1. Choose a jar and a topic
The general jar is for anonymous problems. The women and men modes can be switched between problems, advice and questions. Changing a tab does not draw a card by itself. A card appears only after the visitor deliberately presses the draw button or the jar.
2. A draw looks for a community card, then a labelled example
TellJar first asks the backend for a public community card that matches the selected context. If none is available, the app can fall back to a labelled starter card. This avoids a dead end while still making the source clear to the visitor.
3. Read in a language you understand
The original language is preserved and the translation function can produce a version in another language. Automatic translations can contain mistakes, so important details should be checked against the source text. Country selection filters card context; it does not claim that the visitor is physically located in that country.
4. Reply to the actual situation
A useful reply explains what stands out in the described situation, what alternative explanations may exist and what safe next step could be considered. It does not require pretending to be a therapist, doctor or lawyer. For high-risk situations, the responsible reply can be to recommend appropriate professional or emergency support.
5. Moderation separates submission from publication
Content can enter a moderation queue instead of becoming public immediately. This helps reduce spam, personal-data exposure, threats, harassment and other policy violations. The report action lets visitors flag content that needs another review later.
6. An account is optional for reading
Reading and drawing do not require an account. An account is needed for features that need a persistent owner or recipient, such as a private reply inbox or a paid entitlement. A public profile is optional and is kept separate from anonymous cards.
7. A simple structure for a better card
8. What TellJar does not promise
We do not promise that the most popular answer is true, that every piece of advice fits your situation or that an anonymous community can replace a qualified professional. TellJar is meant to provide perspective and tools for clearer thinking, not to make the final decision for you.