Community Guidelines

In this community we…

Support each others’ vulnerability. We are collectively building a safe place for creative work. Poetry is often deeply personal and performance is so by definition. Please respect other poets by being quiet and attentive during performances. Where feedback is asked for or warranted, it is expected that it will be given in a respectful and humane way.

Do not tolerate hate speech. Poets wrestle with nuanced and difficult subjects and we encourage that exploration. Hate speech directed at marginalized groups and/or specific community members, however, is not acceptable.

Aim to be good sports. The point is poetry. While slam is competitive and most want to win, we must not lose the point of the event which is to elevate and celebrate poetry. Cheating, bullying judges, or otherwise behaving in ways unsportsmanlike is not acceptable.

Are proactive when safety issues are observed or reported. We want all people to feel safe within the slam space. If someone’s behavior makes you uncomfortable at one of our events, you may bring your concerns to any member of the Back Porch Poets and we will help to foster peace and resolution. We also may approach an individual if we observe unkind or inappropriate behavior. We do not aim to cancel or ostracize people, but repeatedly making others feel unsafe may be grounds for removal from the space.

Are accountable for and adhere to our own community standards. We believe that as leaders in the space we’re facilitating that the Back Porch Poets should be models of our values. Any member of the community may hold us to account if they believe we have violated the above principles.