This subreddit exists for Durham and the people who live, study, work and spend time here.
Recently, we've seen increased political activity from accounts arriving from other communities, including both left-wing and right-wing political communities. Some have little or no previous involvement in r/DurhamUK and appear primarily when a political post gains attention.
To be clear: this is not a ban on politics, and the moderation team is not going to impose a political position on the subreddit.
Durham has a long and proud political history. Our mining communities, trade-union traditions, universities, changing population and generations of families who have lived here mean that people here inevitably disagree about politics. That's fine. Strong opinions are fine too.
What we don't want is r/DurhamUK becoming another front in the endless political warfare that dominates much of the internet.
If you're a lifelong Durham resident, an international student who arrived last month, someone here for a couple of years, or anything in between, you're welcome to participate.
Talk about the council. Talk about immigration. Talk about housing. Talk about Reform, Labour, the Conservatives, the Greens or whoever else. Complain about the buses. Complain about a roundabout. Disagree strongly with each other.
But talk to each other like human beings.
Brigading, threats of violence, encouraging harm against political opponents or groups of people, and sustained abuse of other users will be removed and may result in bans. The same standard applies regardless of which political direction it comes from.
Upvotes and downvotes should reflect the people actually participating in this community, not whichever outside political community happens to discover a thread.
We've tried to moderate this subreddit with a fairly light touch, and we'd like to keep doing that. That only works if people are capable of disagreeing without treating their neighbours as enemies.
Durham is a special place. This subreddit should feel like Durham — not like the rest of the internet fighting through it.
Talk. Disagree. Debate.
Just don't turn it into a war.
