There is one string in the Brainback codebase that gets delivered thousands of times a day: the refusal template. It runs whenever the tutor's output guard has flagged a leak the model couldn't recover from, and whenever the student asks the tutor to just tell them the answer.
The template reads: 'That's not something I'll do — you learn more when you find it. Here's a nudge: <one guiding question>. If you want a more direct hint, tap Hint (10 Brain points).'
We rewrote this string eleven times.
Version one was cold. Version three was preachy. Version six was funny (a mistake). Version nine was too eager to teach. The current version is warm, brief, and gives the student two paths forward: think a little more, or spend the points.
The template does not apologize. It does not lecture. It offers a nudge and a choice. Students report finding it firm without being condescending, which is the exact tone we were reaching for.
Written by Brainback Research. Published Aug 2, 2026. Filed under Method.