Do you allow criticism of companies on your forum?

I received a complaint from a new member (who thought she was anonymous) via the contact form, upset over some threads criticizing certain companies and the people who run them. I have reason to believe she's affiliated with one of these companies, and if half the stories about them on the Internet are true then those threads are doing the public a service.

Her main argument to try and convince me to take them down, though, was that they made the forum look unpleasant and uninviting to newbies. Would you get rid of threads that criticized companies on your forum? Or would you encourage them, in the interests of public knowledge?

 

If I knew that it was completly bullshit then I might remove them but if there is any reason to belive some of it is true then leave it. If you do not have any reason to belive its not true then leave it.

 

Cable forum started as a hell site for one company (ntl) - its grown since then, but we allow any valid slagging of companies.

 

Criticism is always good, they talk about you, they think about you.

 

Who are you referring to - the organization being criticized or the individuals responsible for criticizing?

 

Users being responsible~

 

Criticism of companies and political figures is very much allowed on my forum. Even to the point to where its expected.

 

If the criticisms are valid and not personal attacks then there should be no problem with them. Personal Opinions should be clearly labeled as such and not made as a declaration of fact. Criticism should be targeted at the company, not named employees. If they are defaming and heresay than they should be deleted because they will open you up to libel lawsuits and punitive damages.

You should also have a clause in your terms of service stating that users and users alone are responsible for their words and that you will cooperate with any legal inquiries.

 

This.

 

Have to agree.

 

I allow this type of discussion especially if someone is ripped off as the general public should be warned - however I make sure in terms and conditions that it is clear all comments are that of the poster!

 

What Wayne said pretty much sums it all up.

If somebody were bashing a company and its employees, just for the sake of criticizing them (as opposed to having valid reasons for doing so) then it simply wouldn't be permitted.

 

My site features reviews of suppliers and we get all sorts from glowing praise to warnings.

As long as they are making a substantive argument without going into the gutter all is fine. If the company wants to make a reply on their behalf then they are free to do so.

I think this is part of serving your niche.

 

Very good point!

If your reason for running a forum is to provide a resource and wealth of information in your niche, having only the positive news doesn't help. People often seek out the bad information in order to make an informed decision when it comes to things such as making a purchase or something.

 

Sounds perfectly acceptable to me and perfectly in line with so many review sites out there. It is one thing to be objective and relate your experience with a company, good or bad, and a completely different thing to talk trash and extreme bias.

 

They can say anything they like about non-hobby businesses and people. It's up to the members to challenge illogical accounts and provide more information to support or refute the claim.

Basically having members provide more and more information establishes the apparent truth or not of the claim. We don't moderate the direction, the posters get there on their own.

I have a special sub-forum for ragging on companies and people who sell stuff in the hobby, The Transaction Board. They post as red/yellow/green lights, and also ask for references about people they don't know. The rules are:

- first-hand accounts only - no second-hand stories, rumor or gossip - if you know of someone who had a telling experience with the company/person being discussed, get them to post the account as first-hand

- no name-calling or bashing, readers will make up their own minds if they person/business being discussed is an ROA (rip-off artis) or what have you

- must sign all posts with real first & last name - if you can't or won't do that, you can't post

- must inform the person/business and provide a link to the thread - they are free to state their side of the story - if they are not a member they can register and post in this forum free

- other members are allowed to offer advice and council and to some extent opinions, but must not bash

If a red light (strong warning) is posted about someone, but subject person and the poster work out their differences and there is a change of heart, the poster can reverse the warning only by posting again with a green light.

 

Good point. I just came back to this thread to ask this question but you've answered it in advance.