Community Guidelines

Effective Date: March 28, 2026  |  Version: 1.0

Sidekick Pro is a community built around honesty, respect, and ethical non-monogamy. Whether you are here to explore polyamory, swinging, kink, or any other form of consensual non-monogamy, you belong here -- as long as you treat others the way this community deserves to be treated.

These guidelines apply to every part of the Sidekick Pro platform and all connected services. They work alongside our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Contents

1. Our Values
2. Who Can Join
3. Respectful Conduct
4. Consent Culture
5. Privacy and Discretion
6. Display Names and Profiles
7. Content Standards
8. Prohibited Content and Behavior
9. Solicitation and Spam
10. Reporting and Moderation
11. Enforcement and Consequences
12. Appeals
13. Changes to These Guidelines
14. Contact Us

1. Our Values

Everything in these guidelines flows from a few core principles. When you are not sure whether something is okay, come back to these:

• Consent first. In our community, nothing happens without clear, enthusiastic, and ongoing consent -- in conversations, in interactions, and in how we share information about each other.
• Respect always. People practice ethical non-monogamy in many different ways. You do not have to agree with every approach to treat people with dignity.
• Discretion matters. Many of our members keep their lifestyle private for personal, professional, or safety reasons. Protecting each other's privacy is not optional here -- it is fundamental.
• Honesty over performance. Real questions, real struggles, and real growth are welcome. Nobody has to pretend they have it all figured out.
• Safety is shared. A safe community is one where everyone looks out for each other. If you see something harmful, say something.

2. Who Can Join

You must be at least 18 years old to use any part of the Sidekick Pro platform. There are no exceptions. This is an adult community that discusses adult topics, and we take this requirement seriously.

By creating an account, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old. If we have reason to believe a user is under 18, we will immediately suspend the account and delete all associated data.

Our community welcomes people of all:

• Gender identities and expressions
• Sexual orientations
• Relationship structures (polyamory, swinging, open relationships, monogamish, and more)
• Experience levels (brand new to ENM or decades of experience)
• Racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds
• Body types and physical abilities

You do not have to be currently practicing ethical non-monogamy to join. Curious people, researchers, allies, and supportive partners of ENM individuals are all welcome, as long as they follow these guidelines.

3. Respectful Conduct

Treat People Like People

Behind every display name is a real person with real feelings. Disagree with ideas, not with people. Critique approaches, not identities. You can hold strong opinions and still express them without cruelty.

No Harassment

Harassment includes, but is not limited to:

• Personal attacks, name-calling, or deliberate insults
• Threatening language or intimidation
• Sustained, unwanted contact after someone has asked you to stop
• Following someone across threads or conversations to argue with them
• Dogpiling -- coordinating with others to gang up on a member
• Publishing or threatening to publish someone's private information (doxxing)
• Sexual harassment, including unwanted sexual comments or advances

No Discrimination

We do not tolerate hate speech or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, body type, relationship structure, or any other protected characteristic.

This includes "just joking" comments. If the punchline requires putting a group of people down, it does not belong here.

Relationship Style Respect

Our community includes people who practice many different forms of ethical non-monogamy. No style is inherently better or more "evolved" than another. Specifically:

• Do not shame people for their relationship structure (polyamory, swinging, open relationships, etc.)
• Do not gatekeep what counts as "real" ENM
• Do not pressure people to justify their boundaries or relationship agreements
• Do not disparage monogamy -- some of our members have monogamous partners, and respect goes in every direction

4. Consent Culture

Consent is the foundation of ethical non-monogamy, and it is equally the foundation of this community. Here is what consent looks like on our platform:

In Conversations

• Ask before going deep. Not everyone is comfortable discussing explicit details in every context. Read the room (or the thread) before sharing graphic content.
• "No" is a complete sentence. If someone declines to discuss a topic, engage further, or share personal details, respect that boundary immediately and without pushback.
• Do not post unsolicited sexual content. Even in an adult community, sexual content directed at a specific person requires their clear interest first.

In Sharing Stories

• Your stories are yours to tell. Other people's stories are theirs. Do not share details about a partner's, date's, or metamour's private life without their permission.
• Change identifying details. When sharing experiences for advice or discussion, change names, locations, and other identifying information to protect the people involved.

In Practice

• This is not a dating or hookup platform. While friendships and connections naturally form in any community, Sidekick Pro is a place for discussion, education, and support -- not for soliciting dates or sexual encounters.
• Do not pressure anyone for real-life meetups. If someone wants to keep their interaction online-only, that boundary is non-negotiable.
• Content warnings are courteous. When discussing topics that might be distressing (abuse, assault, intense emotional struggles), a brief content warning at the top of your post helps others make informed choices about what they read.

5. Privacy and Discretion

What We Expect From Every Member

• Never reveal another member's identity. Do not connect a member's display name to their real name, employer, location, or any other identifying information -- on or off the platform.
• Do not share content from the platform externally. Screenshots, copy-pasted posts, or descriptions of someone's posts that could identify them should not be shared on social media, other forums, or with people outside the community.
• Keep private communications private. If the platform offers direct messaging or other private communication features, do not share those conversations without the other person's explicit permission, except when reporting a violation to moderators.
• Protect people you recognize. If you encounter someone you know in real life on the platform, do not acknowledge the connection publicly unless they are comfortable with it. Reach out privately first.
• Be careful with photos. Do not post photos of other people without their consent. Do not post photos that could identify someone's location, workplace, or identity.

Your Own Privacy

We also encourage you to protect your own privacy. Use a display name that is not your real name. Be thoughtful about the details you share in posts. Remember that while we work hard to maintain a safe space, no online platform can guarantee absolute privacy. See our Privacy Policy for details on how we protect your data at the platform level.

6. Display Names and Profiles

Your display name is how the community knows you. Choose something you are comfortable with -- it does not need to be your real name, and for most members, we recommend it is not.

Display Name Rules

• No impersonation. Do not use a display name that impersonates another member, a public figure, a moderator, or a Sidekick Pro team member.
• No slurs or hate speech. Display names containing racial slurs, homophobic language, transphobic language, or other hate speech will be removed immediately.
• No overtly explicit names. While we are a sex-positive community, display names should not be graphic sexual descriptions. Keep it something you would be comfortable seeing in a forum thread list.
• No misleading names. Do not use names that suggest official status (such as "Admin," "Moderator," or "SidekickSupport") unless you hold that role.
• No contact information. Display names should not contain email addresses, phone numbers, social media handles, or URLs.
• Display names must be unique. Each display name can only be used by one person across the platform.

We reserve the right to ask you to change a display name that violates these rules. If a display name is reported and found to be in violation, we may change it without prior notice in cases involving hate speech or impersonation.

Profile Information

Any optional profile information you add (bio, interests, etc.) is subject to the same content standards as forum posts. Do not include other people's personal information in your profile.

7. Content Standards

What Belongs Here

Sidekick Pro is a place for:

• Discussions about ethical non-monogamy, relationship dynamics, and personal growth
• Questions and advice about navigating ENM relationships
• Sharing experiences, lessons learned, and perspectives
• Educational content about communication, boundaries, jealousy management, and related topics
• Support for people working through challenges in their relationships
• Discussion of sexuality, intimacy, and desire in a mature and respectful context

Mature Content

We are a sex-positive community and adult topics are welcome in appropriate contexts. That said, there is a difference between thoughtful discussion of sexuality and explicit content posted for shock value or arousal.

• Discussions about sex are welcome when relevant to the topic at hand -- asking for advice, sharing experiences, discussing technique, navigating boundaries, etc.
• Explicit sexual imagery is not permitted. This includes pornographic photos, videos, or illustrations. Sidekick Pro is a discussion and education platform, not an adult content site.
• Use content warnings when discussing graphic sexual details, assault, abuse, or other potentially distressing topics.
• Post in the right place. Keep content in the appropriate forum categories. Moderators may move posts to a more suitable category.

Intellectual Property

• Share your own original content or properly attribute and link to sources.
• Do not copy and paste entire articles, book chapters, or other copyrighted material. Brief quotations with attribution are fine.
• If you are a content creator (writer, educator, podcaster), you are welcome to share your work as long as it is relevant and you are transparent about being the creator.
• We respond to valid DMCA takedown notices. See our DMCA Policy for details.

8. Prohibited Content and Behavior

The following are strictly prohibited on all parts of the Sidekick Pro platform. Violations may result in immediate and permanent suspension depending on severity.

Absolutely Prohibited

• Any content involving minors in a sexual context. This includes fictional content, "aging up" of minors, and any sexualized depictions of people under 18. We will report such content to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and law enforcement.
• Content that facilitates sex trafficking or prostitution. In accordance with federal law (FOSTA-SESTA), we do not permit content that promotes, facilitates, or solicits sex trafficking or commercial sex acts.
• Non-consensual intimate imagery. Sharing or threatening to share intimate images of someone without their consent ("revenge porn") is prohibited and may be illegal in most states.
• Outing other members. Revealing another member's real-world identity, lifestyle participation, or connecting their display name to their real identity without their explicit permission.
• Doxxing. Publishing private or identifying information about any person (member or not) including real names, addresses, phone numbers, employers, or photos without consent.
• Threats of violence. Any credible threat of physical harm toward any person or group.
• Hate speech. Content that attacks, demeans, or incites violence against people based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics.

Also Prohibited

• Pornographic or sexually explicit media. No explicit photos, videos, or illustrations. Written discussions of sexual topics are permitted within the content standards above.
• Illegal activity. Do not use the platform to plan, promote, or facilitate illegal activity of any kind.
• Malware and exploits. Do not post links to malicious websites, attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in the platform, or distribute malware.
• Impersonation. Do not impersonate other members, moderators, Sidekick Pro staff, or public figures.
• Manipulation and deception. Do not use multiple accounts to manipulate discussions, evade bans, artificially inflate engagement, or deceive the community.
• Promoting unethical non-monogamy. Content that encourages cheating on a partner who has not consented to a non-monogamous arrangement is not in line with our community values. There is a clear difference between ethical non-monogamy and infidelity.

9. Solicitation and Spam

No Spam

• Do not post repetitive, irrelevant, or off-topic content designed to attract attention or drive traffic elsewhere.
• Do not send unsolicited bulk communications to other members through any platform feature.
• Do not use automated tools, bots, or scripts to post content or interact with other members.

Commercial Activity

• No unauthorized advertising. Do not use forum posts, comments, or messages to advertise products, services, events, or other platforms without prior approval from a moderator.
• No affiliate link spam. Dropping affiliate links into discussions without context or relevance is not permitted.
• Relevant recommendations are fine. If someone asks for a book recommendation and you happen to have written one, that is okay -- just be transparent about it. "Full disclosure, I wrote this" goes a long way.
• Professional services. If you are a therapist, coach, or educator, you may mention your services in your profile. Repeatedly promoting them in threads is not appropriate.

Recruiting and Solicitation

• Do not recruit members for other platforms, groups, or communities.
• Do not solicit members for dates, sexual encounters, or in-person meetups through the platform.
• Do not solicit money, gifts, or financial support from other members.

10. Reporting and Moderation

How to Report a Problem

If you see something that violates these guidelines, or if someone is making you feel unsafe, please report it. You are not being a nuisance -- you are helping protect the community.

• Use the report function available on posts and messages in the Forums.
• Email us directly at [email protected] for issues that need immediate attention or that involve sensitive details you do not want in a standard report.
• Include context. When reporting, please describe what happened and include links to the relevant content if possible. The more context you provide, the faster we can act.

What Happens When You Report

1. A moderator will review the report as soon as possible, usually within a few days.
2. We may reach out to you for additional context if needed.
3. We will take appropriate action based on the severity of the violation (see Section 11).
4. We will let you know the outcome of your report in general terms. We will not share specific details about actions taken against another member's account.

Our Moderation Approach

Moderation is not about controlling conversations. It is about keeping the community safe enough for honest conversations to happen. Our approach:

• We moderate based on behavior, not on opinions. You can hold unpopular views and express them respectfully.
• We try to understand context and intent before taking action.
• We may remove content, issue warnings, or take other action to address violations.
• We do not proactively monitor private communications. If the platform offers direct messaging, we review those conversations only when a violation is reported to us.
• Moderator decisions are made in good faith. We are human, and we may occasionally get things wrong -- which is why we have an appeals process.

11. Enforcement and Consequences

When someone violates these guidelines, the response depends on the severity and pattern of the behavior. We use a graduated approach for most violations, but some behaviors warrant immediate action.

Graduated Response

Immediate Action

The following violations may result in an immediate permanent ban without prior warnings:

• Any content involving the sexual exploitation of minors
• Outing another member
• Doxxing
• Credible threats of violence
• Non-consensual intimate imagery
• Content facilitating sex trafficking

Where required by law, we will also report the violation to the appropriate authorities.

Additional Measures

Depending on the circumstances, we may also:

• Remove specific content while leaving the account active
• Restrict account features (such as the ability to post or comment)
• Require a display name change
• Place an account under review, during which posts may be held for moderator approval before becoming visible

12. Appeals

If you believe a moderation decision was made in error, you have the right to appeal.

How to Appeal

1. Send an email to [email protected] with the subject line "Moderation Appeal."
2. Include your display name, a description of the action you are appealing, and why you believe the decision was incorrect.
3. Appeals should be submitted within 30 days of the moderation action.

What to Expect

• We usually acknowledge appeals within about a week.
• A different team member from the one who made the original decision will review your appeal whenever possible.
• We will usually provide a final decision within a few weeks of receiving your appeal.
• The appeal decision is final.

While an appeal is under review, the original moderation action remains in effect. For temporary suspensions, the suspension clock continues to run during the appeal process.

13. Changes to These Guidelines

We may update these Community Guidelines as the platform grows and as we learn from our community. When we make changes:

• We will update the "Effective Date" and version number at the top of this page.
• For significant changes, we will post an announcement in the Forums and make reasonable efforts to notify members by email.
• Changes take effect on the date posted unless otherwise noted.
• Continued use of the platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated guidelines.

We encourage members to review these guidelines periodically. We also welcome feedback -- if you think something in these guidelines should be changed, tell us.

14. Contact Us

Questions about these guidelines? Want to report a concern? Need help with something not covered here?

We are building this community together. These guidelines exist to protect everyone in it, including you. Thank you for being part of Sidekick Pro.

Last updated: March 28, 2026