It’s immature, illegal and completely getting out of control. It has come to my attention that many of you are harassing each other through messages and profiles. I’m sure many of you are unaware that you’re actions fall into harassment. So let’s be clear on what harassment is:

Harassment covers a wide range of offensive behaviour. It is commonly understood as behaviour intended to disturb or upset. In the legal sense, it is behaviour which is found threatening or disturbing. (1)

Online harassment is known as Cyberstalking:

Cyberstalking The use of electronic tools such as email or instant messaging to harass or abuse a person or persons. Can also include particularly intense and/or coordinated incidents of trolling, especially when they occur repeatedly and specifically target a single person or group.(1)

A number of key factors have been identified: False accusations. Many cyberstalkers try to damage the reputation of their victim and turn other people against them. Encouraging others to harass the victim. Many cyberstalkers try to involve third parties in the harassment. They may claim the victim has harmed the stalker or his/her family in some way, or may post the victim’s name and telephone number in order to encourage others to join the pursuit. False victimization. The cyberstalker will claim that the victim is harassing him/her. (2)

The above behavior is the one that I have noticed both in the forums and in profiles. You know who you are and it would be in your best interest to delete any information that ties you to harassment because harassment is illegal:

Harassment is a crime. If proven, depending on the severity and frequency of the conduct and the harasser’s prior criminal record, harassment can be punishable as either a gross misdemeanor or a felony. Harassment can mean many things. It can refer to the actions of a person (or group) who is repeatedly sending you threatening letters, calling you on the phone, or repeatedly sending you unwanted gifts.(3)

Many of you are taking part in harassing without even knowing it but in the eyes of the law that does not matter:

It is not necessary that the harasser intend for the conduct to produce feelings of fear or intimidation in the victim, only that the harasser has reason to know that the conduct would cause such feelings. . . The law now reflects the understanding that, regardless of the motivation for the conduct, it disrupts the victim’s life and may threaten the victim’s safety.(3)

It is also against the rehash terms of service:

7. CONDUCT

You agree not to post, email, or otherwise make available Content:

that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, libelous, invasive of another’s privacy, or is harmful to minors in any way;

that harasses, degrades, intimidates or is hateful toward an individual or group of individuals on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, age, or disability;

Additionally, you agree not to:

contact anyone who has asked not to be contacted; “stalk” or otherwise harass anyone;. (4)

Violation of these terms will result in your account being deleted. A lot of you are good standing rehashers and it would break my heart to have to delete your profile. If you are having a problem with someone simply state the facts. There is no need to go on a rant or call anyone a ‘bitch’ or use any other form of derogatory language.

One of the issues that come to my attention is a rehashers individual rules for trading. If you disagree with someone’s opinion or ‘rules’ the best and mature option is just to ignore them.

The second issue that has come up is individuals posting information about ‘swaplifters’ or ‘terrible people to swap with’ on their profiles. This is slander and harassment, both illegal. If you would like to spread the word about about swaplifters on your profile, first confirm that they are indeed a swaplifter, and second stick to writing only the facts. Third make sure it was someone who swaplifted you not ‘this person swaplifted a friend of a friend’. If you just had a bad experience with a rehasher there is no need to write ‘will never trade with again’ or ‘you should not trade with this’ girl. That’s what karma comments are for.

Which leads me to the third issue: Karma. When leaving someone karma once again only stick to the facts and refrain from derogatory language.

The fourth issue is the more complicated issue of problems occurring with ongoing trades. This has to do mainly with rehashers receiving items in a less than perfect condition when it was stated otherwise. This is where most of the harassment occurs through messages. If you are having an issue with an ongoing trade please message either Katie or myself. We will get in touch with both parties and try to resolve the issue peacefully. I’m thinking about proposing a chat room of sorts to Orlando to help in the mediating process. I think this will help resolve most issues since it will be open communication between both parties and the mediator.

One last thing, harassment is bullying. Bullying is a personal issue for me which I will not stand for. If you read this in its entirety please post ‘bullying is not cool’. That way I can have a sort of head count on who has read this and who I have to hunt down so that they are aware of this issue. No to mention this took me two hours to write and I would appreciate it.

Bullying is not cool!

Bullying is not cool.

Philadelphia, PA

Well done Gladiz :-D I’m in the same position as Gladiz, I will absolutely not tolerate any of this sort of behavior.

On another note: when a person engages in any of this behavior, it not only makes the person look bad, but completely discourages anyone else from trading with you. You’re hurting yourself more than the other person (most of the time). With that being said, I know both Gladiz and I are on FULL alert for these types of actions, so posting in the forest, leaving comments on your or another person’s profile, or mentioning anyone else in your personal rehashes will be dealt with just as aggressively as any of the above mentioned topics.

JACKSONVILLE, FL

Bullying is not cool!

where it is hot and cold in the same season!,

The admins are doing a great job on keeping up on everything and making sure the site is great for everyone. Just want to let me know that we appreciate it lots!

HAWTHORNE, CA

Fish are friends, not food.

BISCAYNE PARK, FL

The admins are doing a great job on keeping up on everything and making sure the site is great for everyone. Just want to let me know that we appreciate it lots!

Thank you =D

Bullying is not cool!

On the other hand, our admins are super cool for keeping our Rehash community a safe and fair place to trade. Thank you, ladies. A virtual toast to you: :drink: .

San Francisco, CA

Bullying is not cool!

On the other hand, our admins are super cool for keeping our Rehash community a safe and fair place to trade. Thank you, ladies. A virtual toast to you: :drink: .

Thank you Lillian!

JACKSONVILLE, FL

UGH so not cool, i have a harrasing stalker on here who has an issue from another site so not cool i have done everything to make things right with her now she is here stalking me. I am about to be done with trading just because i dont have time for children playing games.

Brigantine, NJ

UGH so not cool, i have a harrasing stalker on here who has an issue from another site so not cool i have done everything to make things right with her now she is here stalking me. I am about to be done with trading just because i dont have time for children playing games.

Christina please message me about this issue. :heart:

Bullying is not cool.

Bullying is not cool.

And neither is being swaplifted. Hence my Rehash retirement.

Kingston, Ontario

Bullying is not cool.

Bullying is not cool!

Burnaby, British Columbia

bullying is not cool!

Saint George, UTAH

Bullying is def not cool! =/

Blanco, TX

Just want to say thank u to Gladiz for helping me out with this, Thank gurl! ;-)

Brigantine, NJ

Just want to say thank u to Gladiz for helping me out with this, Thank gurl! ;-)

No problem love that’s what I’m here for :heart: