Our Community Values

1. Recipe Content Standards

✅ DO:

• Share tested recipes: Post recipes you've actually made and know work
• Include clear instructions: Write step-by-step directions that anyone can follow
• Provide accurate info: Include cook times, servings, and ingredient measurements
• Use quality photos: Show the finished dish with clear, appetizing images
• Give credit: Attribute recipes to their original creators when applicable
• Tag appropriately: Use accurate tags for dietary restrictions (vegan, gluten-free, etc.)
• Share variations: Mention possible substitutions or modifications

❌ DON'T:

• Post untested recipes: Don't share recipes you haven't tried yourself
• Use misleading titles: No clickbait or false descriptions
• Steal content: Don't copy recipes without attribution
• Post dangerous recipes: No recipes that could cause food poisoning or harm
• Include non-food content: Keep recipes focused on cooking
• Misrepresent dietary info: Don't tag recipes incorrectly (e.g., calling something vegan when it's not)

2. Photo and Media Guidelines

2.1 Recipe Photos

2.2 Prohibited Photo Content

3. Comments and Interactions

3.1 Constructive Feedback

We encourage helpful feedback on recipes. Good comments:

• Share your experience: "I made this and loved it! Added extra garlic."
• Ask questions: "Can I substitute almond milk for regular milk?"
• Offer suggestions: "This would be great with fresh herbs on top."
• Give constructive criticism: "The baking time was a bit long for my oven. I'd suggest checking at 20 minutes."

3.2 Prohibited Comments

3.3 Rating Recipes

When rating recipes, be fair and honest:

• Rate based on the recipe itself, not external factors
• Don't rate a recipe 1 star because you made substitutions and it didn't work
• If you haven't made the recipe, don't rate it
• No vote manipulation (asking friends to rate your recipes highly)

4. Respecting Others

4.1 Cultural Sensitivity

Cooksy celebrates global cuisines. When sharing or discussing recipes from different cultures:

• Respect traditional recipes and cooking methods
• Acknowledge cultural origins when sharing international dishes
• Avoid cultural appropriation or misrepresentation
• Be open to learning about different food traditions
• Don't mock or belittle unfamiliar cuisines or ingredients

4.2 Dietary Restrictions and Preferences

Respect that people have different dietary needs and choices:

• Don't shame others for their dietary choices (vegan, omnivore, keto, etc.)
• Tag recipes accurately for allergens and dietary restrictions
• When suggesting substitutions, be helpful, not judgmental
• Respect that some restrictions are medical necessities, not preferences

5. Intellectual Property and Attribution

5.1 Recipe Attribution

5.2 Photo Attribution

Only use photos you have the right to use:

• Your own original photos
• Licensed stock photos (with proper attribution)
• Photos with explicit permission from the photographer
• Public domain images

5.3 Copyright Infringement

We take copyright seriously. If you believe your intellectual property has been infringed, contact us at support@techsorbit.com with:

• Description of the copyrighted work
• Link to the infringing content on Cooksy
• Your contact information
• Statement of good faith belief

6. Safety and Legal Compliance

6.1 Food Safety

6.2 Prohibited Content

The following is strictly prohibited:

• Illegal content: Anything that violates local, national, or international law
• Dangerous recipes: Recipes that could cause harm or injury
• Controlled substances: Recipes involving illegal drugs or alcohol for minors
• Weapons: Instructions for creating weapons or explosives
• Fraud: Scams, phishing, or deceptive practices

7. Spam and Self-Promotion

7.1 Acceptable Self-Promotion

Limited self-promotion is allowed:

• Link to your food blog in your profile
• Mention your cookbook if genuinely relevant to a discussion
• Share your own recipes (that's what Cooksy is for!)

7.2 Prohibited Spam

• Posting the same recipe or comment repeatedly
• Irrelevant promotional links in comments
• Using recipes solely to drive traffic to external sites
• Creating multiple accounts to promote content
• Unsolicited commercial messages to other users

8. Enforcement and Consequences

8.1 Three-Strike System

8.2 Immediate Bans

Certain violations result in immediate permanent ban:

• Harassment, threats, or doxxing
• Hate speech or discriminatory content
• Sexual exploitation or illegal content
• Severe spam or bot activity
• Evading previous bans

8.3 Appeals

If you believe a moderation action was made in error, you may appeal by emailing support@techsorbit.com within 14 days. Include:

• Your username and account email
• Description of the moderation action
• Explanation of why you believe it was an error

9. Reporting Violations

9.1 How to Report

If you see content that violates these guidelines:

1. Use the "Report" button on the recipe, comment, or user profile
2. Select the reason for reporting
3. Provide additional context if helpful
4. Submit the report

9.2 What Happens Next

• Our moderation team reviews all reports within 24-48 hours
• Urgent reports (threats, illegal content) are prioritized
• You'll receive a notification when the report is resolved
• Reporter identity is kept confidential

9.3 False Reports

Repeatedly filing false or malicious reports may result in account suspension. Use the report feature responsibly.

10. Privacy and Personal Information

• Don't share others' private info: No phone numbers, addresses, or personal details without consent
• Protect your own privacy: Be cautious about sharing personal information publicly
• Report doxxing immediately: If someone shares your private info, report it immediately
• Respect photo privacy: Don't post photos of people without their permission

11. Updates to Guidelines

We may update these Community Guidelines as our community grows and evolves. Material changes will be announced via email and in-app notification. Continued use of Cooksy after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised guidelines.

12. Contact and Support