The Hackney Directory Forum is a community space for open discussion about local businesses, services, events, ideas, and life in Hackney. It exists to encourage constructive conversation, practical advice, and respectful debate.

By participating in the forum, you agree to follow these rules.

Purpose of the Forum

The forum is designed for:

• Asking genuine questions
• Sharing first hand experiences
• Offering helpful insights
• Discussing local issues constructively
• Supporting independent businesses through informed dialogue

It is not a platform for personal attacks, advertising campaigns, or misinformation.

Respect and Conduct

You must treat other users with respect at all times.

The following behaviour will result in content removal and possible suspension:

• Harassment, bullying, intimidation, or threats
• Personal attacks against other users
• Hate speech or discrimination based on age, race, ethnicity, religion, political belief, gender, sexual orientation, or disability
• Aggressive or inflammatory language intended to provoke

Debate is allowed. Abuse is not.

Advice and Responsibility

The forum is not a professional advisory platform.

Do not:

• Offer legal advice
• Offer medical advice
• Offer financial or investment advice
• Encourage others to rely on your guidance for serious decisions

Users are responsible for verifying information independently. Hackney Directory does not guarantee the accuracy of user generated content.

Quality and Relevance

Keep discussions relevant and useful.

You must:

• Use clear, descriptive titles that summarise your topic
• Avoid vague or clickbait subject lines
• Post in the correct forum category
• Stay on topic within each thread
• Avoid posting the same question in multiple sections

Before starting a new thread, check whether the topic already exists.

Spam and Promotion

The forum is not a marketing tool.

The following are strictly prohibited:

• Self promotion of your own business
• Promoting a competitor
• Affiliate links
• Referral links
• Posting purely promotional content
• Posting contact details for sales purposes
• Sending unsolicited private messages to users
• Requesting personal information from other members

We operate a zero tolerance policy for spam. Accounts used for promotional abuse will be suspended.

Accuracy and Integrity

We will remove content that includes:

• False or fabricated information
• Misleading claims
• Deliberate misinformation
• Outdated information presented as current

If you make factual claims about a business, ensure they are based on real experience and can be supported if challenged.

Defamation and Harm

Do not make serious allegations about businesses or individuals without verifiable evidence.

Content will be removed if it:

• Accuses a business of criminal behaviour without proof
• Contains defamatory statements
• Attempts to damage a business reputation maliciously

Criticism must focus on service and experience, not personal character.

Illegal and Prohibited Content

We will remove posts that include:

• Profanity, sexually explicit, or pornographic material
• Promotion or glorification of illegal drugs, counterfeit goods, contraband, or illegal weapons
• Instructions for illegal activities
• Obscene or unlawful material

Intellectual Property

Do not post copyrighted material unless you have permission.

This includes:

• Images
• Articles
• Long quotations
• Branded content

Copying content word for word from another website, including your own, is not permitted.

Privacy and Personal Data

Do not publish:

• Private phone numbers
• Personal email addresses
• Home addresses
• Sensitive personal data
• Staff names in a way that exposes them to harm

Respect the privacy of businesses and individuals.

Moderation and Enforcement

Hackney Directory is not responsible for the accuracy of forum content. Users are legally responsible for what they publish.

We reserve the right to:

• Edit or remove posts that breach these rules
• Lock threads
• Suspend or permanently block accounts
• Remove private messaging privileges
• Withdraw forum access at any time

Serious or repeated violations will result in permanent removal.