This page begins with answering some frequently asked questions about Interlocut. For just the rules of the forum, please proceed to Regulations.

Interlocut — Frequently Asked Questions

If you have a question not included here, please do not hesitate to contact any member of the Interlocut staff team.

Q: How is Interlocut different from other political forums?

A: We can easily see what most political forums become over time: a shouting match or an ideological echo chamber. Interlocut is meant to be something both quieter and deeper. Our focus is uniquely comparative and cross-cultural. These traits mean we are interested in not merely what people believe, but rather why they believe it, be it a perspective from their own history, civic environment, or lived experiences. It’s less about debating headlines (in fact, we don’t even advertise it as a space for “debates” at all) and more about learning across differences.

We’re also curating with purpose at hand. Registration is required to even participate in Interlocut. The rationale is not to gatekeep our ideas, but rather to ensure good intentions and a degree of maturity in how ideas are exchanged here. Our format is a proper forum: with search, structure, and long-form insight rather than fleeting reactions.

In short, it is not a space for hot takes. It is for reflection, compare and contrast, and clarity, even with strong reservations or disagreements.

Q: How do you prevent Interlocut from becoming just another echo chamber?

A: Interlocut’s philosophy of cross-cultural bonding is rooted in the notion that echo chambers form not from mere disagreement but because its participants simply cease to listen. What makes Interlocut different is that disagreement here is not only allowed, but outright expected so long as it is done thoughtfully.

Moreover, Interlocut intends to foster membership from across the globe. With them come distinct systems of civics, identities, and histories. We want to purposefully lean into that diversity by trying to invite comparisons: “How does this issue look where you’re from? What does your history teach about this concept? Where do we disagree, and more importantly, what do we have in common?”

Notably, our moderation is not intended to be ideologically-driven, instead it is tone-driven. One need not be agreeable but they do need to be respectful, grounded, and curious. This is how we stay open without losing our focus.

Q: Who is Interlocut for?

A: Literally anyone. Students, scholars, diaspora thinkers, or citizens of one or more worlds are all welcome should they wish to better understand how distinct nations frame their history, identities, and governance. This is not about having credentials, you don’t need those. But you do need a curiosity and will to engage across cultures while bearing a sense of respect for their serious weight to political and historical memory.

If you are the sort of person who sees a link between the past and present, and who finds it meaningful to discover different societies think of themselves, you’ll fit right in. This is a space for people who want to speak and listen thoughtfully, and combine intellectual and cultural aspects of thinking with care.

Q: Why should I join Interlocut? I’m already on other platforms, and I’m not sure I’m interested enough to add another.

A: That is completely fair. And honestly, we are not here to replace your existing platforms. We know everyone’s attention is already stretched thin, and aren’t seeking to become anyone’s new digital home. Interlocut is something quieter, intentional: a focused space for those who want to explore political history, national identity, and cross-cultural civic life in ways that most online spaces don’t allow.

It’s not for everyone, and we’re okay with that. But if you’ve ever wished the conversations you had elsewhere could go just a bit deeper (with less noise, more reflection, and more perspective) this space was built for that. We’re not looking for constant engagement. Just a willingness to slow down, think together, and participate in something that values context over immediate reaction. If that resonates, we’d love to have you. If not, we’ll be here when, if it ever might.

Q: Is this a partisan forum?

A: Interlocut is certainly political in the sense that it engages deeply with how distinct peoples are governed and remember aspects of that governance. But it’s not partisan. This is not about pushing a certain ideology or cause. We exist to create space for comparative political history, civic life, and identity, in a manner of curiosity and the acknowledgment that people’s views are shaped by where and how they’ve lived.

In other words, we don’t expect agreement. We do expect nuance and respect.

Q. Do I need to be an expert to participate?

A: LOL, no. What matters here isn’t credentials. It’s care. If you’re willing to listen, learn, and speak from a place of honesty and curiosity, you’ll fit in.

Q. Why do you use a whitelist? Doesn’t that make the forum less open?

A: The whitelist exists to preserve the cordiality of this forum. We care about intent, not opinions, and that newcomers know what Interlocut is meant to be.

The whitelist is a filter for focus, not conformity.

Q. Can I share personal experiences, or is this just for academic-style discussion?

A: Personal experience is welcome and very essential. Political history and civic life aren’t just abstract “fields of study”, they’re things people live through. Whether it’s growing up in a particular political system, navigating identity of diaspora, or seeing how national memory is shaped by your education, these all give important and unique perspectives.

All we ask is that personal experience be shared reflectively — as a lens, not a weapon. We value stories that open up dialogue as opposed to close it.

Q. What kinds of topics are too off-topic for Interlocut?

A: Interlocut is focused on nuanced discussions about political history, civic identity, and how different cultures navigate governance, memory, and national narratives. This is not a general straight news forum, meme board, or place for rapidly-evolving current events presented without context. Lighter content (like music or social topics) is welcome within reason if it’s tied to broader civic or cultural themes. But if a post belongs on a fast-paced Discord server or a Reddit feed, it probably doesn’t belong here.

Q. How does Interlocut handle ideologies that, even when expressed respectfully, promote violence, oppression, or exclusion? And how can true “bridging” happen between fundamentally opposed worldviews?

A: Please see the following post: “On Moderation, Authoritarianism, and the Challenge Interlocut Faces”.

Interlocut — Regulations

Last updated: May 15, 2025

Interlocut is a young, deliberately slow, and reflective comparative politics forum. The intention of these rules is to preserve that character while ensuring every member, be they a newcomer, veteran, or moderator, abide by a shared playbook. We aim with this page for detail without the legalese, i.e. giving examples, clear consequences, and enough context to show you the rationale for each rule.

How rules are enforced

1. We try to give the benefit of the doubt where possible, and give friendly nudges to the right direction, especially when one’s actions are perceptibly made mistakenly.
2. Warning. If the issue repeats or is serious, your content may be hidden or edited by moderation, and you are given a clear warning.
3. Silencing or suspension. Any extreme breach of the rules, purposeful evasion of enforcement, or pattern of warnings may lead to a silencing (effectively a mute) or suspension of your account from the forum. Given the whitelisted nature of Interlocut, suspension is done only sparingly.

Virtually all actions by moderation can be appealed. To appeal, please contact a moderator not involved in the specific incident or the forum administrator.

The Interlocut staff team abides by a “No ex post facto” policy. This means that no one will be punished retroactively, or for something that is an offense now but was not at the time of its doing.

Rules

1. Be kind and sensible

• Hard lines: slurs, racist caricatures, dehumanizing tropes, personal and violent threats.
• Grey zone: sarcasm, mockery, or meme-replies aimed not at ideas. Moderators may edit or remove these if inappropriate.
• Humor is welcome, but contempt is not. Ask yourself if the joke would still land if you were on the receiving end.

2. Discuss matters like politics and religion respectfully

Interlocut thrives on cross-cultural disagreement. What kills it is intellectual laziness:

• Don’t make straw-men or “gotcha” questions.
• Please refrain from blanket claims (“X culture is inherently…”) unless you can cite credible data or firsthand experience.
• If a conversation heats up, switch from second-person (“you people…”) to first-person (“In my country we…”) or third-person factual citations.

3. Misinformation is prohibited

The willful misleading or misinforming of others, especially through unproven, unsupported narratives, is prohibited.

• Do not purposefully share things without double-checking for accuracy. Mistakes happen, but be sure to acknowledge such and update your contribution to note the error as soon as possible.
• While historical revisionism, an analysis rooted in reason is acceptable, historical negationism—that is, an utter rejection of reality and fact (for example, genocide denial), is not.

4. Extremism & violent advocacy

Neither the willful and malicious promoting, condoning, or executing of political or state violence, nor the willful and malicious suppression of opposing views, may be permitted in Interlocut, nor may any person, site, or other entity with the aforementioned even slightly included therein be permitted.

5. Mature (graphic) content is not allowed

• Not allowed: pornographic images or explicit sexual detail.
• Allowed with care: historical photographs of violence, documents from war crimes trials. Please give forewarning of the graphic violence, and ensure it is framed in a relevant context.

6. Laïcité and faith perspectives

Interlocut’s administration is institutionally secular and abides by an incontestable principle of laïcité. However, faith perspectives are welcome on the forum as lenses and not mandates.

• You may share how religion shapes civic identity or memory.
• You must refrain from proselytizing, scripture-only arguments, or “X faith is the one true path” posts.

7. Moderator authority (and humanity)

• Moderators may lock topics, request clarifications, or ask for tone edits. Their task is to ensure the integrity of this forum, not conformity to their personal beliefs.
• If you believe a staff action is unfair, please appeal by privately contacting a moderator not involved in the specific incident or the forum administrator.
• Please remember that we juggle work, study, and sleep. Please allow up to 48 hours for non-urgent replies.

8. Pace and scope

Interlocut is for slow, comparative politics talk rooted in cultural memory.

• This is not a place for headline-spamming, meme dumps, tweetstorms, or reactions to any of these.
• Lighthearted cultural content (music, food) is welcome if clearly tied to civic themes. “Check out this funny TikTok” is not.
• Remember that posts on Interlocut should still interest a thoughtful reader in six months, not be lost as some trend.
• Interlocut is a forum where arguing comes second to bonding. While we have debates, that is second to the central goal of the forum to hone in on common ground. The main way we ensure as many as possible can be welcomed is via an administrative culture here that is “moderate” and “compromising”. Expect intriguing yet sometimes difficult discussions and for your ideas to be challenged. Nonetheless, we are all here to see what we have in common first and foremost — what we share — instead of what separates us. Aberrations of our harmony to argue come second. Please remember this.

Footnote

These rules are designed to maintain a reflective and conversational tone for Interlocut, while adding the explicit guardrails needed to protect its integrity. Should any section feel ambiguous, please do not hesitate to contact staff.