Censorship?
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Submitted by ourfernie on Fri, 25/01/2008 - 8:20pm.
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 Joined: 01-12-2005 |
OurFernie is a community co-op. One of the services offered is this free, open forum that anyone can join. There is little moderation to allow as free a view as possible and represent the community in the most accurate light. In the past only a few posts have been altered or removed. There's a fairly obvious complaint on another forum thread, that perhaps this open style will hurt OurFernie and push people away. As a community co-op, it's important that OurFernie answers the needs of the community and presents options (like forums) that are both wanted and welcome. This raises some interesting questions: Should there be more moderation on the forums? You tell us! |
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Joined: 12-05-2006
I'd like to think we don't need babysitting..err..I mean moderation. If someone wants to post negative input so be it. If the rest of us choose to acknowledge it thats our choice. The only concern of mine is if someone posts any information that is misleading or incorrect and can end up hurting someones business or personal life. However, if it is negative yet true, and can be proven so, thats fine. Sometimes the truth hurts. I think they call that taking responsibility for our actions.
Joined: 07-05-2006
Since ourfernie started there has been no censorship except in a view cases. That is why we have a strong viribant community and why all issues can be discussed on this site. Keep things they way they are.
To quote Noam Chomsky 'If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.'
Joined: 23-10-2007
My own experience is that moderation of a forum is bad if it's censoring opinions, but good if it's stopping people from attacking each other personally. If you stop people criticising things, they'll start criticising *you*. And if they start doing that and you start censoring *that* then you're pretty much doomed to spiral downwards.
On my own site we do have moderation and a defined set of 'House Rules' that are part of the Terms of Use but they're not about people's opinions; even when opinions are very negative about our own site we don't censor them so long as they're made in a constructive manner that doesn't attack our staff personally.. even if they're abhorrent opinions that very few people agree with or even understand, we'll generally let them be aired so that other people can see that these opinions exist within the community. Only when it descends into name-calling, bitching or flaming each other will we step in and ask people to cool it.
We get about around a million forums posts a years so moderation is a pretty intense full-time job for someone. Quoted from the site: "Our main House Rule is respect others. Please do not engage in personal attacks, provoke hostility, be deliberately antagonistic, fuel fights or behave in any other anti-social manner."
There's a link to a couple of dozen 'House Rules' but they're all about the way people interact with other posters rather than about what those individuals' opinions might be on any particular topic.
Joined: 06-07-2006
One of the things I treasure most is freedom, including freedom of speech. I don't believe there should be any moderation, unless it gets to the point of personal slander or language that would be considered offensive to minors.
I've taken a fair few hits here and on other sites - but it's my choice to be here, and I make my posts anonymously so that people who don't know me can't judge me solely on my online comments if we meet later on. I have to protect various organisations and businesses that I am involved with and make sure that my personal opinions are not considered that of the organisation or business. Most of my friends (and other aquaintances) do know my online name, but they have more info to base their judgement of me on. If anyone chooses to post under their own name or in a situation where their name is easily linked to their business, that is their choice and they have to be prepared to accept any backlash that might result, and any subsequent misguided judgement of their business. Your choice to post as yourself - accept the consequences.
As far as baiting, goading and taunting is concerned, that's all part of the game, and the debate. Sometimes it gets a little tedious when that's ALL it's about, but again, it's my choice to be here. If you don't like it, don't read it.
I like the open forum setup, and I hope it doesn't become a victim of political correctness.
Joined: 18-07-2007
. If anyone chooses to post under their own name or in a situation where their name is easily linked to their business, that is their choice and they have to be prepared to accept any backlash that might result, and any subsequent misguided judgement of their business. Your choice to post as yourself - accept the consequences.
I totally agree XXXXXXX of Fernie. Heaven forbid you would actually stand behind what you say.
Joined: 24-11-2005
Steve, I've removed the name you "outed". Was it really necessary to prove your point? Alba had just explained why he or she prefers to post anonymously. Shouldn't they have that right?
I guess this forum topic is quite appropriate. If Alba had put the connection from their username to their real identity into the public domain then I believe it would be fair game. But since I don't believe they did and explained why they prefer to remain anonymous, then I think it's right for me to remove the connection.
Is posting anonymously so wrong? Don't people write anonymous letters to the editor or use a fake name calling into chat shows? It's up to you to decide whether those comments have less value because of it.
And shouldn't this all just be common sense? If someone has a valid complaint about a post then of course we would consider removing it. I don't believe we need to write a set of rules, we just need to show other's the respect we'd hope to receive in return.
Joined: 18-07-2007
[I guess this forum topic is quite appropriate. If Alba had put the connection from their username to their real identity into the public domain then I believe it would be fair game.
Is posting anonymously so wrong? Don't people write anonymous letters to the editor or use a fake name calling into chat shows? It's up to you to decide whether those comments have less value because of it.
And shouldn't this all just be common sense? If someone has a valid complaint about a post then of course we would consider removing it. I don't believe we need to write a set of rules, we just need to show other's the respect we'd hope to receive in return.
I found the connection on your forum simon.Public domain I beleive.
Most papers I know of won't publish a letter unless it's signed by the authour.
I just wanted alba to check out the view on the other side of the fence.
Joined: 24-11-2005
No, the connection isn't public domain. You posted the name of someone who has a telephone number Alba once used.
What's this all about? Can't we move on?
Joined: 22-01-2008
that was totally uncalled for steve,
rude and unescessary...why would you do that to someone who just explained why she wants to remain anonymous
Joined: 06-07-2006
Steve,
The public information you refer to was a post I made over 18 months ago when my bike was stolen and I provided a phone number where people could ANONYMOUSLY provide information regarding it's return. There was no mention that the number was mine. I am disgusted that you would try to offer that phone number up as evidence of who I am. You have obviously called Telus to find out who the number is registered to and then incorrectly posted that person's name online. Extremely irresponsible and downright questionable behaviour. Whether or not that was my number at one time is irrelevant - the information is over 18 months old and does not suggest I have ever lived at that number or that I do now.
I want to make it quite clear that if anyone saw the name posted in Steve's earlier post before it was edited that I am NOT that person, and my views and online posts DO NOT necessarily reflect that of the person mentioned.
If you wish to post under your own name with visible and easy links to your business, that is your right. It is not your right to post innacurate and personal information without the person's approval.