Everyone involved with Northeast Thing is expected to show respect towards the attendees, campground staff, the general public, and the various communities associated with the Thing. This is a family-friendly event; children will be present at many activities and in open spaces, so consider this in your conduct at the event. This is a community-driven and supported event and we are individually responsible for making this a safe, enjoyable, and memorable Thing for all.
The Quick Version
Northeast Thing is dedicated to providing a harassment-free experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion (or lack thereof), or technology choices — this list is not exhaustive. We do not tolerate harassment of Thing attendees in any form. Attendees violating these rules may be sanctioned or expelled from the Thing without a refund at the discretion of the Executive Board. If you have a problem on site reach out immediately to any member of the NET Planning Team (wearing rainbow silicone wristbands).
The Less Quick Version
- Harassment includes any attendee participating in any of the following behaviors at the event:
- Offensive verbal comments related to gender, gender identity and expression, age, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, religion, technology choices;
- The display of sexual or graphic images in public spaces, except religious art that is used within a specific, approved context;
- Deliberate and/or prolonged acts of intimidation, stalking, following, harassing photography or recording;
- Sustained disruption of rituals, workshops, or other activities at the Thing;
- Inappropriate physical contact, being intentionally crude and offensive, and unwelcome sexual attention.
Participants asked by any attendee of the event to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately.
- If a participant engages in harassing behavior, members of the Executive Board may take any action they deem appropriate, including warning the offender or expulsion from the Thing with no refund.
If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please inform a member of the NET Planning Team immediately. The Planning Team can be identified by rainbow silicone wristbands. The Executive Board (Dave Carron, Annie Humphrey, Sara Perrault, Erika Wren, and Kat McDermott) are ultimately responsible for enforcing this Code of Conduct. - If necessary, the NET Planning Team will be happy to help participants contact local law enforcement, provide escorts, or otherwise assist those experiencing harassment to feel safe for the duration of the Thing. We value your attendance. We expect participants to follow these rules both in public shared spaces as well as cabins, venues, and everywhere else on the camp site.
Anti-harassment Policy
- We do not tolerate harassment of Thing attendees or camp staff in any form. Behavior that will be considered harassment includes, but is not limited to:
- Intimidation, stalking, or following
- Unwelcome physical contact
- Unwelcome sexual attention
- Comments directly intended to belittle, offend, or cause discomfort
- Individually photographing or videoing members attendees or unwanted contact or interaction
- Sustained disruption of rituals, workshops, or other events
- Denigrating/demeaning pornography, with an exception and great deference to religious depictions
- Persistent and deliberate misgendering of other people
- Attempts to weaponize the Code of Conduct
- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior
- Inappropriate behavior—harassment, aggression, and intimidation – are hurtful and interfere with other people’s experience and participation in our community. These behaviors are inappropriate and unacceptable. Be specifically mindful to avoid behaviors that are inappropriate in regards to: race, color, creed, gender (including pregnancy, perceived pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender identity, religion (including religious dress and grooming), marital status, domestic partner status, genetic information, age, national origin or ancestry, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local laws.
- Inappropriate behavior can take many forms such as: slurs; jokes; derogatory statements; foul or obscene language; offensive clothing; nudity; leering; stalking; staring; gestures; pictures, drawings or cartoons; violating personal space by impeding or blocking another person’s movement or otherwise physically interfering with them; harassing photography or recordings; unwanted or offensive writing.
- This code of conduct is intended for participants at the Thing to respect other participants at the Thing. The gods and land spirits are also worthy of respect, but their honor cannot be codified. Rather, the ritual leaders and vé keepers are the arbiters of appropriate conduct in the sacred space they are maintaining. If participants are not respectful of ritual or vé spaces by the keeper’s standards, then they are in violation of the Thing’s Code of Conduct. Standards may include, but are not limited to, a ban on weapons in a particular vé or in the vé stead as a whole, non-participant observation of ritual, or the violation of a prohibition of touching idols.
- While this Code of Conduct is intended to inform the behavior of attendees of the Northeast Thing while at the event, certain exceptions to its application may be made by the Executive Board on a case-by-case basis. In an effort to protect the community and maintain the frith at the Thing, admission to the event may be denied to any individual or group with a known history of engaging in unethical, illegal, racist, homophobic/transphobic, or other intentionally malicious activities taking place outside of the Event.