Dad's Army game could 'promote hatred'

So says eBay...

A board game based on Dad's Army has been banned from eBay because of its association with Nazis.

Seller Dave Davidson was told his item was unacceptable because the game featured a swastika on its box. The symbols feature in arrows representing the German army, similar to those used in the sitcom’s title sequence.

But the online auction house said the 1974 board game breached eBay's offensive material policy – designed to stop the trade of Nazi memorabilia – because it may 'promote violence, hatred and racial or religious intolerance’.

Davidson told his local newspaper, The Worcester News: 'I couldn't believe it when they sent me an email telling me my Dad's Army board game could insight violence and hatred. It’s so annoying because any human being with an ounce of common sense can see Dad's Army is the most harmless TV programme in the world. Its not like I'm trying to flog a piece of Nazi memorabilia here.’

Ebay’s policy states: ‘We recognise the historical significance of World War II and that there are many militaria collectors around the world. We allow some related historical items, but ban others, particularly those that amount to Nazi propaganda.’

Spokeswoman Jenny Thomas said: 'eBay will remove listings that bear the marks of organisations that promote hatred and racial intolerance and we are strict and unapologetic in adhering to this policy. With 100 million listings globally we have to apply this rule to any item bearing such insignia, regardless of whether it is an innocent item like a board game.’

Peter Oteng, chief executive of the Worcestershire Racial Equality Council, added: 'You can't joke with this because you are joking with millions of people killed. It's not a laughing matter at all. It's very serious.’

There is another copy of the Dad’s Army game currently on sale on eBay, from a seller in Devon, although the swastikas are covered up in the image

That seller wrote: ‘Under eBay rules, I have been asked to remove all signs of the German insignia as it caused offence, this I have done to the photograph, but the game is untouched.’

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