus on problem-solving and finding common ground.

4. Prohibited Conduct

The following behaviors are strictly prohibited in all Community Spaces and constitute a violation of this Code. This list is not exhaustive.

4.1 Harassment and Discrimination

Personal attacks, insults, threats, intimidation, or sustained harassment directed at any individual or group.
Discrimination, hate speech, or derogatory comments based on protected characteristics such as race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age, socioeconomic status, or any other personal attribute.
Unwelcome sexual attention, inappropriate romantic advances, sexually suggestive comments, or inappropriate imagery.
Doxxing, sharing, or threatening to share personal identifying information (e.g., home address, phone number, workplace, private photos) of others without their explicit, verifiable consent.
Persistent unwanted contact or stalking behavior, online or offline.

4.2 Harmful and Illicit Content

Hate speech, extremist content, glorification of violence, or incitement to hatred.
Content that is abusive, defamatory, libelous, obscene, pornographic, vulgar, or promotes illegal activities.
Content that could harm, exploit, or endanger minors or vulnerable individuals.
Graphic or disturbing imagery, videos, or descriptions without appropriate warnings and clear justification for their presence.
Malicious misinformation or disinformation about health, safety, scientific topics, or any other subject, especially if it could cause public harm or undermine trust.
Content promoting illegal activities, regulated substances (e.g., illicit drugs), self-harm, or terrorism.

4.3 Disruptive and Unethical Behavior

Spamming, excessive self-promotion (outside designated channels), or consistently off-topic posting.
Trolling, flame wars, baiting, or deliberately provocative behavior intended to disrupt discussions or provoke negative reactions.
Impersonation of other users, NeuroPawn staff, NeuroPawn affiliates, companies, or organizations.
Coordinated harassment, brigading, or organizing attacks against other users or groups.
Ban evasion (creating new accounts after being banned) or creating multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions or game systems.
Any attempt to damage, disable, overburden, or impair NeuroPawn's infrastructure, servers, or networks related to the Community Spaces.
Using automated scripts, bots, or other means to interact with Community Spaces in an unauthorized manner.

4.4 Platform-Specific Violations

In addition to the above, the following are specifically prohibited on certain platforms:

Discord Server:

Disrupting voice channels (e.g., screaming, playing loud music, excessive soundboarding).
Excessive use of @everyone or @here mentions.
Sharing invite links to other Discord servers without prior moderator permission.
Using bots or automation without explicit moderator approval.

YouTube Channel:

Posting repetitive, identical, or low-effort comments.
Attempting to hijack live streams or premieres with irrelevant or disruptive content.
Sharing unauthorized affiliate links, promotions, or scams in comments or live chat.
Creating misleading timestamps or chapter markers that misrepresent content.

Product Reviews (on NeuroPawn Site or other platforms):

Posting fake, misleading, or fabricated reviews.
Reviewing products you have not genuinely used or experienced.
Coordinated review manipulation, vote brigading, or paying for reviews.
Using review sections for personal attacks on NeuroPawn staff, other reviewers, or unrelated grievances.

5. Data and Privacy Guidelines

5.1 Sharing Research Data

If you are involved in research collaborations or discussions where data might be shared:

Only share data you have explicit permission and legal right to distribute.
Rigorously remove or anonymize all personal identifying information (PII) and sensitive data before sharing.
Respect research participant privacy and consent limitations. Ensure any shared data aligns with the original consent provided by participants.
Follow all applicable data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, PIPEDA, CCPA) relevant to your jurisdiction and the data subjects.

5.2 Medical Information

Given the nature of NeuroPawn's work, it is critical to:

Do NOT provide medical advice, diagnosis, treatment recommendations, or prescriptions. Only qualified healthcare professionals can do so.
Share personal health information (PHI) or sensitive medical details only at your own discretion, understanding that NeuroPawn is not responsible for the privacy of information you choose to share publicly.
Respect others' privacy regarding their health conditions or medical information. Do not solicit or pressure others to share such details.
For any medical concerns, always encourage the consultation of qualified healthcare professionals.

5.3 Technical and Proprietary Information

Be responsible and cautious when sharing technical details about potential security vulnerabilities found in any systems. Report vulnerabilities responsibly to NeuroPawn directly via support@neuropawn.tech rather than public disclosure.
Avoid sharing information that could be used maliciously to bypass security measures or harm others.
Respect NeuroPawn's intellectual property and trade secrets. Do not disclose confidential information you may have access to.

6. Content Guidelines

6.1 Quality Standards

Ensure your posts, comments, and contributions are relevant to the community's purpose (STEM, neurotechnology).
Use clear, descriptive titles and organize content logically to facilitate understanding.
Proofread for basic grammar and spelling when possible to ensure readability.
Include sufficient context and background information for complex topics or questions.

6.2 Multimedia Content

Ensure any images, videos, or other multimedia content you share is appropriate, relevant, and consistent with this Code of Conduct.
Provide alt text or descriptions for images and closed captions for videos to enhance accessibility for all users.
Respect copyright and fair use principles. Do not share content you do not have the right to distribute.
Include content warnings for potentially sensitive, graphic, or mature material, even if otherwise permitted.

6.3 Commercial Content and Promotion

Clearly disclose any commercial relationships, affiliations, or conflicts of interest when discussing products, services, or companies (including your own).
Limit self-promotion, advertising, or marketing content to designated areas or channels explicitly provided for such purposes.
Seek explicit permission from NeuroPawn staff or moderators before sharing external links, promotions, solicitations, or calls to action that are not directly relevant to a discussion or a NeuroPawn offering.
Focus your contributions on providing value to the community through knowledge sharing and collaboration, rather than solely marketing.

7. Reporting and Enforcement

7.1 Reporting Violations

If you witness or are subject to a violation of this Code, please report it immediately. Your reports are crucial for maintaining a safe environment.

General Grievances: Send all detailed grievances, including relevant context, usernames, timestamps, and evidence (screenshots, links), to support@neuropawn.tech.
Discord: Use Discord's built-in reporting system for direct messages or open a ticket to contact moderators directly. You may also send an email to support@neuropawn.tech.
YouTube: Utilize YouTube's reporting system for comments or channels. For more serious issues, you may also send an email to support@neuropawn.tech.
Other Platforms: Use the platform's native reporting features first, then follow up with an email to support@neuropawn.tech if the issue is unresolved or involves a NeuroPawn-specific interaction.

7.2 Investigation Process

All reports will be acknowledged within 48 hours and reviewed within 72 hours by our moderation team.
Investigations will be conducted fairly, impartially, and with discretion, prioritizing the safety and well-being of the community.
Additional information or clarification may be requested from involved parties to ensure a thorough review.
Decisions regarding enforcement actions will be communicated to the reporting party (where appropriate and legally permissible) and the user against whom the action is taken.

7.3 Enforcement Actions

Violations of this Code of Conduct may result in a range of enforcement actions, determined at NeuroPawn's sole discretion, based on the severity, frequency, and impact of the violation. These actions may include:

Informal Warning: A private, informal notice regarding a minor policy violation.
Formal Warning: A formal written notice detailing the violation and potential consequences of further breaches.
Content Removal: Deletion of violating posts, comments, User Content, or other material.
Temporary Suspension: Limited access to or removal from Community Spaces for a specified period (e.g., 24 hours, 7 days, 30 days).
Permanent Ban: Complete and irreversible removal from all NeuroPawn Community Spaces, and potentially revocation of access to related Offerings, without prior notice.
Reporting to Authorities: In cases of serious violations, illegal activity, or threats to safety, NeuroPawn may report the incident and relevant information to law enforcement or other appropriate authorities.
Legal Action: NeuroPawn reserves the right to pursue legal action in cases of serious violations that cause harm to NeuroPawn or third parties.

7.4 Appeals Process

Users who have received a formal warning, temporary suspension, or permanent ban may appeal the decision within 14 days of notification.
Appeals must be submitted in writing to support@neuropawn.tech and include the user's name, affected platform(s), details of the enforcement action, and a clear explanation of why the action should be reconsidered or reversed, including any new evidence or context.
Appeal decisions will be made by a senior moderation or NeuroPawn staff member who was not involved in the initial decision, if possible.
Appeal decisions are final and binding.

8. Special Considerations

8.1 Research Ethics (Applies to Research Collaborations)

For community members participating in officially sanctioned research collaborations:

You must adhere to all relevant institutional review board (IRB) guidelines or equivalent ethical review processes for human subjects research.
Obtain appropriate informed consent from all research participants for data collection, sharing, and publication.
Respect participant withdrawal requests and promptly delete or anonymize their data as required.
Maintain appropriate documentation and records of ethical approvals and participant consent.

8.2 Student and Educational Use

Respect academic integrity and avoid plagiarism. Always attribute ideas and and work to their original creators.
Give clear credit to community members who assist you with coursework or academic projects.
Follow your educational institution's policies regarding external collaboration, use of online resources, and sharing of academic work.
Seek permission before sharing educational projects or research that involves sensitive data or intellectual property.

8.3 Commercial and Professional Use

When representing an organization or engaging in professional activities within Community Spaces, clearly identify your affiliation.
Respect confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) you may have with NeuroPawn or other parties.
Avoid conflicts of interest in your recommendations, advice, or discussions.
Adhere to professional codes of conduct relevant to your field or industry.

9. Community Leadership

9.1 Moderator Responsibilities

NeuroPawn's moderators and community managers are dedicated to upholding this Code:

Enforce this Code of Conduct fairly, consistently, and impartially.
Provide guidance and support to community members, answering questions about the Code and fostering positive interactions.
Escalate serious violations to NeuroPawn staff for review and further action.
Maintain confidentiality regarding all disciplinary matters and personal information shared during reports.

9.2 Community Contributors

Experienced and engaged community members are vital to our success:

We encourage them to mentor newcomers and assist those seeking help.
Help maintain a welcoming, inclusive, and positive environment for all skill levels.
Model positive behavior and constructive communication in all interactions.
Contribute to community resources and knowledge sharing whenever possible.

10. Updates and Modifications

This Code of Conduct may be updated periodically by NeuroPawn in its sole discretion to address new challenges, clarify existing policies, or reflect changes in our Offerings. Significant changes will be announced across all relevant Community Platforms with at least 14 days' notice (or more if required by law or deemed appropriate). Continued participation in Community Spaces after the effective date of an updated Code constitutes your acceptance of the changes.

Remember: Our community thrives when everyone feels welcome, respected, and empowered to contribute. By participating in NeuroPawn Community Spaces, you're helping to build the future of neurotechnology and STEM. Thank you for being part of our community!