We just wanted to set up a spot for you all to ask questions / share your viewpoint on this. I also wanted to give a bit of insight as to what's allowed / what isn't and how we'll handle it, so you have a bit of a guideline to follow rather than an ambiguous rule.
● Political and religious debate.
We allow members to openly discuss their position and feelings on a huge range of subjects. While we encourage all users to be respectful toward one another at all times, we're sure you can appreciate that the aforementioned topics tend to create huge discord among our community and account for a disproportionately high amount of complaints and reports. These sort of deals often lead to heated discussions.
▸ We will remove any personal abuse or highly offensive content - otherwise, please approach these comments in the knowledge there will probably be disagreement about the subject matter of the deal and related topics.
We hope you can understand why we've taken this decision and appreciate your support
● Definition - what constitutes a non permissible thread?
▸ What if my comment or thread wasn't political or religious? I think you were too harsh on me.
We'll do our best, but we may make mistakes. If you need anything reviewing, please use the report function - we will take a look at your comment and see what we can do to reinstate it. We'll keep you in the loop on whatever we decide along the way.
▸ I've seen a user posting something and I'm not sure if it's within the guidelines or not.
Best thing to do is send a quick report. We review every single report sent to us, and although we might not need to do anything with the comment or thread you flag, we appreciate you helping us out and taking the time to let us know something needs attention
● Thread Disclaimer:
● Political and religious debate.
We allow members to openly discuss their position and feelings on a huge range of subjects. While we encourage all users to be respectful toward one another at all times, we're sure you can appreciate that the aforementioned topics tend to create huge discord among our community and account for a disproportionately high amount of complaints and reports. These sort of deals often lead to heated discussions.
▸ We will remove any personal abuse or highly offensive content - otherwise, please approach these comments in the knowledge there will probably be disagreement about the subject matter of the deal and related topics.
We hope you can understand why we've taken this decision and appreciate your support
● Definition - what constitutes a non permissible thread?
- Miscellaneous discussions based on religious persuasion
- Comments or discussion which contain religious or political bias
- Comments which do not respect individual freedom of speech*
- Attempting to “profile” a user based on their religious or political standpoint; assuming if they believe in (a) then they must therefore believe in (b)
- Soapboxing
- Encouraging / inciting intolerance
- Being narrow minded / hateful toward people who have different religious or political views
- Stereotyping; creating or encouraging conversation around negative stereotypes
- Criticising the decisions / choices taken by those of a different religious or political standpoint
- Pointing out systematic or social issues around “loaded” topics such as immigration, integration, fanaticism
- Deal thread hijacking eg a deal on Easter eggs is fine, but comments questioning why anyone would embrace Christianity / Religion in general within that thread should be removed
- A question around whether a product is kosher or halal (for example) is fine, but any replies questioning why it matters, or further discussing the reasons behind halal / the moral code should be deleted
- Comments which blame a price rise on Brexit are fine. If those comments start to dissect the decision to leave the EU or open up the Brexiteer vs Remainer conversation, they will be deleted
▸ What if my comment or thread wasn't political or religious? I think you were too harsh on me.
We'll do our best, but we may make mistakes. If you need anything reviewing, please use the report function - we will take a look at your comment and see what we can do to reinstate it. We'll keep you in the loop on whatever we decide along the way.
▸ I've seen a user posting something and I'm not sure if it's within the guidelines or not.
Best thing to do is send a quick report. We review every single report sent to us, and although we might not need to do anything with the comment or thread you flag, we appreciate you helping us out and taking the time to let us know something needs attention
● Thread Disclaimer:
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598 Comments
sorted byMaybe you admin should look up the definition of the term miscellaneous before you cut off peoples right to free speech, if we can not speak of religion, politics or current events you've pretty much nuked every subject of human debate and conversation since the dawn of time.
I suppose the only subjects left are shopping unless we want to discuss things like toys r us going bust etc.
Kill the site go on your choice, plenty ready to replace you.
So you are even censoring the thread you have set up to discuss censoring the website, can you see the irony?
Isn't that a contradictory oxymoronic comment? If an user cannot comment or remark on current affairs, politics or religion isn't that the worst form of censorship, and contrary to your statement of respecting an individual's freedom of speech? (playing devils advocate).
Understandable that the Administrators have decided to adjust their code of conduct to prevent discrimination, derogatory comments, racial and religious intolerance, but simply having a blanket ban all topics that influences, affects, and shapes our daily lives unfair? If the Administrators and Moderators were concerned about the gradual decline in the Miscellaneous Forum content wouldn't a visible stern warning, deterrent, or prior notice before taking these drastic actions? Unfortunately the UK users haven't had their own opportunity to state their feedback, or present a viable alternative.
As with many forums, websites and search engines, the companies have decided to follow a similar line as HotUKdDeals simply either creating a stricter code of conduct, change their terms and conditions, or stop public feedback altogether (IMDB). This way stopping adverse publicity but also the time and cost to moderate those boards. I'm saddened by the change, as in all intents and purposes leaving very few topics to discuss, and will probably be the demise of the Miscellaneous section, but it is a Deals website first and foremost.
This misc forum seems to have descended into nothing but trolling with predictable outcomes.
No one is interested in the other person's political viewpoint or meaningful contribution - everything is based on political leaning.
e.g. You could have someone write something that you would normally agree with, but because they are known to have a different political leaning, you will immediately find ways to flame them.
The religious trolling and hatred is something else altogether. Hopefully we'll see the end of that and those who loved their xenophobic and Islamophobic ways can go elsewhere to a more extreme website to share their common hatred with their peers.
MOD REMOVED
And again, good job on these new rules. (edited)
All i would say to those that have pushed this through is to be careful what you wish for, the stifling of political and religious debate is only ever going to go one way and it will not be good news.
Happy shopping everyone.
There might be a silver lining though, in that we may not see some of those members any longer as they only ever frequented those types of threads.
Edit: Yes, I've seen you. And I thought I was on your ignore list? (edited)
So the actions of the few are used to censor the actions of the many when there is no evidence that such controls has any affect on the actions the new rules are blamed upon, that's whats known as a slippery slope.
Can you define what any of this even means because its as clear as mud.
- Miscellaneous discussions based on political events / news
Anything new is news and events happen every second what is news and events?- Miscellaneous discussions based on religious persuasion
So no posts about Christmas?- Comments or discussion which contain religious or political bias
All people have religious or political bias, a Christian is bias in favour of their chosen religion just as a labour voter is biased in the ideology of socialism.- Comments which do not respect individual freedom of speech
Thats a oxymoron.HUKDs are seriously saying we're not permitted to discuss Christmas or Easter as they're deemed religious events and may cause offence.
They then further add insult to injury by saying we cannot discuss terrorist atrocities., including 9/11.
Have the owners of this site lost their minds?
I look forward to reading all about this in the daily red tops in the next day or two.
No one wants to visit a site dedicated to saving shoppers money and stumble upon hate filled topics/messages.
. (edited)
I have been a member of many, many forums over the years, most of which have a general banter page. Astronomy forums, 4x4 forums, motorbike forums, conspiracy forums, the list goes on. What sets MISC aside from any other forum I have ever been a member of is the shear diversity of its members. There are people here from all walks of life, from people on benefits to land owners, from a huge variety of religions to non believers, extreme left wing to extreme right wing, men, women, young, old, gay, straight. I don’t think HDUK understand what a great forum they have in MISC.
I think imposing these new rules are a huge mistake, I can understand why, but you are doing the community a massive injustice. In effect you are saying we can’t discus current affairs, because at the end of the day most of our daily news is intertwined with politics and religion in one way or another. What if there is another terrorist attack tomorrow or another mass shooting in the states or what if the PM suddenly called another snap election, these are things people would want to talk about, are we not allowed to discus them.
So why not try something like needing a certain permission to post in MISC, make it for over 18's only maybe, if you get banned you don’t get back in. Its got to be better than just ruining what you have here.
It’s only in the last couple of years that things have gone a bit toxic, just after brexit. Now as divisive as brexit was, it isn’t the problem, the problem is a member of a certain ilk that joined just after brexit. I have watched over the last couple of years this member bait and troll other members, goading long standing and well thought of members in to retaliation, and then getting them banned. Why HDUK have done nothing about this member completely baffles me, he has even tried baiting this very thread.
Just my penneth worth.
misc is a wonderful place and now it can flourish with its various unique, gaming, fitness, weather, photo's and movies threads to name a few
WOW!
But whatever I guess.
My comment above was removed from a Moshino handbag thread???
Was it the reference to hell, a black eye (rather than a white one), or being married the reason for its removal?
A satirical cartoon shown on the BBC in 2004 for the Electoral Commission that emphasizes how Politics influences our daily lives. It is also probably the best argument that it is impossible to discuss any topic without mentioning or involving politics. (edited)
How any Mod or Admin can support such blatant bias should be ashamed of themselves.
But glad to see HUKD partake on joining in with the creation of a politically correct Utopia been forced upon folks. Won't be long before they are specifying what deals to post in case any cause offence to those from the easily offended brigade!
And here I was about to post details on a cracking Easter Egg, oops I mean "Gesture" Egg I spotted or maybe those cheap Christmas Trees, oops sorry again "Happy Holiday" tree bargains ready for this years festive celebrations.
Apologies if any one was offended.
Minority appeasement is not in anyone's best interest as a whole, and no that was in know way referring to race but as mentioned site users. No one is forced against their will to partake in any discussion, but some members will, maybe 2 in particular on certain topics blurt out rhetoric **** and if no one agrees start trolling and then run off crying to mods whilst deleting comments and threads.
How long before Gender neutrality comes in to play and ban use of words he and she incase of offence.
If people are so easily offended, why join in a discussion knowing fine well the possible outcome, everyone will always be entitled to an opinion, repressing those is never in anyone's best interest. Yet getting panties in a twist because someone disagrees is also extremely childish.
Though one thing MISC does teach you is in line with certain member views is Just because you live in London doesn't automatically make you an expert on all matters, most of the time it makes you out to be a d*** with keyboard.
But let my bedtime reading disappear, be sad to see the posts from couple of members no longer grace my screen. More than likely ASK will became the next section where debates can carry on and we'll start seeing more rhetoric **** on why my technology recommendations are better than yours!!! You all know you wont see them posting in the deals sections.
On another note wrap up warm and take care when out and about this week, there are snowflakes everywhere
Not retaliation, rather a tongue-in-cheek, fun way of expressing their annoyance and dissatisfaction. Systematically culling a thread which doesn't contravene the new Code of Conduct, nor terms and conditions emphasizes either excessive overzealous moderation, clampdown on Freedom of Speech, or an ulterior motive.
Yes, similar to that. And once a thread has taken a wrong turn the comments can come quicker than I (or any human) can read and action.
For example, someone may report a comment that is the 33rd comment in the thread. It's unfair of me to simply just delete and infract that comment. I need to read the entire thread and see what led to that offensive comment. Often, it is comment 7 that started it off, but without reading and understanding the whole thread it can't be moderated properly.
So, whilst I'm acting on a report for comment 33 I'm also actioning comments 7 through to 32. Whilst I'm busy reading and actioning these comments another 20 have appeared, so now I'm really playing catch up.
Meanwhile, over in 'Deals' someone has posted a thread for a merchant that isn't suitable, or has posted, albeit in good faith, a scam deal that is never going appear. The problem is, I haven't seen these deals as I'm busy cleaning up, "You're stupid", "No, you're stupid", "Well, you are more stupid and your avatar makes you look like you support UKIP" etc.
Of course, by stopping political / religious threads, arguments, comments, this wont be a magic wand but it will mean we can spend a lot more time doing what we should be doing here.
OTOH, it's a long time since HUKD ceased to be a deal-finding community and instead became just the British arm of a multinational advertising company. Why would you seek out and submit deals for the site now? Unless there's the possibility of a job offer at the end of it (as has happened to some members, in fairness), you're basically just providing free labour. Would you stock the shelves of Asda / Walmart for free as well?
comments where insults are used remain and polite responses deleted.
Its farcical - not sure if its one mod that is doing their own thing or just massive inconsistencies but either way sort it out.
Dont hide behind phrase courteous and respectful when it doesn’t apply.
Or Misc (edited)
So you are saying that EU wide rules & regs are being rolled out here ?..... <laughs into sleeve>
Recently there was a lingerie deal for Anne Summers and the accompanying photo was that of the item being modelled by a curvy woman obviously classed as plus size. The comments then followed about how plus size people shouldn’t even remotely think of wearing such sexy items and a member continually referred to any woman over a size 14 as a ‘seacow’. I unfortunately fall into that plus size and the comments hurt me to read and I would of thought that any comment that could possibly offend any section of this community should have been taken down. I enjoy the banter on this site but once it gets to abusing others I think mods should step in.
You would like that wouldn't you
You can not get rid of all the troublemakers that easily. They get banned and find a way to make a new profile, behave for a few months then revert to their old selves and give themselves away. I'm sure the mods are not employed to be on here 24/7 modding so, at any one time, there may be only a couple of them modding. Why should their time be wasted by a select few.
Oh...I don't totally agree with everything HUKD do. Getting rid of FS/FT was not a wise decision. A select few ruined it for everyone else
I've already raised the question over this discrepancy that the Moderators and Administrators are overzealous in removing threads without publicly stating the reason to it's editing or deletion. Over twenty years of using a multitude of Forums and Bulletin Boards this is the only board that simply edit or delete threads and posts without explaining their judgement, so making it difficult for users to understand how or why that decision been made. Even on the most aggressive, stringent board (i.e Anandtech) that strictly moderate their forum, the offending material is immediately deleted, the user warned and an explanation is posted in the thread. Understandably the moderators might not have the time or man-power to reply, but the occasional explanation should suffice.
---------------------------
The issue of my original statement and complaint is that there is zero tolerance towards Religious and Political topics; Whilst still permitting the option to post questions and include subjects that support specific agendas or rhetoric that many users find abhorrent, or against their beliefs. Whether this is down to political correctness, religious bias, naivety, or conforming to an evolving society but we're finding that this board and many other forums are simply falling into this trap. Simply there is no allowance for discussion, or constructive criticism, either conform or the thread will be immediately deleted. Both examples (below in bold) stated by the Administrator emphasizes this point. In truth what we will see in the future are threads with no substance, or indirect bias which supports certain users rhetoric or the forums agenda. Freedom of Speech, even with constructive criticism be damned.
*A question around whether a product is kosher or halal (for example) is fine, but any replies questioning why it matters, or further discussing the reasons behind halal / the moral code should be deleted.
*Comments which blame a price rise on Brexit are fine. If those comments start to dissect the decision to leave the EU or open up the Brexiteer vs Remainer conversation, they will be deleted
Funnily enough there is one topic that's been raised on this thread, which doesn't technically contravenes that code of conduct and terms and conditions but the offending material is immediately deleted or 'tidied up'. That subject is apportioning BLAME to certain individuals for the introduction of a stricter code of conduct. Even if the users wrote constructively, backed up their argument with evidence, there is no allowance to criticism as it would probably degenerate and/or would require careful attention. This leaves many users frustrated noticing the offenders who cajole, intimidate, riled, or infuriate members that have caused the change in CoC and T&C are now supporting this change! (edited)
Please can a mod advise me how to delete my account, as I cannot see an option, I don’t want it to just be inactive.
But the actions and inane comments of this individual have undoubtedly contributed to this situation.
A sad day for the 99% of decent folks on here who made it a lively and informative forum.
I can see anything and everything that has even the slightest political/religious link being censored. That's going to be pretty much 90% of misc threads.
Yes, there's that photo thread, a baking one, a exercise one and several gaming ones but what else?
It would be good if the HUKD sub reddit wasn't so bad. It's overrun by multis and the content is just vile. I don't have the time, effort or willpower to move to another community so can see myself slowly bowing out of this type of Internet forum. It's a shame as I've met some genuinely wonderful people on here over the years.
I will not struggle, I just enjoyed reading misc and listening to both sides of the debate. In my opinion if people are to easily offended maybe they should be avoiding the political topics in misc, instead of complaining and trying to silence free speech. (edited)
It's time the powers of HUKD looked at how censorship has worked out in the past for several countries (none of which I can name as that's against the rules now, unbelievably)
As said before... Plentu of other places to voice your opinions.
Just because someone doesnt post regularly in misc does not mean they dont read the threads.
Their opinion is still worthwhile anyway.