1.0 Introduction to The Trusted Voice Community Guidelines

You are at the heart of everything we do. Our community is the foundation of our purpose, and the reason we push ourselves to work harder for you. We want to step beyond comments, memes and emoji replies. We want to cultivate and share conversations.

The Trusted Voice Community is our exclusive network for you; a safe space to ask questions, get support and share accountability with a diverse group of talented professionals.

 

Table of Contents

1.0 Introduction to The Trusted Voice Community Guidelines

2.0 Definitions

2.1 Account

2.2 Channel

2.3 Content

2.4 Medium

2.5 Member

2.6 Posting

2.7 TTV

2.8 TTC

2.9 TTVC

2.10 TTVFBC

3.0 Accountability

3.1 All That Glitters isn’t Golden: The Platinum Rule Instead of The Golden Rule

4.0 Communication

4.1 Commercialisation: A community by the people, for the people – not ‘buy the people’ 

4.2 Bullying.

4.3 Harassment

4.4 What is Not Considered Bullying or Harassment

4.5 Illegal Conduct

4.6 Spam

4.7 Sexual content

5.0 Compliance with Discord Guidelines and Policies

5.1 Discord Community Guidelines

5.2 Discord’s Terms of Use Policy

5.3 Breaches of Discord Community Guidelines

6.0 Gross Misconduct Procedure

6.1 Formal acknowledgement of reading your form/complaint

6.2 Fact-Finding Investigation Commences

6.3 Request for Response

6.4 Exceptional circumstances

6.5 Formal Investigation Commences

6.6 Appeals Process

 

2.0 Definitions

2.1 Account

Any service that a member uses to access a channel, content or medium provided by The Trusted Voice.

A TTV-specific account is specific to a Trusted Voice channel or medium. An example of such an account is a Trusted Circle account.

A non-TTV-specific account may also be used to access channels or mediums other than those operated by The Trusted Voice. An example of such an account is a Discord account, which can be used to access and engage with many Discord servers other than TTVC.

For example:

  • TTVC requires a member to create a Discord account using the Discord service in order to access the TTVC Discord server. A Discord account is a non-TTV-specific account.
  • TTVC requires a member to create a Facebook account using the Facebook service in order to access the TTVFBC. A Facebook account is a non-TTV-specific account.
  • TTV requires a member to use an email service to create an account to access The Trusted Circle. This email address will be used by TTV systems to enable a Trusted Circle member to log in to The Trusted Circle to access products and services they have purchased. A TTC account is a TTV-specific account.

 

2.2 Channel

All of the digital properties managed by The Trusted Voice and its related brands are defined as channels.

For example:

  • TTVC is a channel of The Trusted Voice
  • String’s LinkedIn profile is a channel of The Trusted Voice

 

2.3 Content

Refers to any digital item – including but not limited to audio, video or textual communication.

 

2.4 Medium

Any platform, service or product used by The Trusted Voice and its related brands is defined as a medium.

For example:

Email is a medium used by The Trusted Voice and its related brands to communicate with members.

 

2.5 Member

A member is defined as any stakeholder of the Trusted Voice and its related brands that:

  • Participates in or engages with content on any of the Trusted Voice channels

 

2.6 Posting

The creation or transmission of content to or via a channel or medium. The term ‘posting’ can be used interchangeably with any word that relates to this term.

 

2.7 TTV

The Trusted Voice, our parent company.

 

2.8 TTC

The Trusted Circle, a subscription service under which TTVC operates.

 

2.9 TTVC

The Trusted Voice Community, our private and official community hangout for members of The Trusted Circle. TTVC is hosted on a Discord server.

 

2.10 TTVFBC

The Trusted Voice Facebook Community, our public and official hangout that is open to all. We also host events such as The 5-Day Social Video Challenge in our Facebook community.

 

3.0 Accountability

We as a community are accountable to one another for fostering a safe, inclusive space that belongs to all of us.

Take ownership of your intentions, and the actions or words that ensue from your intentions. We think the best way to accomplish this is by adopting The Platinum Rule.

 

3.1 All That Glitters isn’t Golden: The Platinum Rule Instead of The Golden Rule

Rather than doing things as you wish others would do for you, consider adopting a more robust alternative: The Platinum Rule.

Created by sociology Professor Milton J Bennett, The Platinum Rule contends that you should do for others as they would like done to them.

The Platinum Rule is all about seeking to understand what others want before taking action. This contrasts with the traditional Golden Rule, which is simply an assumption about what another person wants.

Here’s a practical example: Just because our community members have joined our Discord server does not mean they are open to receiving DMs on Discord.

The Golden Rule = I like receiving DMs, so I will send them a DM.

The Platinum Rule = I like receiving DMs, but I don’t know if they do. I will check if they are open to receiving DMs before sending them one.

Perhaps they would prefer you to send the message to one of our Discord channels instead, and mention them by username in the message to get their attention.

(DMs are direct messages that you can send to a specific member of a Discord server. Direct messages are only visible to your recipient).

 

4.0 Communication

4.1 Commercialisation: A community by the people, for the people – not ‘buy the people’

Do not commercialise our Discord community and promote your business to our community.

The exception to this is if a member specifically asks for recommendations regarding a product or service

If you feel your business provides a solution to the member’s problem, you may then recommend your business to that member. Remember The Platinum Rule!

 

4.2 Bullying

We define bullying as offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means that undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient.

We classify bullying as gross misconduct.

 

4.3 Harassment

We define harassment as unwanted conduct related to an individual's protected characteristics or of a sexual nature.

Unwanted conduct is harassment where the conduct has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity, or creating an environment for that individual that is:

  • Intimidating
  • Hostile
  • Degrading
  • Humiliating
  • Offensive

Protected characteristics are:

  • Age
  • Accessibility needs (Also known as a disability)
  • Gender reassignment
  • Marriage and civil partnership
  • Pregnancy and maternity
  • Race
  • Religion or belief
  • Sex and sexual orientation

We classify harassment as gross misconduct.

Reports of bullying or harassment are handled according to our Gross Misconduct Procedure.

 

4.4 What is Not Considered Bullying or Harassment

Please note there are many actions and behaviours that do not amount to bullying and/or harassment.

For example:

  • Fair and reasonable criticism of your performance or behaviour
  • Constructive feedback
  • Not being invited to a meeting where you are not required
  • Being appropriately managed in accordance with any TTV policy or procedure, e.g. Gross Misconduct Procedure

 

4.5 Illegal Conduct

Illegal conduct, pursuant to relevant legislation is defined as any action or behaviour that violates any of the following:

  • Australian law
  • The laws of a country in which any of our members reside

It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with any applicable law(s) before participating in TTVC, or any channel, or any medium used by The Trusted Voice.

We classify illegal conduct as gross misconduct.

Reports of illegal conduct are handled according to our Gross Misconduct Procedure.

 

4.6 Spam

We define spam as:

  • Repeatedly posting content or messages relating to any topic via any channel or medium
  • Sending unsolicited communications to other members via any channel or medium

We classify spam as gross misconduct.

Reports of spam are handled according to our Gross Misconduct Procedure.

 

4.7 Sexual content

Sexual content refers to content that is sexual in nature. Posting sexual content on any channel or medium used by The Trusted Voice is prohibited.

We classify the posting of sexual content as gross misconduct.

Reports of spam are handled according to our Gross Misconduct Procedure.

 

5.0 Compliance with Discord Guidelines and Policies

Members must comply with all Discord Community Guidelines and Policies.

 

5.1 Discord Community Guidelines: https://discord.com/guidelines

 

5.2 Discord’s Terms of Use Policy: https://discord.com/terms

 

5.3 Breaches of Discord Community Guidelines

Any breach of any of the Discord Community Guidelines or Policies will be considered as gross misconduct.

Reports of breaches relating to Discord Community Guidelines or Policies are handled according to our Gross Misconduct Procedure.

 

6.0 Gross Misconduct Procedure

The Gross Misconduct Procedure handles complaints relating to the following:

  • Bullying
  • Harassment
  • Illegal Conduct
  • Sexual content
  • Spam

If you witness or are subject to conduct relating to any of the above, please fill out our Member Support form.

The following actions will take place after receiving your form:

 

6.1 Formal acknowledgement of reading your form/complaint

We will follow up with you via email to acknowledge that we have read your complaint.

We aim to deal with your complaint within 30 calendar days from the date you submit it (or 60 calendar days for complaints involving a number of witnesses and/or a lot of evidence).

 

6.2 Fact-Finding Investigation Commences

After sending you formal acknowledgement, we will conduct a fact-finding investigation. The fact-finding investigation will seek to establish the following:

  • The nature of your complaint
  • Who the complaint is about
  • Any witnesses that may be relevant to speak to

 

6.3 Request for Response

After completing our fact-finding investigation, we will contact all parties involved in the complaint via email and request they submit a response to the fact-finding investigation.

 

A response to the fact-finding investigation must be received within 48 hours of receiving our request.

 

If a response by one or more parties to a fact-finding investigation is not received within 48 hours of our request, we will commence our formal investigation in the absence of that party or parties.

 

Any correspondence from the party or parties that did not comply with the 48-hour deadline will not be considered as part of the formal investigation unless exceptional circumstances apply.

 

6.4 Exceptional circumstances

Exceptional circumstances are defined as follows:

  • A medical emergency whereby a reasonable person would be prevented from attending to their normal routine, and therefore also unable to set aside the time needed to respond to the complaint

 

  • A family emergency whereby a reasonable person would be prevented from attending to their normal routine, and therefore also unable to set aside the time needed to respond to the complaint

 

6.5 Formal Investigation Commences

We will conduct a formal investigation to review all the evidence gathered during the fact-finding investigation.

 

Based on the evidence available, we will determine an outcome and advise all parties involved of the outcome via email.

 

The outcome may include:

  • Suspension or termination of a member’s TTV-specific account
  • Suspension or termination of access of a member’s non-TTV-specific account to all TTV channels and mediums

No refunds will be issued for purchases made by any TTV-specific account that is suspended or terminated as a result of the outcome of a formal investigation.

 

6.6 Appeals Process

If you wish to appeal the outcome of your complaint you must do so within 14 calendar days of the outcome being provided to you via email. You must clearly set out your grounds of appeal before we progress your appeal, ensuring you provide as much detail as possible and any supporting documentation when the appeal is lodged.

Legitimate grounds for appeal may, for example, include procedural errors, a failure to consider relevant evidence and/or a failure to address all allegations.

Any further documentation should be received no later than two days before the appeal is due to be progressed.