Freedom of speach moderated?

Jim Hatt

Re: Freedom of speach moderated?

Post by Jim Hatt »

MMM wrote:
I hope that the censorship of language will not continue into actual topics.

Mike

Hi Mike,

"Censorship of language" is always going to be an "issue" in all parts of this forum, and the other forums as well. It is not a rule I made up. It is a specific item in the Terms of Use Agreement, that everyone agrees to when they apply for membership to the DUSA Forums. If someone thinks they have to resort to "four letter words" to get their point across. They need to work on expanding their vocabulary.

I only replace four letter words with ---deleted--- a few times for one individual. If they do not take the hint after that, they are banned for repeated violation of the Terms of Use Agreement. The same thing goes for Name Calling, Personal Insults, and Personal Attacks on other members.

I take a lot of personal pride in the DUSA Forums, and will do everything in my power, to make them one of the best places to hang out, Learn, and exchange information on the Internet. That is why we have a terms of Use Agreement, and that is why we strive to enforce it.

Jim
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Re: Freedom of speach moderated?

Post by spiny »

Jim, thanks so much (you too, Greg) for making this a better discussion forum. I've been posting here for quite a few years but very little in recent times. I wasn't intimidated, it had just become an unpleasant place to visit. Having a variety of viewpoints is great, but not when it degenerates into tirades and insults. As you said, this should be a forum for ideas, not a place to unload a person's frustrations. Keep up the good work!
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Plays In The Dirt
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Re: Freedom of speach moderated?

Post by Plays In The Dirt »

Thanks Spiny, I hope you return and provide input to whatever is being discussed. Perhaps others who were repulsed by the past dialog will now also return.
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Re: Freedom of speach moderated?

Post by javaone »

First, I would like to quantify my being on this forum; by me not agreeing with everyone, or everything that goes on here, I hope that it does not preclude me from being here.

I have to agree with MMM, I have done a lot of reading here as well, and I have not seen much ,if any, response with evidence backing accusations. (“anti-ohv bashing” - or, whichever way MMM meant it.)
I must say though - the idiocies of both sides were easily overlooked by my virgin eyes.

I too agree with the Oros’ that without opposition, the enviros would soon close everything if they got half the chance (this is a synopsis of what I have read of their views (I could be over stating (I ask for forgiveness (from them) if I read them wrong (<- that means; “in my opinion“)))).

Furthermore, being that this bickering has been ALLOWED to go on for quite some time now, I feel that it would have been more easily accepted by all IF “hard repeated warnings” -POSTED FOR ALL TO SEE- were given for a COUPLE of days before the vast carnage that has happened here today. ( I have only seen or noticed “deletions” and soft warnings. (please take into consideration that some of us read fast and take names later))

In my opinion, “most” had some constructive things to say (on both sides), but do to the lack of “mediation” things did get out of control. It is a shame that their views will be silenced. There is a feeling of “socialism” that comes to my mind due to the swift stroke of a sword.

Oh well, I don’t have much time to dwell on this subject, because Jim has given me a task to find some blood sucking leaches on rocks - darn critters are hard to find! -> TOPIC: Re: MONUMENTS & MARKERS (advertisement)

Jerry

P s I do not have a white flag….
Jim Hatt

Re: Freedom of speach moderated?

Post by Jim Hatt »

Jerry,

I don't think you have been following this forum close enough to have seen everything that has progressed along the way. The Warnings were subtle at first.

Eventually I made them less subtle in another topic, in this same forum, but the very same individuals.

ie: Com'on Guys... This kind of behavior (always pushing the envelope to see what you can get away with) is not consistent with the atmosphere, we expect to be maintained in the DUSA Forums.

These are all very serious issues that are discussed in the Environmental Forum, and I realize that everyone is passionate about their point of view and opinions. But...The next time I have to come over here to edit a message, that should not have been posted in the first place. "Somebody" is going to be "Excused". I have better things to do with my time than play "Babysitter" for adults who require Adult Supervision.

Jim Hatt


And that was not the first one. There was a very similar one about a week earlier. I guess they did not understand exactly what "excused" meant. Still too "subtle" maybe?
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Re: Freedom of speach moderated?

Post by Mrs.Oroblanco »

Jim,

Hope you don't mind if I put in my two cents - for whatever it is worth.

I think people are taking the complaints as being a way to stifle opinions - when, in reality, what Jim is trying to get across is simple:

Talk about anything that pertains to this topic - you can agree, you can disagree, you can have another opinion entirely.
It doesn't matter - what matters is that you present your opinions, facts, arguements, debates - whatever - in a respectful manner. Realizing that this topic, and all others, are not a close-circuit conversation. It can be seen, and is seen, by every and anyone who wishes to look at it.

What Jim wants them to see, is a group of intelligent folks, who respect themselves and each other, and can still express their different opinions and experiences without 4 letter words and with a bit of dignity. A place where you don't mind if your kid reads the posts. G-rated.

Nobody is more emphatic about this particular topic than me - and having some high-spirited discussions and debates are something I enjoy. What I don't enjoy, is someone treating me like I'm an idiot for having the opinion I have. The other thing I'm not crazy about - the part which is what seems to be lacking here, is - at least consider and understand what someone else is saying and why they have that opinion (doesn't mean you have to agree, but, it really helps if you take the time to understand WHY someone feels the way they do-exactly what they are saying).

I'd really like to see this topic stay in the forum. It's not freedom of speech that the site is trying to moderate - its the way you USE your freedom of speech. (like most rights guaranteed by the constitution, your freedom ends where it impedes someone elses.

Beth (Mrs. O)
Jim Hatt

Re: Freedom of speach moderated?

Post by Jim Hatt »

I'd call that a whole lot more than two cents worth Beth!

Thank You for taking the time, to smooth out some of the wrinkles in what Greg and I have been trying to tell everyone all day.
Beth wrote: like most rights guaranteed by the constitution, your freedom ends where it impedes someone elses
It took a handful of us all day today, and 4 pages of dialog, to try to say what you just summed up in 15 words.

Thank You Ma'am!!! <Bow>
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Re: Freedom of speach moderated?

Post by Plays In The Dirt »

Beth, precisely what I was trying to get across in different posts. Hopefully things will calm down and the forum can now be what it was intended to be - a discussion forum sans the arguing - four letter words and name calling. We'll see...
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Re: Freedom of speach moderated?

Post by yuccahead »

javaone wrote:
I too agree with the Oros’ that without opposition, the enviros would soon close everything if they got half the chance
Well, Jerry, that works both ways. Without the opposition of environmental groups OHV users would ride anywhere and everywhere they wanted to. A lot of them do anyway.
javaone wrote:It is a shame that their views will be silenced.
Not to me. They've been forcing their views down our throats for a decade, I won't miss a one of them.
Jim Hatt

Re: Freedom of speach moderated?

Post by Jim Hatt »

We are slipping away from the original objective here.

The objective was not to silence anyone. It was to encourage them to change the way they presented their opinions and views. It was their refusal to comply with the forum rules, in presenting them, and resistance to moderation (editing and deletion of improper posts) that resulted in their dismissals from the forums.

I am sure the the controversy over OHV's is far from over. Others will surely come, that will feel the same way about OHV's that the Banned users did.

Hopefully this experience, will encourage them to be more careful in the observance of the forum rules, when expressing their opinions.

Jim Hatt

Appended 2/26/2010
javaone wrote:(from http://www.desertusa.com/mb3/viewtopic. ... 828#p15828) Hey YH, I guess the “FREEDOM OF SPEECH Moderated?” area has been closed… Hmmm, go figure. So I will post this here - Please move this to where ever you want. - MODERATOR :|


Jerry
Jerry my friend,

You have been a wonderful contributor to the Treasure Hunting forum, and I am quite surprised to see you present this attitude in here! I wish I knew what it was about this Environmental forum, that brings out the "Jeckel & Hyde" syndrome in so many people?

That Freedom of Speech Topic was created by someone with the intent of turning it into a free-for-all battle ground. I probably should have just deleted it before it got started, but it would have only been reincarnated in another form if I had, so I opted to deal with it head on and get it over with, once and for all! "Nip-it in the Bud" as PITD so rightly put it.

The battle has been fought, (as the individual demanded), and is over. I can't imagine why you, or anyone else, would want to reignite it in another topic, but I would strongly urge anyone with that intention, to abandon it right away. That topic was locked to put an end to the bitterness, so we could move on to subjects less volatile.

Attempts to reopen a topic (somewhere else) that has been "Locked" by any Forum Moderator are aggressively frowned upon.

Jim Hatt
Locked