Community Guidelines

Welcome to Fear the Fin!

Fear the Fin is a fan site dedicated to San Jose Sharks hockey. This is where fans from all backgrounds gather to share their passion for the team they love.

Fear the Fin will strive to create a fun and welcoming place for everyone. The following guidelines will help ensure that happens.

Please be respectful in all of your interactions with contributors and fellow fans.
No name-calling.
We will remove anything that we believe will jeopardize the welcoming community we are trying to create.
You can help. If you see something that does not align with the community guidelines, please flag the comment or username so that a community manager can review them.

We do not allow the following:

Personal attacks: This includes name-calling, insults, threats, hurtful comments about someone's appearance, voice, style and all other forms of attacks. Remember, we are creating a welcoming environment. Personal attacks will not be tolerated.
Attacks on contributors: It's okay if you don't agree, we welcome the counterpoint. We also know we make mistakes. But please do not start a personal attack on our writers, editors, contributors, moderators, etc. We want a great community as much as you do.
Discriminator or derogatory language: You may not use racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, or other forms of discriminatory language. Period.
Harassment: This includes, but is not limited to, intimidation; stalking; unwanted photography; inappropriate physical contact; use of sexual or discriminatory imagery, comments or jokes; and unwelcome sexual attention.
Wishing harm on athletes: Please do not root for an injury. Do not cheer for harm to befall a coach or athlete. It's okay to call for someone to be fired, traded or released from their contract. It is not okay to wish them bodily harm.
Misinformation and disinformation: We will strive to offer as much vetted information as possible, please do the same. Sharing false information about the team, news or world events beyond the scope of reasonable sports opinion or analysis is harmful to our community. These comments will be removed and may result in a suspension or ban.
Illegal activity: Do not promote, encourage or make light of any kind of legal activity including DUIs, domestic violence or sexual assault.
NSFW images and comments: Keep it PG-13. We have young fans too. All language and images that are sexual, violent or generally offensive will be removed and may result in a suspension or ban.
Excessive profanity: We understand you're passionate. We are too. But please, keep profanity to a minimum. (See "Keep it PG-13" above.)
Multiple accounts and throwaway emails: These are a sign that you do not want to be a productive member of our community and we will not allow that.
Trolling: We know it when we see it and we will remove it. Do not go to a rival team's community simply to rile up their fans. While we are an independent site, we do talk to other independent site managers. Please be civil. Moreover, you should never publish any private or personally identifiable information. Doxxing is strictly prohibited.
The "first post" rule: If you break any of these guidelines with your very first post or interaction, it is a signal that you're here to be disruptive. Violaters may be banned, blocked or removed.
Spam: We have a zero-tolerance policy on spam. This includes sharking links to illegal game streams or downloads. Spam will be deleted. Spammers may be banned, blocked or removed.

Anyone who does not follow the rules will be at best removed from the conversation. At worst, they will be banned from the community.

The decisions will be made at the discretion of our editors. Our editors have the final say on the interpretation of violating our community guidelines and on all decisions resulting in a warning, suspension and/or ban.

If you see any of these things happening in our community, please flag it. If you see it happening on social media or elsewhere, let an editor know.