Privacy & Data Use

Privacy & Data Use Policy

This page explains how data is handled on this website, with an emphasis on minimal collection, transparency, and proportional use consistent with independent scholarship and public-interest commentary.

Site Operator

This website is independently operated.
Site URL: https://sweetrationalism.com

This site is not a commercial data broker, advertising network, or surveillance platform.

Guiding Principle

Data is collected only where necessary for site functionality, security, or basic communication.
We do not sell, trade, or rent personal information.
We do not build behavioral profiles.
We do not use data for targeted advertising.

Comments and Public Interaction

When visitors leave comments, the site collects:

  • The information entered into the comment form
  • The visitor’s IP address
  • Browser user-agent information

This data is used solely for spam detection, moderation, and site integrity.

If you use an email address associated with a profile image service such as Gravatar, an anonymized hash of your email may be shared with that service to display an avatar. Gravatar’s privacy policy is available at:
https://automattic.com/privacy/

Once approved, comments and associated profile images are publicly visible as part of the scholarly record of discussion.

Media Uploads

If you upload images or other media, you are responsible for the content.
Avoid uploading files with embedded location data (such as EXIF GPS), as visitors may be able to extract that information.

Cookies and Local Storage

This site uses a small number of cookies for basic functionality:

  • Comment convenience cookies, which remember your name and email if you opt in
  • Temporary cookies to test browser compatibility
  • Login-related cookies for registered users, if applicable
  • Interface preference cookies, such as screen or display settings

These cookies do not contain sensitive personal information and are not used for cross-site tracking.

Cookies expire automatically after defined periods or when you log out.

Embedded Third-Party Content

Articles may include embedded content such as videos, images, or documents from external platforms.

Embedded content behaves as if you visited the originating site directly.
Those third-party sites may collect data, use cookies, or track interactions according to their own privacy policies.

This site does not control or assume responsibility for third-party data practices.

Data Retention

  • Comments and their metadata are retained to preserve discussion continuity and reduce moderation overhead.
  • Registered users, if any, may view, edit, or delete their profile information at any time, except for usernames.
  • Site administrators may access this data only for operational or security purposes.

Your Rights

If you have left comments or created an account, you may request:

  • An export of the personal data associated with your account or comments
  • Deletion of personal data, subject to legal, administrative, or security requirements

Requests can be made via the site’s contact method.

Security and Spam Protection

Visitor interactions may be checked through automated spam detection services to protect the site and its users. These systems are used defensively, not for profiling or marketing.

Policy Scope and Changes

This policy applies only to this website.
It may be updated to reflect changes in site functionality or legal requirements. Substantive changes will be reflected on this page.