Community Guidelines

Somewhere Real is for real people telling full stories. These guidelines explain what isn't allowed here and what happens when someone reports something. They apply to stories, Summaries, photographs, comments, profiles and Journals, and to anything published anonymously in the future.

Threats and violence

Don't threaten, encourage or celebrate violence against a person or group. Writing honestly about violence you lived through, witnessed or feel angry about is allowed. Statements that show intent to hurt an identifiable person, especially with a time, a plan or the means to do it, are not.

Self-Harm and Crisis Conversations

People may talk openly about despair, trauma, suicidal thoughts, recovery, and other painful experiences.

Do not encourage suicide or serious self-harm, give instructions for carrying it out, or pressure someone toward self-destruction.

If a situation appears urgent, users may use available reporting tools or external crisis and emergency resources.

Somewhere Real is not an emergency-response service.

Harassment and bullying

Don't target a person with repeated insults, humiliation, unwanted contact or pile-ons. Don't use stories or comments to go after someone who has blocked you.

Hate and targeted abuse

Don't attack people for race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, caste, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or serious illness.

Child safety

We have zero tolerance for any content that sexualizes minors or puts a child at risk. We remove it, keep what we're required to keep, restrict the account and escalate it for review.

Sexual exploitation

Don't share sexual content of anyone without their consent, including intimate images. Don't use Somewhere Real to buy or sell sexual services.

Privacy and personal information

Don't post another person's home address, phone number, private documents, financial or medical information, or other details that could let someone find or harm them.

Impersonation, spam and scams

Don't pretend to be another person or organization. Don't post repetitive, automated or deceptive content, or try to get people's money or login details.

Serious accusations about identifiable people

You can write about what happened to you. Naming or clearly identifying a private person or organization while accusing them of serious wrongdoing may be reviewed by a person on our team. We don't decide whether an accusation is true. We may limit content that looks like targeted abuse, harassment or a privacy violation.

Anonymous publishing (future)

When anonymous publishing arrives, your public identity won't be attached to an anonymously published story. Somewhere Real will still link the story to your account behind the scenes, for ownership, safety and legal reasons. Details in your writing may still reveal who you are. Anonymity is not a shield for threats, harassment, doxxing or any of the behavior above.

Circles and privacy

Inside a Circle, your Somewhere Real identity isn't shown to other members. Somewhere Real still securely associates your activity with your account for ownership, moderation and safety. Details you include in your writing may reveal who you are, and other people can still copy or screenshot what you share.

Never try to identify, expose or confirm who another Circle Member is, inside or outside the Circle. Don't share another member's Circle writing elsewhere, or use screenshots to shame anyone. Attempting to unmask someone is a serious violation and may lead to suspension.

Abuse of hidden identity

A hidden Circle identity isn't a shield. Harassment, threats, doxxing, scams, impersonation, exploitation and predatory behavior are removed and can lead to account restrictions, just as they would anywhere else on Somewhere Real.

Peer support, not professional care

Circles are peer spaces built on lived experience. Members, including Circle Hosts, aren't counselors, therapists or clinicians. Don't present yourself as a professional, diagnose other members, or pressure anyone toward a particular recovery program or philosophy. Don't glorify or encourage dangerous substance use. Support doesn't require agreement.

Reporting

Use Report when you believe content or behavior violates these Guidelines or the Terms of Use.

Reports may involve harassment, threats, self-harm concerns, child safety, exploitation, privacy violations, scams, impersonation, or other serious misconduct.

A report does not automatically mean content will be removed. Urgent reports are prioritized for review, but urgency does not mean an allegation has been verified.

Moderation

Somewhere Real may remove content, close comments, restrict features, suspend accounts, preserve reported material, or escalate a matter for safety or legal review.

Context matters. Not every disagreement is harassment, not every upsetting story violates the rules, and not every report will result in removal.

Moderation decisions may be reconsidered if a mistake is found.

For questions or concerns, use the Contact form available through Somewhere Real.

Website: GoSomewhereReal.com