censorship

[Estelyn Telcontar]

This post is not a book discussion, therefore I'm moving it to the Barrow-Downs section.

Posting rules for the Barrow-Downs are clearly stated on the forum. Those who do not wish to adhere to them have enough choices of forums with different styles. Opinions, as many different ones as there are members, are welcome, but we do not allow any members to insult others. Personal comments belong in PMs.

Being called Ms. Stalin is definitely an insult directed at me, but I have not eliminated the phrase from your post. You judge yourself by your own words.

[Bêthberry]

Being called Ms. Stalin is definitely an insult directed at me, but I have not eliminated the phrase from your post. You judge yourself by your own words.

This would be a great time to use that fluttering eye smilie--"What, lil ole me?--but it is not in the smilie list for use in this forum. Pity.

EDIT: Ah, I see the ad hominem attack has been removed from the post. Still, the very existence of this thread is a bit of a bore. Tiresome argument. Except for narfforc. He's always funny. Now I shall think of him as narffork.

[davem]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

EDIT: Ah, I see the ad hominem attack has been removed from the post. Still, the very existence of this thread is a bit of a bore. Tiresome argument. Except for narfforc. He's always funny. Now I shall think of him as narffork.

Well, the 'fork' thing was my line, so I don't see why he should get praised for it...though it'll probably end up in his book.....

Last night as I lay gazing at the stars I was suddenly taken away by a vision; kinda like the Biblical tale Of Jacob wrestling the angel-Wow-it was incredible, Aragorn challenged me to train in swordmanship and hand-to-hand combat fundamentals and I beat him! I swear I did! It was the singlemost greastest night of my life.

[davem]

Originally Posted by Neithan Tol Turambar

Last night as I lay gazing at the stars I was suddenly taken away by a vision; kinda like the Biblical tale Of Jacob wrestling the angel-Wow-it was incredible, Aragorn challenged me to train in swordmanship and hand-to-hand combat fundamentals and I beat him! I swear I did! It was the singlemost greastest night of my life.

I'd still bet on Narfforc with his plastic fork to beat you hands down.

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by davem

Well, the 'fork' thing was my line, so I don't see why he should get praised for it...though it'll probably end up in his book.....

Apologies aplenty, and most sincerely offered.

It was a kind of false etymology (speaking of which on this forum I find I invariably first spell that word entymology). narffork seemed so much more applicable than spoonem or forkem. Although come to think of it, I can think of times that davork might have characterised certain statements--oh, wait, let's not go down that path, or I shall find that I become one Bathbelly, for having taken a bath on a bellyful of laughs.

Originally Posted by Squatter

[EDIT] I now have 1,912 posts recorded under a picture of a Titanic survivor. I'm tempted never to post again.

pps. Although I did, almost immediately. So much for that idea.

And I'ms sure we are all glad you did, although now I have thoughts of the Spectre of DK somehow related to sporking.

I suggest that as a symbol of our good intentions here we now spell the word "plastic" as "plastick." I bet I can come up with a false historical etymology for that too.

[davem]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Although come to think of it, I can think of times that davork might have characterised certain statements-

I note that 'vork' is Dutch for fork. Another spooky synchronicity right there....

I was not going to say anything else but now I am irratated, if that's ok and no one is sad or afraid or discouraged by that...I agree with you one hundred percent the reason this issue came up is because I did not do any of those things and the reason for the existence of the constitutional protections you site is to protect individuals from untenible violations, point being who is to decide what is slander and defemation of character. For crying out loud! The moderator needs to be someone who has some good measure of discretion other wise every little good natured yet provacative tit for tat will be treated like criminal slander. Rediculous! But you people are really running it into the ground., My purpose for the topic was so that people could view the comments in question and then decide whether they met the bar but they had already been summarily deleted. UGHHHH! I thought it would be good to develope a more accurate standard of what is fun and competitive, meaning someone has to start the game, nudge nudge, cheap shot, and what is, as you and the other have so succinctly discribed in your lengthy posts as "Slander" and Defamation. Allright allright God forgive me for slandering and intimidated Naciso(can't remeber his name) although I didn't hear any victimized out cry from him. Help me moderator, Help me! This big mennie is gonna get me. Allow the MAN to take me on, and maybe just maybe kick my a..................
We are grown Men here, and we have no duty to retreat.

[davem]

Originally Posted by Neithan Tol Turambar

, My purpose for the topic was so that people could view the comments in question and then decide whether they met the bar but they had already been summarily deleted.

The point is some of us don't actually care how 'sharp' or 'antagonistic' your responses are - mainly because we could take anything you throw at us, turn it around & send it back at you so hard it would make your eyes water & you'd wish you'd never touched your keyboard - believe me, Narfforc could, I could, & so could many others on this board (Lal, Bb, Boromir, Squatter, & ... I'll stop there because we know who we are )- hence if you're 'censored' its as much for your good as anyone else's.

But other's can't do that & they would be hurt by too sharp a response. Some are even bothered by comments not aimed at them, but simply because they don't want to read them, some want to 'protect' other members - whether they need protecting or not. Its complicated & not a little boring to go into - hence the tendency to divert this thread inot something a bit more entertaining...

[Boromir88]

Freedom of speech...surely is a lovely and great freedom to have, and this is something you often hear from someone who is being 'punished' for saying something inappropriate...that their 'free speech' right has been infringed upon.

One thing to remember (and one thing people do forget) is our freedoms are not absolute. That means people can't just do and say whatever they want when the want...there is a line where your freedoms end and another's begins. When one infringes on another's freedom than that person has given up their freedoms.

I don't know how it is in the other countries around the world, but in the States not all free speech is protected under the Constitution. Check it out, you will find that slander (a malicious and false statement towards a person) and libel (defamation of a person by written/printed words or pictures) are not protected by the Constitution, therefor 'freedom of speech' doesn't mean you can say whatever the heck you want. (And I think the rules of this forum much like the Constitution...if you are a member of this forum you follow the 'rules.' If you have a problem with the rules, or feel you were punished unjustly you talk to the mods/admins to get everything 'ironed out.')

There is a huge difference between a great and passionate debate and slandering/insulting someone who disagrees with you. There have been many superb debates in this forum over the years that I've been here, most of them remain in good-spirit, because as Davem said we all get to know eachother. I haven't met anyone here, but I've been here for 3 years now and through discussion I've gotten to know many of the members and know that no one means any harm in what they are posting. I know people disagree with me all the time (though it would be so much easier for everyone to just agree with me ), I know they are still 'good' people (at least I hope )

Now, there are a few occasions when debates do get more passionate and we are humans, so we all make mistakes and say some things we don't really mean. I've been guilty of this several times, and it's not my intent to offend someone, so if I feel like I had then I'll PM the member and we'll get everything hatched out and come to an understanding. (Or a mod will come in and say 'stop it' ). It's similar to the teaching profession...the best way to protect yourself as a teacher is to talk to the parents and show them that you mean no harm to their kids...if you get the respect of the parents they won't be on your back all the time as they know you mean best for their kid. If the parent does not know you as a teacher nor as a person, they are more likely to side with their kid and jump down your throat when the kid goes home to complain about Mr. Emmons. The best way to protect yourself on a forum is being kind, courteous, and knowing that no one means any harm when they are posting their opinion. This keeps a good debate going, but leaves out all the pointless and 'unconstitutional' slander.