My content was deleted for Terms of Service violation, why?

Question

Below is the question and answer I submitted.  My answer was deleted because of "Terms of Service Violation".  So I read the entire Terms of Service and cannot find what I Violated.

I appealed Yahoo's decision and asked them to clearly explain what I did wrong or what terms I violated.  Their response, "you may not post content in violation of the Yahoo! Terms of Service."

That surely is no help! So, I decided to take the question public and ask you.  

In their Terms of Service there is a phrase that says that I cannot post content that is "ethnically or otherwise objectionable" which is your catch all phrase.  Which means they can deny anything you post for any reason at all, and not give a reason!  

It seems to me, like that is what has happened here. Following is the question and answer I provided.  Hopefully someone here will be more helpful than Yahoo was.  BTW, I live in the Dominican Republic. Thanks...


Question: What kind of good business can I start with $10,000 pesos in
Dominican Republic?

Deleted Answer: Good business? What is a good business? Have you thought
about getting into the drug business like any other
"successful" Dominican? Judge all you want, but it's the
number one business in the DR. And besides Politics, the only other
means to make any money. BTW, Politics and drugs are synonymous here,
and we both know it. If you got connections, probably drugs is a good
start.

Second, maybe get into the cell phone business. Be the middle man. Buy
low, and sell high. We both know that Dominicans live for their cell
phones and they are hot commodities down here.

Start an online business like someone else suggested?! Dont even give it
a thought! As a Dominican, you're f*cked when it comes to e-commerce
or any online business. You'll fail before you ever start. No one,
not even PayPal will do business with you. You "may" be able
to make some money, but it will be impossible to ever "get"
the money to the Dominican Republic. As it maybe an option in North
America, down here in the DR, dont even attempt it.

Start making empanada's and selling them to your friends. But you
gotta cook. Get a loyal following and grow. Best as fasted way to make
money in the DR is drugs. If you dont want to get into that business,
maybe start with cell phones.

THE BANNIBAL ONE · Accepted Answer

yes,it says which you know,they can remove any objectionable material.
you did say,d,,gs which even though it is a fact of life is prohibited,,
the thinking is by sweeping it under the rug it no longer exists,where i live anyone over the age of 8 knows about them sadly.education is needed.so.actually i am sorry your question was deleted.
but it sadly is in violation of their rules.
thank you

brian 2010 · Answer

Here's the situation on what you asked about:

1. You suggested the asker to get into a criminal enterprise that involves illegal drugs
2. You have also insulted the asker and the people of a third-world nation.

All of that is a clear violation of the Terms of Service, and your answer was deleted as a result of your actions. For this, you can risk getting your entire Yahoo account deactivated without warning under the aforementioned rules.

Son of T3 · Answer

Followup:

Yes, when you talk about "successful" (in quotes) and drugs, you are implying illegal to most of the English speaking world.  Putting the word in quotes is a way of indicating that you are using the word in a manner other than the normal meaning.  Pharmaceuticals is the word to distinguish the legit business.

*********************************

Your answer was totally insulting to the asker and a country of people.  Because it is so blatant and long, that falls into the TOS rules.  Any form of insulting if bad enough can receive such a violation.  You were also promoting a user get into illegal activity as a profession.  That is another TOS violation type.

Ed Atun · Answer

Never waste your "appeal" asking what you did wrong. They never tell you.  

If you had used the word "pharmaceutical" business instead of "drug" business, the reporter could not have reported you in the first place.  So it was just a misunderstanding.    ( Of course, there is the tiniest possibility that you intentionally chose that word to be a bit provocative).   You could win this appeal if you show that you never used the word "illegal" so your answer was legal.

Yahzmin ♥♥ 4ever · Answer

Just one small addition here in response to your latest posting:
"But what I find fascinating is that you both thought there was. So possibly, there is a cultural disconnect. I assume most people here (including Yahoo) are from 1st world countries. And they believe that their morals, values, laws, and outlook on life in general, apply to other people in other countries as well. Even when they have zero knowledge of a people, culture or country. "

The 'cultural disconnect' you speak of may be yours, not ours. You may NOT be aware that if you POST on a US site, you must obey the US rules of that site that you agreed to. Therefore, even if the laws in YOUR country differ from ours, your postings HERE must follow OUR laws. So, posting about activities that are illegal in the US, but legal, quasi-legal or 'accepted' in other countries - is considered illegal posting on the US version of Yahoo Answers. So, unless you were referring to somebody starting a pharmaceutical company or pharmacy delivery service, it is most likely that the 'drug business' would refer to something considered illegal in the US - and therefore against the TOS. This also applies to download sites that other countries consider 'legal', but are designated illegal in the US. Posting links to them on the US site - will get your account suspended. Those postings are only allowed on the sites that are located IN the countries where those services are NOT illegal. This is a 'fine point' of the Yahoo Answers 'law' - but one to be clearly aware of at all times.

My content was deleted for Terms of Service violation, why?

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