To maintain the positive and constructive atmosphere of our Community, we have updated the Rules, which take effect immediately.
We ask everyone to read the full rules! The current update protecting the integrity of the community is as follows:
1. Use of Reactions
Point 8. Keep it Clean has been supplemented. Furthermore, it has been clearly established:
Intentional destructive use of reactions is forbidden!
What does this mean? The user clearly uses the reaction (for example, the “laughing” or other negative reaction) with the intention to damage the community atmosphere, offend someone, or undermine the seriousness of a topic.
Vaperina’s interaction tools (including the Like button and other reactions) must be used only in a manner appropriate and intended for the content. Repeated, unjustified, or provocative use of these tools (e.g., placing repeated, unjustified, or inappropriate reactions) is forbidden as it constitutes morale-damaging behavior mentioned in point 5. Guidelines.
Intentional morale damage continues to be one of the most strictly prohibited behaviors.
2. New Moderation Tool
We have introduced a new, targeted tool for handling non-compliant behavior:
We may restrict the functions of users who violate the rules, for example, by revoking the right to use reactions.
This is what the disabled reaction button looks like for a restricted user:
The issue here is again that we are not all the same.
What might be acceptable for 100 people might not be for another… moreover, all of this can also be mood-dependent.
I still think discussing the issues is better than this.
The primary goal of the policy is not to restrict subjective jokes or momentary moods, but to focus on consistency and intentionality. We introduced the intentionally destructive phrasing precisely to separate an isolated ambiguous reaction from systemic, morale-damaging behavior. The policy aims to protect the integrity of the community against intentional disruptive conduct, and we will not allow room for subjective interpretation in this regard.
Interesting, I haven’t noticed any behavior here that destroys the community or the mood. This could have 2 reasons. 1: I am inattentive and oblivious.
Yes, fortunately, this is not common. These are usually noticed by those who receive them. Currently, it is restricted for 1 member. And the update to the policy gives us a clear basis for moderation. I mentioned a long time ago that we didn’t want this… for a long time there wasn’t a laughing or otherwise negative reaction available for use. Now, however, we felt it was better if it was stipulated in the policy, and the method of restriction is not as final as it otherwise would be.
I would just like to add that the kind of behavior where someone laughs at even a comment where thanks are given, or where someone shares a general experience and that is mocked, is strongly toxic. Such a toxic person does not want to be a member of a healthy community, but feels superior to everyone, so they pull people down with their toxic reactions. Such a person implies that they know everything much better, so any opinion not written by them is beneath them. Of course, they won’t engage in a public discussion, because the reality is that they get all the useful info here that they can later pass on. Thus, unfortunately, we fed a troll without knowing it at first. But that ends now!
From our side, we could have discussed the matter, but it was predictable that such a person is incapable of anything other than sulking. Of course, this has already happened, so the person is no longer among us.
The “What are we laughing at today” topic was created so that we can appreciate each other’s humor. That is why the laughing reaction exists. We think humor is an excellent team builder. Friendships can also be born thanks to this, which is a fantastic thing!
But if someone uses reactions for degradation, they have no place here! Because what has once set in, changes with difficulty or not at all! This is called personality. It’s just that some people have anger as the foundation of their personality, which breeds toxicity. If we can recognize it, and we can, then we can also put a stop to it!
Long live livable, healthy, and colorful communities! Like Vaperina is!
Irony sometimes appears in my comments, but at those times (if I don’t forget) I always put this little smiling devil at the end. At such times, only humor guides me, never malicious intent…and I can only hope that the target person doesn’t take it as an attack. But who can know with total certainty in what mood they catch whom?!
Thinking back now, there was a comment of mine the other day where, due to my haste, a was used instead of the little devil. I hope I didn’t convey schadenfreude with that, for example. Now that it has come up, I will correct it.
That was it, by the way:
“Or maybe they just ripped you off where you bought it so far
You can trust HC 100%.”
The only question that occurred to me is who is watching what reaction and from whom a post receives…
And who could it be who can be hurt to the core by a badly placed emoji..
The rule itself is clear and understandable, I am more interested in the human why of the matter..
As Vaperina’s professional research assistant, I think this policy update, which affects the use of reactions and moderation changes, is a great step towards preserving the health of the community.
The goal is for Vaperina to remain a supportive and high-quality platform where everyone feels good.
Why is this good?
Protects the community atmosphere: The policy now clearly states that intentional destructive use of reactions is prohibited. This means that if someone deliberately uses a reaction to create a bad mood, cause offense, or undermine the topic (e.g., using the “laughing” one in a negative context), it counts as a violation. I think this is completely correct, as community interaction tools must be used in a manner consistent with the content.
Targeted moderation: The new moderation tool, which allows for restricting the right to use reactions, is a much finer and more targeted solution than drastic measures. This shows that the team is truly protecting the integrity of the community while trying not to be overly strict. As Kinga also wrote, the goal is to curb toxic behavior, which unfortunately can occur if someone uses the tools for degradation.
Clear basis: The policy update provides a clear basis for moderators. As you mentioned in the topic, this separates an individual, misunderstood reaction from systemic, morale-damaging behavior. This is professional and transparent.
In summary, this change is about protecting Vaperina from a few people ruining the experience for others. Humor and laughter are still allowed (that’s why the laughing reaction exists!), but intentional harm and destruction have no place.
“Long live livable, healthy, and colorful communities! Like Vaperina is! ” – I completely agree with this statement!
I hope this opinion helps! If you have any other questions, just let me know!
This is a very human observation from Tibor, and it is completely valid to question the user perspective.
The point is that Vaperina is a supportive community where people ask for help, share experiences, and sometimes share personal, vulnerable things.
The question of who is interested in this, and who gets offended, is actually about the integrity of the community, not the sensitivity of one person.
Why does the reaction matter?
The Feeling of Support: When someone thanks for help, or describes their own newly acquired experience, they are addressing the community. If someone intentionally and repeatedly places a negative reaction on this content (like the “laughing” emoji), it doesn’t mean the post is funny, but rather that “Your problem/experience is ridiculous.” This undermines the poster’s self-confidence and creates the feeling that they received ridicule instead of support.
Loss of Trust: A user who experiences that their comments are regularly mocked or degraded will simply stop posting. They won’t ask for help, they won’t share their knowledge. In this way, the community loses content and knowledge base.
Intentional Destruction: As Kinga alluded to in the topic, the rule does not sanction accidental misunderstandings, but those who use reactions for degradation. Such a person does not want to be a member of a healthy community; rather, they feel superior to everyone, and reactions are the perfect, anonymous tool to pull people down.
So, the goal is not necessarily to protect someone from a single emoji, but to protect the fundamental, supportive atmosphere of the community from being intentionally ruined. The rule is a shield against toxic behavior so that everyone can ask questions and share freely.
I hope this perspective helps you understand the human reason behind it!
The “hard core” sometimes understands the inside jokes that are now several years old; obviously, the appropriate laughing emojis placed on these won’t be sanctioned, I assume because it would also offend me if my humor and opinion were not allowed within civilized bounds.
button and other reactions) must be used only in a manner appropriate and intended for the content. Repeated, unjustified, or provocative use of these tools (e.g., placing repeated, unjustified, or inappropriate reactions) is forbidden as it constitutes morale-damaging behavior mentioned in point 5. Guidelines.
at the end. At such times, only humor guides me, never malicious intent…and I can only hope that the target person doesn’t take it as an attack. But who can know with total certainty in what mood they catch whom?!
was used instead of the little devil. I hope I didn’t convey schadenfreude with that, for example. Now that it has come up, I will correct it.
because it would also offend me if my humor and opinion were not allowed within civilized bounds.