Community Structure

To ensure safe participation for all learners, educators, and contributors, we utilize a tiered community structure. Regardless of tier, all community spaces are heavily moderated, and all community members must abide by our Code of Conduct.

Regardless of tier, everyone in the community can see other members’:

  • Chosen public usernames/display names (e.g. Discord username, GitHub profile)
  • Publicly-shared content, such as contributions on GitHub

And cannot:

  • Chat 1:1, e.g. via direct messages
  • Interact in unmoderated spaces

Tiers

This is a work in progress; we’re piloting and reviewing this structure, but it may change based on feedback—especially around safety requirements.

Fandom

Outside Community

People outside the active contribution community; players, followers, general public interested in Endless Access or Threadbare

Access
View and interact on social media platforms; play public game releases; read blog posts; view YouTube videos
Safety
Interaction happens publicly on external platforms, subject to those platforms’ rules; restricted as needed (e.g. we may disable YouTube comments on certain videos)

Newcomers

Restricted

New members who have joined community platforms organically; unproven but have shown interest in contributing/learning

Access
Interact on GitHub (file issues, open PRs); access behind-the-scenes content; read-only/restricted access to Discord
Safety
Ages 13+; no real-time interaction with other community members; heavily moderated interactions on public platforms like GitHub

Verified

Trusted

Established and trusted community members; have demonstrated positive contributions, understand community norms; manually approved; includes vetted members joining via educational partners

Access
Real-time communication in heavily moderated spaces (e.g. Discord); may be added to GitHub org for increased access (e.g. project management)
Safety
Staff-moderated spaces; no 1:1 communication (DMs) between members or members and staff

Within the Verified tier, each community member may be given a role, such as:

  • Learner: someone who joined via a specific learning program with a partner organization

  • Educator: an approved educator, e.g. from a partner organization

  • Mentor: an approved mentor, e.g. from a partner organization

Core

Highest Trust

Description
Endless Access staff and a small number of highly trusted, long-term community members who serve as core maintainers, moderators, and vision-keepers
Access
Access to private spaces e.g. for moderation discussion; can approve members; can accept/reject contributions
Safety
Audit logs; safety training

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