2012 - 09/21

Community Guidelines

To be a CouchSurfing member, you must agree to follow these simple guidelines, to help make this community a better place for us all:

1. Do Respect Others
   1. CouchSurfing is a meeting place for people of different cultures, lifestyles, and ideals. By joining our community, you promise to communicate with respect and consideration, even if you encounter someone you disagree with.
2. Do Make Informed Decisions
   1. Our trust network is self-moderating. Always look out for your own safety by reading profiles carefully, and help others make good decisions by leaving references after hosting or surfing.
3. Don't Spam
   1. We value human interaction. Please don’t create copy-and-paste messages, CouchRequests, group posts, or event listings. Don’t use CouchSurfing to promote a business or product.
4. Don't Go Looking for a Date
   1. Our members join CouchSurfing to make friendships. Don’t contact other members for dating -- we will consider this harassment.
5. Don't Charge for Your Couch
   1. Our community offers free exchange of hospitality. Asking for money or labor in exchange for your couch is not allowed.
6. Don't Let Anyone Under 18 Use the Website
   1. Many of our members host or surf with their families, children included. However, only adults may create profiles and choose who to meet.
7. Don't Create More than One Profile
   1. The profile that you are about to create is the only one that you may have. Our trust network needs everyone to stand by their reputation. And profiles can be for real people only -- please no joke profiles, pet profiles, etc.
8. Surfing Is a Privilege, Not a Right
   1. As a surfer, recognize that you are asking to stay in someone’s home: no one is ever obligated to accept your request. You may not be able to find a couch in every city. As a host, never feel pressured to accept a request, but do make an effort to respond to surfers even if you can’t host them.