CODE OF CONDUCT
Effective Date: 2026/8/8
果园外文出版社（Boomgaard Foreign Languages Publishing Company）（KVK42131222） ("we," "us," "our") is a sole proprietorship (eenmanszaak) dedicated to the scientific research, accurate translation, and conscientious dissemination of Communist and Socialist theoretical works and educational materials. We maintain the website www.boomgaard.org (the "Site") and any related services, features, or content (collectively, the "Service") as a space for collective learning and intellectual exchange, free from cost, location, or access barriers.
This Code of Conduct applies to all users, visitors, contributors, volunteers, partners, and anyone who interacts with the Service or participates in our community spaces (including our official social media channels). By using the Service, you agree to abide by this Code of Conduct, alongside our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
1. Our commitment
We are committed to fostering an environment that is:
Respectful and inclusive: We welcome people of all backgrounds, identities, and perspectives. Discrimination, harassment, and personal attacks have no place in the Service.
Scholarly and honest: We value accurate, authentic, and carefully contextualised materials. We strive to show everyone the reality about Communism and Socialism, and the former and current Communist and Socialist countries, through their theoretical works and educational materials. Engage in good-faith, evidence-based discussion. Do not deliberately distort, misrepresent, or fabricate information, and do not suppress or ridicule the legitimate intellectual traditions of these movements. We give Communism and Socialism their rightful place as subjects of serious inquiry and open debate.
Collaborative and constructive: We encourage sharing of knowledge, constructive critique, and mutual support. Debate is welcome; hostility is not.
Non-commercial and mission-driven: The Service exists for educational, non-profit purposes. Do not exploit the Service or community channels for personal financial gain or commercial promotion inconsistent with our mission.
2. Expected behaviour
All participants are expected to:
Treat others with courtesy, empathy, and dignity.
Respect differing viewpoints and experiences, and engage in disagreements with intellectual honesty and civility. This includes respecting those who wish to understand Communism and Socialism as historical and living realities, free from cold-war stereotypes or unexamined bias.
Use welcoming and inclusive language. Avoid slurs, stereotypes, and dehumanising language.
Respect the privacy and personal data of others. Do not share another person’s private information without their explicit consent.
Honour intellectual property rights and attribution. When quoting, referencing, or sharing our content, comply with the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license and always credit appropriately.
Follow any specific rules posted in community spaces (e.g., social media comment sections, forums, or collaborative projects).
3. Unacceptable behaviour
The following behaviours are not tolerated in any part of the Service, including our official social media channels (Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon, Discord, GitHub, GitLab, 微信 (WeChat), 小红书 (Xiaohongshu), 微博 (Weibo), and QQ).
3.1 The Paradox of Tolerance
The Service has a zero-tolerance policy towards transphobia, homophobia, biphobia, racism, sexism, ableism, ageism, classism, and any other forms of oppression. As detailed below in Section 3.2, such conduct is considered a form of harassment, and it will be acted upon swiftly.
Some have argued that having a zero-tolerance policy towards certain beliefs or philosophies is less inclusive, and that it is contradictory to speak of creating a safe and inclusive space while excluding certain forms of expression. Paradoxically, in order to achieve a tolerant and inclusive space, it is necessary to be intolerant of those who are openly intolerant. Otherwise, intolerant people will force out tolerant ones, and the space will become intolerant as a whole.
3.2 Harassment
We do not tolerate harassment on the Service. Examples of harassment include, but are not limited to:
Offensive comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, mental illness, neuro(a)typicality, physical appearance, body size, age, race, or religion.
Unwelcome comments regarding a person’s lifestyle choices and practices, including those related to food, health, parenting, drugs, and employment.
Deliberate misgendering or use of "dead" or rejected names.
Making light of, or mocking, trigger warnings and content warnings.
Gratuitous or off-topic sexual images or behaviour.
Physical contact and simulated physical contact (such as textual descriptions like "hug" or "backrub") without consent or after a request to stop.
Threats of violence.
Incitement of violence towards any individual, including encouraging a person to engage in self-harm.
Deliberate intimidation.
Stalking or following.
Harassing photography or recording, including logging online activity for harassment purposes.
Sustained disruption of discussion.
Unwelcome sexual attention.
A pattern of inappropriate social contact, such as requesting or assuming inappropriate levels of intimacy with others.
Continued one-on-one communication after requests to cease, whether in public or in private.
Deliberate "outing" of any aspect of a person’s identity without their consent, except as necessary to protect vulnerable people from intentional abuse.
Publication of non-harassing private communication without permission.
Within the Service, we prioritise the safety of marginalised people over the comfort of privileged people. The following are not considered harassment:
"Reverse-isms," including "reverse racism," "reverse sexism," and "cisphobia."
Reasonable communication of boundaries, such as "leave me alone," "go away," or "I’m not discussing this with you."
Criticising racist, sexist, cissexist, or otherwise oppressive behaviour or assumptions.
3.3 Other prohibited conduct
In addition to the harassment and intolerance described above, the following are also strictly prohibited:
Deliberate disinformation: knowingly spreading false or misleading narratives, especially those that distort the historical or theoretical record of Communist and Socialist movements that we seek to preserve and study.
Commercial exploitation: using the Service or community channels for unauthorised commercial activities, spam, or solicitation unrelated to our mission.
Impersonation: falsely claiming to represent us, our staff, or our partners.
Sharing illegal or harmful content: including content that violates copyright, promotes illegal activity, or contains malware.
Any other conduct that would reasonably be considered inappropriate in an educational, international setting dedicated to collective learning.
4. AI-generated content and readability tools
We may use strictly regulated AI tools to simplify our content for accessibility. These tools operate only on our published materials and do not introduce external commentary. Community members should:
Not rely on AI-generated simplifications as authoritative in scholarly or professional contexts.
Understand that all AI-assisted outputs are clearly marked as such and are intended as reading aids only.
Refrain from using external AI tools to alter or misrepresent our content in a manner that violates the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license (e.g., removing attribution, distorting meaning, or using for commercial purposes).
5. Reporting violations
If you witness or experience behaviour that violates this Code of Conduct, please report it promptly to our Abuse and Protection Department:
Email: abuse@boomgaard.org
Postal address: Goese Dieplaan 18, 4463LA, Goes, Zeeland, The Netherlands
All reports will be reviewed by us with confidentiality and respect for all parties. We will acknowledge receipt and aim to respond within a reasonable timeframe. We may ask for additional information to investigate the matter fully.
6. Enforcement
We reserve the right to take appropriate action in response to violations of this Code of Conduct, at our sole discretion. Actions may include, but are not limited to:
A private or public warning.
Temporary or permanent suspension of access to the Site or specific community channels.
Removal of content posted in violation of this Code.
Banning from future participation in our events or collaborative projects.
Reporting illegal behaviour to relevant authorities.
Enforcement decisions are made with the goal of protecting the Service and upholding our educational mission. We will strive for proportionality, transparency, and fairness in all actions.
7. Scope
This Code of Conduct applies:
In all areas of the Site and Service.
On our official social media accounts and in any related private messaging groups or forums we administer.
When an individual is officially representing us or participating in activities we organise (online or offline).
In any context where a person’s behaviour could reasonably affect the safety, well-being, or integrity of the Service or its users.
8. Relationship to other documents
This Code of Conduct is an integral part of our governance. It should be read together with:
In case of any conflict between this Code of Conduct and the Terms of Use, the Terms of Use shall prevail with respect to legal rights and obligations.
9. Updates and amendments
We may revise this Code of Conduct from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or operational needs. When we make material changes, we will post a notice on the Site and update the Effective Date. Continued use of the Service after the Effective Date constitutes acceptance of the revised Code.
10. Contact
For questions, suggestions, or to report a violation, please contact us:
果园外文出版社（Boomgaard Foreign Languages Publishing Company）（KVK42131222）
Abuse and Protection Department: abuse@boomgaard.org
Legal and Copyright Affairs: legal@boomgaard.org
Urgent Matters & Administrative Office: office@boomgaard.org
Postal address: Goese Dieplaan 18, 4463LA, Goes, Zeeland, The Netherlands
Last updated: 2026/8/5