1. Purpose of a Blacklist Appeal #

The clan blacklist prevents an individual from submitting future applications for membership in [RS] Rogue Soldiers Clan.

A blacklist appeal allows an eligible individual to request that their blacklist be removed. The appeal only concerns their eligibility to submit a future clan application. It does not automatically restore membership or reverse any other disciplinary action.

All blacklist appeals must be submitted and handled through the designated Discord ticket system.

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2. Eligibility to Appeal #

A blacklist appeal may only be submitted after a minimum waiting period of 90 days from the date the blacklist was issued.

Leadership may require a longer waiting period depending on:

• The severity of the original conduct
• The circumstances surrounding the blacklist
• The individual’s behavior following the blacklist
• Any additional incidents that occurred after the blacklist was issued

Submitting an appeal does not guarantee that the appeal will proceed to a vote. Appeals that do not meet the eligibility requirements may be closed without further review.

Permanently Non-Appealable Blacklists #

Blacklists issued for the following reasons are permanently ineligible for appeal:

• Cheating, hacking, or knowingly assisting cheaters
• Discriminatory, hateful, or targeted harassing behavior
• Poaching members, staff, or community resources
• Credible threats, doxxing, stalking, or exposing private information
• Fraud, chargebacks, impersonation, or deliberate attempts to harm the community
• Ban evasion or using alternate accounts to bypass a blacklist or other disciplinary action

Senior leadership may classify other exceptionally severe conduct as permanently non-appealable.

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3. Appeal Ticket Questions #

When a blacklist appeal ticket is submitted, the individual will be required to answer the following questions:

1. Do you understand why you were blacklisted?
2. Why should you no longer be blacklisted?
3. What would you change if your appeal were approved?

The answers to these questions will be used to determine whether the individual understands the reason for the blacklist, accepts responsibility where appropriate, and has demonstrated meaningful change.

Incomplete, intentionally vague, or dishonest answers may negatively affect the appeal.

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4. Appeal Submission Requirements #

The appellant must:

• Submit the appeal through the designated Discord ticket system
• Fully and honestly answer all required appeal questions
• Explain the circumstances that resulted in the blacklist without intentionally omitting relevant information
• Accept responsibility when the available evidence supports the original blacklist
• Explain what has changed since the blacklist was issued
• Explain how their conduct would be different if they were permitted to apply again
• Disclose previous or alternate accounts when relevant or when requested by staff
• Provide any evidence they believe was overlooked, misunderstood, or unavailable during the original decision

Appeals consisting primarily of excuses, accusations, dishonesty, blame-shifting, or attempts to minimize the original conduct may be denied without advancing to a vote.

An appeal is not required to proceed to voting merely because a ticket was submitted.

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5. Appeal Review Timeline #

The blacklist appeal process consists of two separate periods:

Five-Day Review and Discussion Period #

The five-day review period begins when the blacklist appeal ticket is submitted.

During this period, the appeal must be discussed in both of the following locations:

• The appeal ticket with the appellant, where Appeals Team and Retention Team members may ask questions, request clarification, and evaluate the appellant’s responses
• The internal team discussion channel associated with the ticket, where eligible team members may review evidence and discuss the appeal without the appellant present

The appellant is expected to remain available and cooperative throughout the review period.

Three-Day Voting Period #

After the five-day review and discussion period has concluded, the appeal will enter a three-day voting period.

The vote will remain open for the full three-day period unless senior leadership determines that the appeal must be paused due to new information, an active investigation, or another exceptional circumstance.

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6. Internal Discussion and Confidentiality #

The appellant may participate in the discussion taking place inside their appeal ticket. They do not have the right to participate in or view internal staff discussions.

The appellant is not entitled to receive:

• Internal team discussions
• Individual staff votes
• The identities of specific voters
• Internal staff notes
• Confidential reports or evidence
• Information that could expose another member, reporter, or staff member
• Details that could compromise internal procedures or investigations

Staff may provide a general explanation of the final decision without disclosing protected or confidential information.

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7. Cooperation and Conduct #

The appellant must remain respectful, honest, and cooperative throughout the appeal process.

An appeal may be immediately closed or denied for:

• Harassing, insulting, or threatening staff
• Attempting to pressure staff members into voting a particular way
• Privately contacting staff members about an active appeal
• Encouraging friends, clan members, or other individuals to influence the decision
• Lying, concealing relevant information, or falsifying evidence
• Hiding previous or alternate accounts
• Repeatedly arguing after being instructed to wait for the review or voting process
• Retaliating against staff, reporters, witnesses, or other community members
• Attempting to disrupt or manipulate the appeal process
• Leaving the Discord before the appeal is completed
• Closing, abandoning, or intentionally interfering with the ticket before the process is completed

Conduct during the appeal may be considered evidence of whether the appellant’s behavior has meaningfully changed.

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8. Staff Conflicts of Interest #

Appeals Team and Retention Team members must evaluate appeals impartially.

A team member should recuse themselves when they:

• Were directly involved in a serious personal dispute with the appellant
• Have a close personal relationship with the appellant
• Cannot evaluate the appeal fairly and impartially
• Are the subject of allegations being reviewed during the appeal
• Have another conflict that could reasonably affect their decision

A recused team member may provide factual information or evidence when relevant, but they may not vote on the appeal.

Recused members do not count toward the minimum voting requirement.

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9. Voting Standards #

Only eligible members of the Appeals Team and Retention Team may vote on a blacklist appeal.

Votes may come from:

• Appeals Team members
• Retention Team members
• A combination of members from both teams

A minimum of three eligible team members must vote for the result to be valid.

The available voting options are:

• Approve
• Deny

Approval requires at least a two-thirds majority of the eligible votes cast.

A tie, failure to receive the required approval majority, or majority vote to deny will result in the appeal being denied.

Team members who cannot vote impartially must recuse themselves rather than participate in the vote.

If the minimum of three eligible votes is not received during the voting period, senior leadership may extend, restart, or pause the vote so that the appellant is not approved or denied solely because of insufficient team participation.

Because a blacklist prevents future clan membership, the responsibility is on the appellant to demonstrate that removing the blacklist is appropriate.

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10. Equal Treatment #

All blacklist appeals must be evaluated under the same standards.

The following must not result in preferential treatment:

• Donations or financial contributions
• Supporter or donor status
• Popularity within the community
• Friendships with members or staff
• Previous clan rank or leadership position
• Previous membership duration
• Server activity
• Community influence
• Personal relationships with voters

Donators and supporters are not entitled to a faster review, a reduced waiting period, additional voting consideration, or a more favorable outcome.

Donations do not purchase immunity from community rules, disciplinary actions, blacklist decisions, or appeal requirements.

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11. Decision Factors #

When reviewing and voting on an appeal, eligible team members should consider:

• The severity of the original conduct
• The reason the blacklist was issued
• Whether the original blacklist was supported by reliable evidence
• Whether the appellant understands why they were blacklisted
• Whether the appellant accepts responsibility
• Whether their answers are complete, truthful, and consistent
• Whether they attempted to minimize or excuse their conduct
• The amount of time that has passed
• Their conduct since being blacklisted
• Their behavior during the appeal process
• Any additional incidents involving [RS] or other communities
• Whether the original behavior appears likely to happen again
• Whether allowing the individual to apply again would create an unnecessary risk
• Whether the appellant has demonstrated meaningful behavioral change
• Whether the appellant appears capable of following current clan expectations

Popularity, friendships, server activity, donations, prior membership, or previous rank must not override legitimate conduct or safety concerns.

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12. Appeal Outcomes #

A blacklist appeal may result in one of two voting outcomes:

Approved #

If the appeal is approved:

• The blacklist will be removed
• The appellant will regain eligibility to submit a future clan application
• Previous clan membership will not be restored
• Previous roles, ranks, permissions, tenure, or status will not be restored
• The appellant will not be automatically accepted back into the clan
• Any future clan application will be evaluated under the current application requirements

Approval of a blacklist appeal does not mean the original blacklist was incorrect.

Denied #

If the appeal is denied:

• The blacklist will remain active
• The appellant will not be eligible to submit a clan application
• The ticket may include a concise explanation of the decision
• Staff are not required to disclose internal discussions, confidential evidence, individual votes, or the identities of voters
• The appellant must complete the applicable waiting period before submitting another appeal

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13. Permanent Closure #

Permanent closure is not a standard voting option.

An appeal or blacklist may be made permanently non-appealable by senior leadership when the circumstances are severe enough to justify permanent closure.

This may include:

• New evidence of conduct that is permanently non-appealable
• Deliberate deception during an appeal
• Falsified evidence
• Concealment of alternate accounts
• Ban evasion
• Retaliation against staff, reporters, or witnesses
• Threats or harassment
• Repeated manipulation or abuse of the appeal system
• Conduct intended to harm the clan or community
• Reaching the maximum number of denied appeals

When an appeal is permanently closed, no additional blacklist appeal tickets will be accepted unless senior leadership determines that exceptional circumstances justify reopening the matter.

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14. Reapplication After Approval #

Removal from the blacklist does not restore previous membership, rank, tenure, permissions, reputation, or standing within the clan.

After an appeal is approved, the individual must wait an additional 30 days before submitting a new clan application.

After completing the 30-day waiting period, the individual must:

• Submit a new clan application through the current application system
• Meet all current membership requirements
• Complete the normal application and review process
• Disclose that they were previously blacklisted when requested
• Demonstrate appropriate conduct during the application review period
• Accept that their application may receive additional scrutiny because of the previous blacklist

Approval of a blacklist appeal does not guarantee that the future clan application will be approved.

The application may still be denied based on current membership standards, conduct, activity, community concerns, or the normal application review process.

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15. Repeat Appeals #

A denied blacklist appeal may not be immediately resubmitted.

The waiting period increases after each denial:

• First denial: The appellant must wait 30 days before appealing again
• Second denial: The appellant must wait 60 days before appealing again
• Third denial: The appellant must wait 90 days before appealing again
• Fourth denial: The blacklist becomes permanently non-appealable

The waiting period begins on the date the denial is issued.

An appeal submitted before the applicable waiting period has expired may be closed without review.

Senior leadership may review substantial new evidence that clearly demonstrates the previous decision was based on materially incorrect information. New evidence does not guarantee that the appeal will be reopened or approved.

Attempting to bypass the waiting period through alternate accounts, other ticket categories, private messages, or another individual may result in permanent closure of the appeal process.

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16. Effect on Other Disciplinary Actions #

A blacklist appeal applies only to eligibility for future clan membership.

Approval of a blacklist appeal does not automatically reverse or remove:

• Discord bans
• Discord warnings or disciplinary records
• Game-server bans
• Website restrictions
• Event restrictions
• Staff notes
• Probationary restrictions
• Restrictions imposed by another community or service

Separate disciplinary actions must be appealed through their applicable appeal process when an appeal process is available.

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17. Senior Leadership Authority #

Senior leadership retains the authority to:

• Confirm whether an individual is eligible to appeal
• Require a longer initial waiting period when appropriate
• Reject appeals that do not meet submission or eligibility requirements
• Pause an appeal when additional investigation is required
• Extend or restart a vote when the minimum voting requirement is not met
• Review allegations of conflicts of interest
• Overturn an approval when material information was concealed
• Reinstate a blacklist when an approval was obtained through deception or falsified information
• Permanently close an appeal in exceptional or severe circumstances
• Classify serious conduct as permanently non-appealable
• Interpret and enforce this policy when an unusual situation is not specifically addressed

Leadership authority must not be used to provide preferential treatment based on donations, friendships, previous rank, popularity, or community influence.

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18. Final Rule #

Removal from the clan blacklist does not mean the original blacklist was incorrect, does not restore prior membership, and does not guarantee that a future clan application will be accepted. It only restores the person’s eligibility to apply again.