Legal

Community guidelines

How to take part respectfully wherever shrinQ lets people communicate.

Last updated: May 2026.

Where these guidelines apply

These are the rules for any space that carries the shrinQ name. They apply anywhere shrinQ lets people communicate, such as messages you send me, feedback you submit, or any comments or community features I may add. They sit alongside my user content terms.

My principles

A few simple ideas sit behind everything below. I want shrinQ's spaces to be calm, respectful, and safe, the kind of place you'd be glad to read on a hard day. I don't want shrinQ communities to become reassurance loops. The whole point of the program is to interrupt those.

Respect people. Disagree with ideas freely, but don't attack the person making them.
Protect privacy. Treat other people's private information as off limits, including your own sensitive details you may later regret sharing.
Stay honest and relevant. Keep contributions genuine and on topic.
Keep it safe. Don't post anything that could put someone at risk of harm.

What I expect

Be respectful. Disagree with ideas without attacking people.
Protect privacy. Do not share other people's private information.
Stay lawful. Do not post content that is illegal, harassing, hateful, or harmful.
Keep it relevant. Spam, scams, and promotional content are not allowed.

Prohibited content

To make the lines clear, these categories of content aren't allowed anywhere shrinQ lets people communicate:

Harassment and abuse. Threats, bullying, stalking, or targeted attacks on a person or group.
Hate. Content that demeans or attacks people based on who they are.
Privacy violations. Sharing someone else's private or identifying information without consent.
Illegal content. Anything unlawful, or content that encourages others to break the law.
Graphic or harmful content. Material that promotes or glorifies self-harm, violence, or dangerous behavior.
Spam and scams. Bulk, deceptive, or fraudulent content, and unsolicited promotion.
Impersonation. Pretending to be shrinQ, Dr. Refai, or another person.
Medical advice to others. Presenting yourself as diagnosing or treating other people.

No medical advice between members

shrinQ is education, not therapy, diagnosis, treatment, crisis care, or medical advice. Nothing other community members say is medical advice either. Please do not rely on messages from me or from other people for diagnosis or treatment, and do not present yourself as providing care to others.

Not for crisis or emergencies

If you're in crisis, the right move isn't the forum. It's 988 or 911. Community spaces and contact forms are not monitored for emergencies and are not a crisis service. If you or someone else may be in danger, contact local emergency services. In the United States, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.

Enforcement actions

When these guidelines aren't followed, I respond in proportion to what happened. My aim is to keep the space safe, not to punish. Depending on the situation, I may:

Edit or remove the content in question.
Issue a warning explaining what crossed the line.
Temporarily limit your ability to post or contact me.
Suspend or permanently remove access for serious or repeated violations.
Where the law requires it, report content to the appropriate authorities.

Serious harm, threats, or anything that puts someone at risk can lead to immediate removal without a prior warning.

How to appeal

If you think I got an enforcement decision wrong, you can ask me to look again. Email [email protected] with "Appeal" in the subject line, and tell me what was removed or restricted and why you believe the decision was mistaken. I'll review your appeal, and I'll let you know the outcome. I can't always reverse a decision, but I'll give it a genuine second look.

Reporting a problem or a safety concern

To report content that breaks these guidelines, email [email protected] with the details, including where you saw it. If you're reporting a safety concern about someone's wellbeing, please tell me what you saw, though keep in mind the important point below. My inboxes and community spaces are not monitored in real time and are not a crisis service. If you or someone else may be in immediate danger, contact local emergency services first. In the United States, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911.