Censorship on Edugeek

[Guest monkeyx]

Have you ever run into censorhsip issues on this site. With forum admins pulling posts or contacting via a PM to change your tone?

 

Yes or No. Nice easy poll to answer

[siuko]

Nope never had any issues with the forum at all.

 

I dont tend to do anything naughty though

[localzuk]

Define 'censorship'. Or should I say 'are you redefining censorship to include moderating inappropriate posts?'.

 

It can't be answered as a simple yes or no, as one man's censorship is another man's moderating inappropriate behaviour...

[timzim]

Have you ever run into censorhsip issues on this site. With forum admins pulling posts or contacting via a PM to change your tone?

 

Yes or No. Nice easy poll to answer

 

damn, my reply got censored....

[Guest monkeyx]

I take speech to be free. So in my personal view moderation is censorship as well.

[Domino]

This AGAIN?

 

Really?

[localzuk]

I take speech to be free. So in my personal view moderation is censorship as well.

 

Bit of an odd view to take on a privately run forum... Speech is free within the bounds of a set of rules, in all societies. Try shouting 'bomb' in a cinema in the US and you'll be nicked. Use racist language in the UK and you'll be nicked. Behave inappropriately on EduGeek and you'll be moderated... Even Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights (Freedom of Expression) includes an 'in accordance with law' and 'necessary in a democratic society' restriction allowances.

 

None of those are censorship to me. None of them are trying to withhold information for some nefarious, political, religious or similar means.

 

If there was a 'censored? no. moderated? yes' option, I'd tick that...

Edited July 23, 2010 by localzuk
fixed an incorrect 'a' which should've been an 'an'

[dwhyte85]

Never had an e-mail/PM asking to change tone or pull any of my posts, then again... I don't think I'm that bad - if that started happening without good reason I doubt i'd use the forum anymore. Edited July 23, 2010 by dwhyte85

[Little-Miss]

Yes i have had a post removed, but i deserved it and knew it was going to happen!

 

Doesnt keep me awake at night!

[maniac]

If people don't like the way a forum is moderated why are they here?

[Guest monkeyx]

If people don't like the way a forum is moderated why are they here?

 

That is what I am wondering as well. Wanting to see if it is just me and my style of posting that is the issue.

 

The issues that annoyed re censorship/moderations related to a small post relating to a free(ium) software tool, RM and BSF.

 

I think my answer should have been to stop using this site, as my views appeared in conflict with this privately run forum.

Edited July 23, 2010 by monkeyx
typo king

[dwhyte85]

MonkeyX - I get what you're saying.

 

However, everything you say/I say/We say effects the reputation of Edugeek, consider they're not a charity, they earn money by I guess advertising on the site and probably getting information from polls or whatnot (I don't know, just a guess). If you say 'BSF SUCKS THE BIG ONE, GOVERNMENT ARE DUMB LOLZ' people wont say AH MonkeyX said it, it'll go back to Edugeek and that's not what they want to happen.

 

I've not had a problem on here, only with people and how I read things they say - then again, it is a professionals forum - people are quite... to the point and have every right to have an opinion, sometimes mine isn't the same!

Edited July 23, 2010 by dwhyte85

[Sarconia]

Freedom of speech is all well and good but you've got to keep it within reason.

 

For example, I'm not going to talk about topics such as religion, politics, sex or wages whilst I'm at work as I might a) get my butt kicked for doing so and b) inadvertantly start an argument by offending someone. These are all valid topics and can be discussed elsewhere though but at work, I'd generally say they were a no no.

 

One of my colleagues who is heavily into religion is always opening her mouth and spouting views which could offend people. The best one so far has been the "tattoo's are the mark of the devil" comment which was made to me directly. I don't personally have any tattoo's but I was rather shocked by that view and that someone would say that at work as it really could offend some people. It's those kinds of comments which should be kept away from certain environments.

[CAM]

The Internet is not free and there is no free speech unless you own your own server and domain name. It is a collection of privately owned networks and servers that you connect to and post what the site owner allows you to post. If you don't agree, then you find another site or set up your own.

 

Some sites do have little or no moderation but the content on them is of little or no good taste as a result!

[36Degrees]

Nope never had any issues with the forum at all.

 

I dont tend to do anything naughty though

 

Me neither. My wife would say that's because when I leave for work every morning she tells me to "be a good boy at school".

[GrumbleDook]

I haven't been censored but I have been moderated when I have been intentionally provocative ... but I understand that this is down to my posting style in certain discussions (when not fence sitting) and whilst I make little apology for it I know that there are rules and they are there for the smooth running of the site.

 

Frequently, IME, the comments from mods and admins are based on the line of

a) You are being deliberately offensive to provoke a reaction

b) You are being unreasonable in your stance without evidence to back it up

c) Your language is offensive and /or not professional

d) Your facts are wrong, have proven to be wrong and you are arguing that other people are wrong instead

e) You are targeting an individual or small group, to the point of bullying.

 

This is pretty much in line with a lot of other groups out there. If this was usenet you would find some people are prone to use the killfile very quickly, or just ignore certain threads that others post in ... but it doesn't mean they leave the community.

 

If you think that your posting style is worth keeping and that this is the barrier then yes, you are likely to clash with people again, but if you think that the community is worth changing your position slightly then adapt your posting style a bit.

 

If you think it is more of a personal nature then take it to DB or perhaps ask a respected regular (non-admin, non-mod, non-speciality) to help mediate.

[siuko]

Me neither. My wife would say that's because when I leave for work every morning she tells me to "be a good boy at school".

ROFL!!

[Domino]

 

If you think it is more of a personal nature then take it to DB or perhaps ask a respected regular (non-admin, non-mod, non-speciality) to help mediate.

 

well volunteered!

[GrumbleDook]

well volunteered!

 

nope ... ex-admin ... I have baggage!

[pete]

No, but then I self-censor. Edugeek = related to working in school and ideally keep it so proxies don't block a thread for other people.

 

On other forums (say ars) it's much looser, you can quite freely call someone a CJTC provided you back up your argument. But it's big and obvious that's the case.

[truslack]

Some sites do have little or no moderation but the content on them is of little or no good taste as a result!

 

I'd have to disagree with that. One of the bike forums I go on DOES have moderators, but nothing is ever deleted or edited, and the forum is pretty much self moderating - and it's one of the best forums I've ever come across.

[localzuk]

I'd have to disagree with that. One of the bike forums I go on DOES have moderators, but nothing is ever deleted or edited, and the forum is pretty much self moderating - and it's one of the best forums I've ever come across.

 

Does it have 25k+ members?

[truslack]

Does it have 25k+ members?

 

66k, a large proportion of which are actually active.

[localzuk]

66k, a large proportion of which are actually active.

 

Very surprised there then. What forum is that btw?

[truslack]

Very surprised there then. What forum is that btw?

Bike Chat Forums : The largest independent UK motorcycle chat forum

 

It's very surprising how well the system works - a custom made Karma system takes into account spelling, swearing, post length, what forums people post in, how regular people are etc and increases a users karma accordingly. Members rate posts + or -, which again alters the karma a user has. New members are forced to spell check posts before they are submitted until their karma increases a bit. Members with high negative karma ("red blobs") gets auto-banned.

 

In serious cases, a thread will be moved to "Fights and flamewars", people who post in this forum get hit hard on the karma.