TOSOW Gaming Community
Disciplinary Action Policy
Effective Date: May 2026 Approved
By: TOSOW Founding Council
Last Reviewed: May 2026
TABLE OF CONTENTS
By: TOSOW Founding Council
Last Reviewed: May 2026
- Purpose and Scope
- Core Community Values
- Definitions
- Prohibited Conduct
- Violation Levels and Classifications
- Disciplinary Actions
- The Disciplinary Process
- Staff Disciplinary Procedures
- Evidence Standards
- Appeals Process
- Reinstatement Policy
- Reporting Misconduct
- Confidentiality
- Staff Accountability
- Policy Amendments
- Acknowledgment
1.1 Purpose
The TOSOW (The Origins of Special Operation Warfare) Gaming Community Disciplinary Action Policy exists to protect the integrity, safety, and enjoyment of all community members. This document establishes clear, fair, and consistent standards for addressing violations of community rules and member conduct expectations.
TOSOW is committed to maintaining a welcoming, competitive, and respectful environment for all members, regardless of rank, playtime, or status. This policy ensures that discipline is applied equitably and transparently, with no member above accountability.
1.2 Scope
This policy applies to:
- All registered members of the TOSOW Gaming Community
- All staff members including Moderators, Administrators, Council Members, and Commanders
- All platforms and channels where TOSOW operates including but not limited to Discord servers, in-game communities, forums, social media pages, and any third-party platforms affiliated with TOSOW
- All community-sanctioned events, tournaments, scrimmages, and organized activities
- Direct messages and private communications when those communications involve community members and are brought to staff attention as evidence of misconduct
SECTION 2: CORE COMMUNITY VALUES
All disciplinary decisions made within TOSOW are guided by the following foundational values:
Respect — Every member deserves to be treated with dignity. Personal attacks, demeaning language, and disrespectful behavior toward any individual will not be tolerated.
Integrity — Members and staff are expected to be honest, to compete and collaborate fairly, and to uphold the reputation of TOSOW in all spaces.
Fairness — Rules apply equally to everyone. No rank, tenure, or relationship with leadership grants immunity from accountability.
Safety — TOSOW is committed to keeping its spaces free from harassment, threats, discrimination, and harm of any kind.
Community — The strength of TOSOW comes from its members. Actions that divide, undermine, or harm the community as a whole are taken seriously.
SECTION 3: DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this policy, the following terms are defined as follows:
Member — Any individual who has joined the TOSOW Gaming Community in any official capacity, including trial members and full members.
Staff — Any individual who holds a moderation, administrative, council, or leadership role within TOSOW.
Infraction — Any action, statement, or behavior that violates TOSOW community rules or this policy.
Disciplinary Action — Any official response taken by TOSOW staff in response to an infraction, ranging from a verbal warning to a permanent ban.
Strike — A formal recorded warning issued to a member following a rules violation.
Mute — A temporary restriction preventing a member from sending messages in TOSOW channels.
Kick — Removal from a TOSOW platform or server without a permanent ban, allowing re-entry.
Temporary Ban — A time-limited suspension from TOSOW platforms and activities.
Permanent Ban — Indefinite removal from TOSOW with no automatic right to return.
Appeal — A formal request by a disciplined member to have their case reviewed by a higher authority.
Moderator — A staff member responsible for day-to-day enforcement of community rules.
Administrator — A senior staff member with elevated authority over policy decisions and staff management.
Council — The governing body of TOSOW, consisting of Council Members, Commander(s), and Founders.
SECTION 4: PROHIBITED CONDUCT
The following behaviors are explicitly prohibited within all TOSOW spaces. This list is illustrative and not exhaustive. Staff reserve the right to address conduct that violates the spirit of community standards even if not specifically listed below.
4.1 Harassment and Personal Attacks
- Targeting, mocking, insulting, or intimidating any member repeatedly or persistently
- Sending unsolicited aggressive, threatening, or demeaning direct messages
- Encouraging others to harass or gang up on a specific member
- Following a member across channels or platforms to continue harassment after they have disengaged
- Using slurs, derogatory language, or dehumanizing rhetoric based on race, ethnicity, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other protected characteristic
- Making jokes or memes that demean specific groups of people
- Promoting ideologies or content rooted in hatred or discrimination
- Making explicit or implied threats of physical harm against any individual
- Threatening to harm a member’s property, family, or livelihood
- Posting, sharing, or linking to violent, graphic, or disturbing content
- Doxxing — publishing private personal information of any individual with the intent to harm, harass, or intimidate
- Using cheats, hacks, exploits, or unauthorized software to gain an unfair advantage in any game or community competition
- Intentionally sabotaging teammates or organized community matches
- Match-fixing, score manipulation, or colluding to artificially influence competition outcomes
- Boosting or account sharing in ways that violate game terms of service or TOSOW competition rules
- Persistent trash talking, taunting, or disrespectful behavior toward opponents during events
- Flooding channels with repeated messages, images, links, or emojis
- Posting off-topic, irrelevant, or disruptive content in designated channels
- Pinging or mentioning roles, staff members, or large groups without legitimate reason
- Using bots or automated tools to disrupt community communications
- Posting, sharing, or linking to sexually explicit, pornographic, or NSFW content in any TOSOW channel
- Sharing content that promotes self-harm, suicide, or dangerous activities
- Posting graphic violence, gore, or disturbing imagery
- Content that exploits or endangers minors in any way
- Impersonating any TOSOW staff member, Council member, or Founder
- Creating alternate accounts to evade bans or disciplinary actions
- Misrepresenting rank, status, or authority within the community
- Spreading deliberate misinformation about TOSOW policies, decisions, or leadership
- Refusing to comply with reasonable instructions from TOSOW staff during an active moderation situation
- Publicly inciting members to disobey or disrespect staff authority
- Attempting to circumvent disciplinary actions through manipulation or social pressure
- Sharing confidential staff communications, discussions, or decisions without authorization
- Scamming, deceiving, or defrauding any TOSOW member of in-game items, currency, accounts, or real money
- Using the TOSOW platform to advertise, recruit, or solicit for competing communities without authorization
- Unauthorized commercial solicitation or promotion within TOSOW spaces
- Sharing malware, phishing links, or harmful files in any TOSOW channel
- Attempting to gain unauthorized access to TOSOW systems, accounts, or data
- Coordinating or participating in raids, attacks, or mass disruption of TOSOW spaces
SECTION 5: VIOLATION LEVELS AND CLASSIFICATIONS
All infractions are classified into one of four severity levels. Classification is determined by the nature of the offense, its impact on the community, and any prior history of violations.
Level 1 — Minor Violation
Minor violations are low-severity infractions that typically result from carelessness, unfamiliarity with rules, or isolated poor judgment. These do not cause significant harm but still require correction.
Examples include: - Posting in the wrong channel - Low-level spam or excessive emoji use - Minor off-topic disruption - Mild disrespectful language in a one-off instance - Failure to follow channel-specific formatting rules
Level 2 — Moderate Violation
Moderate violations are infractions that negatively impact the experience of other members or reflect persistent disregard for community standards.
Examples include: - Repeated minor violations after prior warning - Targeted insults or personal attacks - Excessive spam or repeated disruption - Unsportsmanlike conduct during events - Sharing mildly inappropriate content in public channels - Unauthorized promotion or solicitation
Level 3 — Serious Violation
Serious violations are infractions that cause meaningful harm to individuals, groups, or the community as a whole. These require firm and immediate action.
Examples include: - Harassment campaigns targeting a specific member - Cheating in community-organized events or competitions - Posting or sharing NSFW or graphic content - Deliberate impersonation of staff or leadership - Creating alternate accounts to evade prior moderation actions - Coordinated disruption of community events or channels - Scamming or defrauding community members
Level 4 — Severe / Zero-Tolerance Violation
Severe violations are the most serious infractions and may result in immediate permanent action without a graduated warning process. TOSOW maintains a zero-tolerance stance on these behaviors.
Examples include: - Hate speech, slurs, or targeted discrimination - Credible threats of violence or harm - Doxxing or sharing private personal information - Sharing child sexual abuse material or content that exploits minors (immediate permanent ban and report to authorities) - Coordinated attacks or raids on TOSOW infrastructure - Blackmail or extortion involving community members or staff - Gross abuse of staff authority
SECTION 6: DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
TOSOW employs a range of disciplinary responses scaled to the severity of the infraction and the member’s conduct history. All disciplinary actions are formally logged.
6.1 Verbal Warning
- Issued for first-time or minor infractions
- Communicated directly to the member via message or in-channel correction
- Recorded internally but does not count as a formal Strike
- No appeal required — member is expected to acknowledge and correct behavior
- Issued for repeated minor violations or first-time moderate violations
- Delivered via direct message with a clear explanation of the violation
- Officially recorded in the member’s disciplinary record
- Accumulation of three (3) Strikes within a 90-day rolling period triggers escalation to a temporary mute or ban
- Temporarily removes the member’s ability to send messages in TOSOW channels
- Duration ranges from 1 hour to 7 days depending on severity and history
- Member retains access to read community content during the mute period
- Issued for persistent disruptive behavior or moderate violations
| Offense Level | First Mute | Second Mute | Third Mute |
| Level 1 | 1–6 hours | 12–24 hours | 3 days |
| Level 2 | 24 hours | 3 days | 7 days + review |
6.4 Kick
- Removal from the TOSOW server or platform with the ability to rejoin
- Used as a warning escalation or for disruptive behavior in live situations
- Does not constitute a ban and does not prevent future participation
- May be issued alongside a formal Strike
- Suspension from all TOSOW platforms and activities for a defined period
- Durations range from 3 days to 90 days depending on the violation and history
- Member may not participate in events, communications, or community activities during this period
- Upon expiration, member may return subject to a probationary period
| Situation | Duration |
| Three Strikes within 90 days | 7–14 days |
| First serious (Level 3) violation | 14–30 days |
| Repeat serious violations | 30–90 days |
| Staff-determined aggravated cases | Up to 90 days |
6.6 Permanent Ban
- Indefinite removal from all TOSOW platforms, events, and affiliated spaces
- Reserved for zero-tolerance violations or members with severe repeat offense histories
- Member may submit a reinstatement appeal no sooner than 6 months after the ban unless specified otherwise
- Certain offenses (e.g., CSAM, credible threats of violence) result in non-appealable permanent bans
- Applicable to staff members who violate this policy or abuse their authority
- May be issued alongside other disciplinary actions
- Demotion level determined by the severity of the infraction and Council review
- Demoted staff members are subject to the standard member disciplinary track going forward
TOSOW follows a consistent and fair process for all disciplinary matters to ensure every member is treated equitably.
Step 1 — Detection or Report
A potential violation is identified through: - Direct observation by a staff member - A report submitted by a community member - Evidence submitted to the staff team
Step 2 — Initial Review
The receiving staff member reviews the report or observed conduct to determine: - Whether a violation occurred - The appropriate violation level - Whether immediate action is required to protect the community
For urgent situations (active threats, hate speech, etc.), staff may take immediate protective action such as a mute or kick before completing a full review.
Step 3 — Evidence Collection
Staff compile all relevant evidence including: - Screenshots or screen recordings - Chat logs or message history - Witness statements from other members - Prior disciplinary records of the involved member
Evidence must be preserved in the staff records channel or designated documentation system.
Step 4 — Deliberation
- Level 1 violations: May be handled by a single Moderator
- Level 2 violations: Require review and agreement of at least two (2) staff members
- Level 3 violations: Require Senior Moderator or Administrator review
- Level 4 violations: Require Administrator or Council involvement; major decisions should involve at least two Council-level members
Step 5 — Decision and Action
The appropriate disciplinary action is determined and applied. The member is notified via direct message with: - The specific violation committed - The disciplinary action taken - The duration (if applicable) - Information about the appeals process
Step 6 — Documentation
All disciplinary actions are recorded in TOSOW’s official disciplinary log with the following information: - Date and time of the incident - Member username and ID - Description of the violation - Evidence summary - Disciplinary action taken - Staff member(s) responsible for the decision - Any appeal outcome (if applicable)
SECTION 8: STAFF DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
Staff members are held to a higher standard than general members. Abuse of authority, failure to follow proper procedures, or conduct unbecoming of a TOSOW staff member will be addressed through the following process.
8.1 Reporting Staff Misconduct
Members who believe a staff member has acted improperly may: - Submit a report directly to an Administrator, Senior Administrator, or Council Member - Contact the TOSOW Council through the designated appeal or report channel - If the misconduct involves an Administrator, the matter is escalated directly to the Council
Reports against staff must include evidence and a clear description of the alleged misconduct. Anonymous reports may be considered at Council discretion.
8.2 Staff Disciplinary Review
Staff disciplinary matters are handled by the next level of authority above the staff member in question:
- Moderator misconduct: Reviewed by Senior Moderator or Administrator
- Senior Moderator misconduct: Reviewed by Administrator or Senior Administrator
- Administrator misconduct: Reviewed by Senior Administrator or Council
- Senior Administrator or Council misconduct: Reviewed by Commander and/or Founder
- Formal written reprimand added to staff record
- Temporary removal of moderation powers
- Demotion to a lower staff rank
- Removal from staff entirely (return to member status)
- If conduct also violates general community rules, standard member disciplinary action applies in addition
Any staff member found to have retaliated against a member for submitting a complaint in good faith will face immediate disciplinary review and possible removal from staff. Retaliation is a zero-tolerance offense for staff.
SECTION 9: EVIDENCE STANDARDS
Fair and consistent enforcement depends on reliable evidence. TOSOW uses the following standards when evaluating reports.
9.1 Acceptable Evidence
- Direct screenshots from platforms with visible usernames, timestamps, and context
- Screen recordings capturing the conduct in question
- Chat log exports from official TOSOW platforms
- Corroborating witness accounts from multiple credible members
- Moderator direct observation of conduct
- Evidence must not be cropped, edited, or altered in any way that changes context or meaning
- Providing fabricated or manipulated evidence is itself a severe violation subject to immediate disciplinary action
- Staff must independently verify evidence where possible before acting on it
When direct evidence is limited, staff may still take action based on: - Patterns of behavior supported by multiple partial reports - Credible and consistent statements from multiple independent witnesses - Prior documented history of similar conduct
Members will be informed if action is taken on circumstantial grounds and the appeals process remains fully available to them.
9.4 Evidence Retention
All evidence related to disciplinary actions is retained in TOSOW’s internal records for a minimum of one (1) year. Evidence related to permanent bans is retained indefinitely.
SECTION 10: APPEALS PROCESS
TOSOW believes every disciplined member deserves the opportunity to have their case reviewed fairly.
10.1 Appeal Eligibility
Any member who has received a formal disciplinary action (Strike, Mute, Kick, Temporary Ban, or Permanent Ban) may submit an appeal unless: - Their ban was issued for a non-appealable zero-tolerance offense (e.g., CSAM) - They have previously had an appeal denied for the same incident - Their appeal window has expired
10.2 Appeal Window
- Strikes, Mutes, and Kicks: Must be appealed within 7 days of the action
- Temporary Bans: Must be appealed within 14 days of the action
- Permanent Bans: First appeal may be submitted no sooner than 30 days and no later than 6 months after the ban; subsequent appeals (if allowed) may be submitted no sooner than 6 months after the previous denial
Members must submit their appeal through the official TOSOW appeals channel or designated form. The appeal must include:
- The member’s username
- The disciplinary action being appealed
- The date the action was issued
- The reason for the appeal — what the member believes was incorrect, unfair, or disproportionate
- Any supporting evidence the member wishes to present
10.4 Appeal Review
- Level 1 and 2 actions: Reviewed by a Senior Moderator or Administrator not involved in the original decision
- Level 3 actions: Reviewed by an Administrator and at least one Council Member
- Level 4 / Permanent Ban appeals: Reviewed by a full Council panel including Commander and/or Founder
10.5 Appeal Outcomes
- Upheld — The original action stands. No further action on this incident is available unless new evidence emerges.
- Modified — The action is adjusted (e.g., a temporary ban is shortened or a strike is reduced to a warning).
- Overturned — The disciplinary action is reversed. All records from this incident are marked as void. Any lost privileges are restored.
Decisions made at the Council or Founder level are final. TOSOW does not offer an additional tier of appeal beyond the Council’s ruling.
SECTION 11: REINSTATEMENT POLICY
11.1 Returning from a Temporary Ban
Members returning from a temporary ban are placed on a probationary period equal to the length of their ban (minimum 14 days). During probation:
- The member is subject to heightened monitoring
- Any additional violation during probation will result in escalated disciplinary action
- At the end of the probationary period, the member returns to standard standing
Members who have successfully appealed a permanent ban or been granted reinstatement must:
- Acknowledge and agree to this Disciplinary Policy in writing before re-entry
- Enter TOSOW at the base Recruit rank regardless of prior rank
- Serve a mandatory probationary period of no less than 90 days
- Receive no Community Points credit for prior standing
11.3 Ban Evasion
Creating alternate accounts to bypass an active ban is a zero-tolerance violation. Upon discovery:
- All identified alternate accounts will be permanently banned
- The original ban duration may be extended or converted to a permanent ban if it was temporary
- Evidence of ban evasion may be used to deny future reinstatement appeals
TOSOW encourages all members to report conduct that violates this policy. The community is only as safe as its members are willing to hold each other accountable.
12.1 How to Report
Members may report misconduct through any of the following methods:
- Using the designated report command or channel in the TOSOW Discord server
- Submitting a formal report via the TOSOW report form (where available)
- Directly messaging a Moderator, Senior Moderator, or Administrator
- For urgent or serious matters, contacting a Council Member or Commander
- Description of the incident and what was said or done
- The username(s) of the member(s) involved
- Screenshots, recordings, or links to the content in question
- The channel or platform where the incident occurred
- Any witnesses who may have observed the conduct
All reports submitted in good faith will be taken seriously and investigated. TOSOW does not penalize members for reporting concerns, even if the final determination is that no violation occurred.
However, submitting false reports, fabricating evidence, or using the reporting system to target or harass other members is itself a serious violation subject to disciplinary action.
12.4 Report Confidentiality
The identity of the reporting member is kept confidential to the extent possible. Staff will not disclose who filed a report unless legally required or essential to a fair investigation, and only with senior staff authorization.
SECTION 13: CONFIDENTIALITY
13.1 Member Privacy
All disciplinary matters are handled with discretion. Staff members involved in a case are expected to maintain confidentiality and not discuss the matter publicly or with members not involved in the review.
13.2 Staff Communications
Internal staff discussions, deliberations, and records related to disciplinary cases are confidential. Leaking confidential staff communications to the general membership or outside parties without authorization is a serious violation of staff conduct.
13.3 Public Announcements
In cases where a disciplinary action impacts the broader community (e.g., removal of a high-ranking member or staff member), TOSOW leadership may issue a brief public statement. Such statements will not include personal details beyond what is necessary for community transparency.
SECTION 14: STAFF ACCOUNTABILITY
Staff members are expected to uphold this policy with professionalism and impartiality at all times.
14.1 Standards of Conduct for Staff
All TOSOW staff must:
- Apply rules consistently and without favoritism
- Recuse themselves from cases where they have a personal conflict of interest
- Never use their authority to intimidate, bully, or retaliate against members
- Document all disciplinary actions fully and accurately
- Escalate cases that exceed their authority level to the appropriate staff tier
- Respect the confidentiality of all disciplinary proceedings
Staff members must declare any personal relationship (friendship, rivalry, romantic involvement, etc.) with a member involved in a disciplinary matter. Failure to declare a conflict and self-recuse is itself a staff violation.
14.3 Power Abuse
Any staff member found to have: - Issued punishments without basis or evidence - Protected friends from justified discipline - Manipulated cases to target members they dislike - Abused permissions, access, or tools for personal gain……will face immediate staff review, potential demotion or removal, and may be subject to standard member discipline for the underlying conduct.
SECTION 15: POLICY AMENDMENTS
15.1 Review Schedule
This policy will be reviewed by the TOSOW Council on a quarterly basis or whenever significant community changes, new platforms, or emerging issues require an update.
15.2 Amendments
Policy amendments may be proposed by any staff member at the Administrator level or above. Amendments must be reviewed and approved by a majority of active Council Members before taking effect.
Amendments will be announced to the community with a reasonable notice period before enforcement begins under the revised policy.
15.3 Version History
All versions of this policy are archived and accessible to senior staff for reference. Members may request to view the version of the policy in effect at the time of their disciplinary action during an appeal.
SECTION 16: ACKNOWLEDGMENT
By participating in the TOSOW Gaming Community — including joining any TOSOW server, channel, team, or event — all members acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to abide by this Disciplinary Action Policy.
Ignorance of specific rules is not a valid defense against disciplinary action. Members are responsible for familiarizing themselves with this policy and any posted community rules.
TOSOW reserves the right to take action against any conduct that violates the spirit of this policy and its core community values, even in situations not explicitly covered by the letter of this document.
TOSOW Gaming Community — Disciplinary Action Policy Issued by the TOSOW Founding Council — May 2026 “Honor in Battle. Respect in Community. Excellence in All Things.”