Terms of Service: How strict is too strict?

[Cedric]

Every community needs rules, but where do you draw the line between maintaining order and scaring people away? Some platforms enforce ultra-strict policies with heavy moderation, while others take a more relaxed approach.

Have you ever seen a community lose activity because of overly rigid rules? Or, on the flip side, have you seen chaos break out due to a lack of enforcement?

Where do you think the sweet spot is when it comes to setting Terms of Service? And how do you keep things fair while still protecting your community?

 

[Bryn]

If one's forum is run like a dictatorship, expect the worst...

 

[Matthew]

When it comes to rules, I think a few basics need to be covered to protect your rights/interests. However, I find the "there is moderator discretion/judgement" clauses to be valuable as not everything will be covered in a rule set. Like the OP mentioned, trying to incorporate everything turns it into a rigid place where people don't feel comfortable communicating. It's a tough line but the best course of action is consistently addressing quickly so situations don't continue escalating setting new precedents.