Code of conduct for any community

At AnyKey we are dedicated to fostering respectful, enjoyable, and harassment-free gaming experiences for everyone regardless of sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, physical appearance, body size, age, or religion.

One of the most important ways your community can signal that you share those values is to establish and publish a code of conduct. To make that process easy, we've created the Keystone Code for gaming groups to adapt to their needs and adopt as their own.

Compassion

Treat others as you would be treated; consider the perspectives of others.

Integrity

Be honest, be committed, play fair.

Respect

Respect all other humans, teammates and competitors alike.

Courage

Be courageous in competition and in standing up for what is right.

Four fundamental values

Our Keystone Code identifies four fundamental values as guides for positive and fulfilling engagement in gaming spaces, even while players compete with one another.

These values can be observed being put into practice in all of the healthiest online communities.

Putting values into action

The four Keystones shape our understanding of how people can comport themselves and interact with one another to foster positive communities where players from all walks of life can feel welcome. This is what the Keystones look like in practice.

Compassion

You value the diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and opinions of others, even when different from your own. You appreciate that all viewpoints come from the life experiences of fellow human beings. You understand that online interactions impact real people in real ways, both offline and online.

Integrity

You behave honorably and honestly. You take responsibility for your words and actions. While playing games, you honor the rules and spirit of honest competition.

Respect

You respect everyone regardless of their background, identity, physical appearance, or beliefs. Even in competitive gaming where “trash-talk” is common, you are a good sport and respect opponents as fellow human beings, keeping the banter to the game, not ever making it personal.

Courage

You have the courage to moderate your own behavior, speak out against harassment, and report violations by others. You do not tolerate harassment or hate speech of any kind, even when you are not directly involved.

Download the code

We offer our Keystone Code in three formats: a poster, a one page contract, and a set of chat rules. Any group is welcome to use these materials to start adapting a code of conduct for their community.

Printable Poster

Hang this 11"x17" poster prominently in all your community's shared spaces like arenas, lobbies, lounges, and anywhere else you spend time together IRL.

Download Poster Keystone Code Wall Hanging
Signable Contract

Distribute copies of this sheet to every member of your group and make sure that signing is a mandatory requirement for participation.

Download Handout Keystone Code Contract
Pasteable Chat Rules

Set up this simple text as a prompt in any chat spaces you oversee like Discord servers or Twitch streams.

Copy Text Keystone Code Chat Rules
Adherents to the code

Leading organizations in esports and gaming around the world have adopted the Keystone Code. Are you one of them? Let us know!

Defining harassment & discrimination

We do not tolerate harassment or hate speech in any form. Anyone violating these rules in our related communities and spaces will be dealt with at the discretion of activity organizers and stream moderators, and may include being banned from online channels and/or removed from events.

All of our affiliates have agreed to join us in supporting the Keystone Code in their communities, and we invite you and your communities to join us, too!

If you have questions please contact us. And if you see someone causing trouble in a stream, please file a report so that our ComfyCrew can review the situation.

File a Report

Harassment means actions such as:

  • Discrimination, hate speech, offensive behavior, or verbal abuse related to sex, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, physical appearance, body size, age, or religion
  • Stalking or intimidation either physically or online
  • Spamming, raiding, hijacking, or inciting disruption of streams or social media
  • Posting or threatening to post other people’s personally identifying information (“doxing”)
  • Unwelcome sexual attention including sexualized comments, jokes, and sexual advances
  • Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior

Discrimination also includes:

  • Sharing hurtful or mean-spirited memes
  • Making casually bigoted comments or jokes (e.g. “that’s so gay”, “you play like a girl”, etc.)
  • Trash-talking in a way that focuses on someone’s personal traits instead of on their gaming skill