Freedom of Speech vs Our Rights

[Stom]

When is something deemed to be freedom of speech and when is it deemed to be a violation of our rights to hear it?

Racism is ugly. There are now more racist YouTube videos, tweets, and Facebook posts than ever before. I've been known to shut people out of my life for being, how do I put this...racist or sexist shits.

So where do we draw the line?

As a board, are we bound by "freedom of speech"? Or are we allowed as a collective to reject ideologies, even if they do not technically break the "rules"?

What's different between blocking bots who post links to porn and "bots" who post links to racism? Is porn worse than racism? It most definitely is not.

Bigotry is a scourge on this planet. Do we not have the responsibility to close down any channel racists, sexists, and bigots have to share their views? Or do we have to put up with it in the name of "free speech"?

[cashead]

Freedom of speech isn’t “freedom from consequence.” It doesn’t preclude the right of others to respond.

Plus, hey, paradox of tolerance and all that.

[Puja]

Cas has just nailed it. Free speech simply means that you're allowed to talk, not that anyone is obliged to listen to you, host you, or refrain from judging you.

Typically, most of the people who whine about their free speech being impaired have dozens of available avenues of speaking and are in fact complaining that someone's not listening to them. Unless you are actively being repressed and suppressed on every channel, fuck off and become more interesting rather than complain that people aren't being forced to endure you.

Puja

[Sandydragon]

When is something deemed to be freedom of speech and when is it deemed to be a violation of our rights to hear it?

Racism is ugly. There are now more racist YouTube videos, tweets, and Facebook posts than ever before. I've been known to shut people out of my life for being, how do I put this...racist or sexist shits.

So where do we draw the line?

As a board, are we bound by "freedom of speech"? Or are we allowed as a collective to reject ideologies, even if they do not technically break the "rules"?

What's different between blocking bots who post links to porn and "bots" who post links to racism? Is porn worse than racism? It most definitely is not.

Bigotry is a scourge on this planet. Do we not have the responsibility to close down any channel racists, sexists, and bigots have to share their views? Or do we have to put up with it in the name of "free speech"?

Fair questions.

I'll start with the easy one. Spammers are blocked and banned immediately as its a clear infringement of board rules. They obviously aren't here to post constructively.

Hammy has always allowed a wide variety of views on here, and as a general guide I'll let much go if the poster is capable of being constructive occasionally, reigns it in when asked and isn't obviously trolling. However, we have learnt that some posters are just after attention/ a fight rather than to be constructive members of a board.

You will note that a recently joined poster who was pushing the limits of acceptability is no longer with us.

I'm wary about banning actual posters until they have been proven to be an idiot. If I had felt that Maximillian was a new poster who would respond to a quiet word, I would have used that approach and asked him to self-moderate. However, I am convinced that Maximillian was a reincarnation of a previous poster, also banned permanently. I don't mind giving someone a second chance, but since he obviously was going to carry on as before, he received an instant ban.

I know that all of the mods don't want to put off genuine posters or to trample on good discussions and sometimes the line between acceptable and unacceptable is a murky one which cannot easily be defined. That means we take our time and try not to act hastily.

We are obliged to follow UK legislation and to act sensibly; but we are not obliged to allow ourselves to be a platform for any idiot with an agenda.What that agenda is going to cause obvious problems with our membership (and goes beyond obvious disagreements that reasonable people could have) we will act in the best interests of the board.

[J Dory]

Fausty, that whiff of racism mixed with air conditioning refrigerant never fails to give him away.

[zer0]

This has all long been covered by the Rules of the Internet. Specifically:

Rule 8: There are no real rules about posting.
Rule 9: There are no real rules about moderation either. Enjoy your ban.
     Rule 9(a): Where's my ban you twat?

It's a nice, clean, elegant, universal set of rules that covers every possible scenario.

[cashead]

Fausty, that whiff of racism mixed with air conditioning refrigerant never fails to give him away.

Was he, uh, Vainglorious Gluten too? Pretty sure that pissfucker and Fausty and Maxwellaccordion are the same guy.

[Lizard]

When is something deemed to be freedom of speech and when is it deemed to be a violation of our rights to hear it?

Racism is ugly. There are now more racist YouTube videos, tweets, and Facebook posts than ever before. I've been known to shut people out of my life for being, how do I put this...racist or sexist shits.

So where do we draw the line?

As a board, are we bound by "freedom of speech"? Or are we allowed as a collective to reject ideologies, even if they do not technically break the "rules"?

What's different between blocking bots who post links to porn and "bots" who post links to racism? Is porn worse than racism? It most definitely is not.

Bigotry is a scourge on this planet. Do we not have the responsibility to close down any channel racists, sexists, and bigots have to share their views? Or do we have to put up with it in the name of "free speech"?

You’ve fallen into the trap (deliberately set by extremists) of thinking that freedom of speech means a right to an amplifying platform. It does not. Freedom of speech means freedom from criminal prosecution for expressing yourself. The racists and sexists and assorted other cunts are more than free to stand on a corner and talk any nonsense they want. This does not mean that a private entity like a newspaper, Facebook, Twitter, this ‘ere forum or the telly has to publish or allow the publishing of their drivel.

[Stom]

When is something deemed to be freedom of speech and when is it deemed to be a violation of our rights to hear it?

Racism is ugly. There are now more racist YouTube videos, tweets, and Facebook posts than ever before. I've been known to shut people out of my life for being, how do I put this...racist or sexist shits.

So where do we draw the line?

As a board, are we bound by "freedom of speech"? Or are we allowed as a collective to reject ideologies, even if they do not technically break the "rules"?

What's different between blocking bots who post links to porn and "bots" who post links to racism? Is porn worse than racism? It most definitely is not.

Bigotry is a scourge on this planet. Do we not have the responsibility to close down any channel racists, sexists, and bigots have to share their views? Or do we have to put up with it in the name of "free speech"?

You’ve fallen into the trap (deliberately set by extremists) of thinking that freedom of speech means a right to an amplifying platform. It does not. Freedom of speech means freedom from criminal prosecution for expressing yourself. The racists and sexists and assorted other cunts are more than free to stand on a corner and talk any nonsense they want. This does not mean that a private entity like a newspaper, Facebook, Twitter, this ‘ere forum or the telly has to publish or allow the publishing of their drivel.

You misunderstand my theorizing for beliefs. I’m firmly of the opinion you need to take responsibility for your words.