Consent Policy

You need to ask before touching other people or other people’s things. This includes other people’s bodies, toys, rope, or phones. Only touch others after receiving clearly expressed verbal permission to touch.

ARS (Austin Rope Slingers) also views photography as a kink activity. Everyone in a photo needs to consent to be in it regardless of how much of them is there. This also includes pictures of people’s property in the background. Blurring someone out is NOT good enough unless you have received permission to do so. Please keep in mind that reflections in mirrors also capture people who are not necessarily behind the subject of your picture. Consent with photography also covers what will be done with the picture after it is taken. Please discuss with all parties involved where it might be appropriate to post the picture (if at all).

If a Consent Incident Occurs:

  • If you have access to the internet, please fill out our incident report form. This is the most comprehensive way to inform ARS of what happened, and this form can be filled out anonymously.  
  • If you’d prefer, you can also send an email to austinropeslingers[at]gmail.com, contact an ARS leader in person, or send a private FetLife message to @TheSlinger. We may still use the form or the form’s content for follow up questions.
  • If none of these methods work for you, please reach out in any method you’re comfortable with, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
  • If an incident occurs at one of our events, ARS will immediately ensure the physical safety of everyone and then handle the situation on a case-by-case basis. Most likely the accused person will be asked to leave the event, and we will support those with complaints/those seeking mediation.
  • We will always respect the wishes of the subject of the incident unless otherwise mandated by law.
  • If the incident involves a leader of ARS and you would prefer ARS leadership not to be involved in the investigation, we will reach out to @ConsentAcademy (FetLife username) to mediate.

What Happens After a Consent Incident is Reported:

  • As soon as there’s an incident reported to ARS, the accused is automatically on suspension pending an investigation. This isn’t a verdict. ARS will gather information from all parties involved and come to a conclusion about next steps as swiftly and efficiently as possible within a reasonable amount of time.
  • During the investigation, ARS facilitators will determine the nature of the incident, offer external resources or mediation as applicable, and then confer with each other to make a decision about consequences.

Consent Incidents that do not occur at ARS events or with ARS members:

  • Some consent incidents happen in other cities and may or may not involve members from ARS. We will still follow up with these incidents to the best of our ability, and the following steps will be taken with the accused:
    • The accused will meet with two ARS leaders face to face with differing levels of agency (unless it isn’t feasible) and a warning will be given. The warning includes an explanation of our consent policy and how the incident would have been dealt with if it was at one of our events or reported by one of our members.
    • In extreme cases with multiple reports of incidents/violations and/or grievous harm, ARS reserves the right to implement our Three Strike policy as appropriate.

Consequences for a Consent Incident and our Three Strike Policy:

  • During the investigation, the accused will be automatically suspended from all of ARS events including rope labs, parties, and conferences pending an investigation.
  • If a resolution is found during the investigation and the reporting person is happy with that resolution, ARS will let the matter drop.
  • If no resolution is found, then ARS will determine which level of strike is appropriate:

    • 1st Strike

      Temporary ban (6 months) from ARS events and mandatory consent education training. Both requirements must be met to resume participation at ARS events.

    • 2nd Strike

      Temporary ban (1 year) and mandatory consent education training. Both requirements must be met to resume participation at ARS events. ARS will also share the information of the incident with Fetish Leaders and Organizers Gathering (FLOG) to protect other members of the kink community at large.

    • 3rd Strike

      Permanent ban from ARS and we will share the information about the incident and our decision with FLOG when able. Examples of things that might lead directly to a third strike: rape, sexual assault, stalking/restraining order, or grounds for one, permanent damage, lasting harm, and no resolution

  • After a decision is made, ARS will contact the accused and the reporting person by whichever means are available to us to inform them of the decision.
  • If asked about the standing of a specific individual, we will accurately report their standing without details.
  • In all cases, we will not publicly post about our decision, provide an explanation of our decision beyond the fact of our decision, or provide any personally identifiable information about the origin of any reports that resulted in our decision.
  • Please note that other groups or venues may be involved in an incident, and those groups or venues may have and follow different policies.

Confidentiality:

ARS will not disclose the identity of anyone who reports a consent incident or related concern without the express, written permission of that person to do so unless mandated by law. Any ARS leader who intentionally violates this confidentiality will be immediately and permanently removed and banned from the group.

Resource list:

Check out our Party Rules

Check out our Monday night lab Rules

Last edit 4/19
These policies are subject to change at our discretion.