Discord Moderation Team Rules & Guidelines
ISEKAI ZERO — Discord Moderation Team Rules & Guidelines
Part 0 — About This Document
This document covers two things: how to behave as a moderator (conduct rules) and how to handle situations (operating procedures). Conduct keeps the team fair and trusted. Procedure keeps decisions consistent so members always know what to expect.
Our one goal: keep ISEKAI ZERO's Discord safe, welcoming and good-vibed. Every rule below exists to serve that. People should feel free to be creative and themselves here, while staying safe from harm and drama. When in doubt, ask: does this action protect the community?
Scope. This document covers Discord and community moderation only. Storyline and content moderation (the review of submitted platform content) is a separate function governed by its own document and is out of scope here.
Part 1 — Roles & Reporting Structure
Community Manager (CM) The lead of the community team and the single point of contact between the Discord team and the ISEKAI ZERO internal team. The CM has full operational lead over the Discord server. Day-to-day running, channel organization, events, community communications and moderation oversight. The CM appoints and manages all moderators.
Senior Moderators Experienced moderators who hold governance voting rights for high-consequence decisions (see Part 7). Handle day-to-day enforcement and support standard moderators.
Standard Moderators Handle day-to-day enforcement - de-escalation, warnings, mutes, kicks and content removal. The front line of community moderation.
ISEKAI ZERO Internal Team The company team that oversees the platform. The internal team has full ownership over Discord Server but delegates day-to-day management to the Community Manager.
Reporting Structure
Standard Moderators → Senior Moderators → Community Manager Community Manager → ISEKAI ZERO Team
All moderators report to the CM. The CM reports to the internal team. Moderators do not contact the internal team directly on operational matters - all communication routes through the CM.
Exception: If an issue directly involves the Community Manager (e.g., misconduct, conflict of interest, or unavailability), moderators may escalate directly to the ISEKAI ZERO internal team.
Permissions by Role
Standard Moderators: delete messages, mute/timeout users, kick users Senior Moderators: all of the above, plus ban users Community Manager: full server management
Compensation
The role is compensated and availability-based (not full-time). Specific terms (rate and schedule) are set individually with the company. We do not expect anyone online at fixed hours. What we ask is honesty about the hours you can realistically commit because selection is based mainly on estimated availability and timezone coverage.
Part 2 — Onboarding & Departure
Joining the Team
New moderators are selected by the CM based on availability, timezone coverage and suitability. All new moderators begin with a probation period of 30 days during which:
- They have standard moderator permissions only
- Their actions are reviewed by the CM or a senior moderator
- They can be removed without a governance vote if the fit is not right
After probation, the moderator is confirmed and subject to the standard accountability framework (Part 5).
Voluntary Departure
Moderators who wish to step down should notify the CM with reasonable notice so coverage can be arranged. Upon departure:
- All moderator permissions and roles are revoked immediately
- Access to internal mod channels is removed
- Any ongoing cases they were handling are reassigned
- Internal discussions and information remain confidential after departure
Involuntary Removal
Removal of a confirmed moderator follows the governance process in Part 7. The person is told the reason directly and privately.
Part 3 — Conduct Rules
Being a moderator is a position of service, not power. Our job is to help the community engage with each other and with the platform in a healthy, comfortable way. We step in when something genuinely threatens the space. The rest of the time we are fellow members of a community we care about.
These rules govern how we act when moderating. They are not a ban on being human or having a personality. Bring yourself to the role, build genuine relationships and engage authentically. These standards kick in when you step into enforcement mode.
Breaking these has consequences (Part 5). They apply to everyone equally including senior moderators and the CM. Seniority is not a shield.
1. De-escalate, always. Your default in every situation is to calm things down, not heat them up. You are never the person who escalates.
2. Never participate in drama or arguments. You step in to stop drama, never to join it. The moment you are arguing rather than moderating, you have stopped doing your job.
3. Keep personal opinions out of enforcement. Do not insert your opinions into disputes or member arguments in public channels. You are wearing the badge, members read your personal take as an official one.
4. Act on rules, not feelings. Moderation actions respond to actual rule breaches only. Personal dislike or history with a member is never grounds for action. If you could not comfortably explain an action to the whole team, do not take it.
5. Never moderate a conflict you are part of. If you are personally involved or it is a friend, rival, or someone you have history with, step back and hand it to another moderator as this is a conflict of interest.
6. Document bans and kicks. No requirement to log every mute, timeout or minor warning use your judgment on those.
For bans and kicks: record the action with a brief reason and supporting evidence (screenshots of the violation).
For bans on ongoing problem members (built up over time): collect screenshots, open a thread in the mod channel, compile evidence then action the ban.
For Zero Tolerance and emergencies: act immediately, document after.
7. Escalate when unsure or high-stakes. Acting right beats acting fast. Escalate when it is ambiguous, involves a high-profile member (a top creator, long-tenured member, or someone with a large following) or could become public drama.
8. Know your scope. Do not speak as an official voice on company decisions, app bugs, payments or policy you do not own.
If you are unsure - "let me check"
Never improvise something that becomes "a mod said…"
9. Keep internal matters internal. Mod channel discussions, reports and pending decisions are confidential. No screenshots of internal chat. No discussing in-progress actions with members. This obligation continues after you leave the team.
10. Treat members with respect, always. Stay calm and professional, even with difficult members. No mockery, sarcasm or power-tripping. You can mute or remove someone without humiliating them.
11. Disagreements stay behind the curtain. Disagree with another moderator's call? Raise it privately in the mod channel. Never in front of members. Never by reversing their action solo.
Part 4 — Community Rules
This is the list of what members may and may not do. Everything in Part 6 (Operating Procedures) assumes these rules.
Freedom, Fun & Creative Expression
ISEKAI ZERO is a space for fun and creative freedom. Members are encouraged to relax, joke around and chat about anything that is not off-limits or illegal. Speak openly and honestly. Raise issues, problems or criticism, as long as it is done constructively.
Disagreement vs. Argument
Disagreement and debate are welcome. Heated arguments are not. The difference is how it is done:
Discussion (allowed): Exchanging views while staying on the topic. "I think Character A's arc was rushed." → "I see it differently, here's why."
Argument (not allowed): When it turns personal or hostile. Name-calling, mocking, repeating the same jabs, dragging it out. Once it becomes about the person instead of the idea, moderators will step in.
Insults
An insult is a personal attack on a person. "I think this storyline is boring" is fine. "You're an idiot for liking it" is an insult. Insults are never acceptable.
No Real-World Political, Social-Political or Religious Debate
This is a creative space. Keep out real-life politics, social/political controversies and religion. Actual hate or discrimination is handled under the Zero Tolerance and hate speech rules.
Discord Guidelines
All members must follow Discord's Terms of Service and Community Guidelines.
Respect & Inclusivity
Treat each other with respect, kindness and empathy. Harassment, discrimination, hate speech or offensive behavior based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, age or any other characteristic is prohibited.
Zero Tolerance Policy
Immediate permanent ban, no warnings, no appeals:
- Child sexual abuse material (CSAM) or any content sexualizing minors
- Grooming or predatory content involving minors
- Non-consensual intimate imagery
- Terrorism or violent extremism content
- Threats of violence, or encouraging self-harm/suicide
- Doxxing or sharing personal information without consent
- Hate speech, slurs, or discrimination based on any protected characteristic
- Sharing or spreading information on ways to circumvent ISEKAI ZERO content safety features or policies
Illegal content is reported to authorities.
Age Requirements
Minimum age 13 (16+ for EU/UK residents). 18+ channels: adults only. Misrepresenting your age results in immediate ban.
Channel Etiquette
Use each channel for its purpose. Avoid spam, excessive self-promotion and cross-posting. Off-topic chat is fine in moderation — #general is open to anything within the rules.
18+ Content
18+ content only in designated 18+ channels. Prohibited content (see Zero Tolerance) is never allowed, even there. All other channels must remain completely SFW, no suggestive content, innuendo or borderline material.
Content & Creator Discussions
Be constructive with criticism. Do not shame creators for their content choices unless they violate policy. Respect creators' artistic freedom within platform guidelines. Report violations through proper channels, not public call-outs.
No Trolling, Harassment or Instigating
Prohibited: impersonating users, staff or creators; antagonizing, baiting or provoking; slurs or hateful language regardless of intent; spreading misinformation about the platform, users or staff; targeted harassment or coordinated attacks.
Compliance with Staff
Follow moderator and staff instructions promptly and respectfully. Concerns about a decision go to a staff member privately — not argued in public.
No Backseat Moderation
Only official moderators enforce rules. See a violation? DM a mod or use the report feature. Do not publicly call out violations, mini-mod or threaten others with "I'll report you."
No Gore, Violence or Disturbing Content
Forbidden even in 18+ channels: graphic violence or torture, real-world gore or death, animal cruelty, encouraging self-harm or suicide, promoting drug use.
No Alt Accounts
No alternate accounts to evade bans or mutes, manipulate discussions or votes, impersonate others or access age-restricted channels while underage.
No Spam or Flooding
No repetitive messages, rapid-fire flooding, excessive pinging or unexplained walls of text. Use threads for long discussions.
External Links & Self-Promotion
Language
Swearing is allowed, casual cursing is fine. Swearing is not allowed when used as a slur or as an insult aimed at a person. The line is intent and target: "this boss fight is fing hard" is fine. "F you" aimed at a member is not.
Part 5 — Accountability
Same standard for everyone. Senior moderators and the CM included. Nobody is removed by surprise or rumor. Reasons are always given privately.
Minor or first slip (e.g., forgot to log a ban): Private reminder.
Repeated or careless breaches: Formal warning, noted on file.
Serious breach (acting on a grudge, taking sides in drama, abusing access, leaking internal matters, moderating own conflict): Immediate suspension of permissions pending review. Likely removal.
Removal: Decided per the governance process in Part 7. The person is told the reason directly and privately.
Part 6 — Operating Procedures
6.1 The De-Escalation Flow
Most day-to-day friction follows this path:
- Cool it or redirect. A light, friendly touch first, change the subject, inject calm, gently remind people of the channel's purpose.
- Ask them to stop - kindly but firmly. "Hey, let's drop this here please." Polite, neutral, no opinion on who is right.
- Mute if they will not stop. The trigger is refusal to stop after being asked - not the argument itself.
This is the spine of the role: calm → ask → mute. You never skip to arguing back and you never take a side.
6.2 Off-Topic & Channel Use
Off-topic chat is allowed but not excessively in channels meant for specific topics. Nudge people to the right channel if needed. #general is open to anything within the rules. 18+ content must stay in 18+ channels.
6.3 Quick Reference
| Incident | Action |
|---|---|
| Casual swearing | OK, no action |
| Disliking a character/story/opinion | OK, no action |
| Personal attack or insult | Warn, mute if continues |
| Swearing used as a slur | Timeout immediately, escalate |
| Civil debate on ideas | OK, watch and nudge if it sours |
| Heated personal argument | De-escalation flow |
| Light off-topic chatter | OK in #general, redirect elsewhere |
| Real-world political/religious debate | Redirect, warn if pushed |
| Spam/flooding/mass-ping | Clean up, warn, mute |
| 18+ content outside 18+ channels | Remove, warn |
| Backseat modding | Gentle reminder |
| Public call-out of a member | Redirect to reporting channels |
| Hate speech/slurs/discrimination | Timeout immediately, escalate, repeat equals ban |
| Ban evasion/alt accounts | Ban the alt, note original |
| Zero Tolerance content | Immediate permaban, no warning, no appeal, report |
Standard Moderators (solo): De-escalation flow, nudge, warn, mute, timeout, kick, delete messages.
Senior Moderators (solo): All of the above, plus direct ban for clear-cut serious violations (illegal content, CSAM, doxxing, credible threats, blatant hate/slurs, raids).
Governance vote required (simple majority of senior moderators): Permanent bans for contested cases, reversing another moderator's action, genuinely contested "did this break a rule?" judgments. A simple majority means more than 50% of senior moderators must vote in favor for the decision to pass.
Important: If something needs action now to stop harm, act first (mute or remove), log it, then bring the lasting decision to a vote. Never leave a live problem sitting while waiting for a vote.
6.5 Mute/Timeout Durations
| Action | Duration |
|---|---|
| First mute | 1 hour |
| Repeat or continued disruption | 24 hours |
| Persistent after that | 7 days |
| Beyond 7 days | Move to a kick or take it to a vote |
6.6 Conflict of Interest
Involves you, a friend or a personal dispute? Do not touch it. Post it in the mod channel and tag another available moderator.
6.7 Emergencies (Raids, Mass-Spam, Attacks)
- Act first - lock channels, enable slowmode, remove bad actors.
- Log and report in the mod channel immediately after.
- Speed is allowed only in genuine emergencies.
- The after-the-fact log is mandatory.
6.8 Coverage
Work to your availability. Be honest about the hours you have committed so the team can spread coverage across timezones.
Part 7 — Governance
Day-to-day community operations are led by the CM. A small set of serious decisions are made collectively by the three senior moderators through a simple-majority vote (2 of 3).
Decisions Requiring a Senior Mod Vote (2 of 3):
- Rule changes - any addition, removal or edit to the community rules
- Changes to the enforcement framework - response ladder, mute durations, appeals process
- Contested or high-consequence moderation - permanent bans for non-obvious cases, reversing another moderator's action
- Removing a confirmed moderator
A senior moderator does not vote on a case they are personally involved in - they step out and the others decide. If one senior mod is unavailable, the CM steps in as the third vote.
Decisions That Do Not Require a Vote:
- CM operational decisions - channels, events, communications, day-to-day process
- Routine enforcement - nudge, warn, mute, kick by individual moderators
- Clear-cut serious violations - direct ban, log, report
- Emergency actions during raids or attacks
- Day-to-day enforcement of existing rules
Part 8 — Support Routing & Appeals
Where Things Go:
Platform-level matters (technical support, payments, storyline appeals)
→ contact@isekai.world. Not handled in Discord.
→ the ticket center.
Moderation Appeals:
- Member appeals via the ticket center
- Reviewed by someone other than the moderator who took the action
- Aim to respond within a few days — a holding reply beats silence
- Reviewer checks the log, confirms the action fit the rules, then upholds, reduces, or reverses
- Outcome logged
Zero Tolerance bans are not appealable.
Part 9 — The Company & The Community
Direct Contact
The founder and team may participate in community conversation directly - comments, feedback, answering questions, normal discussion. What routes through the CM is how the community is run: moderation, channels, community policy and any commitment or change made to the community.
Product & Platform Changes
Product, platform and company-direction decisions are the company's to make. When a change will affect the community, the company consults the CM before it ships and provides a short rationale the CM can carry to the community.
Community Requests
Community requests are a signal, not a mandate. Input is taken seriously. The CM advocates for community needs - assessing scope, bringing evidence and framing why it matters. A "no" from the company comes with a reason that the CM carries back.
Legal, Safety & Platform Integrity
Legal, safety and platform-integrity matters remain the company's to act on directly without routing through the CM because the company carries the liability.
Part 10 — Living Document
These rules will have gaps until reality tests them. When something is not covered, raise it in the mod channel rather than improvising a precedent. Changes follow the Part 7 governance vote. Version and date at the top are updated each time. Reviewed quarterly.