We recently posted a controversial article, and the Facebook comments section got… lively. Some conversations were thoughtful and added real value. Others, not so much.
It made us realize: if we’re going to build a space for community conversation, we need to be clear about what that looks like.
Why it matters: Fremont Neighbor exists to strengthen our community through reliable local news and thoughtful discussion. But that only works if our comment sections remain welcoming spaces where neighbors feel comfortable sharing their perspectives.
What we’re doing
We’ve created community standards for our Facebook, Instagram, and website comments. Think of them as ground rules for neighborly conversation, the same kind of respect you’d show if you were chatting with someone at the Fremont Sunday Market.
The basics:
- Share your perspective respectfully
- Disagree without personal attacks
- Stay on topic
- No hate speech, harassment, or misinformation
- Keep it clean (no profanity or spam)
You can read the full standards on our Community Standards page.
Why we need them
Local news only works when it creates space for community voices. But we’ve seen too many news sites abandon comments entirely because they become toxic cesspools. (There’s a reason they call it the “Greater Internet Fuckwad Theory.”)
We don’t want to go that route. We believe Fremont can do better.
Our approach: We’re not looking to referee every disagreement or police every opinion. We just want to maintain a space where neighbors can have real conversations about the issues that affect our community—even when (especially when) we don’t all agree.
What this means for you
If you’re already being respectful: Nothing changes. Keep commenting, sharing your thoughts, and adding to the conversation.
If you see rule-breaking comments: Report them instead of engaging. We rely on community flags to help us moderate effectively.
If your comment gets removed: You’ll know why. First violations get explained. Repeated problems result in temporary bans. Serious stuff (threats, hate speech) gets you permanently banned.
If you think we made a mistake: Email us. We’re human, and we’ll review it.
We’re learning as we go
Fremont Neighbor is still new, and we’re figuring this out as we grow. These standards aren’t set in stone…they’ll evolve based on what our community needs and what actually works in practice.
But our goal stays the same: create a reliable source for local news and a welcoming space for community conversation.
Got questions or feedback about the community standards? Email us at editor@fremontneighbor.com or leave a comment below.
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