Go back
Freedom of speech - is yours next?

Freedom of speech - is yours next?

Debates

HoH
Thug

Playing with matches

Joined
08 Feb 05
Moves
14634
Clock
28 Apr 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

"Forcibly taking away a persons ability to communicate thoughts and ideas openly is a dangerous thing. Even ideas that are distastelful or ignorant are nonetheless valuable as most of us are able to speak them freely. Not everyone has this right and we should protect it as the valuable concept it is."

I posted this in another thread, but, the idea of limiting a persons freedom of speech is appaling to me. I understand that this is a commercial site and as such has boundries and rules that do and should apply. This helps maintain its value as a commercial site. Despite this even unsavory topics can be discussed in the forums without a problem arising until the threads dissolve into insulting banter. I get the impression that many people rely on the mods to police peoples ideas when we should be policing our own.

To be afraid to speak your mind is a terrible thing. Turning the voracious feral beast that is censorship on others can quickly backfire. Once it runs out of unpopular concepts to consume it can turn on you and feast upon your own ideas. Society will only progress with the exchange of thoughts and ideas. We're doomed to stagnation and mediocrity if we accept the continued erosion of our freedom of speech.

RESPECT MY AUTHORATIE!

N
The eyes of truth

elsewhere

Joined
26 Apr 04
Moves
21784
Clock
28 Apr 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

The poster who attacked the gay/bi guy is more then welcome to come to the debate forum and present his case. What the rules do apply to is an outright attack upon another poster/player, and how it is unacceptable.

The poster can even post that he does'nt agree with the lifestyle, and finds reading such posts offensive. That is his oppinion and his say. There is nowhere in the rules of this site that allow for a poster to be attacked as that poor gay/bi guy was.

Making the gay/bi guy feel that he is not welcome to post is another attack on civility, and it was he who's rights were violated in that thread.

D

Joined
18 Apr 04
Moves
130058
Clock
28 Apr 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Nyxie
The poster who attacked the gay/bi guy is more then welcome to come to the debate forum and present his case. What the rules do apply to is an outright attack upon another poster/player, and how it is unacceptable.

The poster can even post that he does'nt agree with the lifestyle, and finds reading such posts offensive. That is his oppinion and his say. Th ...[text shortened]... o post is another attack on civility, and it was he who's rights were violated in that thread.
I hardly ever look at any forums other than debates and site announcements. Could someone fill me in on what happened?

N
The eyes of truth

elsewhere

Joined
26 Apr 04
Moves
21784
Clock
28 Apr 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Delmer
I hardly ever look at any forums other than debates and site announcements. Could someone fill me in on what happened?
I'd give a relevant thread link but it has mostly been modded to incoherency. A gay/bi guy asked if there were other gay/bi with which he might play a game, and then the insults were hurled. It kinda has gone downhill since then. General forum.

Nyxie

C
W.P. Extraordinaire

State of Franklin

Joined
13 Aug 03
Moves
21735
Clock
28 Apr 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Nyxie
The poster who attacked the gay/bi guy is more then welcome to come to the debate forum and present his case. What the rules do apply to is an outright attack upon another poster/player, and how it is unacceptable.

The poster can even post that he does'nt agree with the lifestyle, and finds reading such posts offensive. That is his oppinion and his say. Th ...[text shortened]... o post is another attack on civility, and it was he who's rights were violated in that thread.
How do you enforce that idea (that a person should not be attacked) without allowing some censorship controls by the moderators?

D

Joined
18 Apr 04
Moves
130058
Clock
28 Apr 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Nyxie
I'd give a relevant thread link but it has mostly been modded to incoherency. A gay/bi guy asked if there were other gay/bi with which he might play a game, and then the insults were hurled. It kinda has gone downhill since then. General forum.

Nyxie
Thanks. That's a shame, though not surprising. It's too bad someone can't ask a legitimate question and receive a legitimate answer.

N
The eyes of truth

elsewhere

Joined
26 Apr 04
Moves
21784
Clock
28 Apr 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Coletti
How do you enforce that idea (that a person should not be attacked) without allowing some censorship controls by the moderators?
You don't, I was in support of the hatespeech being removed because it violated the first posters rights.

The first poster might be afraid to post again, which would be a form of fear inspired censorship. This I can not support in any way.

Nyxie

C
W.P. Extraordinaire

State of Franklin

Joined
13 Aug 03
Moves
21735
Clock
28 Apr 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Nyxie
You don't, I was in support of the hatespeech being removed because it violated the first posters rights.

The first poster might be afraid to post again, which would be a form of fear inspired censorship. This I can not support in any way.

Nyxie
I concur.

HoH
Thug

Playing with matches

Joined
08 Feb 05
Moves
14634
Clock
28 Apr 05
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Nyxie
You don't, I was in support of the hatespeech being removed because it violated the first posters rights.

The first poster might be afraid to post again, which would be a form of fear inspired censorship. This I can not support in any way.

Nyxie
You have a very good point, said hatespeech did violate the first posters rights and this should be actionable. However, I would encourage you continue what you're doing and directly confronting such hate drival rather than relying on mods to do it for you. I've always found that hate doesn't stand up to reason well.

Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.