Participant Guidelines

Local Threads is a community-driven collective started in September 2023. Our initiatives are dedicated to resisting individualism and addressing urban loneliness through building local communities to play, rest, eat, and chill in the ever-hustling city of Mumbai. We do this by engaging in activities such as group reading sessions, clothes swapping, skill-sharing, group deliberations or cultural gatherings like potlucks. In short, fostering meaningful connections through shared experiences in safe communal spaces. We hope to create social traditions that prioritize sharing, supporting and collective growth where we also co-create memories of warmth and solidarity.

Our Core Themes

Recreational spaces: Group readings, movie screenings, play readings, and city walks. We hope these spaces offer us much required rest and relaxation in this productivity culture.

Arts and Creation: Facilitating dialogue through various art forms, dance, music, writing, and photography, encouraging artistic expression.

Environment and Sustainability: Holding critical discussions surrounding climate change, swap meet-ups, zero waste lifestyles, and exploring more sustainable alternatives.

Personal and Social Awareness: Organizing discussions on gender sensitization, body shaming, mental health, and urban loneliness.

We strive to create a non-judgmental, accepting safe space for all our community members. We have compiled a set of guidelines that we anticipate all participants, including facilitators and volunteers, to be mindful of when participating in our events right from the registration to post-event interactions. These guidelines are shaped by our community and are evolving as we collectively progress and develop as a community. We kindly request you to take a few moments to familiarize yourself with these guidelines before attending our events.

Be on time

Please ensure you arrive at the venue 10 minutes before the event’s commencement. Punctuality can ensure a smooth flow of our program, and we would not want you to miss out on our facilitator’s thoughtfully curated event.

Treat everyone with respect and dignity

Show respect and dignity to all individuals, irrespective of their backgrounds, identities, or beliefs. Kindly refrain from interrupting or dismissing others’ opinions during group discussions, wait for your turn to express your views. We want to ensure that everyone has the space to contribute to our discussions.

Engage at your comfort

We welcome and encourage everyone to contribute to discussions, share their lived experiences, and express their viewpoints without hesitation.

However, if at any time you feel uncomfortable participating in a group discussion, do not feel obligated to engage, you can respond with ‘pass’ if prompted to speak or you can also choose to step away from the space and take some time apart if the conversation is triggering.

Your participation is entirely voluntary, and you can join in when you feel comfortable.

Use inclusive languages

Language is very gendered and sets a tone to create exclusions. We promote the use of inclusive languages that are respectful of everyone.

Examples

  • Instead of saying “Hey guys”, say “Hey everyone” or “Hello folks” to address a group of people.
  • Instead of using words like “fireman”, use gender-neutral words like “firefighter”.
  • Use gender-neutral pronouns like “they” or “them” while referring to a person whose pronouns you are not aware of.
  • Avoid gendering when referring to professions like referring to nurse as “she” and doctor as “he”, teacher as “she” and student as “he”, a person who saves money as “she”, and a person who invests as “he”.

Avoid making assumptions regarding someone’s identity

Refrain from making assumptions about gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other markers of a person’s identity.

Respect individuals’ gender identities by using the person’s pronouns.

Maintain physical boundaries

Do not engage in any form of physical contact without consent.

We have a zero-tolerance policy against sexual harassment, bullying, or any other forms of harassment or discrimination. Any individual engaging in such behavior(s) will be promptly removed from the ongoing event and barred from attending any future Threads events.

Do not use any discriminatory language or gestures

We strictly prohibit the use of languages perpetuating stereotypes, discrimination, or biases against specific genders, sexualities, bodies, abilities, ethnic groups, religions, or communities. This includes using any form of derogatory words or making offensive jokes using racial slurs, sexist languages, ableist comments, ageist languages, religious slurs, body-shaming, xenophobic words, classism, homomisic and transmisic languages.

If you are uncertain about the meaning or impact of a word you commonly use, we encourage you to take a moment to look it up and educate yourself. Language carries significant meaning, and every word we utter has an impact. Every day conversations are normalized to the point of desensitization. This normalization contributes to ‘othering’ and ‘dehumanization’ of various groups and communities. Let’s be mindful of the language we use and its effects.

Do not make comments on other people’s bodies or appearances

This includes shaming as well as compliments about someone’s weight, size, height, color, or physical appearance. Such comments can be hurtful, perpetuate harmful stereotypes, and disregard the diversity of bodies.

Examples

  • “You look so skinny! Have you lost weight?” which can be triggering for someone struggling with body dysphoria and can also undermine/endorse eating disorders. Even complimenting someone like “Wow, you are looking great after losing weight” implies that body fat is inherently unaesthetic and undesirable.
  • Avoid making assumptions about someone’s health or lifestyle based on their appearance. Instead of saying, “You should eat more”, or “You should exercise less”, recognize that health is complex and personal, and it’s inconsiderate and invasive to comment on someone else’s choices or body.
  • If someone makes a negative comment about their appearance, hear them out or ask them how you can offer support.

Respect people’s dietary preferences

Respect and accommodate dietary preferences and food choices without judgment, considering cultural backgrounds and dietary needs. Refrain from imposing personal preferences, like mocking vegan diets or criticizing non-vegetarian choices.

Please notify a Threads volunteer of any dietary restrictions or preferences if food will be served at the event. We will make every effort to accommodate them whenever feasible.

Acknowledge and apologize for mistakes

We are all humans and we are all trying to be better. If you accidentally use outdated or offensive language, you can apologize sincerely and do not make the apology about yourself.

If someone points out that your comment is hurtful or inappropriate, thank them for bringing it to your attention and take steps to educate yourself on how you can do better.

Be open to different perspectives

It’s okay to change your opinions or beliefs after listening to different perspectives and gaining new insights. Embrace the opportunity to expand your understanding and engage in respectful dialogue with everyone.

We encourage a culture of humility where individuals feel empowered to admit when they have changed their minds without the fear of judgment or ridicule. It is a sign of maturity and critical thinking to change your opinions in light of new evidence or perspectives.

Report to us if you face any grievances

Throughout the event, spanning from registration to post-event discussions, if you face or notice any uncomfortable or inappropriate behavior involving participants, members, facilitators, or any other person connected to the event, online or offline, report to us using the grievances form.

Link to the form: https://forms.gle/B2Ezsk83nHQeW6Kt8

This form link is also provided in the participant’s WhatsApp group description, as well as in our Instagram bio. If the form is inaccessible or you are unable to fill the form, write to us at localthreadsmumbai@gmail.com

Please note: To provide feedback regarding the event, a separate form will be sent in the WhatsApp group after each event.

In addition to the guidelines mentioned above, if you have any specific needs or requests you can email us at localthreadsmumbai@gmail.com. You can also reach out to our volunteers who are the admins of the WhatsApp group created for event participants.

We hope that you will enjoy your time at our events and look forward to seeing you soon!