The agreement here

What we promise each other

Talkpositive exists for one reason. So that nobody living with HIV has to feel alone, and so that when all someone can manage is “I just want to talk”, there is a person here who understands. This place only works because everyone in it protects it. Here is what that means, and what happens on the rare day someone breaks that trust. No fine print. No cold walls.

What we all agree to

These are not rules for their own sake. Each one is here so that reaching out can feel safe.

What happens here stays here. Never reveal that someone is a member, or share their profile, their words, their photos or their status with anyone, on or off Talkpositive. Outing a person is the one thing this community will not forgive.
Let people be here for what they came for. If someone says they just want to talk, that is the whole conversation. No pushing for dates, sex, photos or contact details.
No stigma, ever. Nobody is shamed for their status, how they came to it, their treatment, whether or not they are undetectable, or their past.
No hate, no harassment. No racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism, ageism or serophobia. And if someone stops replying, that is an answer. Let it be one.
Never ask for money. Any request for money, gifts or vouchers, in any direction, breaks the trust here. Report it, and we will act.
Be a real person, here for the real reason. This community is for people living with HIV, and you must be 18 or over. Use any name you like and you never need a photo. Pseudonyms are welcome; false selves are not.
Share experience, not prescriptions. “This is what happened for me” is exactly what belongs here. For medical decisions, we always point to professionals. No unsolicited sexual content.
If someone may be in danger. You are not responsible for saving anyone. Use the report option and the crisis resources; that is the kindest, safest thing you can do.

What happens if it is broken

We are human about this, because the person who slips might be the most fragile one in the room, doing something clumsy out of loneliness rather than harm. So the response fits what actually happened, and you are always told what and why.

A quiet word

For something small, or clearly a mistake, you will simply hear from us, gently. A first stumble is a conversation, not a punishment. Most things never go further than this.

A clear warning, then a pause

For something deliberate, or something that keeps happening, we will tell you plainly which promise was broken. If it continues, the account is paused for a while. You will always know the reason.

Removal

Kept for the few things that make this place unsafe for everyone: outing someone, predatory behaviour, asking for money, or trying to capture and expose another member. These end membership.

You will always know why

You will never be shut out in silence. If we ever have to warn, pause, or remove an account, you get a plain reason and a way to reply. If we got it wrong, say so, and a real person will look again.

We know exactly what it feels like to have a door closed with no explanation, at the moment you needed it most. We will not do that to you.

A note for your first day

If you are new and your heart is going a little fast, that is alright. You do not have to know the right words. When you open a conversation, we hand you a few gentle ways to begin, like “I’m new to all of this.” A photo is optional, and you are welcome here with one or without.

And you do not have to be at your lowest to reach out. This is the place to talk long before things ever get that heavy. That is the whole point of it being here.

You are not alone here.