Is gambling addiction a bad subject?

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   wildernessposted 14 years ago

   For the first time I am attempting a hub that may run afoul of prohibited subjects.  I wish to write a hub about gambling addiction; is either gambling or addiction a forbidden topic that is likely to trip the censor program?
   
   I could probably write the hub using either gambling or addiction but the gist of it will be about gambling addiction and I would like to use that term frequently.
   
   Has anyone any experience here?

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      GcNexusposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Obviously yes..........gambling is the foremost crime across the world.

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   Website Examinerposted 14 years ago

   I suggest you check out these two links. "Gambling and casino related content" is not allowed, but the second link seems to give some leeway for a review article without outbound links to a casino. But as you know, the filters are automated, and by that accord you may well be headed for difficulties in any event.
   
   https://www.google.com/adsense/support/ … swer=48182
   
   https://www.google.com/adsense/support/ … wer=105958

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      wildernessposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Indeed, it is the automatic filters that worry me.  Neither of the references you kindly provide would be applicable, but the program may not see it that way.
      
      On the other hand, I see nothing about addiction in general.  Perhaps a couple of gambling references would pass inspection if I used the term addiction most of the time.
      
      This is something I really want to write, and if it costs me a few hours of wasted time then so be it.  I will try anyway.  If necessary I can remove the ads from it.

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   Shadesbreathposted 14 years ago

   My advice is don't do it unless you want to run it with no ads. It's been my experience that just having a forbidden term in a hub, regardless of the context or intent, can get the flags up. Moderators might try to help you, but I think for the most part, HP doesn't want to risk pissing off the Google mother ship, so they are understandably cautious.
   
   If you have something meaningful to say that happens to overlap a topic that threatens revenue, find somewhere else to publish it. HP is a commercial enterprise first and foremost, not a humanist outfit, a journalistic platform or a place for art. If the latter group can work with the former condition, great, otherwise, it's cash talks and context walks.

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      wildernessposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      You are absolutely right, Shades, and I recognize that and want to work with it.
      
      I have considered publishing with no ads and asking for a review from staff as to whether I should enable the ads or even unpublish it.  It is my hope that I can word the hub so that it doesn't trigger a problem, but if not then I will just have to look at doing something else.
      
      Thanks for the advice; any help here is advantageous as I really don't want to rock the boat.  It just isn't worth it.

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   Mighty Momposted 14 years ago

   Hi wilderness.
   I think that's a great topic and an important issue that could definitely bring you some traffic.
   If you phrase it carefully, with the emphasis on addiction, compulsive overspending, debt, etc. you should be ok.
   In other words, skirt as much as you can around the actual "locale" where the aberrant behavior takes place and concentrate on the aberrant behavior (and, presumably, treatments).
   Possibly include compulsive SHOPPING, which is a very similar addiction....
   I like your idea of getting HP to review it before you post.
   My two cents. MM

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      wildernessposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the reply, MM. 
      
      That type of phrasing is what I will be trying to do.  Unfortunately this form of gambling addiction is a side effect to a particular drug and it does not seem to contribute to the other things, such as shopping, which you mention.
      
      It will be difficult to remove any mention at all of "casino", "gambling", "lottery" and other forms of gambling, but perhaps a very few mentions will be all right, particularly if coupled with "compulsive" or "addiction".  It all depends on the automatic filter.
      
      I also noted that Google won't put ads on a hub with links to gambling; if that's all it is instead of a discussion of gambling I may be all right.  The filters may not pick up the term, just a link.
      
      And I do think I'll ask for a review.

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   Website Examinerposted 14 years ago

   This thread does not concern gambling addiction. It concerns whether or not gambling addiction is a suitable topic to write about on HubPages, considering AdSense rules.

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