Tool Crib: Community Guidelines

Tool Crib is a specialized network of communities created, run, and populated by you: the tradespeople, contractors, pros, DIYers, and homeowners who build our world. Through these communities, you can post, comment, vote, discuss, learn, debate, support, and connect with people who share your interests and expertise. We encourage you to find or one day create your home at the Tool Crib.

While not every community may be for you (and you may find some techniques or opinions unrelatable or even frustrating), no community should be used as a weapon. Communities should foster a sense of professional belonging among their members, not diminish it for others. Likewise, everyone on the Tool Crib should expect privacy and safety; please respect others' privacy and protect their information.

Community Stewardship

Every community on the Tool Crib is defined by its users. Some users help manage these spaces as moderators. The culture of each community is shaped explicitly by rules enforced by moderators and implicitly by members' upvotes, downvotes, and discussions. Please abide by the laws of communities in which you participate and do not interfere with those in which you are not a member.

Below are the rules governing each community; the platform-wide rules apply to everyone. We enforce these, the admins. The Tool Crib can exist only if we operate under a shared set of rules. We ask that you abide by also the spirit of these rules.

The Rules

Rule 1: Remember the Human (and the Colleague)

Maintain a pro-standard. Tool Crib is a place for building community, not for attacking others. Everyone has the right to use this platform free of harassment, bullying, and threats of violence. Communities or users that incite violence or promote hate based on identity or vulnerability will be banned. Address the trade, never the person.

Rule 2: Abide by Community Rules & Stay on Topic

Participate authentically in communities where you have a genuine interest. Do not engage in disruptive behaviors, off-topic "ranting," or content manipulation. To maintain a high signal-to-noise ratio, ensure your posts align with tools, trades, techniques, and jobsite discourse.

Rule 3: Commercial Integrity & Anti-Spam

We are a discussion forum, not a classified board. Do not post unapproved sales pitches, affiliate links, or deceptive self-promotion. Any advertising or solicitation must be part of an official Acme Tools program or explicitly approved by administrators.

Rule 4: Safety First, Always

A professional’s first job is safety. Do not share advice that promotes unsafe work practices, encourages the bypassing of manufacturer safety features, or facilitates illegal activity (including theft or fraud). Posts that jeopardize our members' physical safety will be removed immediately.

Rule 5: Post Quality, Expert-Led Content

Please help us maintain our E-E-A-T standards. We value first-hand experience, what breaks, and why. Use clear, specific titles and avoid low-effort posts. Do not intentionally mislead others or impersonate individuals, brands, or entities deceptively.

Rule 6: Respect Privacy & Confidentiality

Protect yourself and your clients. Instigating harassment by revealing personal or confidential information, such as customer details or non-public jobsite addresses, is prohibited. Never post or threaten to post intimate or private media without consent.

Rule 7: Keep it Legal

Don't post illegal content, and don't solicit or facilitate prohibited transactions. We cooperate with industry regulations to ensure the Tool Crib remains a trusted professional resource.

Rule 8: Don’t Break the Site

Please do not interfere with the regular use of the Tool Crib or its underlying infrastructure. This includes the unauthorized use of bots, scraping, or flooding the platform with repetitive content.

Enforcement

We have a variety of ways of enforcing our rules to protect the integrity of the Tool Crib, including:

• Educational Warnings: Asking you nicely (or less nicely) to knock it off.
• Account Restrictions: Temporary or permanent suspension of privileges.
• Community Safeguards: Adding NSFW tags, Quarantining, or removing specific content.
• Permanent Bans: Removal of users or communities that repeatedly violate these standards.

By following these guidelines, you help us build the most trustworthy and valuable resource for pros and DIY enthusiasts alike. Ready to contribute? Visit the Tool Crib and find your home today.