What happened to "Freedom of Speech"

Forum: water cooler
Topic: What happened to "Freedom of Speech"
started by: AwPhuch

Posted by AwPhuch on Sep. 21 2006,14:58

Man...look what happens to a conservative that posts on a so called "freedom of speech" website

< http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=621978 >

and look at my replies...hurry before they delete it or lock the thread too

< http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbullet....4355766 >

Freedom of speech only if you say what they want to hear

Posted by AwPhuch on Sep. 21 2006,15:27

Yup go figure

[quote=fredjacksonsan]I wanted you to know that I moved your thread, "Unfair treatment by a moderator" out of the members' area. It is a bannable offense to bring something like that up in another thread; if you have a beef about something being done, then you should PM the moderator in question. Don't get upset that this has been done, I'm actually cutting you some slack by doing so.

As far as your username, most people won't understand the science that you say the name comes from, and will immediately think that it is what it appears to be - a misspelling of "Aw, ". So please adhere to KustMAce's request to set up a new and AF friendly username.

Please have a read of the AF rules prior to posting again. You will find a link for them in my signature.

PM me if you have any further questions.

fredjacksonsan[/quote]

Then please have my nic changed to WarHawk1974 and re-instate my unfair thread...

I truly believe my 2nd Amendment rights are being violated and I will find out if I can bring a lawsuit against this website...this is unfair treatment and totalianarism treatments by mod is unjust and uncalled for

I dont understand why I am being treated this way..I was called a bigot and cussed by a mod yet I never once targeted a specific individual or called anyone names (other than the scumbag rapist)

This is unfair and uncalled for..you can see my posts have been open and honest and helped, I AM NOT A TROLL...why did I get hammered for this..this is bogus and not in any way upholding the teaching of America or its Constitution

Can I only say what others "want" to hear, can I only speak my mind when it doesnt "offend" anyone, but what if I am unjustly treated and "offended" doesnt that matter, of course not..Im a conservative, the MODS are liberals and dont want to hear me so they ban me, lock my threads, kick me out...where is the justice or fairness in this

I have been treated many many times like this on other so called "open" threads...and I dont think it is fair..

This is why I am fighting so vehemently for my rights...people shouldnt be able to just crush someones sayings because they "dont agree with it"

Posted by u2musicmike on Sep. 21 2006,16:31

It must be a new tactic to shutdown anyone who doesn't have the same worldview. Last week I was talking about the pope's comments and someone got angry and started the same over reaction. I think it is getting worse as the election is near.

Posted by crusadingknight on Sep. 22 2006,17:43

Quote (AwPhuch @ Sep. 21 2006,10:58)

Freedom of speech only if you say what they want to hear

Actually, that's advocating hypocrisy, not freedom of speech. Following that, you defame Mexican government (which is an opinion), and the Mexican people (which is racism). Freedom comes with responsibility to be civil, express things in a civil manner, and especially not to troll in an inflammatory manner. They haven't violated any of your rights any more than a newspaper which didn't publish a letter from you would.

Posted by humpty on Oct. 01 2006,08:44

They may call it a 'public' forum, but the fact that's it's being moderated means it's private.
I'm all for that 'dog' person too, but you just stepped into the wrong bar buddy.

Posted by AwPhuch on Oct. 04 2006,03:13

Quote (crusadingknight @ Sep. 22 2006,13:43)

Quote (AwPhuch @ Sep. 21 2006,10:58)

Freedom of speech only if you say what they want to hear

OK...where did I deflame Mexican people?

Posted by WDef on Oct. 08 2006,11:09

Quote

Freedom comes with responsibility to be civil, express things in a civil manner, and especially not to troll in an inflammatory manner.

Mmm. Though you might believe in that personally as a sensible principle, it's actually arguable, especially in the US, where as I understand it the legal test of freedom of speech has been the "clear and present danger" test - eg shouting "fire" in a crowded theatre creates a clear and present danger by causing panic and hence possible harm, therefore is not protected by the US Constitution. The key point, as Humpty suggested, is whether or not the moderator and web site have any responsibility to publish and/or support the views of a poster. If it's a private forum, then they probably do not (eg what do the conditions of membership say?). People are free to censor their own publications (it's called editing). If you write a letter to a newspaper you'll find they usually trim it down. People are also free to disagree with you. What's obnoxious is when the government restricts this freedom via regulatory means or otherwise prevents debate.

What Brian is free to do is find a different forum to vent his views where these are more welcome, and I don't see why he can't do so. He's doing it here, for example. So he is not being deprived of the capacity to air his views, hence I don't know that this is really a matter of "freedom of speech" or censorship at all. What we have to all watch out for are the current shifts internationally towards real control of the internet. There lies the possibility for genuine restriction of freedom of expression ...

In the UK/EU the current situation is different - they have hate crime legislation (not sure what you have in the US?), which I am of two minds about, and at least one member country has a quite bizarre (I think dangerous) law about "offending" or ridiculing their nationality.

BTW Brian, I must be lacking in imagination lately - I've never once associated the handle "AwPhuch" with copulation. I did think it might have been something to do with "Aw, puke", but thought this unimportant. My handle, as I recently discovered, is quite coincidentally the same name as an old MacIntosh virus, some Windows program, some "family" radio station, and probably many other things, none of which have anything to do with me whatsoever.

Posted by John on Oct. 27 2006,15:54

Opinions aside, website forum managers legally have the right to delete anything on their own website. It isn't a question of free speech because the discourse is taking place in a privately held website.

I've been on both sides of the censor issue over the years and its no fun at either place. AwPhuch, I wouldn't waist to much energy on it, just post at places where your opinion is more respected. Vote with your eyes and mouse clicks.

Posted by Winter Knight on Nov. 10 2006,22:37

Censorship, by definition, is deleting, blocking, or editing what someone says due to offensive content. Offensive, of course, from the perspective of whoever is doing the editing. So, what that board did is censorship. But, as John mentioned, it is not illegal to censor your own website.

You negatively referenced Mexicans coming up to America to commit crimes. However you intended it, or whatever facts you may have to back up your judgment, negatively referring to a broad group of people is often considered racist.

I didn't see anything in that post that warrants banning or deleting or even closing the post. It seems excessive to me. I hate it when that happens too.

For what it's worth, Dog is a Bail Bondsman. He helps unconvicted scumbags stay out on the street during their trial. If they don't go back for their trial, he doesn't get back the money that he loaned.