freedom of speech

[ken78]

freedom of speech, looks like dulwich forum has now stopped this so be careful what you say as the administrator will not let you say anything they don't like, i have been a member since 23 May 2009 now i don't think it's a good forum . i have pm a administrator about this and never got a reply what a way to run a forum.

[Administrator]

Someone was selling a professional knife sharpener in the For Sale board and you were trying to jeopardise their sale by posting that it wasn't needed / too expensive / etc. Hence these being removed.

Not the first time you've tried to do this either.

The for sale board isn't a place to have a chat and criticise people's items for sale. That's incredibly poor etiquette.

[Penguin68]

Actually, a properly moderated forum does not offer unlimited freedom of speech - there are certain things said which, whilst not illegal, are nevertheless unhelpful, untrue or unnecessarily rude - and of course there are some things said which are, or may be, a breach of the law. The fact that Admin has put forward his reasoning in this case is helpful, as it helps clarify the moderating policy in this instance. In those parts of the forum where 'discussion' is expected a wide range of different views are allowed. But even these must and should be moderated. On occasion it is annoying where a legitimate view is 'lost' because it has formed part of a wider debate which is off topic or may even be verging (e.g. issues sub judice) on a breach of the law, where the view, expressed solus, would make no sense. But that's what good moderators sometimes need to do.

[ken78]

Rules of selling on the forum read them I have and I was not wrong .....sellers must tell about the item for sale and if you read my posts about this you will see I was not wrong.. afew sellers try and make some things sound a lot better than they are

[Penguin68]

The general rules are caveat emptor, that is, that it is the buyer or potential buyer that needs to do due diligence. That may include more general research, but it is not up to others to editorialize a small ads page!

Other, perhaps, to indicate where you know from personal experience that a seller is not to be trusted, through e.g. non delivery or false description. Which doesn't include selling something that you wouldn't buy.

Had a poster, I suppose, asked whether something was good value or worth buying you could, reasonably, comment. But not as a gratuitous insertion. And it's not a question most would pose on a small ads site itself.

[Administrator]

For full disclosure, this was the topic where ken78's comments were deleted: https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=2288796

The seller is trying to sell a professional knife sharpening machine. The seller even posted links to other places where the same device sells for full retail price. Its a totally legitimate listing.

ken78's deleted posts were along the lines of 'this tool isn't needed / too expensive'. There is absolutely no need to make comments like this. The seller has every right to sell items like this on the forum without someone else completely uninvolved in the sale making negative comments about it. If someone is selling an item in bad faith, then you are welcome to report the post, but in this case there is absolutely nothing wrong with the listing.

There is no specific forum rule saying 'you can't discuss or post negative comments about other people's listings when you have no involvement with it', but it common courtesy that you shouldn't do this. The rule list would be far too long if we had to clarify every single scenario of what is respectful and what isn't.

[ken78]

the seller said it had only be used a few times, then it worked out it was used in his business by an apprentice so it was well used and as i have used one of these in my trade as a butcher i know the stones DO WEAR OUT but the sell never said this so as i said the seller was misleading buyers on this forum and i was in the wrong ? i put up the links of this as well