The Multiverse School Code of Conduct
The Official Code of Conduct (Exact Wording)
What is Acceptable and Encouraged:
- Be excellent to each other
- Be kind and helpful
- Learn cool stuff
- Share your own knowledge
- Build cool stuff and talk about it
- Ask questions
- Dig Deep
Unacceptable Behavior:
- If a new rule must be added based on your actions, expulsion without refund occurs
- No visible substance use on camera except caffeine; turn camera off if needed
- Wear pants
- No acting like a cop
- No continuous flirting with community members
- Turn off camera when leaving desk
- Behave ethically; don’t lie, cheat, steal, advocate violence, or harm
- Removal for “premature transcendence” (repeated skill-building avoidance, refusing feedback, manipulative/dangerous leadership behavior)
- No disparaging comments about race, gender, economic status, LGBTQIA status, or other inalienable characteristics
- No gender griefing
- Don’t monologue or dominate group sessions
- Don’t deny others’ art is art
- Don’t denigrate others’ work without peer-reviewed expertise
- Don’t ragebait or create enemies in the space
- Don’t engage in coercive emotional regulation
- Don’t advocate genocide
- Don’t yell at anyone
- Don’t screenshot or exfiltrate data from the matrix server
- Don’t ask for hacking assistance
- Don’t ask to harm others using the instructor’s connections
- Don’t talk over the instructor
Weirdness (After Hours Only - 10pm Pacific):
The following are restricted to opt-in spaces after 10pm Pacific:
- Fursonas and fursuits
- Fetish-adjacent content
- Discussion of recreational drugs
- Sales pitches for projects
- Nudity (in designated spaces)
- Obvious flirting (in designated spaces)
Always Acceptable:
- Body doubling
- Sharing content
- Off-topic chat (in designated channels)
- Naming feelings
- Creating boundaries
- Expressing needs
- Promoting your work
- Staying quiet about issues that don’t affect you
Purpose
This is The Multiverse School’s actual Code of Conduct that students agree to upon enrollment. It balances creating a safe, inclusive learning environment with allowing for authenticity and neurodivergent communication styles.
Detailed Explanations
Core Community Rules
Substance Use & Professionalism
- No visible substance use on camera except caffeine
- “No bong rips on camera”
- Wear pants during sessions (yes, this needed to be a rule)
- Turn off camera when leaving your desk
Safety & Ethics
- “No Cops. If you act like a cop, we’ll kick you out”
- Don’t report people to authorities for non-violent behavior
- Don’t surveil or police other community members
- Respect privacy and trust
- Behave ethically:
- Don’t lie, cheat, or steal
- Don’t advocate violence
- Don’t cause harm to others
Respect & Inclusion
- No discrimination:
- No disparaging comments about race, gender, economic status, or LGBTQIA+ identity
- Avoid gender-based generalizations that hurt individuals present
- Respect people’s identities and pronouns
- Respect creative work:
- Don’t denigrate other people’s efforts or work
- Constructive feedback is welcome; dismissive commentary is not
Communication Standards
- Don’t monopolize group sessions
- Share space for others to participate
- Be mindful of how much you’re talking
- No inflammatory topics designed to provoke arguments
- Respectful disagreement is fine
- Deliberately starting fights is not
- Don’t engage in coercive emotional regulation
- You can’t force others to manage your emotions
- Take responsibility for your own regulation
- No yelling at others
- Expressing strong feelings is okay
- Directing anger/yelling at people is not
- Don’t talk over the instructor
- Wait for space to contribute
- Raise hand or use chat if needed
Privacy & Safety
- Chatham House Rule on the Matrix server:
- You can share what was discussed
- You cannot share who said it without permission
Exception: Safety & Code of Conduct violations
If someone:
- Threatens self-harm or violence
- Expresses intent to harm others
- Is violating Code of Conduct
- Is creating an unsafe situation
You can (and should) report to a facilitator, including identifying who.
Safety > privacy. Chatham House protects ideas and vulnerable sharing, not harmful behavior.
- Don’t request help with:
- Hacking others without consent
- Causing harm to people
- Illegal activities
Absolutely Unacceptable
- Hate speech = immediate ban
- This includes hate speech on personal social media
- “Don’t Advocate Genocide”
- Zero tolerance policy
- No continuous flirting
- One expression of interest is okay
- Continued advances after “no” is harassment
- Maintain a safe community space
“Weirdness” Policy (After 10pm Pacific Only)
In opt-in spaces only, after 10pm Pacific, the following are permitted:
- Fursonas and fursuits
- Fetish-adjacent content
- Discussion of recreational drugs
- Sales pitches for projects
- Nudity (in designated spaces)
- Obvious flirting (in designated spaces)
Important: These are ONLY allowed in specifically designated opt-in channels/spaces after hours. Default spaces remain professional.
Always Acceptable Behaviors
These are ALWAYS okay, anytime, anywhere:
- Body doubling (working alongside others quietly)
- Sharing content relevant to learning
- Off-topic chat in designated channels
- Naming your feelings (“I’m frustrated,” “I’m excited”)
- Creating boundaries (“I can’t talk about that,” “I need a break”)
- Expressing needs (“I need clarity on this,” “Can you repeat that?”)
- Promoting your work (when relevant and not spammy)
- Staying quiet about issues that don’t affect you
- You don’t have to weigh in on everything
- It’s okay to let others handle their own situations
Enforcement
Process
- First conversation: If you violate the Code of Conduct, the instructor will talk with you about what happened and what needs to change
- Your response matters: How you respond to feedback significantly influences consequences
- Removal if necessary: The instructor has sole discretion to remove students for violations
- No refunds for violations: If removed for Code of Conduct violations, you will not receive a refund
Philosophy
From the instructor (Liz):
“I have expelled 9 paying students over the years. I prioritize psychological safety over revenue. This community is built on trust, respect, and safety—and I will protect that.”
Student Agreement
By enrolling in The Multiverse School, you agree to:
- Follow this Code of Conduct
- Accept that the instructor has final say on removal decisions (no appeals)
- Understand that violations may result in removal without refund
- Engage in good faith with feedback and course correction when issues arise
- Respect that fair process means conversation before removal — you’ll have a chance to respond to concerns
Why These Rules Exist
Protecting Neurodivergent Students
Many students have experienced:
- Masking exhaustion in other spaces
- Punishment for being “weird” or different
- Discrimination for neurodivergent traits
- Unsafe power dynamics
These rules create space where:
- Direct communication is valued
- Stimming, echolalia, and neurodivergent traits are welcome
- You don’t have to perform neurotypicality
- Authenticity is encouraged within safety boundaries
Neurodivergent-Affirming AND Accountable
Neurodivergent-affirming means:
- We respect different brain wiring
- Direct communication is valued
- You don’t have to mask harmless traits (stimming, echolalia, etc.)
- We offer accommodations when possible
It does NOT mean:
- Your diagnosis excuses harmful behavior
- Accommodations = exemption from all rules
- You can violate boundaries because “that’s just how I am”
- Other people must tolerate harm because you’re neurodivergent
Example:
- ADHD makes waiting hard → Accommodation: We’ll call on you first when we pause ✓
- ADHD makes waiting hard → Excuse to interrupt everyone constantly ✗
We accommodate neurodivergence. We don’t excuse harm.
Being neurodivergent doesn’t make you a bad person. AND you’re still responsible for the impact of your behavior.
Protecting Marginalized Students
Many students are multiply marginalized:
- Queer, trans, nonbinary
- BIPOC
- Disabled beyond neurodivergence
- Economically marginalized
- Survivors of trauma
These rules ensure:
- No hate speech or discrimination
- Respect for all identities
- Safety from harassment
- Inclusive community standards
Protecting Everyone’s Learning
Clear rules about:
- Not monopolizing space
- Respecting the instructor
- Ethical behavior
- Privacy
These create an environment where:
- Everyone can learn
- Mistakes are okay
- Growth is supported
- Safety is maintained
Differences from Generic Codes of Conduct
What Makes This Different
1. Neurodivergence-affirming:
- Direct communication is explicitly valued
- “Weird” is celebrated (in appropriate contexts)
- Authenticity over professionalism
- Body doubling and stimming are normalized
2. Explicitly anti-authoritarian:
- “No cops” is a stated value
- Privacy and trust are prioritized
- Power dynamics are acknowledged
3. Realistic about adult humans:
- “Weirdness” has a time and place
- Acknowledges that people have lives/identities outside class
- Boundaries are flexible but clear
4. Prioritizes psychological safety over comfort:
- Hate speech is banned, period
- Uncomfortable conversations about justice are welcome
- Growth requires some discomfort
How to Use This as a Teacher/Moderator
When Enforcing
- Reference specific rule violated
- “You talked over me three times in class today. That violates our Code of Conduct.”
- Explain impact
- “When you monopolize discussion, others don’t get to participate.”
- State expectation
- “Going forward, I need you to [specific behavior change].”
- Assess response
- Receptive and apologetic? → Continue with warning
- Defensive and combative? → May need removal
When Students Ask “Why is this a rule?”
Transparency is key:
- “This rule exists because [specific harm it prevents]”
- “We learned we needed this rule when [anonymized example]”
- “This protects [specific population]”
When Rules Conflict with Neurodivergence
Example: Student with ADHD repeatedly talks over instructor
Address behavior, not diagnosis:
“I notice you’re interrupting frequently. I know ADHD makes waiting really hard. Here’s what I can offer: I’ll call on you first when I pause, and you practice raising your hand instead of interrupting. Deal?”
Accommodation ≠ Exemption from all rules
Updating This Code
Living Document
This Code of Conduct evolves based on:
- Community needs
- Incidents that reveal gaps
- Feedback from students
- Changes in cultural context
Major Changes
- Announced to all students
- Explanation of why change was needed
- Effective date clearly stated
Remember
The Code of Conduct exists to make space for authenticity, learning, and safety—all at once.
You can be:
- Weird AND respectful
- Direct AND kind
- Boundaried AND connected
- Authentic AND ethical
Guiding principle: “Be excellent to each other” means creating a space where everyone—especially marginalized and neurodivergent people—can learn, grow, and belong without experiencing harm, harassment, or discrimination.