Toxicity

Toxicity refers to rude, disrespectful, or hostile language that degrades a conversation and pushes people to disengage. It is a broad category that captures the general hostility that makes a space unpleasant, even when no specific slur or threat is present.

What it means

Toxicity is less about any single banned word and more about tone and effect. A message is toxic when it is likely to make someone leave a discussion or feel attacked. That includes contempt, mockery, name-calling, and aggressive dismissiveness. Because it is defined by effect rather than vocabulary, toxicity is one of the clearest cases where reading intent beats matching keywords.

Real-world examples

• "Nobody here cares about your opinion, just stop talking."
• Pile-on replies mocking a new member for asking a basic question.
• Sarcastic contempt like "wow, what a genius take" aimed at belittling someone.

Why it matters

Toxicity is corrosive at the community level. A few toxic members can drive out many quieter ones, shrinking participation and reputation over time. Catching it early keeps discussions healthy and welcoming, which is why it is one of the core categories Supervisor scores. It overlaps with harassment and insult, but it is broader: not all toxicity targets a specific person, yet it still damages the space.