Guidelines

Members are encouraged to cultivate a community of support and understanding. We champion positive and constructive discussions and interactions, where members have the opportunity to learn and to grow from one another. We do not welcome any kind of intolerant attitudes or judgmental treatment. Arguing, belittling, or invalidating other members' experiences is unacceptable. Disrespectfully criticizing others' coping methods or making judgement calls is not what we're about. Everyone is struggling in their own way.

If you don't support the idea of a 'safe space', Haven is not the forum for you. The internet may be big and scary, but we strive to keep Haven a secure home for members to come to. Privacy is of the utmost importance. Extensively personal content shared on Haven is protected from the view of non-members. Such protected content only becomes accessible once a visitor has taken the time to become part of the community. These safeguards help us to prevent predators, malicious individuals, and media outlets from skimming our forums, looking to take advantage of our members who are here to express their vulnerabilities.

We are here to support one another, not to tear each other down. Abuse of any kind is not tolerated. This includes name calling, insulting or attacking others, hate speech, bigotry, or prejudice towards any group of people. Insulting a race, culture, sexuality, gender etc of another person will not be condoned.

Though we support expression and sharing of personal struggles and experiences, harmful generalizations of any group should be avoided. "Dogs are evil" is an example of a harmful generalization. A more constructive way to express your viewpoint would be to elaborate to provide more context. "I was bitten by a dog as a child and have been scared of them ever since". This is a light-hearted example, but our concerns lie with harmful generalizations of race, culture, sexuality, gender, etc.

Respectful attitudes extend to commentary towards others regarding their body shape or size, unless the original poster asks for mean critique. Do not body shame anyone, whether overweight, underweight, or somewhere in between. This applies to your fellow members, random images of people, someone you know, or celebrities.

Do not argue against the presence of any kind of disorder or mental illness. Nobody here is qualified to make such an assessment, and nobody is here to judge another person’s struggles. This extends to making posts such as "I hate people with [Disorder]".

Swearing is allowed, but slurs are not. It is never okay to use inappropriate language to intimidate or insult another member.

If there is a post you disagree with or simply dislike, either express yourself in a polite manner or ignore it. Creating or contributing to a hostile environment will not be tolerated. This includes hazing of new members - Do not reply with inside jokes, do not invalidate them or make fun of them for their inherent newness. BE SUPPORTIVE. Even if you don't like people asking questions or asking for tips, do not haze them or belittle them for it.

Do not incite drama. Do not target, single out, attack, bully or call out your fellow members. Do not reference other members if it is to insult, abuse or belittle them ANYWHERE. Do not make threads or posts or send mass DMs about the conduct of other members. If you are concerned about another member’s behavior, please report the account or contact a staff member for attention.

Do not argue over personal matters on the forums. Do not dig up drama from the past and try to fuel discussions about it, even if you weren't involved. Vagueposting (posting vaguely about fellow members of Haven) is not allowed. For example: "There's this user on Haven who is really annoying..."

If you cannot engage with someone respectfully, please use the ignore feature. Do not escalate a problematic interaction, rather step back. If you have been blocked by another member, do not attempt to bypass this block. Should you continue to harass a member who has this boundary in place, you will be issued a warning point or face a potential ban, depending on the severity of the situation.

Do not troll other members or intentionally go out of your way to make other members uncomfortable or upset. Do not make multiple accounts so you can harass or troll other members. Do not evade bans. Any alternate accounts that are associated with a banned account will also be banned.

Do not excessively promote your social media accounts. It's okay to seek out friends, but trying to maximize exposure of your content for the sake of gaining views or followers is not allowed. Farming for likes, or asking for people to react to your content in order to boost your stats is prohibited.

Keep responses to threads relevant to the starting subject. Do not spam multiple images in a row, rather insert multiple images into one post. Utilize the edit feature if you forgot to say something in a post, rather than adding a new reply.

Do not necrobump old, irrelevant and outdated topics. We prefer members to start fresh discussions when you can. Do not bump your threads excessively, for example, once every 30 minutes. Do not post the same topic over multiple forums.

Do not ask for anything illegal. This includes drugs, illegal streaming websites, piracy downloads, or prostitution.

Advocating for or condoning pedophilia, sexual assault, CSA, real life violence or murder is not welcome.

Predators seeking out underage members will be banned. Predators soliciting members for sexual favors through our platform will be banned.

We allow Community Members to donate and support each other out of goodwill. If transactions are made between members, please handle all transaction matters off-site. Do not use Haven to promote a product you did not create (i.e. sponsored promotion, etc). Haven is not liable for any transactions you have made with other members and will not get involved in financial disputes.

Please keep advertising for sales, commissions, services, shops, or monetized content to the forum set aside for it. It is also permissible to link such threads within your signature and profile. Unsolicited advertising is strictly prohibited.

Avoid posting your personal contact details such as snapchat usernames, phone numbers, discord handles, or email addresses directly on Haven. If you choose to share your contact information via DMs, be very careful with whom you share it with. This is for your own safety! Staff will remove publicly posted contact details at our discretion.

Be careful when sharing any images, whether it be of yourself, family members or your children. Protect your own identity as well as the identity of any one photographed.

Nudity is permissible when these rules are followed: YOU MUST BE 18+, and the image must be shared in a thread that displays the 18+ flair, whilst also behind a spoiler with a content warning. Underage users are restricted from posting nudity and additionally, may NOT post pictures of themselves in underwear/bikinis. Outside of 18+ threads, pictures must always be censored with intimate areas completely covered. Exposed genitalia is NEVER allowed.

It is vital that all underage members register with their REAL AGE to allow the site safeguards to effectively protect all members of the community. If we discover an underage account bypassing these safeguards, the account will be immediately banned. If you registered your date of birth incorrectly, please contact the staff team asap to have it corrected. Your account will not be banned under this circumstance.

Respect the privacy of other members. Do not bypass being ignored. Do not use deceptive practices to access private content such as deleting replies or reactions to a hidden post to conceal that you had access. Do not repost any personal content shared on Haven anywhere, even on Haven, unless it is your own.

Doxxing is vehemently prohibited. Do not publicly identify another member's real full name, address, phone number, or other identifying real-life information. Do not share links to other member's social media accounts without expressed consent. This includes Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tiktok, Discord, etc.

Per our terms of service, sharing screenshots or original content from Haven to other platforms is not permissible without the expressed consent of any and all individuals involved. The ability to post on Haven without fear of exposure is critical to the purpose of Haven, and so any sharing of content from Haven for the purpose of criticism, entertainment, commentary, or education will result in an immediate and permanent ban, with additional legal consequences depending on severity.

The privacy of our members is of the utmost importance. As a result, we do not allow unauthorized requests for research data on the forum. If you wish to use the community as a sample for data for an article, thesis, essay, etc please email us at [email protected].

Haven is a space committed to protecting Trans Rights and opposing fascism and bigotry in all its forms. This is a space for everyone who values human dignity and autonomy. While Haven is not exclusively a trans space, we are explicit: trans people are safe here, and their rights are not up for debate. We do not allow dogwhistling, “just asking questions,” laundering controversy, or other attempts to undermine these values. Human rights, autonomy, and agency are not up for debate on this platform. Posts or threads expressing support or defense for fascist groups or individuals will be removed. Members who display a pattern of bigotry will be addressed in accordance with our moderation policies.

This is a space for humans first. Most content shared here is human made, not AI-generated. Originality is priority. Please post in your own words whenever possible. Do not use AI to mislead or misrepresent yourself. For example, claiming “I made this art,” “This is a selfie of me,” or “I wrote this poem” is not acceptable if the work came from AI. Any AI-generated content must be clearly labeled as such. Malicious use is forbidden. Using AI in harmful, manipulative, or exploitative ways is strictly prohibited and could lead to an instant ban.

We believe that online spaces should protect the dignity, autonomy, and safety of everyone who participates. We prioritize user privacy and safety. We collect the minimum information necessary to provide and maintain our community. We do not sell, rent, or otherwise profit from user data.

All image uploads have identifying metadata automatically stripped before being stored or displayed. We do not retain metadata that could reveal device details, location, or other identifying information.

We actively block AI scrapers, bots, and other automated tools that attempt to harvest data from Haven. Unauthorized research, data collection, or scraping of community content is strictly prohibited. Any violations may result in permanent bans and, where necessary, legal action.

Members always retain ownership of the content they create. Users may hide any of their posts or contributions by using the Delete button. Members are free to delete their account at any time. In addition, one may request permanent deletion of their account, including all associated content and data. Once deleted, this information cannot be restored.

We store only the information necessary for the functioning and security of the community. We use encryption and other safeguards to protect stored information. Administrators may access any content at any time. Administrative access is strictly limited and monitored.

Our Commitment

Haven is a private online community for open, respectful discussion of mental health, trauma, and other sensitive topics. We are built on meeting people where they are, offering support without judgment, and prioritizing safety over performative compliance.

Age Restrictions

• Haven is open to users aged 13 and older.
• Adult content (including sexual topics or graphic discussions) is restricted to 18+ sections and marked with flairs and tags, making it unviewable.
• We frequently monitor for underage users attempting to bypass age restrictions using a variety of tools.

Media & Image Rules

• Users under 18 may not post images of themselves in swimwear, underwear, or other vulnerable states.
• All uploaded images are subject to moderator review, and harmful or exploitative media will be removed.

Content Guidelines

• No glorification or promotion of harmful behaviors.
• No grooming, harassment, or exploitation.
• No hate speech or prejudice.
• Crisis situations are met with compassionate intervention.

Privacy & Data Protection

• We collect only the minimum necessary data (username, email, IP for security).
• We do not sell data, share it with third parties, or use it for AI training.
• Forums are private and not indexed by search engines.
• No third-party ads or tracking pixels are used.
• All uploaded images are automatically stripped of metadata (EXIF, GPS, device info).

Safety Features

• Content warnings and filters.
• 18+ flairs and private sections for sensitive content.
• Reporting tools on every post.
• Active moderation to remove harmful content quickly.
• Proactive outreach in high-risk situations.

Note: Haven is not a crisis service. If you are in immediate danger, please contact local emergency services or crisis lines.

Haven strives to be a place where members can thrive, be peaceful, and not fear being who they are. In order to facilitate this, we utilize reports, which works by flagging content that is either in violation of our rules or makes an individual or group of members uncomfortable. This document outlines how reports are handled, what is deemed reportable content, and, briefly, our privacy policy regarding reports.

Reports

Content Within Our Jurisdiction

• Any content on haven-online.com including posts, signals, conversations, chats, media, or blogs that you feel is in violation of our site rules
• Any content that contributes to a hostile environment

Content Outside of Our Jurisdiction

• Anything that takes place outside of haven-online.com (other websites, emails, IMs, discord, etc.), with the exception of someone being endangered or if the original content has been posted elsewhere without consent.

The Report System

Filing a Report

• There is a Report button located at the bottom of everything posted on Haven. If you would like to report content, begin by clicking on the Report button.
• A small window will pop up, where you can explain why you feel the content should be brought to the staff's attention.
• Once a report is filed, the staff are notified. The problem at hand is discussed and addressed.

Once a Report is Filed

• Involvement with the reporting member is considered complete. The staff will only contact the reporter if further information is required for moderation.
• The staff will not discuss how issues are addressed with outside parties except in special cases.
• Staff are responsible for making the final decisions regarding moderation. It might appear that no action is being taken, but the process can be lengthy. We aim to communicate with members who are reported, to help them understand where they went wrong, and to encourage them to learn from their mistakes. Warning Points are given only when users are actively or excessively harmful despite prior conversation.

Abuse of the Report System
The following actions are considered to be abuse of the report system

• Repeatedly reporting the same content due to not being satisfied with the result.
• Using the report system to harass another member.
• Using the report system to deceive staff regarding a situation.
• Using the report system to berate, criticize, or attack the staff team.

Reporting Staff
The staff team are not exempt from being held accountable for their actions. If a staff member posts content that you feel should be reported, direct message an administrator or a moderator that you trust.

Alternative methods

PMing the Staff
In situations where you wish to provide detailed information regarding reportable content, the staff can be contacted discretely. You may write to the Staff for any reason by sending a direct message to a staff member.

The Haven staff team will make every effort to address issues within the community in a timely and respectful fashion. Any member reports will be fully investigated to determine the extent of the situation, with moderation and warnings issued as necessary.

Warn Meter
Each Member of Haven has a Warn Meter on their account that can be allocated with warning points. This always starts at zero (0) points and will be bumped up as necessary in response to rule infringement or other anti-community behavior. The Warn Meter can go up to a maximum of three (3) Points, at which stage the member will be issued a ban. Members may view their issued warning points and reasons associated by visiting their profile page. Warning Points are only visible to the individual member and staff.

Friendly Reminders
Community Members are usually granted a 'friendly reminder' to inform them that they are breaking a rule in an effort to prevent it from happening in the future. These are not the equivalent to a warning point and ultimately have no permanent effect on a Havengoers' record. They are, however, taken into account if the Havengoer continues to break the rules. Depending on the severity of the circumstances, a Friendly Reminder may not be given before a Warning Point is issued.

Issuing Warnings
Multiple Staff members are involved in the process of issuing warning points to ensure fair administration. Depending on the severity of the infraction, the Warn Meter will be bumped up anywhere from one (1) to three (3) times. Accrued warning points will begin to decrease after three (3) months of continuously good behavior from the date the Warning Point was issued.

Sanctions
Once three (3) Warning Points are reached and the Warn Meter is full, the Warned Member is automatically banned for one (1) month. In certain cases the staff team may increase the severity of sanctions based on the severity of rule violations.

Issuing Forum Bans
In the unlikely event that a Community Member has repeated infractions to the rules or refuses to correct their behavior, the Staff may collectively elect to issue a permanent ban to that member. Bans will be addressed on a case-by-case basis, as they are the most severe sanction used only when all other options have been exhausted.

Other Reasons for Banning
In circumstances where being on Haven itself is actively endangering an individual's life, Staff may collectively elect to issue a temporary or permanent ban. This type of ban is only applied in the most dire of circumstances, with the hope the individual will seek out real life support.

Banning Frequency
We rarely issue account bans, however we won't hesitate to take this action if we believe it is our only option to protect the community. We try to maintain transparency regarding our bans, but sometimes details aren't shared publicly for the mental health of our community. If you have questions about any bans past or future, please contact the Staff.

All members on Haven have the right to respectful treatment and equality, regardless of age, gender, race, nationality, disability, religion, sexual orientation and identification, or economic background.

These are the official definitions for Discrimination, Harassment, and Hate Speech:

Discrimination refers to the treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit.

Harassment is unwanted, un-welcomed and uninvited behavior that demeans, threatens or offends the victim and results in a hostile environment for the victim. Harassing behavior may include, but is not limited to, epithets, derogatory comments or slurs, lewd propositions, assault, blocking movement, and visual insults such as derogatory memes, graphics or art.

Hate speech is a communication that carries no meaning other than the expression of hatred for a group, especially in circumstances in which the communication is likely to provoke violence. It is an incitement to hatred primarily against a group of persons defined in terms of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and the like.

How these relate to our policy here on Haven:

• Harassment - Deliberate or continued unwanted contact with an individual via threads, conversations, status messages, tagging, passive aggressive remarks, baiting, or signature messages; especially if the individual has expressed a desire to be left alone. Stalking behaviors also indicate harassment.

• Discrimination - Actively discouraging or actively blocking the participation of others within threads or in any area of the site, based on based on the person's group, class, or category to which that person does or does not belong.

• Hate Speech - We define hate speech to mean communication that vilifies a person or a group based on discrimination against that person or group. "Minorities are the cause of all our problems." is considered hate speech. "White people can't dance." is not.

It is the duty of every member of Haven to create an environment free of deliberate discrimination, harassment, and hate speech. Members who believe that a post, status update, or a blog is in violation of this should immediately report it. Members should not attempt to engage with an offensive poster. This behavior will not be tolerated and will be promptly investigated.

Haven is a wonderful place with a huge community of people all in different mental places. In many ways, our community exists as a practice in radical empathy and boundaries. Many aspects of the site can be hidden, ignored, blocked, or opted out of. One area that is shown to all users however, is the Profile Posts on the main page.

With that in mind, please use spoilers for any of the following content in Profile Posts:

• Self harm or suicide
• Hard drug abuse

And do not post the following:

• Sexual content (No 18+ content outside of 18+ threads)
• Vagueposts and callouts of anyone on haven, or their content
• Links to harmful content (jump-scares, shock pics, etc)
• Advertising content from outside Haven (products, shops, content creators, fundraisers, Discord groups)

We strongly urge all Haven folk to avoid spamming/flooding Profile Posts. Spamming/Flooding means posting multiple Profile Posts in a row, which can block out others who are posting their own Profile Posts. We recommend either commenting under one Profile Posts or using an On My Mind thread/the forums if multiple posts are needed.

A full list of all available bb codes is available here and is accessible from the help link at the bottom of every page.

The providers ("we", "us", "our") of the service provided by this web site ("Service") are not responsible for any user-generated content and accounts. Content submitted expresses the views of their author only.

This Service is only available to users who are 13 years old and older. If you do not meet the minimum age requirement, please do not register for this Service. If you register for this Service, you represent that you are over the age of 13.

All content you submit, upload, or otherwise make available to the Service ("Content") may be reviewed by staff members. All Content you submit or upload may be sent to third-party verification services (including, but not limited to, spam prevention services). Do not submit any Content that you consider to be private or confidential.

You agree to not use the Service to submit or link to any Content which is defamatory, abusive, hateful, threatening, spam or spam-like, likely to offend, contains adult or objectionable content, contains personal information of others, risks copyright infringement, encourages unlawful activity, or otherwise violates any laws. You are entirely responsible for the content of, and any harm resulting from, that Content or your conduct.

We may remove or modify any Content submitted at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice. Requests for Content to be removed or modified will be undertaken only at our discretion. We may terminate your access to all or any part of the Service at any time, with or without cause, with or without notice.

Capturing Screenshots of Content without the explicit consent of involved users is prohibited. Distributing any original Content from this Service for any purpose (including but not limited to; entertainment, criticism, defamation, commentary or educational purposes) without explicit consent is prohibited. Distributing Content or Screenshots without explicit consent may result in immediate termination of your account and possible legal action.

You are granting us with a non-exclusive, permanent, irrevocable, unlimited license to use, publish, or re-publish your Content in connection with the Service. You retain copyright over the Content.

These terms may be changed at any time without notice.

If you do not agree with these terms, please do not register or use the Service. Use of the Service constitutes acceptance of these terms. If you wish to close your account, please contact us.