Community Guidelines

1.1 Treat Others with Respect

All community members deserve respectful treatment. You must:

• Communicate politely and professionally with other users
• Accept and acknowledge diverse perspectives and experiences
• Respond to disagreement with courtesy, not hostility
• Avoid sarcasm or tone that could be misinterpreted as disrespectful
• Address issues with clarity without personal attacks

1.2 No Harassment or Abuse

Harassment and abuse are strictly prohibited. This includes:

• Sending threatening, insulting, or hostile messages
• Targeting individuals or groups with repeated abuse
• Making unwanted sexual advances or comments of a sexual nature
• Doxxing (sharing personal information without consent)
• Cyberbullying, mocking, or shaming individuals
• Making personal attacks based on appearance, identity, or status
• Stalking or obsessively tracking another user's activity

1.3 No Discrimination or Hate Speech

Discrimination and hateful content are absolutely prohibited. You must not:

• Use slurs, epithets, or hateful language targeting protected groups
• Promote discrimination based on race, ethnicity, caste, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin
• Incite violence or hostility against individuals or groups
• Spread hate propaganda or supremacist ideologies
• Make dehumanizing statements about any person or group
• Deliberately exclude or marginalize people based on protected characteristics

1.4 Resolving Disputes Constructively

If you have a conflict with another user: (a) Communicate directly and respectfully; (b) Try to understand their perspective; (c) Seek a peaceful resolution; (d) Contact HomeStove support if direct resolution fails; (e) Do not escalate conflict publicly or privately harass the person.

2.1 Truthfulness and Accuracy

All information you share on the Platform must be truthful and accurate:

• Provide honest reviews and ratings based on your actual experience
• Do not post false information or misleading statements
• Disclose relevant information (e.g., if you're affiliated with a Chef or competitor)
• Correct inaccurate information if you become aware of it
• Do not impersonate others or misrepresent your identity

2.2 No Misinformation or Disinformation

Spreading false or misleading information is prohibited:

• Do not spread health misinformation or false medical claims about food
• Do not make false allegations about food safety, contamination, or illness
• Do not spread conspiracy theories or baseless accusations
• Do not manipulate or alter images/videos to deceive others
• Do not share unverified rumors as facts

2.3 Reviews and Ratings Integrity

Reviews and ratings must be genuine and unmanipulated:

• Post only reviews based on your own experience
• Do not post fake reviews or solicit reviews from others
• Do not write reviews for competitors as a sabotage tactic
• Do not offer incentives or payments for positive reviews
• Do not use multiple accounts to inflate or deflate ratings
• Do not post promotional content disguised as a genuine review

3.1 No Illegal or Harmful Content

Content that violates laws or promotes harm is strictly prohibited:

• Do not post content related to illegal activities
• Do not share content that promotes violence, self-harm, or suicide
• Do not promote drug use, dangerous activities, or unsafe practices
• Do not share content that exploits or endangers children
• Do not facilitate fraud, theft, or other crimes

3.2 No Adult or Explicit Content

Adult and sexually explicit content is not permitted:

• Do not post sexually explicit images, videos, or descriptions
• Do not share nude or sexually suggestive photos
• Do not make sexually explicit comments or propositions
• Do not use the Platform for adult services or sex work
• Content featuring non-consensual intimacy is especially prohibited

3.3 No Spam or Commercial Exploitation

The Platform is not a space for spam or unrelated commercial promotion:

• Do not spam the same message repeatedly
• Do not post promotional content unrelated to food or HomeStove
• Do not use HomeStove to advertise competing services or products
• Do not send unsolicited marketing messages or links
• Do not engage in multi-level marketing (MLM) or pyramid schemes

3.4 Respect Intellectual Property

Respect copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property:

• Do not copy or reproduce others' photos without permission
• Do not use others' content and claim it as your own
• Do not infringe on HomeStove's trademarks or branding
• Use original content or properly attribute sources
• Respect privacy and do not share others' photos without consent

3.5 No Dangerous or Offensive Material

Content that is disturbing, graphic, or gratuitously offensive is not acceptable:

4.1 Chef and Kitchen Operator Standards

Chefs and kitchen operators must maintain high standards:

• Maintain FSSAI registration and all required food safety licenses
• Follow all food safety regulations and hygiene standards
• Prepare food in clean, sanitary conditions
• Handle, store, and package food properly
• Disclose allergens and ingredients accurately
• Deliver food promptly and in proper condition
• Respond professionally to customer concerns
• Maintain transparency about food sourcing and preparation

4.2 Accurate Menu and Ingredient Information

Chefs must provide accurate information:

• Describe dishes accurately and completely
• List all major ingredients and potential allergens
• Indicate if items are vegan, vegetarian, or contain specific allergens
• Update menus promptly when items are unavailable
• Do not misrepresent the origin, quality, or nature of food

4.3 Reporting Food Safety Issues

If you experience a food safety issue:

• Report it immediately to HomeStove support
• Provide photos and details of the issue if possible
• Do not publicly accuse the Chef without evidence
• Allow HomeStove to investigate before posting public reviews
• If you report false food safety claims, you may face account action

5.1 Protecting Your Account

You are responsible for your account security:

• Use a strong, unique password and change it regularly
• Never share your password with others
• Log out when using shared or public devices
• Report unauthorized access immediately to support@homestove.in
• Enable two-factor authentication if available

5.2 No Account Sharing or Selling

Your account is personal and non-transferable:

• Do not share your account with family members or friends
• Do not buy, sell, or trade accounts
• Do not create fake accounts to manipulate the system
• Do not use automation tools to bypass security or terms

5.3 Privacy Respect

Respect the privacy of other community members:

• Do not share others' personal information without consent
• Do not screenshot and share private conversations
• Do not collect data about other users for analysis
• Do not access accounts or information you're not authorized to see

6.1 Levels of Enforcement

HomeStove enforces these Guidelines with escalating actions:

• Warning: First-time minor violations receive a warning and chance to correct behavior
• Content Removal: Violating content (reviews, comments, messages) is removed
• Temporary Suspension: Repeated violations may result in temporary account suspension (7-30 days)
• Permanent Termination: Severe violations (harassment, hate speech, illegal activity) result in permanent account termination

6.2 Automatic Content Removal

HomeStove may automatically remove content that:

• Is flagged by automated systems as potentially violating Guidelines
• Violates laws or regulations
• Is reported by multiple community members
• Contains child safety concerns

6.3 Appeals and Dispute Resolution

If you believe your content was removed or your account was suspended unfairly:

• Contact HomeStove support at support@homestove.in within 7 days
• Provide detailed explanation of why you believe the action was in error
• Provide relevant evidence or context
• HomeStove will review your appeal and respond within 14 days
• If upheld, you may accept the decision or request escalation to our Grievance Officer

6.4 Zero Tolerance for Illegal Activity

HomeStove has zero tolerance for illegal activity. If you engage in illegal conduct, your account will be immediately terminated and HomeStove will cooperate with law enforcement if required.

7.1 Reporting Violations

If you witness a violation of these Guidelines:

• Use the "Report" button on the content or user profile
• Provide specific details about the violation
• Include relevant screenshots or links
• Do not publicly shame or call out the violator
• HomeStove will investigate reports confidentially

7.2 Support Resources

If you need support or have concerns:

• Contact HomeStove support at support@homestove.in
• Visit our support portal at https://homestove.in/support
• Report safety concerns immediately
• Escalate unresolved issues to our Grievance Officer

7.3 Community Moderation

HomeStove employs human moderators and automated systems to monitor community activity. Our moderation team reviews reports, investigates violations, and enforces these Guidelines fairly and consistently.