Our Community Values

PublicEthicsNow.com creates space for serious discussion about ethics, accountability, and good governance in Santa Clara. These standards maintain a constructive community while protecting your safety through our PEN Names system.

Our Core Values

• Truth: We seek facts and evidence
• Civility: We disagree without attacking
• Accountability: We hold power to account
• Safety: We protect those who speak up
• Transparency: We operate openly

Three Rules for Participation

All PEN Community members commit to following these principles:

• The Golden Rule: Treat others the way you want to be treated
• The Diamond Rule: Treat others the way they want to be treated
• The Titanium Rule™: Treat others the way you treat people you love when you’re at your best

What We Encourage

✓ Sharing relevant information and evidence
✓ Asking tough questions of those in power
✓ Offering constructive criticism and solutions
✓ Respectful debate on policy disagreements
✓ Supporting community members
✓ Using your PEN Name to protect yourself
✓ Sharing insider knowledge about ethics violations
✓ Documenting governance failures with facts

What We Prohibit

✗ Personal attacks or harassment
✗ Threats or intimidation
✗ Doxxing (revealing others’ private information)
✗ Spam or commercial solicitation
✗ Coordinated trolling or brigading
✗ Impersonation
✗ Deliberate misinformation
✗ Abuse of the PEN Names system
✗ Violations of The Golden, Diamond, or Titanium Rules

Moderation Process

Dr. Tom Shanks personally reviews reported comments and makes final decisions about violations. Our enforcement process is:

1. First Violation: Private warning email to your registered email address
2. Second Violation: 30-day suspension from commenting privileges
3. Third Violation: Permanent ban from the PEN Community
4. Severe Violations: Immediate permanent ban, possible identity disclosure to authorities

Reporting Violations

If you see content that violates these standards:

1. Use the “Report” button on any comment
2. Email drshanks@publictrustnow.com with details
3. Reports are reviewed within 48 hours
4. All reports are kept confidential

PEN Names Protection

Your PEN Name protects your identity. We take that seriously:

• We will never reveal your real name without your permission
• Attempting to identify other members is a severe violation
• If someone tries to doxx you, report it immediately
• We may disclose identity only if legally compelled or to prevent imminent harm

Your Privacy Rights

• You can request your data at any time
• You can delete your PEN Name account
• Past comments remain but become unlinked from your identity
• See our full Privacy Policy

Appeals Process

If you believe a moderation decision was unfair:

1. Email drshanks@publictrustnow.com within 7 days
2. Explain why you believe the decision was wrong
3. Dr. Shanks will review and respond within 3 business days
4. Final decisions rest with Dr. Shanks

Why These Standards Matter

Ethics requires we hold ourselves to standards, not just demand them from officials. If we want ethical government, we must practice ethical engagement.

These standards aren’t about limiting speech—they’re about making speech more productive. When people feel safe and respected, better ideas emerge.

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Questions? Email contact@publictrustnow.com

The Titanium Rule™ developed by Dr. Tom Shanks, PublicEthicsNow