Community Guidelines

1. The Social Contract: Presence & Punctuality

Because our system matches exactly five people based on specific personality vectors and dietary preferences, your absence affects the entire group dynamic.

• The "No-Show" Rule: If you are matched, you are expected to attend. Repeated "no-shows" or cancellations with less than 24 hours' notice will result in your account being flagged or permanently suspended.
• Be on Time: Arriving more than 20 minutes late disrupts the dinner flow and the restaurant's reservation. Respect your group's time.

2. Dining Etiquette & Payments

Gatherly is a facilitator, not a host. We arrange the group, but you manage the evening.

• Individual Responsibility: Unless otherwise explicitly stated for a specific sponsored event, every member is responsible for their own bill (food, drinks, tax, and tip).
• Transparency: To avoid awkwardness, be clear with your group and the server at the beginning of the meal if you require a separate check.
• Respect the Venue: You are an ambassador of the Gatherly community. Treat restaurant staff with the same respect you show your matches.

3. Respect, Consent & Boundaries

Gatherly is for social connection, not necessarily dating. Treat all members with dignity.

• No Pressure: Do not pressure group members to share social media handles, phone numbers, or "after-party" plans.
• Inclusive Conduct: Our matching algorithm focuses on personality cohesion. We expect members to be inclusive of all backgrounds, religions, and lifestyles.
• Privacy: What is discussed at the table stays at the table. Do not record, photograph (without explicit consent), or "dox" your fellow diners.

4. Profile Integrity & Authenticity

• Be Real: Your profile photo must be a clear, recent, and accurate representation of yourself. This is essential so your group can find you at the venue.
• Adults Only: Gatherly is strictly for adults aged 18+. Do not create accounts for minors.
• No "Gaming" the System: Do not provide false personality or interest data to try and match with specific demographics. This creates "Cohesion Friction" and ruins the experience for others.

5. Safety & Offline Conduct

Your safety is our priority, but you are responsible for your own judgment.

• Public Meetings Only: Never agree to change a Gatherly dinner location to a private residence. Stay in public spaces.
• Alcohol & Substances: Drink responsibly. Excessive intoxication that makes other group members uncomfortable or unsafe is grounds for immediate removal from the platform.
• The "Exit" Right: If at any point you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, you have the right to leave. We ask that you report the incident to [email protected] so we can take action. Gatherly is not an emergency service; call local authorities for immediate danger.

6. Prohibited Content & Harassment

Gatherly has a zero-tolerance policy for:

• Hate Speech: Discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, disability, age, nationality, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity.
• Abusive Behavior: Stalking, bullying, sexual solicitation, or shaming.
• Commercial Use: Do not use Gatherly to "pitch" businesses, MLMs, or commercial services to your matches.
• Inappropriate Media: No nudity, graphic violence, or sexually explicit content in profiles.

7. Enforcement & Appeals

We use a combination of automated triggers (such as "No-Show" detection) and human review to enforce these rules.

• Sanctions: Actions range from a formal warning or feature limitation to a permanent ban. We may take action for serious off-platform conduct that threatens user safety.
• Appeals: If you believe a sanction was applied in error, you may appeal via [email protected] within 14 days of the action.

Reporting Concerns

If you witness a violation of these guidelines, please use the in-app reporting tool or email [email protected]. We investigate every report to keep the "Power of Five" a positive experience for everyone.