eric wrote on Feb 7th, 2012 at 5:19pm:crossbow wrote on Feb 4th, 2012 at 12:53am:Justin,
Do you know what happened to KarmaLars' comment on this thread, asking you if you were a "nutcase" ?
I was looking forward to your answer.
I reported that comment. I'm assuming Volu's following comment was removed as well.
Ahh...Eric the half a bee.
Eric,
I notice you don't justify yourself or explain your position; you just state your decision taken. So you are comfortable with posters saying the world as we know it is coming to a violent and bloody end, that world wide destruction, death and suffering is coming soon, and dedicating threads and many posts to putting out that message. (which is fair enough) But if someone else questions those posts, if someone suggests that such posters who forecast such world wide destruction are going on like "nutcases", and points out that there have been many in the past who forecast the end of the world in 2000, 1986, 1000, etc, then you think such criticisms should be deleted, that such counter opinions disallowed. No debate, no counter argument - just delete the post; ban the concept.
On your own Eric, you are not much; unfortunately there are millions like you. And in your millions, each doing your little part, you are a problem - the greatest problem the free world has. You are like termites nibbling away at freedom's house. Collectively you seek to ban every activity, opinion, idea, even word, that you don't personally like; you destroy debate, ban expression of thought, stifle freedom and subsequently stifle human growth.
Some thoughts others might consider:
Human virtue cannot be coerced out of an individual.
Intelligence and virtue are not imparted to people by restricting their expression; rather, intelligence and virtue are enabled to emerge by freedom of expression.
Suppressing people's speech, debate, opinion, expression, improves no one.
Only the known criminal needs to be restricted, and only in actions. Words are only people's thoughts dressed in sound and letters, so what, no one can be hurt by reading words upon a forum site. The text on the computer screen is inanimate, it has no pulse, it has no teeth or claws, it cannot hurt. There is no need to restrict any one's opinion.
Bruce and others,
Human intelligence and virtue can overcome all counter argument, and do not need to restrict their opposition's speech.
Only the doubtful need to restrict the opinions and speech of others.
Let all players play upon the field, let all contestants contest in the arena. Let falseness, rudeness, foulness, hatefulness, contest with truth, courtesy, and virtue. Let wrongness battle rightness, goodness battle badness, truth battle falseness, in open unrestricted battle. And see who is last standing. I have faith it will be truth; I know it will be truth.
Personally, I have no fear of pitting truth against any foe, no matter how foul. And truth does not need to censor or handicap its opponents. But falseness always seeks to.
I have just re-read:
1. "Revised posting guidelines and banning policy"
2. "Who's responsible for forum content?"
Most of the posting guidelines are vague and subjective and can be applied an any direction according to ones judgement. What is considered mocking, bullying, abusive, racist, offensive, proselytizing, demeaning, etc, are registered differently for everyone. And some people don't demand other's speech be banned when they read something that offends their sensibilities.
Personally I find a lot on this website to be offensive to me, but I let most of it go because I believe people have a right to offend - as long as they don't mind others offending back. I have had a shot back here and there, but generally I let things go. For instance, being a Christian who appreciates the work of the Church, and being proud of my Western heritage, I find the frequent comments on this forum that put down organised Christianity/religion and Western culture, while elevating what I might term Moenism and Monroeism, and complimenting Eastern wisdom, is a bit tiresome and even offensive. But I put up with my religion, race and culture being frequently backhanded because I believe others have a right to do that, and I should be strong enough to take it. I should also be able and free to return the counter argument if I so choose, and dish out a little offence. Offence is part of life; I accept that; so should we all. I have been likened to the Norwegian killer/terrorist Andre Brevik for my defence of Christian living. That's not pleasant, but life's not pleasant, so why should I expect a public internet forum to be pleasant. Unpleasantness is part of life. I can take it, so can anyone who only needs to realise they can take it.
Let's not be weak and easily offended; and when we are offended, let's not call for other people's speech to be restricted. Lets only call for their speech and our speech to be free.
And let's not give way to the weak and the easily offended, or we will lose everything we have. For the weak and the easily offended - and those who pretend and play to be - are the most restrictive and oppressive people of all, especially towards those who try not to offend them, because their weakness is in their comparison to others, and their offendedness is in their own natures, therefore piece by piece they will take take take away all aptitude in those who try to appease them, until there is no comparison.
Beyond common courtesies, appeasing the weak and the easily offended by restricting ourselves from offending them, is not an advancement of our society; it is our degradation, our backsliding. We should not limp before the lame to make them feel better with themselves, but we should stand tall and walk right, while giving them practical assistance as required, so they might stand tall and walk as right as they are able.