Grey Duck User Guide

Welcome to Grey Duck! As a verified member, you have access to community spaces where you can connect with other Minnesota organizers.

Getting Started

1. Log in at chat.greyduck.org
2. You'll auto-join #welcome, #waiting-room, and #announcements
3. Once verified, you'll get access to community rooms
4. Join the Grey Duck space to see all available rooms

Navigating Rooms

• Spaces - Containers that organize related rooms (like folders)
• Rooms - Individual chat rooms for specific topics
• Direct Messages - Private 1-on-1 or small group chats

Starting a Private Chat

1. Click the + button in the left sidebar
2. Select "Start new chat"
3. Search for the person by username
4. Your DM is automatically end-to-end encrypted

Creating a Private Group

1. Click + > "Create new room"
2. Name your room
3. Turn ON encryption (recommended)
4. Set to "Private" - invite only
5. Invite members by username

Useful Commands

As a moderator, you help keep your community safe by vetting new members and managing room conduct.

Your Responsibilities

• Welcome and vet new users in #waiting-room
• Elevate verified members to appropriate access level
• Remove disruptive users from rooms
• Escalate serious issues to Org Leaders or Admins

Vetting New Users

When someone new joins, chat with them in #waiting-room:

1. Ask where in Minnesota they're from
2. Ask how they heard about Grey Duck
3. Ask what they want to use it for
4. Use local knowledge questions to verify (e.g., "What do you call the game where one person is 'it' and everyone sits in a circle?")
5. If satisfied, elevate them to Verified (25)

Moderation Commands

When to Escalate

• Threats of violence - screenshot and report to admin immediately
• Suspected infiltrator - discuss in private with leadership
• Harassment that continues after warning
• Anything that feels "off" - trust your instincts

As an Org Leader, you manage your organization's space within Grey Duck. You can create rooms, appoint moderators, and control access.

Your Capabilities

• Create new rooms within your org's space
• Appoint moderators (power level 50)
• Elevate members to any level up to your own
• Set room permissions and access requirements
• Manage your org's structure

Creating Your Org's Space

1. Click + > "Create Space"
2. Name it after your organization
3. Set to Private (invite only)
4. Create rooms inside the space as needed

Creating a Room in Your Space

1. In your space, click + > "Add room" > "Create new room"
2. Name the room (e.g., "announcements", "general", "coordinators")
3. Enable encryption for sensitive rooms
4. Set permissions (see below)

Setting Room Permissions

1. Open the room
2. Click the room name > Settings (gear icon)
3. Go to "Roles & Permissions"
4. Adjust who can send messages, invite users, etc.

Power Level Reference

Commands for Leaders

Inviting Your Members

1. Get registration tokens from a Grey Duck admin
2. Distribute tokens personally to trusted members
3. Have them register at chat.greyduck.org
4. They'll appear in #waiting-room
5. Your mods verify and elevate them
6. Then invite them to your org's space

Account Security

• Use a strong, unique password (password manager recommended)
• Set up key backup in Security settings (so you don't lose encrypted messages)
• Consider using a dedicated email for Grey Duck

Device Security

• Lock your phone/computer with a strong PIN or password
• Enable full-disk encryption on your devices
• Be aware of who has physical access to your devices
• Log out of Grey Duck on shared or public computers

Communication Security

• Use encrypted rooms for sensitive conversations
• Enable disappearing messages for highly sensitive content
• Verify important contacts in person (compare safety numbers)
• Don't screenshot or share content from encrypted rooms
• Be vague about specifics in any written communication

What Grey Duck Protects

• Message content in encrypted rooms (we can't read it)
• Your identity from other users (only your username is visible)
• Your conversations from Big Tech surveillance

What Grey Duck Cannot Protect

• Your device if it's compromised or seized
• Information you share publicly or in unencrypted rooms
• Screenshots taken by other participants
• Metadata (who talked to whom, when) if compelled by law