Thinkbase - Community Guidelines
Effective Date: May 5, 2026
Last Updated: May 5, 2026
Thinkbase is where people share opinions, debate ideas, and sharpen their thinking through structured argumentation. These guidelines exist to keep the community intellectually honest, respectful, and worth being a part of. They apply to everything on Thinkbase — debates, opinions, arguments, replies, profiles, usernames, and reports.
If you're ever unsure about something, ask yourself: *Is this honest, and does it contribute to better discourse?*
Our Principles
These principles guide every enforcement decision we make.
Think Clearly. Thinkbase is built on genuine reasoning and honest opinions. Engage with ideas on their merits, not their popularity.
Be Respectful. Disagree with arguments, not people. You can hold strong positions without being cruel. The person on the other side of the debate is a real human being.
Keep It Safe. Don't post anything that could put someone in danger — including yourself. If you see something concerning, report it.
Stay Honest. Don't manipulate opinions, fabricate arguments, or game the system. Your credibility score should reflect genuine insight.
Play Fair. Don't exploit the platform mechanics for artificial gain. Earn your points and reputation through quality thinking.
Quick Summary
Every rule in one sentence.
- Authenticity: Engage genuinely. Don't use bots or automated tools to place opinions or post arguments.
- Debate Quality: Argue in good faith. Don't deliberately mislead or post bad-faith arguments to manipulate outcomes.
- Market Integrity: Don't manipulate opinion outcomes through coordinated behavior, sock puppets, or deceptive tactics.
- Violence: Don't threaten, glorify, or promote violence against anyone.
- Hate: Don't attack people based on who they are.
- Harassment: Don't bully, stalk, or intimidate anyone.
- Sexual Content: Don't post nudity or sexually explicit material.
- Child Safety: Don't post anything that exploits or endangers children. Zero tolerance.
- Self-Harm: Don't promote or glorify suicide, self-injury, or eating disorders.
- Misinformation: Don't deliberately spread false information in arguments to manipulate debate outcomes.
- Scams and Fraud: Don't deceive people for personal gain.
- Illegal Activity: Don't use Thinkbase to facilitate or promote illegal activity.
- Privacy: Don't share other people's personal information without consent.
- Spam and Manipulation: Don't use fake accounts, bots, or artificial engagement to inflate opinions or arguments.
- Impersonation: Don't pretend to be someone you're not.
- Intellectual Property: Don't post content you don't have the rights to.
1. Authenticity and Genuine Engagement
Thinkbase's value comes from real people sharing real opinions and constructing real arguments. The platform depends on authentic participation.
Not Allowed
- Accounts operated in whole or in part by AI agents, bots, or automated tools for placing opinions or posting arguments
- Using automated scripts to cast votes, place opinions, or post arguments
- Submitting AI-generated arguments without clear disclosure that they are AI-assisted
- Operating multiple accounts to artificially influence debate outcomes
- Coordinated behavior between accounts to manipulate opinion markets or vote distributions
Allowed
- Using AI tools to research a topic before writing your own argument
- Standard spelling and grammar tools
- Sharing your opinions and arguments on other platforms
Why This Matters
The credibility system, leaderboards, and point economy depend on genuine human judgment. When bots or coordinated accounts manipulate outcomes, it undermines the platform for everyone. We enforce this strictly because opinion accuracy and argument quality are the foundation everything else is built on.
2. Debate Quality and Good Faith Argumentation
Debates are the core of Thinkbase. How you argue matters.
Not Allowed
- Deliberately posting false or fabricated evidence in arguments to mislead other participants
- Bad-faith argumentation: arguing a position you know to be false specifically to manipulate vote distributions or opinion outcomes
- Posting arguments that consist solely of personal attacks against other participants rather than engaging with the topic
- Spam arguments: posting the same argument repeatedly across multiple debates without substantive connection to the topic
Reduced Distribution
The following won't be removed but may be deprioritized in argument rankings:
- Low-effort arguments that add no reasoning or evidence
- Arguments that are tangential to the debate question
Allowed
- Genuine disagreement, including unpopular or contrarian positions, when argued in good faith
- Strong language in service of a genuine argument
- Humor, satire, and rhetorical devices in arguments
- Changing your position mid-debate (vote changes are tracked as "persuasion signals" — this is a feature, not a bug)
- Devil's advocate arguments that are clearly framed as such
3. Opinion Market Integrity
The opinion system depends on honest individual judgment. Don't corrupt it.
Not Allowed
- Coordinating with other users to collectively commit to a specific outcome to artificially shift opinion distributions
- Using insider information or non-public knowledge to exploit opinions without disclosure
- Creating debates specifically designed to have a predetermined outcome that you can exploit
- Wash trading: placing opposing opinions from multiple accounts you control
- Soliciting others to place specific opinions through off-platform coordination
- Exploiting bugs or vulnerabilities in the points system
Allowed
- Placing opinions based on your genuine assessment of the outcome
- Discussing your opinions publicly and explaining your reasoning
- Changing your opinion as new arguments or evidence emerge
- Encouraging others to participate in debates you find interesting
4. Violence and Threats
We don't allow content that threatens, glorifies, or promotes violence against people, animals, or property.
Not Allowed
- Threats of physical violence against any individual or group, whether specific or general
- Content that glorifies, celebrates, or encourages acts of violence
- Instructions, tutorials, or guidance on how to carry out violent acts
- Content that promotes, recruits for, or provides material support to terrorist organizations or violent extremist groups
- Credible threats to commit acts of violence (reported to law enforcement)
Allowed
- Debating topics related to violence, conflict, or security in an analytical context
- Expressing outrage about violent events without glorifying the violence itself
- Arguments about self-defense policy in an informational context
- Debates about military, geopolitical, or criminal justice topics
5. Hate Speech and Hateful Behavior
Everyone deserves to use Thinkbase without being attacked for who they are.
Not Allowed
- Content that attacks, dehumanizes, or incites hatred against individuals or groups based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, caste, sexual orientation, sex, gender, gender identity, disability, immigration status, veteran status, or serious medical condition
- Slurs, epithets, and derogatory language targeting protected characteristics
- Content that promotes, supports, or recruits for hate groups or their ideologies
- Dehumanizing speech, comparisons, or rhetoric directed at any group
- Content that calls for exclusion, segregation, or violence against any group based on protected characteristics
Allowed
- Debating topics related to discrimination, prejudice, or hate in analytical, educational, or policy contexts
- Sharing personal experiences with discrimination
- Criticizing ideologies, institutions, beliefs, or political positions (as distinct from attacking people for their identity)
- Debates about immigration, social policy, or cultural issues when conducted respectfully
6. Harassment and Bullying
Disagreement is expected on a debate platform. Cruelty is not.
Not Allowed
- Targeted harassment: repeated personal insults, intimidation, or degrading content directed at a specific user rather than their arguments
- Content that encourages others to harass someone (brigading, dogpiling)
- Publishing someone's private information to enable harassment (doxxing)
- Sexual harassment: unwanted sexual comments, requests, or advances
- Creating accounts or posts specifically to mock, demean, or target an individual
- Stalking or systematically monitoring someone's opinion activity to intimidate them
Allowed
- Vigorous criticism of another user's arguments, opinions, or reasoning
- Expressing disagreement, even strongly, with someone's position in a debate
- Blocking users you don't want to interact with — we encourage this and provide the tools for it
7. Sexual Content and Nudity
Thinkbase is not a platform for sexually explicit content.
Not Allowed
- Nudity or sexually explicit content in profile photos, bios, or arguments
- Sexual solicitation or advertising sexual services
- Non-consensual intimate imagery in any form
- Sexually suggestive content involving minors
- Content that sexualizes body parts in a gratuitous manner
Allowed
- Debates about sexual health policy, reproductive rights, or sex education in an informational context
- Academic or policy-oriented arguments about sexuality-related topics
8. Child Safety
Zero tolerance. No exceptions. No second chances.
Not Allowed
- Any content that sexually exploits, sexualizes, or depicts minors in a sexual context — this results in immediate, permanent ban and report to NCMEC and law enforcement
- Content that facilitates, encourages, or normalizes the abuse, exploitation, or endangerment of children
- Soliciting private contact with minors for sexual, exploitative, or otherwise inappropriate purposes
- Sharing content that reveals the location, school, full name, or other identifying information of minors without the consent of a parent or guardian
- Content that depicts or promotes physical abuse or severe neglect of children
Enforcement
Violations of child safety policies result in immediate permanent account termination on first offense, without warning, strike, or appeal. We report all child sexual abuse material (CSAM) to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and cooperate fully with law enforcement investigations.
9. Suicide, Self-Harm, and Eating Disorders
We care about everyone in this community. We don't allow content that promotes self-harm, but we want people who are struggling to feel safe reaching out.
Not Allowed
- Content that promotes, instructs, glorifies, or encourages suicide or self-harm
- Content that promotes, glorifies, or provides instructions for eating disorders or dangerous weight management practices
- Graphic imagery of self-injury
- Suicide or self-harm challenges, pacts, games, or countdowns
Allowed
- Sharing personal recovery stories and lived experiences with mental health challenges
- Discussing mental health topics in educational, supportive, or therapeutic contexts
- Directing others to professional resources and crisis helplines
- Expressing that you're struggling — we encourage reaching out
Resources
If you or someone you know is in crisis:
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (US)
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 (US)
- International Association for Suicide Prevention: https://www.iasp.info/resources/Crisis_Centres/
10. Dangerous Activities
Don't use arguments or debates to encourage people to do things that could get them seriously hurt.
Not Allowed
- Promoting or glorifying dangerous challenges, dares, or stunts that carry a serious risk of injury or death
- Instructions for creating weapons, explosives, incendiary devices, or dangerous substances
- Content that promotes or provides instructions for illegal drug manufacturing or dangerous drug combinations
Allowed
- Debates about drug policy, weapons regulation, or safety standards
- Educational content about risks, safety, and harm reduction
- Arguments citing documented risks and harms
11. Misinformation
We take misinformation seriously when it can cause real-world harm or corrupt debate outcomes.
Not Allowed
- Deliberately fabricating evidence or sources cited in arguments, especially regarding:
- Elections and civic processes: false information about how, when, or where to vote; fabricated election results
- Safety and emergencies: false claims about ongoing emergencies, disasters, or threats
- Posting fabricated statistics, fake studies, or false attributions to manipulate debate outcomes
- Creating debates based on entirely false premises designed to spread disinformation
Reduced Distribution
The following won't be removed but may be deprioritized:
- Unverified claims presented as established fact
- Arguments that cite unreliable sources without acknowledgment
Allowed
- Expressing opinions, including unpopular, controversial, or minority viewpoints
- Satire and parody that is clearly identifiable as such
- Debating contested claims, theories, or policy questions
- Sharing personal anecdotes, experiences, and observations
- Playing devil's advocate with clearly labeled contrarian arguments
12. Scams, Fraud, and Deceptive Practices
Don't exploit the community's trust for personal gain.
Not Allowed
- Phishing: impersonating Thinkbase or other platforms to steal login credentials or personal information
- Financial scams: fraudulent schemes promoted through debates or arguments
- Impersonating official accounts to deceive users
- Exploiting the points system through technical manipulation or fraud
- Promoting pyramid schemes, fraudulent investments, or deceptive commercial schemes through arguments
Allowed
- Legitimate discussion of financial topics, markets, and economics in debates
- Honest analysis of investment strategies or market opinions
13. Illegal Activity
Don't use Thinkbase to break the law or help others break the law.
Not Allowed
- Facilitating or promoting the sale or purchase of illegal goods or services
- Coordinating or planning criminal activity
- Providing operational instructions for committing crimes
- Content that facilitates human trafficking, smuggling, or forced labor
- Creating debates designed to coordinate illegal activity
Allowed
- Debating legal reform, criminal justice, drug policy, and related topics
- Documenting or discussing illegal activity in analytical, educational, or public-interest context
- Advocacy for changing laws you disagree with
14. Privacy
Respect other people's personal information and boundaries.
Not Allowed
- Sharing someone's personal information without their consent: phone numbers, home or work addresses, financial information, government-issued IDs, login credentials, or medical information
- Using arguments or debates to expose someone's private information
- Using the platform to track, surveil, or monitor someone's activities
- Outing someone's identity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or medical status without their consent
Allowed
- Referencing public figures' public statements in debates
- Sharing your own personal information (we recommend caution)
15. Spam, Fake Accounts, and Platform Manipulation
Keep it real. Don't game the system.
Not Allowed
- Creating fake or misleading accounts
- Operating multiple accounts for deceptive or manipulative purposes
- Using bots, scripts, or automated tools to cast votes, place opinions, post arguments, or inflate engagement metrics
- Buying, selling, or trading upvotes, opinions, or any other form of engagement
- Coordinated inauthentic behavior: groups of accounts working together to artificially influence debate outcomes
- Spam arguments or mass-posting identical content across multiple debates
- Artificially inflating vote counts, opinion distributions, or other platform metrics
- Buying, selling, or trading Thinkbase accounts
Allowed
- Having one authentic account
- Sharing your Thinkbase opinions or debates on other platforms
- Encouraging others to participate in debates you find interesting
16. Impersonation
Be yourself. Don't pretend to be someone else.
Not Allowed
- Creating an account that impersonates a real person, brand, or organization in a way that could mislead others
- Using someone else's name, photo, or likeness to deceive others into thinking you are that person
- Impersonating Thinkbase staff, moderators, or official accounts
Allowed
- Using a pseudonym or username that doesn't impersonate another real person
- Parody accounts that are clearly identifiable as parody through their bio or username
17. Intellectual Property
Don't post content you don't have the rights to use.
Not Allowed
- Posting copyrighted content in arguments without permission from the rights holder
- Using someone else's trademark in a way that creates confusion about your identity or affiliation
- Systematically copying another user's arguments without credit
Allowed
- Quoting sources with attribution in your arguments
- Fair use: commentary, criticism, parody, education, and analysis
- Citing and linking to external sources to support your arguments
Reporting
If your intellectual property has been infringed, you can file a DMCA takedown notice as described in our Terms of Service.
How We Enforce These Guidelines
Our Approach
We use a combination of user reports, automated detection systems, and human review to enforce these guidelines. We are a growing team and our moderation capabilities are evolving — we are transparent about this rather than making promises we can't yet keep. We prioritize reports involving child safety, imminent violence, and self-harm.
Content Actions
When we find a violation, we take proportional action:
- Removal: Content that clearly violates these guidelines is removed from the platform.
- Reduced Distribution: Content that doesn't clearly violate but is borderline or low-quality may be deprioritized in argument rankings and recommendations.
- Point Penalties: Manipulation of opinions or coordinated market abuse may result in point deductions or opinion reversals.
Account Actions
- Warning: A notification explaining the violation and the relevant guideline.
- Temporary Restriction: Limited ability to post arguments, place opinions, or vote for a set period.
- Temporary Suspension: Full account access suspended for a set period.
- Permanent Ban: Account permanently disabled. Reserved for severe violations or repeated offenses.
Strikes
- Violations accumulate as strikes on your account.
- Strikes expire after 90 days of good standing.
- Escalating consequences are based on the number and severity of active strikes.
- Severe violations (child safety, terrorism, credible violence threats, egregious market manipulation) bypass the strike system and result in immediate permanent bans.
Appeals
If you believe we made a mistake:
- You can appeal any enforcement action through the notification you receive about it.
- We aim to resolve appeals within 48 hours, though complex cases may take longer.
- You will receive a notification with the outcome and reasoning.
Reporting
If you see content or behavior that violates these guidelines:
- Use the report button on any debate, argument, or profile.
- Reports are reviewed in order of severity. Child safety, imminent violence, and market manipulation reports are prioritized.
- You can report anonymously. The reported user will not know who filed the report.
- False or abusive reporting (filing reports to harass someone rather than to flag genuine violations) is itself a violation of these guidelines.
If someone is in immediate physical danger, contact your local emergency services first. Thinkbase's moderation team cannot respond to emergencies in real time.
Changes to These Guidelines
We update these guidelines as our community grows and new challenges emerge. When we make material changes, we'll notify you through the app at least 14 days before they take effect. The current version is always available here.
Contact
Questions about these guidelines, or a concern that doesn't fit the in-app reporting flow:
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