Community Guidelines

Bassfinity is built for anglers who share a passion for fishing. Our community thrives when everyone feels welcome, respected, and safe. These guidelines help us maintain a positive environment where anglers can connect, learn, and celebrate their catches together.

1. Our Community Values

Every member of Bassfinity is expected to uphold these core values:

• Respect: Treat every angler with dignity, regardless of skill level, location, or background
• Authenticity: Share real catches, honest experiences, and genuine advice
• Safety: Prioritize your safety and the safety of others on the water
• Conservation: Practice responsible fishing and respect for wildlife and the environment
• Inclusion: Welcome newcomers and foster a supportive learning environment

2. Be Respectful and Kind

Our community is built on mutual respect. We expect all members to:

• Engage in constructive conversations and offer helpful feedback
• Celebrate others' catches and achievements genuinely
• Disagree respectfully without personal attacks
• Be patient with beginners asking questions
• Recognize that fishing traditions and techniques vary by region

3. Share Authentic Content

Authenticity is the foundation of trust in our community:

• Only share catches that you personally caught
• Use unaltered photos that accurately represent your catch
• Report accurate weights, lengths, and locations
• Do not claim others' catches, photos, or content as your own
• Be honest about the conditions and techniques used
• Do not use AI-generated or manipulated images as real catches

4. Protect Privacy

Respect the privacy of yourself and others:

• Do not share others' personal information without consent
• Respect when anglers choose not to disclose specific fishing locations
• Do not pressure others to reveal their "secret spots"
• Obtain consent before sharing photos that include other people
• Do not stalk, track, or follow other users to their fishing locations

5. Follow Laws and Regulations

All community members must comply with applicable laws:

• Adhere to all local, state, and federal fishing regulations
• Maintain valid fishing licenses for your jurisdiction
• Respect catch limits, size restrictions, and seasonal closures
• Do not promote, glorify, or assist in poaching or illegal fishing
• Report catches that appear to violate regulations through proper channels
• Do not fish on private property without permission

Content depicting apparent violations of fishing regulations may be removed and reported to appropriate authorities.

6. No Harassment or Bullying

We have zero tolerance for harassment. The following behaviors are prohibited:

• Personal attacks, insults, or name-calling
• Threats of violence or harm
• Stalking or unwanted repeated contact
• Discriminatory comments based on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin
• Mocking or belittling others' catches, equipment, or skill level
• Coordinated harassment or pile-on behavior
• Doxxing or exposing private information
• Sexual harassment or unwanted advances

7. No Harmful or Dangerous Content

Do not post content that could cause harm:

• Graphic violence or animal cruelty
• Dangerous fishing practices that endanger yourself or others
• Content promoting self-harm or suicide
• Instructions for creating weapons or explosives
• Encouraging reckless behavior on ice, boats, or near water
• Misinformation about safety practices (especially ice fishing safety)

While we understand fishing involves handling fish, content should focus on the sport and avoid gratuitous or unnecessarily graphic imagery.

8. No Spam or Misleading Content

Keep the community genuine and free from manipulation:

• Do not post repetitive, irrelevant, or low-quality content
• Do not create fake accounts or multiple accounts to manipulate engagement
• Do not artificially inflate likes, follows, or other metrics
• Do not post misleading clickbait or deceptive content
• Do not promote scams, pyramid schemes, or fraudulent products
• Clearly disclose sponsored content and paid partnerships
• Do not impersonate other users, brands, or organizations

9. Respect Intellectual Property

Honor the creative work of others:

• Only share content you have the right to use
• Give proper credit when sharing others' content with permission
• Do not use Bassfinity to distribute pirated content
• Respect trademarks and brand identities

10. Conservation and Ethical Fishing

We encourage sustainable and ethical fishing practices:

• Practice catch-and-release responsibly when appropriate
• Handle fish properly to maximize survival rates when releasing
• Do not glorify wasteful practices or excessive harvesting
• Respect protected species and spawning seasons
• Clean up after yourself and leave fishing spots better than you found them
• Report environmental hazards or pollution you encounter

11. Reporting Violations

If you encounter content or behavior that violates these guidelines:

• Report the content or user through our in-app reporting tools
• Provide as much context as possible when reporting
• Do not engage with or retaliate against the violating user
• For urgent safety concerns, contact local authorities first

You can also report violations directly to info@bassfinity.com

12. Enforcement Actions

Violations of these guidelines may result in:

• Warning: A notice about the violation with guidance on proper conduct
• Content Removal: Removal of violating posts, photos, or comments
• Temporary Suspension: Temporary loss of access to community features
• Permanent Ban: Permanent removal from the Bassfinity community
• Legal Action: Reporting to law enforcement for serious violations

The severity of enforcement depends on the nature and frequency of violations. Serious violations such as threats, harassment, or illegal activity may result in immediate permanent bans without warning.

13. Appeals

If you believe enforcement action was taken against you in error, you may appeal by contacting us at info@bassfinity.com. Please include your username, the action taken, and why you believe it was incorrect. Appeals are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, and our decision is final.

14. Updates to Guidelines

We may update these Community Guidelines from time to time to address new behaviors, features, or community needs. We will notify users of significant changes. Continued use of Bassfinity after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised guidelines.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions about these Community Guidelines or need to report a concern, please contact us:

Email: info@bassfinity.com