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7 Cups Behavior Reporting Process & Tracking - Updated Version
by ASilentObserver
Last post
September 15th
...See more All, The post below outlines an updated behavior reporting process! We had originally launched this in 2016 and we are now updating it and re-emphasizing it as we move forward. Our objective to streamline the process and keep you well informed. Not many people struggle with a number of behavior points, but for people that do, we want to ensure that you can take steps to improve your behavior and be part of the community. We are figuring out the best ways to manage unhelpful & un-supportive behaviors on 7 Cups. Once you have reviewed the entire post, please ask any questions or share your constructive thoughts. This process is designed to provide you an opportunity to improve. We do not have any intentions to punish anyone but we do need to keep people accountable for their behavior. It is your community and how you behave, impacts it as well. Our purpose is to provide a better help & support and compassionate environment to all. We all want to be part of a community that fosters high warmth and high expectations. It is the best way to lead a community because everyone deserves support and compassion. Growing a plant, for example, requires a lot of effort, care, and the right treatment. Not every plant growth is similar but the basic process is somewhat the same. Suitable environment, the right proportion of soil, water, sunlight. Knowing the right conditions is significant for a seed to grow into a beautiful plant. Similarly for a community: If you have high warmth but low expectations, then structure or its culture is low. If you have low warmth and high expectations, then it has a structure, but limited reliability and safety. If you have low warmth and low expectations, then neither has a structure nor culture. If you have high warmth and high expectations, it has structure and reliability and safety. So here we are focused on providing both so that the community can have increased trust, support, culture, safety, and compassion. A few points to keep in mind when reading the below: * We believe in second chances. We know and understand no one is perfect and can improve. But, we need to understand when you have an opportunity to improve, you strive to improve and show that you improved. Value the opportunities you have. * We believe in inclusivity. We welcome all constructive feedback. Because we are also not perfect and striving to improve. Feedback is a two-way process. Ensure to provide feedback in a compassionate, constructive, and respectful manner. * We believe in accountability. Everyone is responsible and accountable for their actions. Because action has a reaction and impacts someone. We are in a community setup, so how you act impacts community activities. If you are supportive, the activities flow in a positive way. If you act unsupportive, the activity flow gets interrupted. * We believe transparency is helpful. As a community member, it is your right to know what is happening with the reports and how it gets processed. So, we want to provide better transparency in our actions in this system. However, there are also natural limitations too. We will not be able to share or disclose in detail with the community at large things that are happening on an individual basis. Because a wise person said, Praise in public, criticize in private. We want to give everyone a second chance to improve and feel encouraged to improve. The below behavior rating system has been specifically designed to meet the community's needs. We considered all inputs and tried to include all that was feasible to add. As you review this post, please remember this is a work in progress and always be updated as per the community's needs. Please share all constructive feedback, inputs, and ideas on what is missing or what does not make sense and what can be done. Introduction The aim of this guide is to provide information and to help you understand how the Behavioral Points System would work. What is the Behavioral Rating System? It is a process we would be used to assign points based on the infractions they did in the community at a point in time. Every time, they commit a violation, they will be getting points assigned and informed through email so they know what violations they did, and what points assigned to them for the violations. So they can have the opportunity to learn from the mistakes they made and improve. But if they do not improve and they cross the threshold, they will face consequences. This is modeled after other point systems like having a driving license in the US. If a person drives in a safe and smart manner (they are a good member), then they will receive no points. If they drive through stop signs, then they get a point. If they drive dangerously, then they get more points. If a person accrues enough points, then they are required to go to driving school. If they still do not improve then they can lose their license and no longer drive. It is a systematic process where all reports will be included for a user. How does it work? * The system will be applicable to both listeners and members. * Each behavior report or flagged forum thread will be evaluated using the below point criteria. Points are cumulative. * Each point expires 6 months after it was earned. * If no reports within three months from the date of action, an 80% reduction in the points. Note: One can be able to apply for a leadership role. This includes Mentor roles, teen star, group mod, peer support, and project agent roles. * If zero reports within a month from the date of action, 40% reduction in the behavior score. Applicability of the system: The process will be applicable moving forward. It won't consider past reports. Except for the reports which are severe. It will be up to the Community Management Teams' decision for those reports. How reports are filed? Reports filed via specific behavior reports: The incoming report will be reviewed by the concerned team. It will be reviewed for accuracy and if one of the below behaviors is identified the following actions will be taken: The authority sends a warning message to the reported user letting them know about the report. If the user would like to provide their side of the story, they will be invited to do that. Point(s) will be assigned if the user assumes responsibility for the action and agrees that it happened. The authority will let the user know the point has been assigned. If the user does not accept responsibility for the behavior and the evidence that the behavior did occur is clear, point(s) will be assigned. It is requested of all reporters that they submit relevant screenshots to prove their accusations for a user. All points will be tallied and tracked on the community management team's backend panel. Dates will be logged to monitor the timing. Please click here for more information on how to provide constructive feedback. [https://www.7cups.com/forum/SafetyKnowledgeat7Cups_181/CommunityGuidelines_1374/KeepingForumsWelcomingandSupportiveForumGuidelinesUpdate_229098/1/#2446886] You can learn more about triangulation here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/ListenersOnlyForums_38/LaurasOffice_169/WhatisTriangulation3StepstoAvoidingStoppingitfromhappeninginthecommunity_35107/1/] Learn more about rumors spreading here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/TeensOnlyClub_123/IarasStation_590/RumorsandGossipHowtoprotectourcommunityfromsuchbehaviorMemberSideedition_39670/]. Learn what open communication is here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/SafetyKnowledgeat7Cups_181/Guidesonhowtomanagesituationson7cups_1059/OpenCommunicationTipsTricks_26627/1/]. Important Notes: � All the behaviors identified above are common behavior identified in the specific areas. Though, if the same behavior is found in other parts of the community as well, the points and consequences will be applicable. Zero Points Behavior. They are applicable for the first instance only. If the behavior continues, the points will be assigned according to the severity of the reported behavior. Except for a few specific behaviors that are subjected only to listeners. All other behaviors are subject to both listeners and members of the community. Adult Teen Listeners- In case of violations, the badge and access will be removed instantly. Below you will find the corresponding consequences of the above behaviors. Red Flag Offenses: � Forum Spam - If you are repeatedly spamming the forums with inappropriate content or advertisements you or your account may be removed Post inappropriate or graphic pictures, your account will be removed Sexting and/or repeatedly sexting (after a given warning not to) will result in account removal Underage or in the wrong age community (you must be 15 to be a listener & 13 to be a member) Red Flag Consequences: Immediate removal from 7 Cups community Protocol on Getting Support from a community leader: If you are having a problem, you may approach a community leader for support on how to manage that situation. However, please refrain from telling them specific details. As a general rule when communicating with community leaders: we should avoid using names and specific details about a person or a given situation. For example, if you are having a conflict with another listener. You could go to the community leader and say I am struggling with a difficult situation. Could you give me some tips on how to use conflict resolution? In this example, no specific details are mentioned, but you are still able to ask for help as you work through a difficult situation. Footnote: The protocols are similar to earlier ones and shared from the previous update with few changes. Updated the constructive feedback point in accordance with the new forum guideline [https://www.7cups.com/forum/SafetyKnowledgeat7Cups_181/CommunityGuidelines_1374/KeepingForumsWelcomingandSupportiveForumGuidelinesUpdate_229098/1/#2446886] on Sep 23, 2020 - Hope Link here to Heather's clarification post on BPS https://www.7cups.com/forum/SiteUpdates_100/HsHangout_1970/SomeclarificationonLLReports_230570/ Guidelines with better view available in the Community Guidelines page, Click here [https://www.7cups.com/community-guidelines/7-Cups-Behavioral-Points-System-70ccca9adfef4babba74119da05a91d4] [edited by MistyMagic to remove scripts and add in H's post 30 Oct 2020]
Heather225 profile picture
Apply for the Safety Patrol Team! (Now Open to Listeners and Members)
by Heather225
Last post
August 20th
...See more Are you passionate about our community? Are you always looking out for the safety of others? We are looking for dedicated community members to scan for inappropriate profiles and flag them so they can be removed quickly and efficiently from the site! We are very excited to announce that members can now join the team! Here’s what being on the Safety Patrol looks like:: - Scan the browse listeners page [https://www.7cups.com/BrowseListeners/] daily and flag any inappropriate profiles - Scan the general request queue daily for inappropriate profiles - Scan forums or group rooms for inappropriate profiles - Be proactive to help flag any profile you have seen anywhere that is inappropriate How do we know if it's inappropriate? - Sexual or graphic profile picture - Sexual or graphic username - Sexual or graphic bio text - Profile bio text sharing social media handles, email Id..etc. Prerequisites & Expectations: ✓ Listeners: You must be a Verified Listener [https://www.7cups.com/forum/ListenerLearningJourney_149/VerifiedListenersProject_1839/IWanttobeaVerifiedListener_46935/1/] ✓ Members: You must be a part of the community for at least one month (no longer have the Newbie badge) ✓ You must be active on 7 Cups a few times a week (roughly an hour minimum) ✓ You will be required to read a document on best practices [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vBXLvo7gLMewIM1lhnZ2g8MXAnq4sMwxqXgxzTJCDos/edit] and pass a test to prove your knowledge. ✓ Once you have read the guide in full and understand the material, apply and take the test here. [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeiPkuyjGZs7x2NY5b1tgkO5QoRRiXzFFobMpHiWthKUxgaKg/viewform] Primary Points of Contact Team Leader: Rebekah Thank you so much for your interest in keeping 7 Cups a safe and supportive place! [ Updated by Rebekah on 4th January 2023 to display newer guide. ] [ Updated by Rebekah on 25th February 2026 to amend the leaders list. ]
Heather225 profile picture
Community Safety Awareness: Listener Conduct, Soliciting & Offsite
by Heather225
Last post
August 11th
...See more Hi everyone, Your safety, privacy, and trust are the most important things to us at 7 Cups. You come here for a safe, supportive space to be heard, and we are committed to protecting that. We want to post a critical reminder about the rules our volunteer Listeners must follow. This is to ensure every member knows what to expect and what is never acceptable. Listeners are volunteers. Support is always free. 7 Cups Listeners are volunteers. They are here to provide empathetic listening and support, and they are never paid for their time. * A Listener should NEVER ask you for money, donations, or payment of any kind. * Listeners are strictly prohibited from soliciting or promoting any personal, paid services (e.g., "I am a therapist, here is my link, my sessions cost $X"). To protect your privacy and safety, all conversations with Listeners should stay on the 7 Cups platform. * Listeners are not permitted to ask you to move the conversation to an off-site, personal platform (like  Tele*gram WhatsApp,, social media accounts, or personal email). * If a Listener sends you a personal link to chat elsewhere, do not click it. This is a serious violation of our guidelines. Listeners are trained to listen. They are not therapists or healthcare professionals.  * A Listener's role is to listen, not to give diagnoses, medical advice, or tell you what to do. * Offering their own paid therapy service (as mentioned in point #1) is a severe violation of this boundary and our community's trust. If a Listener ever does any of the following: * Asks you for money or payment. * Tries to sell you a personal, paid service (like therapy or coaching). * Sends you a link to chat on a personal, off-site platform  Please take these steps immediately: * Do not click any personal links, disclose any of your personally identifying information (including your social media), or send money. * Report the Listener: Use our Helpdesk HERE [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/requests/new/]. Make sure to add screenshots when submitting your report so the team has evidence to corroborate the report and take appropriate action. It's also important to understand that these rules are fundamental community guidelines. As such, they apply to members too. Review the Community Guidelines for all users to abide by HERE. [https://www.7cups.com/community-guidelines/] ------------------------- Thank you for helping us uphold these core principles and safeguard the 7 Cups experience for everyone!
Rebekah profile picture
Safety Patrol: Cheers and Top 5 Flaggers! ✨
by Rebekah
Last post
11 hours ago
...See more Hello everyone! I hope you're doing well 🌞 This will be our main forum thread detailing when cheers have been awarded, and our Top 5 Flaggers! It will be updated on the 1st of every month. So, this space is quite important for Safety Patrol team members. Maybe 'subscribe' to this page and keep an eye on updates from Safety Patrol leaders! PPC (Primary Points of Contact); - Ambassador: Rebekah [https://www.7cups.com/@Rebekah] - Admin: B [https://www.7cups.com/@Bookworm4]ookworm4 [https://www.7cups.com/@Bookworm4] - Community Manager: Heather225 [https://www.7cups.com/@heather225]
Rebekah profile picture
Safety Outreach: Feedback
by Rebekah
Last post
Thursday
...See more Hi, everyone 🌟 Safety Team is having a productive start to 2026, it seems! 🦺 For a while now, we've been receiving feedback for Safety Outreach members after a successful (i.e. resolved) outreach message. I wanted to share with everyone the positive feedback that our lovely outreach members have received since August 2024 from December 2025. 🌞 ✨ izzyy528 ✨ "Izzy kindly explained what the concern with my bio was. It was an honest mistake and I think they realized that! Thanks Izzy!!" "Perfect! Very friendly and kind about the situation!" "They were super understanding and helped me fix it, I'm so grateful" "I am happy she noticed and was friendly but direct on the matter. Very polite and helpful. She helped me resolve an issue i had with looking for mentors and made me trust on 7cups to be actually active. Nice meeting her😊🩷" 🌱 TovaCares76 🌱 "She was polite and an explanation was offered. She is such a wonderful person" 🌊MelodyoftheOcean🌊 "They were nice and understanding" "Explanation was kind and understandable, and they kindly explained and answered my questions and ended chat amazingly too." "Their outreach was polite, professional and very friendly." "While writing the bio I actually didn't noticed that I might be sharing my too much personal information, the team member politely reached out to me, I'm really glad that safety team reached out to me" 😺 Kieran000 😺 "It was a very respectful and straight forward connection. Made it clear why there was a violation and asked if it can be dealt with." "I really appreciate the outreach and the care taken to ensure I followed the guidelines. The explanation was clear, and I now understand why having my university name in my bio was an issue. They were kind and informative, and I felt supported rather than just corrected. It’s great to see people looking out for the community in such a thoughtful way. Thank you!" 🐧 coolvibes 🐧 "Very straight-forward and kind." 🌞 Rebekah 🌞 "Rebekah had kindly explained about the concern regarding my bio which I entered initially while making a profile not knowing it would be visible publicly! She was really quick and helpful in letting me know what to do to amend it." "I thought Rebekah was very polite, professional and friendly! I am very satisfied with the way they handled the situation." "Rebekah was very informative and helpful, i was informed of my profile picture being in violation of 7 Cups Community guidelines, i was grateful for the message i got from Rebekah! i appreciate constructive criticism and the fact that this great community of 7 Cups has guidelines and standards to abide by, making for a healthy environment!" "Was kind" "Yes, they were very clear when they explained the issue that was occurring. I felt respected, and they were very kind to let me know what was going on. All of my questions were fully answered." "Rebekah was honest at well meaning and came across in a very collaborative way that for someone with autism was deeply impactful. This compassion is rare and she is one of your best. As someone typically stubborn, I would change my profile any time if everyone had the moment to explain like she did." "She was incredibly sweet & kind matured with her approach she was extremely passionate about safety & dedicated to ensuring that guidelines were being met. She explained things in an understandable way that didn't feel threatening or scary but served as a gentle reminder that was easy to comply with & she left me wanting to create more safety." "Yes, a valid explanation was offered while also being super nice about it." "She was really friendly and welcoming. She explained what needed to be changed and why, and overall she was very professional about it. I appreciated her approach and how easy she made it to understand what to fix." "I felt helped" ""Rebekah has been quite kind and understanding. She not only explained in a clear manner but also guided me. Thanking her for the support." "Very professional and easy message was delivered to me. Thank you." 🦅 Phoenixthepoised 🦅 "I was explained what certain violations found in my bio. It was conveyed in a very professional way. I had a good experience." "Phoenixthepoised messaged me to welcome me to 7cups and introduce themself, then said I should not offer to give advice to people in my bio. There was a explanation about why I should not have that in my profile and I understand. They reached out about the issue in a kind and polite way." 🥕 carrotgoosoup 🥕 "Yesh, it's good and they are very kind" "it was kind" "They were very polite and considered my opinion and also suggested a better way to solve the issue" "They were very clear and polite." "The outreach was appreciated as it offered an explanation for the issue, answered my questions, and provided resources for further understanding. 👍" "Yeah,they were very nice,explained everything thoroughly and they were always there to help." 🌿 KindnessMatters2020 🌿 "Great" "They were to the point and helpful!" "it was so helpful" 🌞 Thank you to our amazing Safety Outreach members, both past and present. As of January 3rd, 2026, the outreach branch member list is as follows: @Rebekah, @carrotgoosoup, @Coolvibes, @daydreammemories, @KindnessMatters2020, @izzyy528, @MelodyoftheOcean, and @tommy 💙🌟 As always, we are looking for users to join Safety Team as a project agent! We would also love it if current Safety Patrol users could get in touch about joining either the outreach or discussions branch of Safety Team 🦺 Once again, thank you to everyone 💙🌟🦺
Rebekah profile picture
Check-Ins: They're Different Now
by Rebekah
Last post
October 21st
...See more Hi, team! I hope you're all doing well 🌟 I wanted to keep you all in the loop about how we're doing check-ins from here. The majority of you voted for check-ins to be conducted in the forums (12), and so we will be hosting them here from this month. Some of you struggle to see forum posts due to using the app, so I'm going to ensure we accommodate everyone by PMing those of you who chose check-ins to continue that way. I'll try to remember those of you who chose that method, but if by chance you see this, and you wanted check-ins to continue via PMs, please let me know! That being said, time for the check-in! We've updated the form slightly so that it now asks for feedback on my leadership. Please find this by clicking here [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdy8zP30DhYbEa68eSnuUsanmUcOtCurGVsqMuTXvzo_4-kCw/viewform]. If you'd prefer to answer in this thread how you're feeling, please consider these questions... * How are you feeling about your role? * Do you have any questions about safety or for team leaders? * Do you have any feedback about safety or the team? 🌞 Some reminders... * Please remember to fill out the flag form found HERE [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdXEfHsSo9L1aj48p6v0umXsRL-P-bQJCZBBYA0s_n8n6-V9Q/viewform] so that you can be in with the chance of being a top flagger (and so we can award you with your cheers) - if you fail to log your flags here then we'll assume you are inactive. We kindly request that everyone aims for 5 flags as a minimum each month. If you are unable to make any flags during a month then please let Rebekah know. * Our role is to flag inappropriate profiles (bios, profile pictures and usernames), not chat topics or 1-1/group chat messages. If you are in doubt, please check the guide or contact @Rebekah.  * We are actively looking for members to join our outreach team. Let us know if you are interested in helping out! (SO team: if you have been trained to outreach then you do not need to flag the profile. You can instead log your outreaches on the relevant dashboard as stated in the outreach guide). * The safety team is evolving! If you are interested in supporting our expansion as a Project Agent, please contact me via PM. @EvelyneRose @Rebekah  @Kieran000 @Coolvibes @KindnessMatters2020 @izzyy528 @MelodyoftheOcean @Phoenixthepoised @positivePumpkin22 @LittleBirdie30 @Jenna @Suryansh @InternalAcceptance @KristenHR @MidnightRaven999 @Sunisshiningandsoareyou @kindheartedlily @Sponge2 @fantasticJet1739 @magicalTree4461 @Arie3 @EmotionsListener @blissart @MistyMagic @Lou73 @fruityPond7887 @Hamstermum @AffyAvo @Jiminycricket91 @SparkyGizmo @LOOPHOLE @azuladragon34 @sweetmikayla @KatePersephone @Kristynsmama @tuffattack @SweetAurora77 @Ivy229 @Ivebutterfly @Riri1616 @Sealiously @MydogLiz8 @amiablePeace77 @comfortableNight4463 @bobCatz @Yati2 @agentsky1705 @ArtemisStormWolf @incredibleRainbows2036 @SilverSeastar @AuroraAstral @1chillalien @BenPav @fruityHoliday63 @Grace3012 @BeingOkayTogether @Nirjhar @SherifRiad @ashish360 @BradListens @halcyonCloud2036 @wonderfulBlueberry7326 @EllaListens @RK0005 @chapteredvine @jaileybeann16
Happy900 profile picture
Emotional Bullying
by Happy900
Last post
October 17th
...See more Emotional bullying is any form of bullying that causes damage to a victim's psyche and/or emotional well-being. Some Examples include: Spreading malicious rumors about people Ignoring people on purpose (via the silent treatment)
221Skye profile picture
For All Victims of Bullying ❤
by 221Skye
Last post
October 17th
...See more Bullying is aggressive hurtful behaviour against someone, involving a complete imbalance of power. It is terrifying. It makes victims crumble, and cry and collapse. Its even debilitating. Its completely despicable, and no one deserves it. Not a single person. It kills nearly 13 million kids each year. It is serious. How to identify bullying? ✑ It is when someone or a group of people TARGET you and make you feel bad about yourself or hurt. ✑ It is NOT just physical. ✑ Other types of bullying: ◊ Verbal bullying such as name-calling and homophobic remarks ◊ Psychological/Covet bullying such as rumour spreading, social aggression and unkind mimicry ◊ Cyber bullying such as imitating someone online/deliberate mocking texts etc. ✑ ANYONE can bully, and ANYONE can be bullied. ✑ "The bully is bigger" is a myth. Physical size is inconsequential when it comes to bullying. ANYONE can bully, its highly psychological and the bully doesnt need to be physically intimidating/bigger 10 Things to Remember When Youre Being Bullied ➊ REGAIN CONTROL, by recognising that you ARE being bullied. ➋ BREAK THE SILENCE. Dont lock it all up, talk about it with someone, let people know youre being bullied. Bullies thrive off control~ take that away. ➌ DONT ISOLATE yourself, as much as you want to and even if its the natural response of most. Surround yourself with your friends, people you trust, people whove got your back. ➍ DONT REACT OR RETALIATE. This is important, bullies do their thang to get a reaction, to see you rise to the occasion, and thrive off the power. Dont show that they're affecting you. ➎ GET HELP. You dont have to do it alone, tell an adult~ Its not tattling. Its telling, its standing up for yourself. If not someone you know, then a helpline (hotline 1 [https://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/GetHelp/LifelineChat.aspx] / hotline 2 [https://www.121help.me/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=31&Itemid=104]) However strong you are as a person, you are not immune to mental health issues. Excessive stress and pent up anger from bullying can lead to depression etc. So, there is NOTHING wrong with seeking help. ➏ LET IT GO. Bottling up anger, frustration and guilt will come back to bite you in the long run. Scream out your lungs, Punch a pillow, throw your stuff around (err safely.) or tear up some paper. Whichever way works for you <3 ➐ Find some ZEN ~ write, draw, sing or talk to the birds (err, I mean walk into the forest and chill. But go right ahead if youre Snow White xD) ➑ DOCUMENT everything. Make a log of all bullying activity, where, when why… 5W1H it ;) It will come in handy later. ➒ Understand that allegations, accusations and insults do not reflect who you are. If anything, they reflect the bullys own misgivings and insecurities. YOU ARE NOT WHO THEY SAY YOU ARE. ➓ Remember YOU ARE NOT ALONE. It is a common, and widespread problem. Millions like you are suffering under it. You dont deserve this. No one does. If your friend/loved one is being bullied ☂ BREAK THE SILENCE ~ ask how theyre doing with the bullying, give them a space to talk. ☂ RESPECT THEIR SPACE. Understand that they might not want to talk about it sometimes. ☂ Accompany your friend as they travel, if you can. Stick with them, show them they are not alone. ☂ Remind them they do not deserve it and it is nothing to be ashamed of. ☂ TELL THEM THEY ARE AWESOME AND WORTH IT. Counter the bullys words with your own <3 If you have been bullied, share with us how you got through it ❤ If youre being bullied, how do you cope with it? ❤ If your friend is being bullied, how do you help? ❤ Remember, you are not alone, and we are always here for you. ❤ This week is Anti-Bullying Week, and 7cups has many coolio activities for it. Check em out here [https://www.7cups.com/forum/SpecialEventson7Cups_120/November2015AntiBullyingWeek_657/]! :D Tagging humans (cos I can. and cos I want to hear what you guys have to say ^-^ ) ~ @Alicattt @MelAllyouneedislove @amazingrea @NewRomantic677 @YayyySphere @MidniteAngel Tag anyone else you think might be interested in le new sub-forum too! <3
HappyMeekrat profile picture
Trade/Skill specific volunteer opportunities?
by HappyMeekrat
Last post
October 13th
...See more I'm a professional software developer and was curious if 7 cups has any kind of volunteer opportunities specific to this or other trades? I'm always happy to contribute to my community in other ways, but it's always nice use a skill to it's fullest potential. :)
AffyAvo profile picture
Why can't we rate listeners who ghost?
by AffyAvo
Last post
October 11th
...See more Why can't we rate listeners who have ghosted us? (Ie. Sent 1 message or never pick up when status is online) Or at least have a way to indicate ghosting occurred in a way that affects profiles (share the response rate to make it positive). It seems like this is a long term problem but is there any indicator admin has to know how frequent it is?
AnnaSilverberg profile picture
🤔Chatroom Rules - Teenified 🤔
by AnnaSilverberg
Last post
October 11th
...See more ✨ Hay you wonderfuls! ✨ 💓🐑💓 Sometimes we need a refresher, a reminder of sorts of how important our rules are🤔  This post will hopefully help with that, tag your friends! 🥳  ‧₊˚ ⋅ ✦ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹  ✦  ‧₊˚ ⋅ 1. No caps yo! 🙂‍↔️ 2. Oy! No talking about triggering stuff.. eeek! 3. No bypassing the censor, unless you want to be bypassed from the room 🤨🤨 4. Remain supportive towards everyone, that's how we flourish and build 🌱 5. No sharing offsite info, nu uh! 🤨🤨 It is for your own safety! 6. Respect them mods, they deserve it ✨ 7. In crisis? We can't help, connect w/a hotline 😥 8. Nu uh! NO flirty stuff 😮‍💨 Including inappropriate lyrics/messages 🤨🫩 9. You ain't a spam, so don't spam yo!  10. Nooooo we do no advice giving, it's not safe dude! 🙂‍↔️ 11. Talking about someone not in the room? As if, nu uh buddy! 🙂‍↔️ 12. Do NOT make duplicate accounts, unless you want a duplicate ban 🤨🪦🤷🏻‍♀️ 13. Respect them boundaries 🙂‍↕️ & be respectful at all times ✨ 14. Oy! Some topics are a nu uh 🤨 politics, religion and hate are a no go!🤨 15. Don't talk about them personal issues on your listener account 😒 It's not allowed 🤨 16. No toxic positivity 🫩 It's never helpful and always harmful 😒 17. TCR/MCR is for light hearted chat only 🕯️ SR is the place for challenging topics 🙂‍↕️ 18. Behave! ✨  ‧₊˚ ⋅ ✦ ⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹  ✦  ‧₊˚ ⋅ Remember! Following the rules makes the room supportive for everyone🥹  💓🐑💓 Including you! 💓🐑💓 Ps. There might be rules added from the guideline list as needed
carrotgoosoup profile picture
Staying Safe as a LGBTQ+ Member
by carrotgoosoup
Last post
October 6th
...See more Happy October! We’re back again for another Safety Discussion and this time our topic is Staying Safe as a LGBTQ+ member 🌈 ❓❓❓Why talk about being safe as a LGBTQ+ member❓❓❓ Inclusivity is important!  Inclusivity is about making and continuing to work towards having an environment where all people feel respected and valued. It looks like understanding people's diverse identities and needs, reducing barriers so people can access and engage easier, and promoting acceptance and equity for everyone 🥰 And here at 7 Cups we work towards having everyone included and welcomed :) It's not a perfect system (as no one space is), so continued discussions and working on making systems better is key! 🔑 🌞Safety for our marginalized community members is important! Marginalized people are those in society who may be treated as less important and have less say. LGBTQ+ members fall under this umbrella because of ongoing stigma about identities, lack of education and understanding, and ideologies that people need to exist in one particular way.  What does being a LGBTQ+ community member mean? LGBTQ+ (or other terms are: Queer or LGBTQIA+) stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer. The plus symbol indicates more gender orientations and sexual orientations not listed. LGBTQ+ is an umbrella term for those who do not identify solely as straight or cisgender. What are general considerations to stay safe as an LGBTQ+ individual? * 🍂Be mindful of your environment. Look for signs of greater safety (e.g. pride progress flag visibility or posted inclusive messages) or danger.  * 🌈Remember that your queer visibility is your choice. It is up to you if you want to be out, what you want to share with others, and how you want to present, so that you are safe. * 🌎Be informed of current events. Knowing what is going on in your community or current events (from credible sources), can inform your choices and if you need to make adjustments for safety sake. * 😎Protect your privacy. Follow safe online practices such as: being aware of what information you share about yourself (e.g. address, workplace, school name), avoiding clicking on suspicious links, and having strong passwords for your accounts. What are steps I can take if I feel unsafe as a LGBTQ+ member? We want everyone to feel safe on 7 Cups! If you are feeling unsafe, please do take steps to make sure you are protected. You saying something not only helps yourself but others in 7 Cups too 😁 If you are in a 1-on-1 chat, you have the option to block someone. Doing this will remove them from your chat list and will prevent either of you from contacting each other.  👉Instructions: https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/articles/360026239493-What-safety-features-are-in-private-messages-PMs-or-1-1-chats. Additionally, you can report a member or listener through the helpdesk. If you have screenshots, please provide them to best help admin review the situation (note: if you block someone, do so after you report them, otherwise the chat will disappear and inaccessible). 👉Instructions: https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/requests/new.  [https://help.7cups.com/hc/en-us/requests/new.] As an ally, how can I do my part to keep 7 Cups inclusive and safe for LGBTQ+ members? * 👀Challenge your (unconscious or conscious) biases. Whether we are doing it intentionally or not, we may have absorbed beliefs that hurt LGBTQ+ people. This means to keep being aware of your beliefs; keep learning about LGBTQ+ experiences! * 👂Listen and believe LGBTQ+ voices. Be curious, understanding, and caring to LGBTQ+ people. Everyone is an expert in their own lives so if you come across something you don't understand, you can learn more about it rather than questioning its validity. * 🤭Keep the identity of your LGBTQ+ friends confidential. Some people are not out for a variety of reasons and it's important to let them share their identity and parts of themselves on their own. * 🤗Encourage inclusivity in chatrooms! Be a model of safety and openness to our LGBTQ+ members.  Want to learn more? Check out these helpful links below 🙂 * 7 Cups LGBTQ+ subcommunity https://www.7cups.com/forum/lgbtq/ [https://www.7cups.com/forum/lgbtq/] [https://www.7cups.com/forum/lgbtq/] * Ally Resources https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pBfz3KVEbpGGF6bDtFuCghiq9fZKwIahA6ArI3-Ous8/edit?gid=0#gid=0 Questions to consider 🧐 * If I am an LGBTQ+ member, what signs show that I feel uncomfortable or unsafe? What are some steps I can take? 🌟 * What are some ways I can support LGBTQ+ members here on 7 Cups? 🥰
Remina profile picture
Forum Reminder and Community Update
by Remina
Last post
October 5th
...See more Hello everyone, I wanted to take a moment to share a few reminders and updates regarding the forums. First, I am currently working my way through a backlog of forum flags. Due to limited availability last month, I was not able to check the forums as frequently as usual, and there are quite a few reports that I am still reviewing. Thank you for your patience while I work through them. While reviewing the backlog, I noticed a few recurring concerns that I would like to address. Listeners Seeking Support As a reminder, listener accounts should not be used to seek personal support. Listeners who would like support are welcome to use a member account in accordance with site guidelines. This helps maintain appropriate boundaries and ensures everyone is using the platform as intended. Replying to Threads I have also seen a number of replies that were not particularly supportive and, in some cases, came across as judgmental toward the original poster. Please remember that not every thread requires a response from every user. Before replying, consider whether: • You can relate to or understand the topic being discussed. • You have something constructive or helpful to contribute. • You can respond respectfully and supportively. If the answer to any of these is no, it may be best to simply move on to another thread. Choosing not to reply is often better than posting something that could make another user feel dismissed, criticized, or invalidated. Crisis and Safety Concerns Another issue I noticed while reviewing flags was the number of posts involving users who appeared to be in crisis. Unfortunately, because of the backlog, some of these posts were not brought to moderator attention as quickly as they should have been. The forum flag system is very helpful, but when there is a large backlog, urgent concerns can be difficult to identify immediately. If a user expresses suicidal intent, homicidal intent, or any other immediate safety concern, please do more than simply flag the post. In addition to flagging, send a private message to me or any Community Moderator so that the situation can be reviewed as quickly as possible. This helps ensure that users in crisis can be redirected to appropriate resources promptly rather than waiting for a moderator to eventually reach the report in a large queue. Medication Discussions and Medical Advice I would also like to remind everyone of an important guideline regarding medication discussions. General discussions about medication experiences are permitted. However, users should not provide medical advice, recommend specific treatments, or discuss specific dosage instructions. Medical decisions should always be made in consultation with a qualified healthcare professional, such as a prescribing provider or physician. When in doubt, encourage users to speak directly with their healthcare provider rather than offering medical guidance. Sharing Links Safely Please be mindful when sharing links on 7 Cups. If you share a link, clearly explain what the link contains rather than posting a random URL by itself. Links without context can easily be mistaken for spam and may cause confusion for other users. If you are sharing artwork, writing, or other creative projects, please make sure you are using an anonymous hosting platform. Some services, such as Google Docs, may reveal personal information including email addresses. Other websites may allow off-site contact, which is not permitted under community guidelines. Always review your privacy settings and the information visible to others before sharing any external content. Thank you all for helping make the forums a supportive, welcoming, and safe place for everyone. We appreciate the members and listeners who consistently contribute thoughtful, compassionate, and respectful discussions throughout the community. If you have any questions about these reminders or need clarification regarding forum guidelines, please feel free to reach out.
Michaelmichael profile picture
How useful is the word "troll" on 7 Cups?
by Michaelmichael
Last post
October 1st
...See more I want to start by saying that I love this place, and one thing I especially love is how safe this community feels. And a big reason for that feeling of safety is that we have an amazing team here, working to make sure that appropriate action is taken if people are being hurtful or disruptive in the community, in the way @Laura describes in this thread [https://www.7cups.com/forum/ListenersOnlyForums_38/LaurasOffice_169/TrollingMutualResponsibilityHereishowyoucanhelp_26570/1/]. This often requires some difficult work and I'm in total admiration of everyone here that helps keep the community feeling safe and respectful and supportive, it's awesome. One thing I've been thinking about recently is how we use the word "troll". I know it is very commonly used to describe someone that is being deliberately disruptive online. I don't think it's a great word to use to describe people here on 7 Cups, and I'm interested to hear what everyone else thinks. Let me also be clear that I am not saying please stop using it! I am not in favour of censoring it, or anything like that. I just think the words we choose are important in how we express ourselves, and if we can find better ways to do that as a community, why not talk about it? Here's why I'm not a fan of the word "troll": 1. The word "troll" means different things to different people. Many people would agree that someone coming into a chat room and straight away verbally abusing other people and posting links to obscene images etc, could be defined as a troll. But many listeners also use the word "troll" to describe a member who seems to not be telling the truth in a 1-On-1. And as experienced listeners here know, members and guests might have a number of reasons for not telling the truth. Maybe what they are saying feels true to them. Maybe they are shaken up and not getting details right. Maybe it is the truth, but it just sounds unlikely to us. Maybe their story is somewhere between imagination and reality because they're not totally comfortable about opening up and they want to check they can really trust their listener to be open minded and non judgmental. Many listeners also use the word troll to describe someone that is being disruptive or getting angry in a 1-On-1 chat. And maybe they are being disruptive, but maybe it is because they are in a dark place and don't know how to best reach out for support. How comfortable are we with the use of the word "troll" in those situations? And if we talk about removing trolls on 7 Cups, do we risk giving new listeners the idea that they should block and report or ban if they believe members or guests are not telling the truth, or are getting angry in a chat? 2. The word "troll" is dehumanising. If someone is disrupting the atmosphere, abusing or harassing people here on 7 Cups, it might be that its not a good fit for them to have an account here, and the community managers may have to intervene. Thats whats right and necessary to help protect the community, and also to help guide the person thats being disruptive too. The way I see it, thats not a reason to label that person with a name that makes them sound less than human. One of the community guidelines here is that were respectful to all users of the site at all times, whether thats towards them, or when talking about them. I think thats such an important guideline. People here dont have to earn our respect - we respect them automatically as human beings, as a part of our community, regardless of how they're behaving. Maybe the word troll is widespread among online communities, but 7 Cups is not just any online community. I feel as though we have to hold ourselves to a higher standard. All our experience on the site shows us every day that people around us can be really struggling with something in their life, that people dont know about. And being abusive or hurtful is many peoples way of trying to regain some control when they are struggling. Their behaviour doesnt fit our community guidelines at all, but it doesnt make them any less human, either. We can condemn the behaviour and still respect the person. Because being respected is not a privilege here, its a given. 3. There are plenty of much better alternatives. The words we choose are important. You can say its just semantics - thats not what you mean, when you say ‘troll. Well, semantics carry a lot of weight, and people read into the words we choose, no matter how we intend them. So why not be clearer about what we mean? If I need to let a group mod know theres a troll in the Community Room do I mean abusive language in the Community Room? disrupting the Community Room? harassing a guest in the Community Room? That also helps the group mod understand what to look for. in the thread [https://www.7cups.com/forum/ListenersOnlyForums_38/LaurasOffice_169/TrollingMutualResponsibilityHereishowyoucanhelp_26570/1/] I mentioned earlier, I really like how Laura chooses her wording to describe behaviour that would need to be reported: acting in a way that is publicly disruptive and hurtful and disruptive and ugly behavior - that makes sense to me, as a way to talk about this. Describe the behaviour, dont label the person. We're all just people here. Even people who come here and behave really unpleasantly and maliciously - theyre just people. We all have our lives, we all have people we care for and things were sad about and difficulties and passions just like everyone. We have all had moments when our behaviour has been disruptive, or cruel. Its not good, but its part of being human. Being human is what 7 Cups is all about, and thats something I love about this community too. (Thanks so much @MizMickey and @MissZ for their awesome help and insight with this post!)
TovaCares76 profile picture
🌟 Listener Safety Discussion: Sexual Topics 🌟
by TovaCares76
Last post
September 29th
...See more Hello, Listener Friends! 💙 Next Thursday, I will be hosting a discussion about something I know many listeners have questions about: taking chats that involve sexual topics.  I’ve noticed that some listeners aren’t always sure how to approach these chats. What is okay to engage with, where to set boundaries, when a conversation crosses a line, and what to do when you’re simply not comfortable continuing the chat. 📅 Thursday, September 17th ⏰ 2:00 PM EST 📍 Listener Discussion Room This discussion will be a chance for us to share experiences, talk through different situations, and discuss ways to protect our own boundaries while still providing a supportive experience for our members. We can also talk about recognizing situations that may require ending a chat or getting additional support. ⚠️ Please Note: This discussion will involve sensitive topics. Please take care of yourself and participate only if you feel comfortable doing so. The goal isn’t to tell anyone that there is one “right” way to handle every situation. Instead, it’s about learning from each other and becoming more confident in making safe, comfortable choices when these conversations come up  I hope to see you there! 🌸

🌟 Welcome! 🌟

Here at the Safety & Knowledge sub-community, our focus is on creating a culture of awareness and support. Please join us to learn how to keep yourself safe online!

See below some key aspects of our community;

Community Guidelines Series
Part 1 ---> Profiles
Part 2 
---> Behaviour
Part 3 
---> Account Safety
Part 4 
---> Boundaries and Behaviour
Part 5 
---> General Safety for Everyone


Quizzes
All Safety Quiz Events
Safety Quiz - 2024


Safety Team Information
Safety Outreach & Discussions
Safety Patrol


Team Leaders
Ambassador ---> Rebekah
Admin Oversight ---> Bookworm4

Community Guidelines

🌟Welcome!🌟

As this is our Safety sub-community, these guidelines are extra extra important! 🌟 here they are below;

1. Please be kind to all users. Forum posts/comments that attack or otherwise offend another user will be removed.
2. No offsite contact sharing. This is strictly against site rules.
3. Please stay on topic to the best of your ability!
4. Please keep confidential information to yourself. This means no sharing of usernames, messages in a 1-1 or a group setting, or any details about a member chat. Take any and all issues that you'd like to discuss in more depth to Rebekah.
5. Please try to post threads within the relevant sub-forum! We understand that this might not be easy, but posting a thread such as "Hello, I'm new!" would clearly not be suited to Safety Awareness or Teen Safety 🌞

Community Leaders
Community Resources

Find any and all safety resources for 7 Cups here!