The privacy manifesto
Every story below was shared anonymously and reviewed by an automated AI moderation system before publication. No accounts, no emails, no IP addresses — only the ritual and how it started.
What is a totem?
On Totem, a totem is a personal lucky ritual or charm in the colloquial sense: an object, place, number, song or habit a person ties to an uncertain outcome — the number-13 jersey worn for every match, the left seat on the couch, the song that must play before kick-off, the words you never say before the final whistle.
Frequently asked questions
What does “totem” mean on this site?
The colloquial meaning: a personal lucky ritual, charm or superstition tied to an uncertain outcome — like wearing a number-13 jersey during every match, always sitting on the left side of the couch, or never saying “we won” before the final whistle.
Is Totem really anonymous?
Yes. There are no accounts, no emails, no cookies and no request logs. Stories are stored with their text only, and the story’s author is never recorded — not even as a pseudonym.
How are spam and unsafe content blocked?
Every story is reviewed by an automated AI moderation system before publication. Spam, adult, violent, illegal content and personal data are rejected and never stored. If the moderation service is unreachable, nothing is published (fail-closed). Reported stories go through an adversarial AI appeal review: clean stories stay up (with a rising reporting bar), violating ones are hidden.
How can I delete a story I shared?
When you publish a story you receive a one-time delete key. The server stores only its SHA-256 hash, so you hold the only copy — with it you can delete the story at any time.