└── README.md


/README.md:
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 1 | # Forum Rules
 2 | 
 3 | Posters who demonstrate a **Pattern** of participation in **Conflict** may be banned from any Elm **Forum**.
 4 | 
 5 | 
 6 | ### What is a Forum?
 7 | 
 8 | The goal of a **Forum** is to encourage friendships, mentorships, and collaborations aligned with Elm’s goals.
 9 | 
10 | A **Forum** is open to participation from anyone with any background, assuming that participation is aligned with the goals of the **Forum**.
11 | 
12 | 
13 | ### What is Conflict?
14 | 
15 | Everyone comes into a discussion with different perspectives and information. Sharing this diversity is a necessary part of communicating in a **Forum**, and it can be a wonderful thing!
16 | 
17 | A **Conflict** is an interaction which distracts or detracts from the **Forum** goals of encouraging friendships, mentorships, and collaborations aligned with Elm’s goals.
18 | 
19 | 
20 | ### What is a Pattern?
21 | 
22 | People with the best intentions can find themselves participating in **Conflict** quite easily online.
23 | 
24 | A **Pattern** is when a poster participates in **Conflict** on multiple occasions.
25 | 
26 | A **Pattern** may arise over the course of multiple conversations, separated by weeks or months. A **Pattern** may also arise within a single conversation.
27 | 
28 | Participation in **Conflict** does not require intent. A **Pattern** of participation in **Conflict** does not require intent.
29 | 
30 | <br>
31 | 
32 | ## Appeals process
33 | 
34 | There is no appeals process.
35 | 
36 | Our community managers have limited time and energy. It can be used to:
37 | 
38 |   1. Work towards **Forum** goals by encouraging friendships, mentorships, and collaborations aligned with Elm’s goals.
39 |   2. Relitigate cases for posters who have demonstrated a **Pattern** of participation in **Conflict**.
40 | 
41 | These two activities compete directly for time and energy. It is possible that a mistake was made, but we have decided to focus on (1) at the expense of (2).
42 | 
43 | Some posters do not realize they are participating in **Conflict**. Here are some general notes on that:
44 | 
45 |   - _Desiring_ friendship does not imply that you are _encouraging_ friendship in the **Forum**.
46 |   - _Desiring_ mentorship does not imply that you are _encouraging_ mentorship in the **Forum**.
47 |   - _Desiring_ collaboration does not imply that you are _encouraging_ collaboration aligned with the Elm’s goals in the **Forum**.
48 | 


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