Dear @espressologic 

I deeply appreciate your thoughtful response. Thankyou. It deserves an equally thoughtful reply so I'll take most of your questions on notice.

But I can respond immediately on one set.

You say

"My final question relates to understanding do your concerns reflect the tone of the guidelines or their existence altogether? Each guideline has been established for specific reasons, primarily focused on safety and support and based on feedback we have received from this community. However, the way we communicate these rules is equally important, and we must ensure they are conveyed in a way that feels supportive rather than restrictive.

"Another question for the room might be, how would you write guidelines for this community if you were starting from scratch?"

I wholeheartedly support the need for guidelines.  I take issue with their tone and ensuing capacity to alienate. I think your drive for brevity and simplicity has clouded the need for clear understandable  and compassionate communication.

If I were writing guidelines from scratch I'd write each guideline in 3 parts.

1. The guideline.

2. Reasons for the guideline. You've already in this thread explained justifications for many of the guidelines which in many cases show you've sometimes written a broadbased guideline blocking content much more narrowly defined. Perhaps the exercise of writing a justification can sometimes inform a rewording of the guideline..

3. One or two examples of how the guideline might apply.

As someone with lived experience I know it can be enormously difficult to convey the depth of our vulnerability and suffering and consequent capacity to perceive hurt. Many of us interact with the Forums when we're at our lowest ebb. We recognise that in each other, and that is one of the Forum's greatest strengths. I don't know how to explain that to you so offer a poem.

No worst, there is none. Pitched past pitch of grief.'
BY GERARD MANLEY HOPKINS
No worst, there is none. Pitched past pitch of grief,
More pangs will, schooled at forepangs, wilder wring.
Comforter, where, where is your comforting?
Mary, mother of us, where is your relief?
My cries heave, herds-long; huddle in a main, a chief
Woe, wórld-sorrow; on an áge-old anvil wince and sing —
Then lull, then leave off. Fury had shrieked 'No ling-
ering! Let me be fell: force I must be brief."'

O the mind, mind has mountains; cliffs of fall
Frightful, sheer, no-man-fathomed. Hold them cheap
May who ne'er hung there. Nor does long our small
Durance deal with that steep or deep. Here! creep,
Wretch, under a comfort serves in a whirlwind: all
Life death does end and each day dies with sleep.

I think that if the guidelines could be written in that three part structure  I've suggested, it would be a kindness to members... but also importantly would help new moderators and peer support workers in interpreting and applying the guidelines.