I've learned that message boards that permit free expression are extraordinarily RARE

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Patrick1966

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In my view, it's cowardly to restrict speech short and I'm not talking about threats of violence, pornography, or instructions on how to build a pipe bomb. I'm talking about expressing views that others dislike or that may actually be offensive. I've been participating in message boards for a wide array of topics from football, dogs, politics, religion, etc., and the two segments most quick to BAN speech are the political left and the religious right. Many sites list rules and one of the rules is a "catch-all" rule called "trolling", and when one expresses a view with which they disagree they claim "trolling" and then ban the supposed offender.

To me, a good moderator engenders discussion but, in my experience, most of them annihilate discussion. I suspect that some or "many" of them gain a sense of power by restricting and banning the speech of others. The result, of course, is that they drive away good posters and good discussion while they remain the big fish in their little pond.

By the way, this isn't a knock on any moderators here. I haven't encountered anything here that I would describe as censorship. Of course, this is a privately owned forum and management is obviously free to allow or disallow pretty much whatever they want, as long as it's lawful, of course. I'm just speaking in general terms about the vast majority of forums that I have visited.

I was just banned from a "Christian" forum because I very politely, and respectfully, expressed my disbelief in the Catholic teachings and beliefs regarding the Rosary. I relied on scripture and asked proponents of the Rosary to do the same. I didn't attack anyone. I wasn't impolite. I often prefaced my posts with "I believe...".

I had to take my elderly mother to her doctor. Upon arriving home I went to my thread about the Rosary and, to my disbelief, I was banned and the reason given was that I was a "troll". Never had a moderator ever contacted me about anything that I had ever posted there. There was never a need. And then, from out of the blue (so to speak), I was banned. My impression is that one of the senior moderators there is a Catholic and he could not tolerate my scripturally-backed views. Again, this wasn't a Catholic forum but a CHRISTIAN forum. To me, that is both sad (for him) and amazing to me. I cannot fathom the thought of banning a fellow believer (or anyone else) for simply expressing a view that I don't share. That's just incredible to me.

Ok. I got that off my chest. Thanks for reading. :)
 

BreadOfLife

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In my view, it's cowardly to restrict speech short and I'm not talking about threats of violence, pornography, or instructions on how to build a pipe bomb. I'm talking about expressing views that others dislike or that may actually be offensive. I've been participating in message boards for a wide array of topics from football, dogs, politics, religion, etc., and the two segments most quick to BAN speech are the political left and the religious right. Many sites list rules and one of the rules is a "catch-all" rule called "trolling", and when one expresses a view with which they disagree they claim "trolling" and then ban the supposed offender.

To me, a good moderator engenders discussion but, in my experience, most of them annihilate discussion. I suspect that some or "many" of them gain a sense of power by restricting and banning the speech of others. The result, of course, is that they drive away good posters and good discussion while they remain the big fish in their little pond.

By the way, this isn't a knock on any moderators here. I haven't encountered anything here that I would describe as censorship. Of course, this is a privately owned forum and management is obviously free to allow or disallow pretty much whatever they want, as long as it's lawful, of course. I'm just speaking in general terms about the vast majority of forums that I have visited.

I was just banned from a "Christian" forum because I very politely, and respectfully, expressed my disbelief in the Catholic teachings and beliefs regarding the Rosary. I relied on scripture and asked proponents of the Rosary to do the same. I didn't attack anyone. I wasn't impolite. I often prefaced my posts with "I believe...".

I had to take my elderly mother to her doctor. Upon arriving home I went to my thread about the Rosary and, to my disbelief, I was banned and the reason given was that I was a "troll". Never had a moderator ever contacted me about anything that I had ever posted there. There was never a need. And then, from out of the blue (so to speak), I was banned. My impression is that one of the senior moderators there is a Catholic and he could not tolerate my scripturally-backed views. Again, this wasn't a Catholic forum but a CHRISTIAN forum. To me, that is both sad (for him) and amazing to me. I cannot fathom the thought of banning a fellow believer (or anyone else) for simply expressing a view that I don't share. That's just incredible to me.

Ok. I got that off my chest. Thanks for reading. :)
I've been banned from forums for defending Catholic beliefs.

The most notorious forum for this is CARM.org. Unless you tow founder Matt Slick's line - you are banned.
 
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lforrest

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Ideally we could have free speech. But the reality is that the churches, and any Christian gathering for that matter, are beset on all sides. First by the flesh, but also by powers and principalities.

We can taste when there is the proverbial "death in the pot." And that makes people depart. Leaving the teachers to argue against one another in vain.
 

Bob Estey

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In my view, it's cowardly to restrict speech short and I'm not talking about threats of violence, pornography, or instructions on how to build a pipe bomb. I'm talking about expressing views that others dislike or that may actually be offensive. I've been participating in message boards for a wide array of topics from football, dogs, politics, religion, etc., and the two segments most quick to BAN speech are the political left and the religious right. Many sites list rules and one of the rules is a "catch-all" rule called "trolling", and when one expresses a view with which they disagree they claim "trolling" and then ban the supposed offender.

To me, a good moderator engenders discussion but, in my experience, most of them annihilate discussion. I suspect that some or "many" of them gain a sense of power by restricting and banning the speech of others. The result, of course, is that they drive away good posters and good discussion while they remain the big fish in their little pond.

By the way, this isn't a knock on any moderators here. I haven't encountered anything here that I would describe as censorship. Of course, this is a privately owned forum and management is obviously free to allow or disallow pretty much whatever they want, as long as it's lawful, of course. I'm just speaking in general terms about the vast majority of forums that I have visited.

I was just banned from a "Christian" forum because I very politely, and respectfully, expressed my disbelief in the Catholic teachings and beliefs regarding the Rosary. I relied on scripture and asked proponents of the Rosary to do the same. I didn't attack anyone. I wasn't impolite. I often prefaced my posts with "I believe...".

I had to take my elderly mother to her doctor. Upon arriving home I went to my thread about the Rosary and, to my disbelief, I was banned and the reason given was that I was a "troll". Never had a moderator ever contacted me about anything that I had ever posted there. There was never a need. And then, from out of the blue (so to speak), I was banned. My impression is that one of the senior moderators there is a Catholic and he could not tolerate my scripturally-backed views. Again, this wasn't a Catholic forum but a CHRISTIAN forum. To me, that is both sad (for him) and amazing to me. I cannot fathom the thought of banning a fellow believer (or anyone else) for simply expressing a view that I don't share. That's just incredible to me.

Ok. I got that off my chest. Thanks for reading. :)
 

Mr E

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In my view, it's cowardly to restrict speech short and I'm not talking about threats of violence, pornography, or instructions on how to build a pipe bomb. I'm talking about expressing views that others dislike or that may actually be offensive. I've been participating in message boards for a wide array of topics from football, dogs, politics, religion, etc., and the two segments most quick to BAN speech are the political left and the religious right. Many sites list rules and one of the rules is a "catch-all" rule called "trolling", and when one expresses a view with which they disagree they claim "trolling" and then ban the supposed offender.

To me, a good moderator engenders discussion but, in my experience, most of them annihilate discussion. I suspect that some or "many" of them gain a sense of power by restricting and banning the speech of others. The result, of course, is that they drive away good posters and good discussion while they remain the big fish in their little pond.

By the way, this isn't a knock on any moderators here. I haven't encountered anything here that I would describe as censorship. Of course, this is a privately owned forum and management is obviously free to allow or disallow pretty much whatever they want, as long as it's lawful, of course. I'm just speaking in general terms about the vast majority of forums that I have visited.

I was just banned from a "Christian" forum because I very politely, and respectfully, expressed my disbelief in the Catholic teachings and beliefs regarding the Rosary. I relied on scripture and asked proponents of the Rosary to do the same. I didn't attack anyone. I wasn't impolite. I often prefaced my posts with "I believe...".

I had to take my elderly mother to her doctor. Upon arriving home I went to my thread about the Rosary and, to my disbelief, I was banned and the reason given was that I was a "troll". Never had a moderator ever contacted me about anything that I had ever posted there. There was never a need. And then, from out of the blue (so to speak), I was banned. My impression is that one of the senior moderators there is a Catholic and he could not tolerate my scripturally-backed views. Again, this wasn't a Catholic forum but a CHRISTIAN forum. To me, that is both sad (for him) and amazing to me. I cannot fathom the thought of banning a fellow believer (or anyone else) for simply expressing a view that I don't share. That's just incredible to me.

Ok. I got that off my chest. Thanks for reading. :)

Just watch, wait and see how well your observations here are received. Keep checking your inbox for the inevitable pm.

1674925120780.png
 

Bob Estey

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In my view, it's cowardly to restrict speech short and I'm not talking about threats of violence, pornography, or instructions on how to build a pipe bomb. I'm talking about expressing views that others dislike or that may actually be offensive. I've been participating in message boards for a wide array of topics from football, dogs, politics, religion, etc., and the two segments most quick to BAN speech are the political left and the religious right. Many sites list rules and one of the rules is a "catch-all" rule called "trolling", and when one expresses a view with which they disagree they claim "trolling" and then ban the supposed offender.

To me, a good moderator engenders discussion but, in my experience, most of them annihilate discussion. I suspect that some or "many" of them gain a sense of power by restricting and banning the speech of others. The result, of course, is that they drive away good posters and good discussion while they remain the big fish in their little pond.

By the way, this isn't a knock on any moderators here. I haven't encountered anything here that I would describe as censorship. Of course, this is a privately owned forum and management is obviously free to allow or disallow pretty much whatever they want, as long as it's lawful, of course. I'm just speaking in general terms about the vast majority of forums that I have visited.

I was just banned from a "Christian" forum because I very politely, and respectfully, expressed my disbelief in the Catholic teachings and beliefs regarding the Rosary. I relied on scripture and asked proponents of the Rosary to do the same. I didn't attack anyone. I wasn't impolite. I often prefaced my posts with "I believe...".

I had to take my elderly mother to her doctor. Upon arriving home I went to my thread about the Rosary and, to my disbelief, I was banned and the reason given was that I was a "troll". Never had a moderator ever contacted me about anything that I had ever posted there. There was never a need. And then, from out of the blue (so to speak), I was banned. My impression is that one of the senior moderators there is a Catholic and he could not tolerate my scripturally-backed views. Again, this wasn't a Catholic forum but a CHRISTIAN forum. To me, that is both sad (for him) and amazing to me. I cannot fathom the thought of banning a fellow believer (or anyone else) for simply expressing a view that I don't share. That's just incredible to me.

Ok. I got that off my chest. Thanks for reading. :)
I've posted 2871 times here and haven't gotten banned yet. I have never been on a liberal site. I've seen conservative sites that won't let you disagree with the administrators on certain issues. I think it's better to let people say what they believe, even if they are wrong.
 

Patrick1966

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I've posted 2871 times here and haven't gotten banned yet. I have never been on a liberal site. I've seen conservative sites that won't let you disagree with the administrators on certain issues. I think it's better to let people say what they believe, even if they are wrong.
I agree. It's healthy to hear and discuss the word of God. Unfortunately, many view such discussion as an opportunity to win an argument rather than an opportunity to share and learn. They are proud and vain and I save my pearls, shake the dust and leave them be.
 

ScottA

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Ideally we could have free speech. But the reality is that the churches, and any Christian gathering for that matter, are beset on all sides. First by the flesh, but also by powers and principalities.

We can taste when there is the proverbial "death in the pot." And that makes people depart. Leaving the teachers to argue against one another in vain.
I like what you have said here, although don't really or always like the restrictions. I liken it to the difference of what is allowed inhouse as opposed to what may or may not be allowed in the street. I guess the exceptions are important--because they do exist, and occur sometimes for and against...like sacrifice, even by crucifixion.

Having said that...I compliment you all for a job well done!
 

Dropship

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I've been participating in message boards for a wide array of topics....To me, a good moderator engenders discussion but, in my experience, most of them annihilate discussion....

Yes that's been my experience too in 20 years of doing the rounds of the boards.
I think most mods see adverts like this one and apply because they're perfectly suited..:)-

moderator.jpg
 
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Dropship

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In fact I've got a zero-tolerance policy towards bad mods and bad memberships, i've lost count of the number of boards I've walked out of over the years..:)
"If you hang around with losers you become a loser"- Donald Trump
 

Dropship

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It's a tough job, rarely done well and never to the satisfaction of all.

I'm a mod myself at the Mission4Today flight sim and strategy gaming forum under the name 'PoorOldSpike' and the atmosphere there is very good because they're all sensible goodnatured people.
Churchill writing about his time as a young officer in India said that he enjoyed "the keen intellect of the mess", and that's the sort of thing all forums should aim for..:)

 

bbyrd009

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I cannot fathom the thought of banning a fellow believer (or anyone else) for simply expressing a view that I don't share
i must admit to being banned from here 2 or 3 times for what id like to think was that, but more likely was about my unkind responses, and i have always been reinstated, eventually. And tried to learn from those. Anyway, pretty light touch on moderation here, and a pretty wide circle

pretty sure ive been banned from every single other Christian forum; for pretty innocuous (imo) stuff, too; the Bible isnt Holy, the Bible isnt Word, Jesus isnt "returning," etc
 

Patrick1966

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i must admit to being banned from here 2 or 3 times for what id like to think was that, but more likely was about my unkind responses, and i have always been reinstated, eventually. And tried to learn from those. Anyway, pretty light touch on moderation here, and a pretty wide circle

pretty sure ive been banned from every single other Christian forum; for pretty innocuous (imo) stuff, too; the Bible isnt Holy, the Bible isnt Word, Jesus isnt "returning," etc

Nothing says that one is a devoted follower of Christ quite like casting a fellow brother into the outer darkness for eternity.
 

bbyrd009

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Nothing says that one is a devoted follower of Christ quite like casting a fellow brother into the outer darkness for eternity.
well, i guess we all get to define "fellow brother" for ourselves?
and i gotta say i stay here bc of the light touch, i mean i could still go anywhere
i have an onion router lol
 
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Johann

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I've posted 2871 times here and haven't gotten banned yet. I have never been on a liberal site. I've seen conservative sites that won't let you disagree with the administrators on certain issues. I think it's better to let people say what they believe, even if they are wrong.
Don't worry, I have been banned all over, from every site I can think of, been banned here too, once, for a couple of months.