Group Coerced Censorship

Once again it was a judgement call by a mod. That's what we're here for. You may not agree and I respect that, but in the end we have to make decisions that may not be popular at times for what we believe is for the good of the site. Generally we let the discussions flow pretty freely here, but in this case I can see what SGG was thinking when he decided to shut it down.

From this post http://www.thewarpath.net/310500-post21.html and talking about it being "off to the side in the parking lot" I thought maybe you and others didn't get that

OK sorry, allow me to clarify.

I respect the forum rules. I realize that I broke them a few days ago in the Sean Taylor Lance Briggs thread. That was BS on my part, and I apologized for it, and still feel that I was wrong.

The post you quoted above was really me expressing dissatisfaction with the rule itself. I feel like if people want to call each other names or curse at one another, then let them, as long as the discussion can remain on topic. This part of the discussion is really irrelevent to the Fallwell thread, because nobody called a name or started any ruckus. But in general, I think passion in the discussion is a good thing, and makes this place more fun to be a part of. What's truly terrible is when a passionate argument deteriorates into a flame war and gets entirely away from a meaningful discussion.

But, I recognize what I think the rules should be, and what they actually are, are two entirely different things. While I might wish the forum etiquette rules were more relaxed, I understand and respect that I must abide by whatever rules you guys set forth. So as long as your policy is in place, I'll do my best to abide by it and avoid the kind of pop-off I pulled the other day.

I sincerely apologize to anyone who is upset about my decision to shut down the Falwell thread. It was not "group coerced censorship," it was one mod's censorship. For those of you who are concerned that it may become a theme, let me just say that I can count on one hand the number of threads that I have closed over the past 4 years.

I did not shut down the thread because of the views that were expressed. I personally find it to be in bad taste to talk ill of the dead the day after they died, but that's not why I shut down the thread. Why did I shut it down? I've been a member for years now and I feel like I can spot some trainwrecks before they take place. I saw a trainwreck so I closed the thread....perhaps my vision is bad.

Once again it was a judgement call by a mod. That's what we're here for. You may not agree and I respect that, but in the end we have to make decisions that may not be popular at times for what we believe is for the good of the site. Generally we let the discussions flow pretty freely here, but in this case I can see what SGG was thinking when he decided to shut it down.

I agree. Generally speaking, things are allowed or permitted here without feeling stifled.

I think if two or three people want to duke it out, fine, that's what PM is for.

And for anyone that doesn't agree with the mods, 3 months for you bitches!

And for anyone that doesn't agree with the mods, 3 months for you bitches!

That's not too bad.

I sincerely apologize to anyone who is upset about my decision to shut down the Falwell thread. It was not "group coerced censorship," it was one mod's censorship. For those of you who are concerned that it may become a theme, let me just say that I can count on one hand the number of threads that I have closed over the past 4 years.

I did not shut down the thread because of the views that were expressed. I personally find it to be in bad taste to talk ill of the dead the day after they died, but that's not why I shut down the thread. Why did I shut it down? I've been a member for years now and I feel like I can spot some trainwrecks before they take place. I saw a trainwreck so I closed the thread....perhaps my vision is bad.

For what little it's worth - I fully supported SGG's decision. I felt about it just about exactly as did SGG. It appeared to be escalating quickly into the realms of incivility that, once reached over the internet, are difficult to pull back from. Additionally, SGG's actions gave everyone a chance to cool off step back and maybe think a little more about how to best communicate ideas. Sometimes a "cooling off period" is necessary and a good mod can recognize that.

My SGG kiss up is now done.

My SGG kiss up is now done.

You're my new BFF.

I gotta say, mainly to SGG, that this is really no big deal in the end to me. It's probably better that you locked the Fallwell thread down anyway, because that guy didn't deserve another ounce of breath wasted talking about his miserable life.

But it ain't about Fallwell. You made a move that you thought would make this place a better place to have discussions, and I can't hate on that. Thanks for doing what you do, same goes for all the mods.

I completely agree with the closing of that thread. It was a very disrespectful and disgusting display. I don't care if you have political disagreements with someone, you don't behave that way towards someone who just died.

Bin Laden would deserve it, he's killed people I know...but Falwell and his family did nothing to deserve that.

What would happen if I did that to VTech victims? I'd be hung and banned, deservingly. But hey, I disagree with their campus gun laws...

I hope a Cowboys board never hears about one of us dying, they'll treat you the same way that some of you treated the passed Reverend Falwell.

Sure you have free speech, just be responsible with it and remember their are consequences to misusing it, like your thread gets closed.