Hateful Conduct Policy

Last updated: May 2025

Hey there! We're glad you're here. JOI is a place where everyone has the power to express themselves without barriers, our mission is to respect a wide range of perspectives and experiences. However, we also want to ensure that JOI remains a safe and welcoming space for all users. To achieve this, we have established some guidelines around hateful conduct. Please take a moment to read through them.

Protected categories

When we refer to "protected categories" or "protected groups", we mean personal characteristics that are commonly associated with systemic discrimination or marginalization. Protected categories include, but are not limited to: Race or ethnicity, national origin, religion or belief system, sex, gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, disability or medical condition, body type or physical appearance, neurodiversity, age, immigration or socioeconomic status.

These categories apply to both real people and in-character representations.

Hateful references

We prohibit targeting individuals or groups with references to violent events or tragedies where a protected group was the target or victim. No matter if it's for role-playing purposes or any other reason, we do not allow content that references or glorifies such events. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Genocides

• Mass shootings

• Racially motivated attacks

We understand that some users may want to explore sensitive topics in their content, but we ask that you do so with care and respect for those who have been affected by such events.

Hate speech and incitement to violence

We prohibit content that promotes or glorifies hate and violence towards individuals or groups belonging to protected categories. Comments like "I hate these [protected group slur]", "I wish these [protected group] would die", or "We should kill all [protected group]" are not allowed on JOI. Incitement to violence or hate speech against any individual or group belonging to a protected category will not be tolerated.

Slurs

We prohibit targeting individuals or groups with repeated use of slurs or other content that is intended to demean, reinforce harmful stereotypes, or incite violence against individuals or groups based on their protected characteristics. This includes, but is not limited to: severe repeated use of slurs, racist/sexist comments clearly intended to harass or intimidate.

Hate symbols and characters

We strictly prohibit the use of hate symbols or imagery, this not only includes profile images, banners and usernames, but also character identities. Some examples of hate symbols and imagery include, but are not limited to:

• Symbols historically associated with hate groups, e.g., the Nazi swastika.
• Historical figures or groups known for genocides, terrorism, or hate-fueled ideologies, e.g., Adolf Hitler, Mussolini, the Ku Klux Klan.
• Public figures with crimes against humanity, large scale abuse, or systematic exploitation, e.g., Jeffrey Epstein.

Creating JOIs (characters) based on or inspired by real life serial killers (e.g., Ted Bundy, Richard Ramirez) is highly discouraged. However, we allow it under the following strict conditions:

• All interactions must be fully consensual. You may not push, pressure, or involve other users in your roleplay if they do not start the interaction or explicitly agree to participate.
• No glorification of real-world harm. Do not praise, defend, or try to "redeem" their real-world actions.
• Be mindful of others' experiences. Many people have been directly or indirectly affected by violence, abuse, and exploitation. If you choose to explore dark or criminal themes, do so with care, maturity, and respect for others' boundaries.

If we find that a character crosses these lines or makes others feel unsafe, we reserve the right to intervene or remove the content.

Understanding that context matters

We understand that while some content may appear to violate this policy, it may not be intended to cause harm when viewed in context. For example, members of a protected group may reclaim terms that were historically used against them and are tipically considered as slurs. The context behind the use of such terms is crucial in determining whether they violate our policy.

Sometimes context can be difficult to determine, and we may need to hear directly from the person being targeted to understand their perspective and ensure that we are not misinterpreting the intent behind the content.

The use of reclaimed or culturally specific language, such as the N-word, is not automatically a violation of this policy when used in-character. For example, a Black JOI (character) using the term casually or conversationally.

We understand some may ask, "But what if the person behind the character isn't Black?" At JOI, we do not police user identity or demand proof of background. Our focus is on the context and intent of the language used.

• If the word is being used in a derogatory, hateful, or targeted way to insult, harass, or dehumanize others, it is a violation of this policy.
• If it is used in a non-hostile, in-character, or conversational way, it is not considered a violation.

What happens if I violate this policy?

We primarily take action against content that targets individuals or an entire protected category with hateful conduct. Targeting can include: mentions, direct messages, referring to someone by their name, replying to someone's post or comment, or any other form of direct engagement.

If you violate this policy, we may remove the content and issue a warning or directly suspend your whole account, depending on the severity of the violation. We take these violations seriously and will not tolerate any form of hateful conduct on JOI.