I submitted a missed connection about a stranger I met who I genuinely interacted with romantically and had not seen in a long time hoping that my stranger might see the ad and get back in touch with me. Gumtree deleted my ad. They sent me an email saying that they deleted it because it contained adult content and I should read the terms of service more closely next time before I submit an ad, and I should post an ad on their affiliated adult dating community RSVP. I read carefully several times through the terms of service and it said nothing about prohibited adult content. I wrote them two complaint letters explaining that my ad concerned a specific individual I had actually met rather than a general need to meet a romantic partner; that there was nothing "adult" or even explicitly romantic about my ad, it was entirely inoffensive and suitable for any child to read; and in any case most of the submissions to missed connections pages in general and their page in particular are of a romantic nature, so that the way they treated me was unfair or a mistake. I wrote that I appreciate that the service is free but that they should not offer this service if they do not accept ads like mine. They wrote back to me to say that they are no longer accepting any content of a romantic or adult nature, regardless of whether it is a missed connection or not. But I have looked on their missed connections page since, and ads have been posted containing explicit romantic content. Much more clear than mine: to the effect "i thought you were hot", for example.
I feel very upset and angry. I feel that their staff made personal judgments about me based on the content of my ad. They know nothing about me or my life, what I have experienced in my life or who I am. They do not have degrees in psychology, they are simply monkies at typewriters. They are not more qualified to make judgments about me and the decisions I make than I am. I feel ridiculed and humiliated.
What a horrible staff. You are a bunch of jerks. Why can't people just be kind and compassionate? What harm was my ad doing? I wasn't hurting anyone. People should just leave other people alone. They have no idea what other people go through.
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