General Question About Group Take-downs?

Question

Please bear in mind I have little experience in owning / moderating a group. I have heard too many anecdotes about groups simply disappearing to dismiss them. In some of these stories a disgruntled ex-member complained to Yahoo about something or other and apparently without any contact between Yahoo and the moderators the group was simply gone.

Naturally I'd like to know more to avoid such pitfalls. I am trying to be very fair and even handed and use a very light touch in moderation, stepping in only when folks get rude or offensive or stray too far from the topic and so far haven't needed to ban anyone. Even so I had someone leave in a huff and make a thinly veiled threat to bring the wrath of Yahoo down upon us.

What is the policy of Yahoo in dealing with complaints? Do they really just axe the group and be done with it? If it matters mine is in the adult category. And the only reason I started it is because a prior group (not mine) disappeared 2 months ago.

Answer 1

read yahoo TOS

http://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/uto...

and guidelines

http://groups.yahoo.com/local/guidelines...  <-- good to include in group rules

Yahoo generaly deletes groups only due to TOS violatons, so it'd be good to know what those are. Yahoo does not delete groups due to simple complaints without corresponding evidence. millions of Yahoo users send in complaints, but without proof, nothing would happen.

groups can be deleted due to copyright infringements (copy and pasting content w/o a link) this goes for photo's too, or adult content.

I have been in YGroups for years and have banned, denied membership, been threatened- never have I experienced a group being deleted by Yahoo. I have belonged to over 30  groupd for years as well that consists of many different issues that arise.

best way to handle a group (IMO) is moderate new members to avoid off topic or flame wars. set up rules and enforce them. monitor links, files and photo's added to the group on a regular bases or just don't allow members to add to those area's.