Last Updated: November 13, 2025
Effective Date: November 13, 2025
BurrowTV is a community built on the principles of truth-seeking, free inquiry, and respectful discourse. We believe that the pursuit of knowledge requires the freedom to question, challenge, and explore ideas—even controversial or uncomfortable ones. Our Community Guidelines are designed to foster an environment where diverse perspectives can coexist, where critical thinking flourishes, and where truth is valued above conformity.
Entity and Purpose: BurrowTV operates as a member entity of Shield of Souls Assembly, created by a member and consecrated to the service of humanity. Under natural law principles of stewardship:
Service, Not Profit: BurrowTV exists for the betterment of fellow souls, not commercial gain, advertising revenue, or data exploitation. We do this work as an act of service to humanity and the pursuit of truth.
Privacy by Design: We practice radical data minimization—we are not actively trying to store any data beyond what is strictly necessary for service operation. No behavioral profiling, no commercial data collection, no surveillance capitalism.
Stewardship Model: BurrowTV functions as a "bondservant" or "minister" (in the original sense of servant/helper) to the community, represented by Shield of Souls Assembly. For legal purposes, Shield of Souls Assembly serves as the platform's representative and may be recognized as holding legal title where secular frameworks require such designation.
Shared Values: BurrowTV reflects the foundational values and spiritual mission of Shield of Souls Assembly, including commitment to truth, natural law, privacy protection, and service to the common good.
Unlike platforms that prioritize advertiser-friendly content or narrative control, BurrowTV is committed to authentic conversation and genuine intellectual exploration. We recognize that truth-seeking sometimes requires discussing topics that mainstream platforms censor or suppress. Our guidelines balance the protection of free expression with the need for respectful, constructive engagement.
These Community Guidelines are founded on natural law principles and recognize that while we support broad freedom of expression, we also maintain standards that serve the good of the community and honor fundamental rights. They work in harmony with our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy to create a platform where truth can be sought and shared without fear of unjust censorship.
Truth Above Narrative: We prioritize truthful information over comfortable narratives. Content that challenges conventional wisdom, questions authority, or presents alternative perspectives is welcomed and encouraged.
Free Inquiry: Critical thinking, questioning, and intellectual exploration are not just allowed—they are essential to our mission. We will not censor ideas simply because they are controversial or politically incorrect.
Respectful Discourse: Freedom of expression does not mean freedom to abuse, harass, or dehumanize others. We expect community members to engage respectfully even in heated disagreement.
Individual Sovereignty: Every member is sovereign over their own beliefs, thoughts, and conclusions. No one is obligated to accept any particular viewpoint, and diversity of thought is valued.
Natural Rights: These guidelines recognize rights that predate government or corporate authority, including freedom of speech, freedom of conscience, and freedom of association.
First Amendment Principles: While the First Amendment constrains government, not private platforms, we adopt its spirit voluntarily:
"Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
We recognize that free expression is essential to discovering truth and holding power accountable.
Biblical Principles:
Proverbs 31:8-9: "Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction... and plead the cause of the poor and needy." - Obligation to speak truth even when uncomfortable or unpopular
John 8:32: "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." - Truth-seeking as path to genuine freedom
Acts 5:29: "We ought to obey God rather than men." - Conscience and higher principles supersede human authorities when they conflict
Matthew 5:37: "Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." - Honest, straightforward communication
Legal Maxims:
"Veritas vincit" (Truth conquers) - Truth ultimately prevails over deception.
"Audi alteram partem" (Hear the other side) - Fair hearing requires considering all perspectives.
"Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus" (False in one thing, false in everything) - Dishonesty undermines credibility.
Supreme Court Precedent:
West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943):
"If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein."
While this constrains government, we adopt this principle voluntarily: BurrowTV does not prescribe orthodoxy or compel ideological conformity.
UNDERSTANDING YOUR ROLE AS COMMUNITY MEMBER 1. Acceptable Content and Expression 2. Prohibited Content 3. Community Standards 4. Content Moderation Philosophy 5. Moderation Procedures 6. Controversial and Sensitive Topics 7. User Conduct Expectations 8. Reporting and Accountability 9. Consequences for Violations 10. Appeals Process 11. Special Considerations 12. Community Self-Governance 13. Platform Evolution 14. Contact and Questions
When you create an account on BurrowTV, you become a Community Member of Shield of Souls Assembly, not a consumer of a commercial product. This distinction is fundamental:
Private Membership Association:
- You are joining a private assembly exercising First Amendment rights
- All interactions are private association business, not commercial transactions
- You are part of a community dedicated to truth, education, and natural law principles
Age Requirements for Community Membership: - You must be at least 18 years old to create an account and become a Community Member - Individuals under 18 may participate only with explicit permission from a parent or legal guardian - Minors cannot form binding contracts without parental consent - Parents/guardians who authorize minors accept full responsibility for the minor's conduct and compliance with these Guidelines - Public content viewing (without account creation) is not age-restricted
What This Means for Community Guidelines: - We answer to community values and principles, not advertisers or corporate pressure - Guidelines serve community good, not commercial interests - You participate as fellow member of shared mission, not as customer to be monetized - Community self-governance and member input shape guideline evolution
Your Rights as Community Member: - Free inquiry and expression within objective guideline boundaries - Protection from arbitrary censorship based on viewpoint - Honest assessment of what is and isn't allowed (no vague weaponized terms) - Participation in community governance and feedback on guidelines - Natural law and constitutional protections as foundation for all rules
Your Responsibilities as Community Member: - Engage in good faith with respect for fellow Community Members - Support community mission of truth-seeking and education - Help maintain environment where diverse perspectives can coexist - Hold yourself and others accountable to objective standards - Contribute positively to collective knowledge and discourse - If under 18: Comply with parental supervision and authorization requirements
This framework fundamentally distinguishes BurrowTV from commercial platforms that treat users as products or data sources to monetize.
BurrowTV welcomes a broad range of content and perspectives:
The following are explicitly welcomed and protected:
Alternative Perspectives: Content challenging mainstream narratives, questioning official stories, or presenting unconventional viewpoints.
Conspiracy Analysis: Examination of potential conspiracies, cover-ups, or hidden agendas, provided such examination is presented as inquiry rather than established fact (unless supported by evidence).
Political Commentary: Discussion of political ideologies, government actions, policy debates, and political controversies across the full spectrum of political thought.
Religious and Spiritual Discourse: Expression of religious beliefs, spiritual perspectives, theological debates, and discussion of faith-based worldviews.
Historical Revisionism: Questioning of accepted historical narratives, examination of alternative historical interpretations, and critical analysis of historical events (when presented as analysis rather than hate speech).
Medical and Health Alternatives: Discussion of alternative medicine, natural remedies, nutritional approaches, and questioning of mainstream medical practices (with appropriate disclaimers that information is not medical advice).
Scientific Skepticism: Questioning of scientific consensus, examination of research methodology, discussion of suppressed or alternative scientific theories.
Government Criticism: Critique of government actions, policies, officials, and institutions at all levels (federal, state, local, foreign).
Cultural Commentary: Discussion of social issues, cultural trends, identity politics, and societal changes from diverse perspectives.
Economic Analysis: Discussion of economic systems, monetary policy, financial corruption, and alternative economic theories.
Philosophical Inquiry: Exploration of philosophical questions, ethical dilemmas, and fundamental questions about reality, consciousness, and existence.
The following content is acceptable with appropriate context:
Unverified Claims: Presented clearly as speculation, theory, or unverified information rather than established fact.
Graphic Historical Content: Violent or disturbing historical footage when necessary for educational or documentary purposes, with content warnings.
Strong Language: Profanity, strong language, or adult themes when relevant to content, with appropriate maturity ratings.
Emotionally Intense Content: Discussion of traumatic events, difficult subjects, or emotionally challenging material, with content warnings where appropriate.
Medical Information: Health-related content must include disclaimers that information is not medical advice and individuals should consult healthcare professionals.
Satire and Parody: Political satire, social commentary, and parody are protected forms of expression, even when sharp or controversial.
Artistic Expression: Artistic works, even those containing controversial themes or imagery, are protected when the artistic intent is clear.
Dark Humor: Humor dealing with serious or taboo subjects is acceptable when clearly intended as humor rather than genuine advocacy.
While we support broad freedom of expression, certain content is prohibited based on objective standards rooted in natural law and constitutional principles.
Critical Recognition: Terms like "hate speech," "extremism," and "misinformation" are weaponized government and corporate control mechanisms with no objective definitions.
We recognize this linguistic manipulation and reject it entirely.
Our Standards: BurrowTV operates on principles of love, respect, brotherhood, peaceful resolution, and intelligent discourse. Our prohibited content standards are based on: - Constitutional foundations and Federalist Papers - Natural law principles (harm principle, consent, proportionality) - Legal maxims and philosophical jurisprudence - NOT merely statutory codes that may contradict higher law
What IS Prohibited: - Specific threats against identifiable individuals or groups - Coordination of violent action - Incitement to imminent lawless action (actual legal standard per Brandenburg v. Ohio, not corporate interpretation)
Example of Prohibited: "Let's go attack [specific location] tonight at 8pm."
Example of Protected: - "I believe [group] deserves to be opposed" - "History shows that oppressed people eventually revolt" - Theoretical discussions of revolution, resistance, or political change - Criticism of government or institutions, however harsh
Distinction: We distinguish between: - Advocacy of ideas (protected) vs. incitement to imminent illegal action (prohibited) - Theoretical discussion (protected) vs. specific operational planning (prohibited) - Historical analysis (protected) vs. direct coordination of violence (prohibited)
Determination Basis - NOT Merely Statutory Codes:
We base determinations on: - Constitutional foundations (First Amendment, Fourth Amendment, etc.) - Federalist Papers understanding of legitimate government authority - Natural law principles (harm principle, consent, proportionality) - Legal maxims and established philosophical jurisprudence - Supreme Court precedent protecting fundamental rights
NOT merely administrative codes or statutory provisions that may contradict higher constitutional law.
What IS Prohibited:
Child Exploitation Material (violates natural law harm principle): - Any content involving sexualization, exploitation, or abuse of minors - Zero tolerance - reported immediately to authorities - Sexual or suggestive imagery involving minors - Discussion promoting or normalizing exploitation of minors - Sharing or requesting such material
Content Creating Direct Liability Under Constitutional Law: - Content that creates actual legal liability under properly enacted constitutional law - NOT content that merely violates administrative regulations or statutory codes lacking constitutional foundation - Coordination of activity causing actual harm to others (natural law standard)
Criminal Activity Under Legitimate Law: - Content that depicts, promotes, facilitates, or instructs on activities that: - Violate natural law harm principle (causing actual injury to another) - Violate constitutional protections we're bound to respect - Are defined as criminal under legitimate law (properly enacted, constitutionally sound)
Important: "Criminal" is determined by constitutional/natural law foundations, not merely because statutory code declares something illegal.
Examples of Complexity: - Discussion of civil disobedience: Protected - Questioning legitimacy of particular laws: Protected - Advocating for natural law over statutory codes: Protected - Theoretical discussion of resistance: Protected - Actual coordination of specific harmful illegal activity: Prohibited
Prohibited Conduct Designed to Shut Down BurrowTV: - Coordinated attacks specifically designed to destroy or shut down the platform - Spam, flooding, or technical sabotage - Behavior specifically intended to create legal pretext for platform termination - Malicious attempts to generate liability that would force platform closure - Coordinated campaigns to pressure financial processors or service providers to deplatform us
Why This Is Prohibited: - Protects the community's ability to continue engaging in protected speech - Prevents bad actors from destroying platform serving community good - Maintains infrastructure for truth-seeking and education
Malware and Viruses: Content designed to harm computer systems, steal data, or gain unauthorized access.
Phishing: Content designed to steal passwords, financial information, or personal data through deception.
Platform Exploitation: Attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in BurrowTV's systems or infrastructure.
Personal Harassment: Repeated, targeted harassment of specific individuals with intent to intimidate, silence, or cause distress.
Doxxing: Publishing private personal information (addresses, phone numbers, non-public social media accounts) without consent and with malicious intent.
Coordinated Harassment: Organizing campaigns to harass, brigade, or silence individuals.
Important Distinction: Criticism, disagreement, and robust debate about public figures or their actions is NOT harassment. Harassment requires targeting individuals with repeated, unwanted contact that exceeds legitimate discourse.
Spam: Repetitive, unsolicited commercial messages or automated content flooding.
Platform Manipulation: Artificial inflation of metrics, fake accounts, coordinated inauthentic behavior.
Deceptive Practices: Impersonation of other individuals or organizations (parody accounts must be clearly labeled).
To be absolutely clear, the following are PROTECTED and will NOT be removed merely for being controversial:
Political Views We Disagree With: All political perspectives across the full spectrum are protected.
Controversial Historical Analysis: Alternative interpretations of historical events, questioning official narratives, examining suppressed history.
Questioning Official Narratives: Challenging government claims, media narratives, institutional positions, scientific consensus.
Topics Establishment Labels "Misinformation": We don't accept establishment definitions of "misinformation." Truth-seeking requires examining all claims critically.
Expressing Views Establishment Calls "Extreme" or "Hateful": These are subjective labels used for narrative control. We evaluate content based on objective standards, not subjective offense.
Challenging Government Legitimacy or Authority: Questioning whether governments operate with legitimate authority, whether laws are constitutional, whether systems are just.
Advocating for Natural Law Over Statutory Codes: Arguing that natural law, constitutional principles, or higher moral law supersedes statutory regulations.
Conspiracy Analysis and Theories: Examining potential conspiracies, cover-ups, hidden agendas - provided presented as inquiry/analysis (not incitement to violence).
When Content Is Challenged, We Evaluate Based On:
Defense Capability: We CAN provide detailed constitutional/natural law defense of our moderation decisions if requested. Whether we WILL provide such defense depends on strategic considerations—we're under no obligation to justify our determinations to hostile actors, but we maintain capacity to do so when appropriate.
What We Will NOT Do: Remove content simply because:
- Government or corporate entities demand it (without proper constitutional authority)
- Mainstream media calls it "misinformation"
- Fact-checkers disagree with it
- It challenges powerful institutions
- It offends particular groups
- It contradicts establishment narratives
- Someone labels it "hate speech" or "extremism"
While robust debate is encouraged, we expect:
Good Faith: Assume others are participating in good faith unless proven otherwise. Disagreement does not equal malicious intent.
Intellectual Honesty: Present arguments honestly, acknowledge when uncertain, correct errors when discovered, and don't strawman opponents' positions.
Focus on Ideas: Critique ideas, arguments, and positions rather than attacking individuals personally.
Proportional Response: Respond to disagreement proportionally. Minor disagreements don't warrant nuclear rhetorical warfare.
Self-Awareness: Recognize your own biases and be willing to change your mind when presented with compelling evidence.
Effective truth-seeking requires:
Evidence-Based Arguments: Support significant claims with evidence, sources, or logical reasoning.
Acknowledge Uncertainty: Distinguish between what is known, what is likely, what is possible, and what is speculation.
Steel Man Arguments: Represent opposing views fairly and address their strongest formulations, not their weakest.
Admit Mistakes: When proven wrong, acknowledge it gracefully. This is a sign of intellectual strength, not weakness.
Ask Questions: Genuine questions to understand opposing views are valuable. "Help me understand why you believe X" is more productive than "You're stupid for believing X."
While we don't enforce uniform standards, we encourage:
Clear Communication: Express ideas clearly and comprehensibly.
Relevant Contributions: Ensure comments and posts contribute meaningfully to discussions.
Source Material: When making factual claims, provide sources when possible so others can verify and evaluate.
Context: Provide sufficient context for claims, especially controversial ones.
Personal Attacks: Attacks on character rather than ideas ("You're an idiot" vs. "That argument doesn't account for X").
Threats and Intimidation: Threats of violence, doxxing, harassment, or other intimidation tactics.
Bad Faith Tactics: Deliberately misrepresenting others' positions, quote mining, selective editing to deceive.
Concern Trolling: Pretending to be part of the community while deliberately sowing division or undermining discussions.
Forum Sliding: Deliberately derailing discussions or flooding forums with off-topic content to suppress legitimate discourse.
Our moderation philosophy prioritizes minimal intervention:
Trust Community Members: We trust Community Members to evaluate content critically and form independent judgments.
Last Resort: Moderation is a last resort after community self-regulation fails or legal/safety issues arise.
Transparency: Moderation decisions and policies are transparent and subject to community feedback.
Consistency: Guidelines are applied consistently regardless of political viewpoint, identity, or popularity.
No Automatic Bans: We do not automatically ban specific words, topics, or perspectives. Context determines appropriateness.
Intent Analysis: We consider intent behind content. Discussing violence for educational purposes differs from advocating violence.
Audience Consideration: Different contexts (documentary content vs. live chat) may warrant different standards.
Cultural Sensitivity: We recognize cultural and linguistic differences and avoid imposing uniform cultural standards.
No Ideological Bias: Moderation is based on conduct and legal compliance, not ideology or political viewpoint.
Equal Standards: Rules apply equally to all political, religious, and philosophical perspectives.
No Sacred Cows: No topic, institution, ideology, or group is immune from criticism or questioning.
Controversial ≠ Prohibited: Content is not removed merely for being controversial, offensive, or challenging dominant narratives.
Content with educational, documentary, historical, or scientific value receives greater protection even when addressing difficult subjects:
Historical Documentation: Graphic historical content serves important educational purposes.
Academic Discussion: Serious academic discussion of controversial topics is protected.
Documentary Evidence: Raw footage documenting important events is preserved even when disturbing.
Scientific Research: Discussion of scientific research, even controversial research, is protected.
LIMITED MONITORING FOR PLATFORM PROTECTION ONLY
Shield of Souls Assembly values love, respect, brotherhood, non-violence, peace, intelligence, and faith. We maintain limited internal monitoring to protect the platform and community, not to surveil or control discourse.
What We DON'T Do: - Read chats for content, context, or surveillance purposes - Monitor when we have no time, interest, or desire to monitor conversations - Track political views or controversial opinions - Monitor who you talk to or what topics you discuss - Share conversation data with third parties (except under legal compulsion we cannot resist) - Use chat content for any purpose beyond safety and platform protection
What We DO: - Employ automated systematic monitoring for specific threat indicators only - Use keyword/pattern detection (NOT human reading) for flagging - Human review triggered ONLY when specific threat indicators appear
Specific Threat Indicators That Trigger Review: 1. Violent language or direct threats against individuals or groups 2. Coordination of illegal activities 3. Behavior designed to destroy platform or harm community 4. Content creating legal liability threatening BurrowTV's existence
When Flag Is Triggered, Review Determines: - Is this genuine threat or violent coordination? - Does this create legal liability for the platform? - Does this violate Assembly core values (love, peace, respect, brotherhood, non-violence)? - Does this constitute platform destruction behavior?
Our Approach: Minimal necessary monitoring to maintain platform viability. We're not interested in surveilling you—we're interested in protecting the community's ability to engage in free discourse.
Your Privacy: See our Privacy Policy for comprehensive privacy protections, including our commitment to fight government data requests and radical data minimization practices.
Community Member Reports: Community Members can flag content for review.
Automated Screening: Limited automated detection of specific illegal content (CSAM, malware) and threat indicators only.
Manual Review: Human moderators review flagged content in context.
No Proactive Censorship: We do not proactively scan and remove content based on keywords, viewpoints, or ideological positions.
Warning: First offense or minor violations may receive warnings explaining which guideline was violated and why.
Content Removal: Specific content that violates guidelines is removed with explanation of natural law/constitutional basis.
Temporary Suspension: Serious or repeated violations may result in temporary account suspension (24 hours to 30 days).
Permanent Ban: Reserved for severe violations: - Child exploitation material - Coordinated platform destruction campaigns - Repeated harassment after warnings - Malicious technical attacks - Ban evasion
Account Investigation: Suspicious coordinated behavior or platform manipulation triggers investigation.
When content is moderated: - Community Member receives notification explaining which guideline was violated - Natural law/constitutional basis for determination cited where applicable - Specific content or behavior cited with context - Opportunity to appeal provided (see Section 10) - If content was illegal, notification explains legal basis under legitimate constitutional law
All moderation decisions except those involving illegal content may be appealed.
BurrowTV recognizes that truth-seeking requires discussing topics that many find uncomfortable:
Protected Discussion: The following topics may be discussed within community guidelines: - Government corruption and conspiracies - Alternative health and medicine - Vaccine safety and efficacy debates - Election integrity and voting systems - Media manipulation and propaganda - Secret societies and hidden agendas - Extraterrestrial life and UFO phenomena - Alternative historical interpretations - Religious and spiritual controversies - Economic systems and monetary reform - Pharmaceutical industry practices - Environmental and climate debates - Censorship and information control
Required Approach: Discussions must: - Be presented as inquiry, analysis, or personal belief rather than absolute fact (unless supported by evidence) - Avoid calls for illegal action - Distinguish between criticism of ideas/institutions and attacks on individuals - Include relevant disclaimers for health/medical content
Medical Disclaimers Required: Content discussing health, medical treatments, or therapeutic approaches must include clear disclaimers:
"This content is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult with qualified healthcare professionals before making health decisions."
Allowed: - Discussion of alternative medicine and natural remedies - Questioning pharmaceutical industry practices - Sharing personal health experiences - Analyzing medical research and studies - Discussing vaccine concerns and benefits
Required Context: - Personal experiences labeled as such - Research citations when making factual medical claims - Acknowledgment of mainstream medical perspectives - Recognition that individuals should consult healthcare providers
Historical Debate: Alternative historical interpretations and questioning of accepted historical narratives are permitted when: - Presented as analysis or alternative interpretation - Not used as pretext for advocating violence or hatred - Based on some historical evidence or logical reasoning - Acknowledges mainstream historical views
Political Discussion: Full spectrum political discussion is welcomed: - Extreme political ideologies may be discussed analytically - Government actions may be criticized harshly - Conspiracy theories about government may be explored - Revolution and resistance may be discussed theoretically
Line: Direct incitement to imminent illegal action crosses the line into prohibited content.
All Perspectives Welcome: Religious, spiritual, atheist, and agnostic perspectives are all welcome.
Criticism Allowed: Religions, religious institutions, and religious practices may be criticized.
Required: Distinguish between criticizing beliefs/institutions and attacking individual believers.
Sacred: Nothing is above analysis, questioning, or criticism. "Sacred cows" undermine truth-seeking.
Embraced, Not Suppressed: BurrowTV recognizes that many "conspiracy theories" have proven true: - COINTELPRO - MKUltra - Operation Northwoods - Gulf of Tonkin incident fabrications - Tuskegee syphilis experiments - Iran-Contra affair
Standards: - Present theories as theories, not established facts (unless evidence supports) - Distinguish between speculation and documentation - Provide evidence or reasoning supporting theories - Acknowledge alternative explanations - Avoid definitive claims about individual guilt without strong evidence
Own Your Words: Take responsibility for what you post, share, and claim.
Verify Before Sharing: Make reasonable efforts to verify significant factual claims before presenting them as fact.
Correct Mistakes: When you discover you've shared misinformation, correct it publicly.
Protect Others: Don't share others' private information without consent.
Secure Your Account: Maintain account security to prevent unauthorized use.
Add Value: Contribute meaningfully to discussions rather than just inflaming or disrupting.
Share Knowledge: Share information, sources, and insights that benefit the community.
Welcome Newcomers: Help new members understand community culture and guidelines.
Mentor: Share expertise and experience to help others learn and grow.
Bridge Build: Help bridge divides and find common ground when possible.
Don't Poison the Well: Avoid tactics that make productive discussion impossible: - Constant personal attacks instead of addressing ideas - Deliberate misrepresentation of others' positions - Bad faith engagement designed to frustrate and alienate - Dogpiling (coordinated attacks on individuals)
Self-Regulate: If you're angry, step back before responding. Anger often leads to violations.
Know When to Disengage: Not every battle needs to be fought. Sometimes agreeing to disagree is appropriate.
Forgive and Move Forward: Don't hold grudges. People change views, learn, and grow.
Report Function: Use the report button/feature on content that violates guidelines.
Email: For serious violations, email shieldofsouls@proton.me with: - Link to problematic content - Description of violation - Relevant guidelines violated - Any additional context
What to Report: - Illegal content (especially child exploitation) - Direct threats of violence - Coordinated harassment campaigns - Spam and platform manipulation - Doxxing and privacy violations
What NOT to Report: - Content you simply disagree with - Controversial but legal opinions - Heated but legal debates - Content that offends but doesn't violate guidelines
Abuse of Reporting: Using the report function to silence viewpoints you disagree with undermines the platform and violates community values.
Consequences: Repeated false reporting may result in: - Loss of reporting privileges - Account warnings - Account suspension for severe abuse
Important: Reporting content simply because you disagree with it, find it offensive, or don't like the political perspective is abuse of the reporting system. Reserve reports for actual guideline violations based on objective standards.
Peer Feedback: Community members may provide direct feedback when others violate guidelines.
Constructive Criticism: "That comment is a personal attack rather than addressing the argument" is helpful. "You're a censorship-loving shill" is not.
Collective Standards: The community collectively maintains standards through its own engagement patterns.
For most violations, we use progressive enforcement:
First Violation: Warning with explanation of violated guideline.
Second Violation: Content removal + 24-hour temporary suspension.
Third Violation: 7-day suspension.
Fourth Violation: 30-day suspension.
Fifth Violation or Severe Single Violation: Permanent ban.
The following warrant immediate permanent ban: - Child sexual exploitation material - Malware or hacking attempts - Doxing with malicious intent - Coordinated harassment campaigns - Impersonating BurrowTV staff or officials - Ban evasion (creating new accounts to circumvent bans)
Suspended accounts: - Cannot post, comment, or interact during suspension - Can still view public content - Retain account data - Automatically reactivate after suspension period
Permanently banned users: - Lose all platform access - Have accounts and content deleted (except where required for legal compliance) - Cannot create new accounts (ban evasion results in immediate re-ban) - May appeal after 6 months if ban was not for illegal content
You may appeal moderation decisions through the following process:
Eligibility: All moderation actions except those involving clearly illegal content may be appealed.
Timeframe: Appeals must be submitted within 30 days of moderation action.
How to Appeal: Email shieldofsouls@proton.me with subject line "Community Guidelines Appeal" including: - Your username - Date of moderation action - Specific content or action being appealed - Explanation of why you believe the action was incorrect - Relevant guidelines you believe support your position
Initial Review: Staff reviews appeal within 15 business days.
Independent Review: Appeals of permanent bans receive independent secondary review.
Considerations: We consider: - Context of the content - Intent behind the content - User's history and good faith efforts - Precedent from similar cases - Community feedback (for public content)
Possible Outcomes: - Appeal granted, action reversed - Appeal granted, reduced consequence (ban to suspension, etc.) - Appeal denied, original action stands - Additional evidence reveals more severe violation
If initial appeal is denied, one final appeal may be submitted: - Must present new evidence or arguments not in initial appeal - Reviewed by senior staff or community review board - Decision is final
Significant appeals decisions may be published (anonymized) to provide guidance and ensure consistency.
Higher Scrutiny Standard: Public figures, government officials, corporations, and institutions are subject to higher scrutiny and more vigorous criticism than private individuals.
Rationale: Accountability for those with power requires robust public discourse.
Protected: Harsh criticism, mockery, satire, and strong language directed at public figures and institutions is generally protected.
Not Protected: Even public figures are protected from threats, doxxing, and content that incites imminent violence against them.
Documentary Content: Educational and documentary content has greater protection even when addressing graphic or controversial subjects.
Live Discussions: Real-time discussions may be held to slightly different standards than prepared content due to spontaneity.
Historical Archives: Historical content is preserved even when it contains material that would not be created today.
Academic Discussion: Scholarly discussion receives maximum protection, even on controversial topics.
Generally Not Enforced: We do not police users' behavior on other platforms.
Exception: Off-platform conduct may result in action when: - User coordinates harassment targeting BurrowTV community members - User plans platform manipulation or attacks - User violates laws in ways that create legal liability for platform
Community Input: These guidelines evolve based on community feedback and experience.
Notice of Changes: Significant changes will be announced with opportunity for community input.
Grandfather Provisions: Content created under prior guidelines is evaluated under standards in effect at the time, unless it violates current legal standards.
Feedback Mechanisms: Community members can: - Provide feedback on guidelines through designated channels - Participate in community discussions about moderation - Suggest improvements to policies - Raise concerns about specific decisions
Community Advisory: We may establish community advisory groups to provide input on challenging moderation decisions.
User Controls: Members may: - Upvote/downvote content (if implemented) - Block specific users - Filter content by category or rating - Customize their experience
Community Standards: Community voting patterns help inform (but don't dictate) moderation decisions.
Topic-Specific Areas: Dedicated channels or groups may develop additional guidelines consistent with these overall standards.
Moderator Teams: Subgroups may have designated moderators with limited authority over their specific areas.
Escalation: Subgroup moderation decisions may be appealed to platform-level review.
Current Status: BurrowTV is evolving. The Lite version provides basic functionality while the full platform launches Christmas 2025.
Feature Development: New features (comments, community spaces, user profiles) will roll out progressively.
Guidelines Evolution: These guidelines will evolve as new features are implemented.
As the community grows, we will: - Maintain our core commitment to free inquiry and truth-seeking - Preserve minimal moderation approach - Scale systems to handle larger community - Develop more sophisticated tools for community self-governance
AI and Automation: We may develop AI tools to assist moderation, but: - Human review remains central - AI assists, doesn't replace, human judgment - Community can appeal AI decisions - Transparency about AI use is maintained
Platform Features: New features will be designed to support community guidelines and user empowerment.
For questions about these Community Guidelines:
Email: shieldofsouls@proton.me
Subject Line: "Community Guidelines Question"
Response Time: We will respond within 15 business days.
Important Note: We are a small dedicated team of Assembly members serving the community, not a billion-dollar corporate platform. Response times reflect our operational capacity as community-based operation. However, our legal preparedness is comprehensive—small team size does not diminish our commitment to protecting Community Member rights or our ability to defend against illegitimate authority.
Email: shieldofsouls@proton.me
Subject Line: "Community Guidelines Violation Report"
Include: - Link to content - Description of violation (be specific about which objective standard was violated) - Relevant guideline sections - Context if applicable
Urgent Violations (child exploitation, direct threats, platform attacks): Subject Line: "URGENT - Community Guidelines Violation"
Email: shieldofsouls@proton.me
Subject Line: "Community Guidelines Appeal"
See Section 10 for full appeals process.
Email: shieldofsouls@proton.me
Subject Line: "Community Guidelines Feedback"
We welcome constructive feedback on improving these guidelines. Community Member input shapes guideline evolution.
BurrowTV is committed to:
Truth Over Comfort: We prioritize truth even when uncomfortable or controversial.
Freedom Over Control: We support freedom of inquiry and expression over narrative control.
Users Over Advertisers: With no advertisers, we answer only to our community and principles.
Principles Over Pressure: We will not cave to external pressure to censor legal content.
Community Over Corporation: This is a community platform, not a corporate product.
As a member of this community, you have responsibility to:
Seek Truth Honestly: Approach information with critical thinking and intellectual honesty.
Engage Respectfully: Maintain respect for fellow humans even in vigorous disagreement.
Think Independently: Form your own conclusions rather than accepting narratives uncritically.
Question Everything: Including what you see on BurrowTV. We are not infallible.
Stay Curious: Maintain openness to new information and perspectives.
These guidelines recognize principles that transcend human law:
Romans 13:4: Authority serves the good, not oppression. These guidelines serve community good.
Proverbs 31:8-9: Speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Protect free expression.
John 8:32: Truth makes us free. Censorship enslaves.
West Virginia v. Barnette: No authority can prescribe orthodoxy in matters of opinion.
First Amendment Principles: Free expression is essential to discovering truth and holding power accountable.
These Community Guidelines incorporate:
Constitutional Principles: - First Amendment spirit (freedom of speech and expression) - Due process in enforcement - Equal protection (viewpoint neutrality)
Legal Maxims: - "Veritas vincit" (Truth conquers) - "Audi alteram partem" (Hear the other side) - "Falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus" (False in one thing, false in all)
Case Law: - West Virginia v. Barnette - No prescribed orthodoxy - Brandenburg v. Ohio - Incitement standard - New York Times v. Sullivan - Protection for criticism of public figures
Biblical Principles: - Truth-seeking as moral obligation - Speaking for the powerless - Honest communication - Individual conscience and conviction
If you believe a moderation decision or guideline enforcement was improper:
Arbitration Terms: - Primary Arbitration Forum: Shield of Souls Assembly Arbitration Panel, utilizing private arbitration principles consistent with natural law and constitutional protections - Alternative Forum: If Shield of Souls Assembly arbitration is unavailable or mutually agreed upon by both parties, arbitration shall proceed through a neutral arbitration service selected by BurrowTV (such as JAMS, AAA, or similar professional arbitration organization) - One arbitrator selected by mutual agreement, or appointed by the arbitration forum if parties cannot agree - Arbitration conducted in Vermont or remotely by mutual agreement - Arbitrator shall apply these Community Guidelines, natural law principles, and applicable law - Arbitrator's decision is final and binding on all parties - Shield of Souls Assembly reserves the right to select the alternative arbitration forum to ensure fairness and adherence to these Guidelines
Exceptions to Arbitration: - Violations involving illegal content (handled through appropriate legal channels) - Intellectual property disputes - Requests for injunctive relief to prevent irreparable harm
For additional dispute resolution details, refer to our Terms of Service.
By participating in BurrowTV as a Community Member of Shield of Souls Assembly, you acknowledge:
Educational Purpose of These Guidelines:
These Community Guidelines, like our entire platform, serve a dual purpose: 1. Practical Protection: Establishing clear, objective standards for community participation 2. Educational Example: Demonstrating how to: - Reject weaponized terminology used for narrative control - Base standards on constitutional and natural law principles - Distinguish between legitimate authority and overreach - Assert First Amendment principles in private assembly context - Resist pressure to censor based on political or commercial interests
The guidelines themselves are part of our mission to educate Community Members about natural law, constitutional rights, and resistance to illegitimate authority.
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These Community Guidelines work in harmony with our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy to create a platform dedicated to truth-seeking, free inquiry, and respectful discourse.