Community Rules & Guidelines — Read Before Posting

These rules exist to keep VialTalk useful, safe, and trustworthy. They apply to every member — new or veteran, regular user or vendor — regardless of role or reputation. Read them before you post. Ignorance of the rules is not a defense against enforcement.

1. Research framing only — no medical advice.
All discussion of peptides must be framed in the context of research. VialTalk is not a platform for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Do not describe personal use as medical treatment. Do not recommend peptides as substitutes for professional medical care. Do not advise anyone to stop prescribed medication in favor of peptides. If someone shares a health concern, the appropriate response is to suggest they consult a healthcare provider — not to prescribe them a protocol. This rule protects both the community and the platform.

2. No sourcing links in the forum.
Do not post links to purchase peptides in forum threads, private messages, or replies. That is what the Vendor Directory is for. Do not post "DM me for source" messages. Do not post coupon codes outside of the Deals & Discounts category. This separation exists to keep discussions objective and prevent the forum from turning into a marketplace. Vendors who need to share links have dedicated tools — the Vendor Directory listing, the Vendor Showcase category, and the Deals & Discounts category.

3. Back up your claims with sources.
If you cite a study, link to it or provide enough information for someone to find it (author, journal, year). If you share a dosing protocol, explain where it comes from — whether that's published research, community consensus, or personal observation. Anecdotal experience is welcome and valuable, but be clear about what's data and what's personal experience. Stating "studies show" without citing any study is not acceptable. Stating "in my experience" and then sharing what you observed is perfectly fine.

4. Honest reviews only — zero tolerance for manipulation.
Review integrity is the foundation of VialTalk's value. The following are all permanent, first-offense bans with no exceptions:

• A vendor reviewing their own products under any account
• A vendor paying, incentivizing, or coercing someone to leave a positive review
• A competitor leaving fake negative reviews on a rival vendor
• Any user creating multiple accounts to manipulate review scores
• Offering discounts, free product, or any compensation in exchange for reviews

If you suspect a review is fake, report it using the report button. The moderation team investigates every report. If you're wrong, nothing happens. If you're right, you've helped the community.

5. Be respectful — disagree constructively.
This community includes PhDs, first-time researchers, medical professionals, and curious newcomers. Everyone deserves respectful engagement regardless of their knowledge level. Challenge ideas, not people. No personal attacks, no name-calling, no gatekeeping ("you shouldn't even be researching if you don't know X"), and no condescension. If someone asks a question that seems basic to you, remember that you once didn't know the answer either. Disagreement is healthy — hostility is not.

6. No spam, self-promotion, or astroturfing.
If your first posts on VialTalk are all promoting the same vendor, product, or service, that's spam and it will be removed. Vendors have dedicated promotion tools: the Vendor Showcase, the advertising system, and Deals & Discounts. Users who want to share a genuine positive experience with a vendor should do so through the Vendor Review system. Do not create threads for the sole purpose of promoting a vendor. Do not create posts that are thinly disguised advertisements. Affiliate links are never permitted in the forum.

7. Protect privacy — yours and others.
Do not share anyone's personal information including real name, location, workplace, photos, or any other identifying details without their explicit consent. This includes screenshots of private messages shared without permission. Do not post someone's order details, shipping information, or communication with vendors that identifies them. If you need to share a vendor interaction, redact personal information. This rule applies to vendors discussing customers as well — customer privacy is non-negotiable.

8. No illegal content or activity.
Do not post content that promotes or facilitates illegal activity. This includes but is not limited to: selling or soliciting controlled substances, sharing methods to circumvent customs or import regulations, or discussing the use of peptides on humans in jurisdictions where it is prohibited. VialTalk operates within the legal framework of research-use compounds. Content that jeopardizes the platform's ability to operate will be removed immediately.

9. No misinformation or dangerous protocols.
Sharing protocols that are reckless, dangerously high-dosed, or based on zero evidence is not allowed. If you share a research protocol, it should have some basis — whether from published studies, established community practices, or documented self-experimentation with proper context. Posting something like "just take 10x the standard dose, you'll be fine" with nothing to back it up puts people at risk and has no place here.

10. Use the report system — do not moderate in the comments.
If you see a rule violation, report it. Do not call someone out publicly or start arguments about rule enforcement in threads. Moderators review every single report. Mod decisions are visible in the audit log. The report system keeps moderation consistent and fair. False reports filed in bad faith (to harass a user or vendor) are also tracked and can result in consequences.

Enforcement and consequences:
Warnings are issued for first-time, minor violations. Moderators will explain what rule was broken and what to do differently. Temporary suspensions (3–30 days) are issued for repeated violations after a warning, or for moderately serious first offenses. Permanent bans are reserved for serious violations including: review manipulation, doxxing, sourcing/selling, creating multiple accounts to evade bans, and any behavior that directly threatens community safety. All moderation actions are logged. If you believe a moderation decision was unfair, you can appeal through the Site Feedback category.

A note on good faith:
These rules are not designed to make VialTalk feel restrictive. They exist because the peptide research community has been plagued by bad actors, unreliable information, and platforms that prioritize revenue over user safety. Every rule above addresses a real, specific problem that has damaged other communities. If you're here in good faith — to learn, to share, to contribute — you'll never have an issue with any of them.

These rules will evolve as the community grows. Suggestions and feedback are always welcome in the Site Feedback category.