RealSelf publishes all reviews -- both positive and negative -- as long as they abide by our Terms of Service. Occasionally, reviews are declined because they don’t meet those guidelines.
Common reasons reviews are declined
Inappropriate language
Your opinion is valuable and we know some experiences can get heated, but we ask that reviewers keep their content appropriate for a public forum. We don't publish reviews that have excessive cursing, name-calling or other inappropriate language.
Hearsay
Your review is a space to share your story. Please don’t write about things you’ve heard about other people’s experiences.
For example: “The girl who stayed at the recovery house when I was there told me that another girl had complications two weeks ago.”
Employee, family or friend
Yes, loved ones are patients too, but reviews from anyone with a relationship to the doctor or practice are inherently biased. We don't publish those reviews.
Also, freebies, discounts and other benefits can’t be offered by the practice in exchange for a review. Again, it creates a bias.
Anything illegal
It goes without saying but: We don’t tolerate illegal activity on RealSelf. This includes threats and cyber-bullying.
What's Next?
If your review is declined, we’ll send you a direct message to let you know why it was declined, and to help you repost it. You can also reach out to us directly.
RealSelf’s goal is to give space so people can share their experiences. The vast majority of reviews are well-meaning and meet our Terms of Service. If you have concerns that a review doesn’t meet our guidelines, please let us know.