Village Law
Demerit Policy
Demerits are how Otaku Shinden enforces its Community Guidelines. This page explains how they work, what triggers them, and how to appeal.
What is a demerit?
A demerit is a formal warning recorded against your account. It is visible to admins but not to other users. Accumulating demerits triggers automatic account restrictions and flags your account for review.
| Demerit count | Consequence |
|---|---|
| 1–2 | Warning on record; no restrictions |
| 3 | Automatic 7-day account mute (cannot post) |
| 5+ | Flagged for SUPER_ADMIN review; possible permanent ban |
Demerits that are successfully overturned on appeal do not count toward these thresholds.
How demerits are issued
Demerits can be issued in two ways:
1. AI + admin review pipeline
Our AI moderation system flags content in real time. Flagged content is held in the moderation queue and reviewed by a Community Admin or higher before any action is taken. An AI flag alone does not result in a demerit — a human must confirm it.
2. Direct admin issue
Community Admins and above can issue demerits directly in response to reported content or observed violations. Every demerit must include a written reason, an optional evidence link, and is logged in the admin audit trail.
Demerit expiry
Demerits automatically expire after 90 days if no new violations occur during that period. An expired demerit is archived and no longer counts toward the restriction thresholds above, but it remains in the admin audit log permanently.
How to appeal a demerit
If you believe a demerit was issued unfairly, you have two ways to appeal:
Go to Profile › Demerits and click "Appeal" next to the demerit you want to contest — or open a Support ticket categorised as "Demerit appeal".
Write a clear, factual explanation of why you believe the demerit was incorrect. Include any relevant context (e.g. misidentified account, misread tone, or missing context). Do not argue about the rule itself — argue about whether the rule was correctly applied.
A SUPER_ADMIN who was not involved in the original decision reviews your appeal. They can overturn or uphold the demerit. This review typically takes 3–5 business days.
You will receive an email with the outcome. If overturned: the demerit is removed from your record, your demerit count decreases by one, and any mute triggered by that demerit is lifted immediately.
False demerit process
We take false demerits seriously. If our review finds that a demerit was issued in bad faith or based on a misidentification, the demerit is overturned and the issuing admin receives a note in their own review file. Repeat false issuances result in role demotion.
Important: an appeal that is denied does not mean the demerit was issued in bad faith. It means the reviewing admin agreed with the original decision. These are separate conclusions.
Mute appeals
If your account is muted as a consequence of reaching 3 demerits and you successfully appeal one of those demerits (reducing your count below 3), your mute is lifted automatically — you do not need to file a separate mute appeal.
If you believe the mute itself was applied incorrectly (e.g. a technical error), open a Support ticket categorised as "Account issue".
Last updated: May 2026. This policy is subject to change; updates will be announced on the platform.