A community, held with care.

Last updated: August 30, 2026

Hunt Down We Read exists because we believe books can bring people together to think, question, learn, and grow. A strong literary community requires more than good books. It requires respect. This Code of Conduct explains the standards we expect from everyone who participates in HDWR, including readers, authors, moderators, guests, and community contributors. By participating in HDWR discussions, challenges, events, or other community activities, you agree to follow these standards.

1. Read generously

Approach books and other readers in good faith. You do not have to like a book. You do not have to agree with another reader's interpretation. You do have to give people room to explain their perspective without immediately turning disagreement into conflict.

2. Discuss ideas, not people

Criticise arguments, interpretations, and writing. Do not attack the person making the point. A strong disagreement about a book is welcome. Contempt for a member is not.

3. Disagree with substance

Where you can, anchor your view in the text: quote a passage, cite a chapter, or explain the reasoning that led you there. This is what keeps HDWR discussions worth reading.

4. No harassment

HDWR does not tolerate harassment in any form. This includes:

• Personal attacks
• Threats
• Bullying
• Repeated unwanted contact
• Targeted humiliation
• Intimidation
• Hate-based insults
• Coordinated attacks against another member
• Deliberately encouraging others to target someone

Serious or repeated violations may result in immediate removal from the community.

5. No hate speech

HDWR does not permit content that attacks, dehumanizes, or promotes hostility toward people based on protected or personal characteristics. This includes hateful slurs, threats, or content encouraging discrimination or violence.

6. Respect privacy

Do not publish another person's private information without permission. This includes:

• Personal phone numbers
• Private email addresses
• Home addresses
• Private conversations
• Account credentials
• Payment information
• Personal documents
• Private photographs

If someone shares something with you privately, treat it as private unless you have permission to share it.

7. No payment or account fraud

Members must not attempt to:

• Use another person's payment information
• Impersonate another person
• Create fraudulent accounts
• Manipulate payment processes
• Submit false information
• Access another member's account without authorization
• Misrepresent an author, book, or organization

Suspected fraud may be referred to the appropriate payment provider or authorities where necessary.

8. Keep discussions relevant

HDWR is a literary community. Keep discussions reasonably connected to the book, author, challenge, community, or subject being discussed. Repeated spam, unrelated promotions, or disruptive posting may be removed.

9. No spam or unauthorized promotion

Do not use HDWR discussions or community spaces to repeatedly advertise unrelated products, services, websites, or social accounts. Authors may promote their work through the official HDWR author programmes and approved channels.

10. Spoilers

Use reasonable spoiler warnings when discussing significant plot developments. Where a thread is created for a particular chapter, respect that chapter boundary and do not reveal major developments outside the appropriate discussion area without warning.

11. Honest reviews

Readers are encouraged to express genuine opinions. Reviews should not be purchased, manipulated, or coordinated to create a misleading impression. Authors and community members must not pressure readers to provide positive reviews. HDWR does not guarantee positive reviews.

12. Community voting

Awards recognize genuine community contribution and literary merit. Members must not:

• Buy votes
• Sell votes
• Threaten members over voting
• Create fake accounts to influence voting
• Coordinate fraudulent voting activity
• Misrepresent eligibility

HDWR may investigate suspicious voting activity and remove votes or disqualify entries where appropriate.

13. Author conduct

Authors participating in HDWR are expected to respect readers' independence. Authors may respond to criticism and participate in discussions, but they should not pressure, threaten, or harass readers because of their opinions.

14. Moderator authority

Moderators may:

• Remove content
• Issue warnings
• Restrict participation
• Suspend accounts
• Remove members
• Investigate reports
• Close discussions

Moderation decisions are made with the goal of protecting constructive participation, and warnings, removals, and appeals are logged so members always know why a decision was made.

15. Reporting a problem

If you experience harassment, see suspicious activity, or believe another member has violated this Code of Conduct, contact support@huntdowns.com. Provide enough information for the team to understand what happened, and do not publicly publish another person's private information while reporting a problem.

16. Appeals

Where appropriate, members may request a review of a moderation decision by contacting HDWR support. Appeals should explain why you believe the decision should be reconsidered. The purpose of an appeal is review, not retaliation against moderators.

17. Our standard

We want HDWR to be a place where people can say "I disagree with you" without saying "I disrespect you." Read deeply. Think critically. Speak honestly. Treat people with respect. That is how we hunt down what books reveal.