Freedom of Speech!

[Shawn]

Do yall ever get those problem members who gripe when you get on to them about something claiming they should have a right to their freedom of speech like when using profanity, adult content and so on? What do you think about this sort of thing?

[PurpleCrow]

Ohh god yes. A moderator posted something - one part was against the rules, the rest was a great reply to the OP. The part that was against the rules was removed. Moderator went mental going on about freedom of speech. Long discussions about the whole thing basically boiled down to me saying, "Dont break the rules, then you wont have any parts of your posts removed".

[Shawn]

I try to let people understand that I agree with freedom of speech but I also agree that we have the freedom of running our forums how we see fit even if that means more rules against what can be said...

[mrGTB]

Short answer, I allow pretty much anything on my forum to be talked about, I don't even have any rules in place. I set-up the forum for open discussion about things, not to limit discussion.

The only problem I find, but it doesn't really bother me. Is certain people coming to the forum just to post stuff to try and ruin the forum itself. Abuse aimed at me and the site, but I guess that's to be expected seeing as anything goes there and I allow it. But I will treat those type of people as spammers if they want to play games with me on my forum!

And of course, I always win.

[Shawn]

“ Originally Posted by mrGTB ”

Short answer, I allow pretty much anything on my forum to be talked about, I don't even have any rules in place. I set-up the forum for open discussion, not to limit discussion.

The only problem I find, but it doesn't really bother me. Is certain people coming to the forum just to post stuff to try and ruin the forum itself. Abuse aimed at me and the site, but I guess that's to be expected seeing as anything goes there and I allow it.

Yeah or people trying to ruin other people and forums and what have you...

[mrGTB]

I get the hint Shawn, but like I said before, anything goes there. And people are free to come and post their comments back.

[Rockatteer]

I love when people throw the 1st amendment rights at me.

My response is always to quote the actual text of the first amendment, because 99% of the people who talk about it have no idea what it says.

“ Originally Posted by 1st amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America ”

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Then I ask them what makes them think my site is part of congress.

I also have this in my TOS

Freedom of speech.
You understand that although the constitution of the United States of America and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights guarantees freedom of public speech for citizens of their states and countries, this website is not a US state, nor a UN country, and the behaviors and activities of members of this privately owned website are governed by our Code of Conduct and this Terms Of Service agreement.

And if after all that they still bitch about it, they get told either deal with it or leave.

[Blind Bandit]

“ Originally Posted by Rockatteer ”

I love when people throw the 1st amendment rights at me.

My response is always to quote the actual text of the first amendment, because 99% of the people who talk about it have no idea what it says.



Then I ask them what makes them think my site is part of congress.

I also have this in my TOS

Freedom of speech.
You understand that although the constitution of the United States of America and the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights guarantees freedom of public speech for citizens of their states and countries, this website is not a US state, nor a UN country, and the behaviors and activities of members of this privately owned website are governed by our Code of Conduct and this Terms Of Service agreement.

And if after all that they still bitch about it, they get told either deal with it or leave.

Thats a good addition to anyone's TOS. Very nice.

[Wizzard]

There is freedom of speech up to a certain point until you break the rules. However it is deemed freedom of speech as what the site owner says goes.

[Ryan Ashbrook]

A site is considered private property, therefore Freedom of Speech only applies to the extent the owner allows.

While, I'm not a fan of limiting a persons freedom to express themselves, it is well within the owners rights to silence anyone while they are on their private property.