diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 8f9a80ff41..18aaa39333 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -594,3 +594,6 @@ unsloth_compiled_cache/
 # Project Architect 3.0
 .run/
 __pycache__/
+
+# R120: outward-thread discussion records stay local (untracked 2026-09-30)
+phase-ends/current/discussions/D1.md
diff --git a/HOW_WE_WORK.md b/HOW_WE_WORK.md
index 68a1741433..fd75c90d11 100644
--- a/HOW_WE_WORK.md
+++ b/HOW_WE_WORK.md
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ PY = /usr/bin/python3
 | cookbook_add | `bash tools/cookbook_add.sh` | add a cookbook entry and its index line |
 | phaseend_index | `PY tools/phaseend_index.py` | assemble, lint and archive a PhaseEnd |
 | genend_index | `PY tools/genend_index.py` | assemble and lint a GenerationEnd |
-| commit_task | `bash tools/commit_task.sh` | the only commit path; explicit paths, no trailers, never pushes |
+| commit_task | `bash tools/commit_task.sh` | the only commit path; explicit paths, no trailers, never pushes; auto-stages phase-ends/current/{tasks,logs,research,discussions,RECAP.md,TASK_PROGRESS.md}, but leaves outward-thread discussion records unstaged and refuses messages naming an issue/PR (R120) |
 | run | `bash tools/run.sh` | any command that may print >40 lines; `--bg` / `--wait` for long compute |
 | Every script under `tools/` (plus the two report make-targets), grouped by purpose — one line each. Deep HOW-TO is **not | `Every script under `tools/` (plus the two report make-targets), grouped by purpose — one line each. Deep HOW-TO is **not` | Every script under `tools/` (plus the two report make-targets), grouped by purpose — one line each. Deep HOW-TO is **not |
 
diff --git a/phase-ends/current/discussions/D1.md b/phase-ends/current/discussions/D1.md
deleted file mode 100644
index 17fd4673b4..0000000000
--- a/phase-ends/current/discussions/D1.md
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,14 +0,0 @@
-# D1 — - (2026-09-29, session router)
-Status: executed
-
-## Decisions
-- (one line each)
-
-## Plan edits
-- (plan_edit.py commands; executed: yes/no)
-
-## Open
-- (unresolved items)
-
-## Deferred
-- deferred: <what> → <phase>
diff --git a/rules/INDEX.md b/rules/INDEX.md
index f93215b7e8..a8e3f765b7 100644
--- a/rules/INDEX.md
+++ b/rules/INDEX.md
@@ -143,3 +143,5 @@ R105 | No carry-audit section means audit blocked | - | active | PhaseEnd_Phase3
 R118 | Tool stop: SIGINT, wait, then restore | - | active | PhaseEnd_Phase37 candidate, ratified 2026-09-29
 
 R119 | Snapshot/refresh helpers refuse empty or shrunken input | - | active | PhaseEnd_Phase37 candidate, ratified 2026-09-29
+
+R120 | GitHub issue discussions are never committed or named in commit logs | - | active | developer 2026-09-30
diff --git a/rules/R120.md b/rules/R120.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d48bf27bb8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rules/R120.md
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+# R120 — GitHub issue discussions are never committed or named in commit logs
+id: R120 · group: - · status: active · tags: - · origin: developer 2026-09-30 · added: 2026-09-30
+
+**Rule.** Discussions of outward threads (GitHub issues and pull requests on this project or any other: the reporter's questions, our drafted replies, the reporter's handle, thread URLs or numbers) are never committed and never named in a commit message.
+
+**Why.** The repository is public. Outward text is written by the maintainer, like a developer, per `docs/gen3-standards.md`; an agent's drafts and analysis of a thread are not that text. An issue thread holds the reporter's own words and identity, which are not ours to republish in history. History cannot be un-published once pushed.
+
+**How.**
+- A `discuss` agent on an outward-thread topic writes its record and any draft reply under `.run/` (gitignored), never under `phase-ends/`.
+- A discussion record that does land in `phase-ends/*/discussions/` and names an issue/PR number or URL, or carries an `Outward: yes` line, is left unstaged by `tools/commit_task.sh`; the helper also refuses a commit message naming an issue/PR number or URL.
+- Plan titles, plan change notes, logs and task summaries describe the technical work only (e.g. "formats.md corrections"), never the thread that prompted it.
+- A record already committed is untracked with `git rm --cached` and gitignored; history is rewritten only on the developer's decision.
diff --git a/tools/commit_task.sh b/tools/commit_task.sh
index 7ee4f814b8..494a0eaf73 100644
--- a/tools/commit_task.sh
+++ b/tools/commit_task.sh
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ case "$MSG" in
   "$TASK:"*|"$TASK "*) FULL="$MSG";;
   *) FULL="$TASK: $MSG";;
 esac
+# R120: outward threads (issue/PR number or URL, or an `Outward: yes` line in a discussion record)
+# are never named in a commit message and their discussion records are never committed.
+OUTWARD='(github\.com/[^ ]*/(issues|pull)/[0-9]|\b(issue|PR|pull request) ?#?[0-9]+\b|^Outward: *yes)'
+printf '%s' "$FULL" | grep -qiE "$OUTWARD" && refuse "message names an outward thread (R120)"
 
 ROOT="$(find_root)"
 cd "$ROOT" || refuse "cannot cd to $ROOT"
@@ -102,6 +106,14 @@ for f in $(git diff --cached --name-only -- "$PE/current/logs" "$PE/current/task
   fi
 done
 
+# R120: an outward-thread discussion record stays unstaged in the tree (see OUTWARD above).
+for f in $(git diff --cached --name-only --diff-filter=AM -- "$PE/current/discussions"); do
+  if [ -f "$f" ] && grep -qiE "$OUTWARD" -- "$f"; then
+    git reset -q -- "$f" || refuse "git reset $f failed"
+    echo "left out: $f (outward-thread discussion record; R120 keeps it local)"
+  fi
+done
+
 if git diff --cached --quiet; then
   refuse "nothing staged for $TASK"
 fi