njc110381 Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 I was just reading through the "Paris" thread and it got me wondering about something that has niggled me for some time. Why do threads get closed when nothing offensive is being said? Why do we all have to comply with a title? Surely in the off topic section, people should be able to chat happily without having to put up an official heading? There's no harm in it so why not leave it alone? It's something that I've found increasingly annoying and is one of the reasons that I post a lot less than I used to. It reminds me too much of being at school. The "Paris" topic was just one. There have been a number of instances over time that I've wondered just why a thread needs to be locked? If it's offensive then fine, if it's putting the forum at risk of a legal backlash then again fine, but if it's just chat why not leave us alone? We're all grown ups here and if we don't like reading something then we don't have to. It's bad enough being told what we're not allowed to talk about but it gets right on my wick when I get to the end of something interesting and I can't add my piece! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keg Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 The Paris thread strayed way off the original subject/point into conspiracy theories etc. That's why it was closed. I did suggest adding a section on theories as they seem to come up quite often. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 Here here if you are in a bar etc and a group of you and your mates are enjoying a debate you let it take its course-its all just a collection of opinions that each individual has the right to engage in or simply listen to -if someone changes the direction of the discussion then should they be silenced? No-not in a free society Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 (edited) I think the threads escalate quite quickly into "Enoch was right, rivers of blood, send 'em all home" and shortly thereafter (or thereabouts) there are legal ramifications to being a party to / broadcasting or disseminating material that is likely to incite racial hatred. If I personally ran a forum I would be locking race threads willy nilly because letting a few people gob off isn't worth a legal bill sorting the shizzle out (at the lower end of the spectrum) or doing a 2 stretch (at the other end). Edited November 16, 2015 by Mungler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 (edited) I've been on here long enough to say with some absolute certainty that *all* the threads of this nature end up the same way without fail. So, why delay the inevitable? Again, I make the point that if it were your house on the line for no better cause then to let some internet warriors gob off, then you too would be taking the cautious path. EDIT Have a look at this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-34831227 She got her front door put in by plod. Free speech is all well and good when (1) there is a point (and I make the point that gobbing off on here will change nothing and so is pointless) and (2) it's not your front door at stake. Edited November 16, 2015 by Mungler Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVB Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 I've been on here long enough to say with some absolute certainty that *all* the threads of this nature end up the same way without fail. So, why delay the inevitable? Again, I make the point that if it were your house on the line for no better cause then to let some internet warriors gob off, then you too would be taking the cautious path. EDIT Have a look at this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-34831227 She got her front door put in by plod. Free speech is all well and good when (1) there is a point (and I make the point that gobbing off on here will change nothing and so is pointless) and (2) it's not your front door at stake. I have no idea what the legal position is but in this case it was the poster who was visited by the police and not anybody at Facebook. In what circumstances would anybody (who?) at PW be liable and why them rather than the hosting site? It must be a legal minefield. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kyska Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 Plus not all posts are seen for very long before being deleted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 case in point on this very thread, it beggars belief Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted November 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 Fair enough. So it's the pettiness of the legal system that's to blame. Not much any of us can do about that. Looks like I'll have to do what I was going to do either way - accept it won't change and go back to doing the things that took me away from internet forums in the first place! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 England’s Bill of Rights 1689 legally established the constitutional right of 'freedom of speech in Parliament' which is still in effect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 England’s Bill of Rights 1689 legally established the constitutional right of 'freedom of speech in Parliament' which is still in effect. Yes, but you also are free to wear jeans and trainers every day, but you wouldnt expect to be able to get into every restaurant and club in the country, as they are private entities and are therefore permitted to set conditions of service and membership. This being a privately owned site, has rules on what can and cant be posted for the reasons already mentioned in this thread. All members agree to this on joining, and reaffirm their agreement to it by logging on and posting. It's all in the user agreement when you join. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poontang Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 I started the Paris thread more as a 'heads up' for anyone unaware and interested in what was happening. It was never meant to be about the political implications of the terrorists actions, although that was bound to happen, but more as an alert to what was unfolding in front of us. I'm actually surprised it lasted as long as it did...I think the 'skinny tanks' did for it in the end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digger Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 Most threads get locked for straying off topic or breaking the house rules as opposed to people having personal digs which marks this out as a good thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
10gaugewannabee Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 England’s Bill of Rights 1689 legally established the constitutional right of 'freedom of speech in Parliament' which is still in effect. and the only place in the whole of the uk where you can not be prosicuted for slander, liable or heracy is at the speakers platform inside it any where else you can be charged with aiding and abating any of the above and a zillion more due to the wonderfull ( for them only) anti terrorist laws/freedom of speech laws and of course anti racisiam laws so not only do you get rolled over for spouting words so do the people that allowed them to be seen on the internet, as for what words are good and which ones are bad is totally hereay as well hahahahahahahahaha i would rather the forum lock threads and do so often and still have a forum than no forum at all, the people that normally cause all the worded issues will just leave here and spout their words on another forum after this one is closed down and shut as for paris threads, i saw that happening as soon as we hit the first page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul65 Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 There's also the risk of being gunned down or blown up if you run a site where certain views are expressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grrclark Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 It continually surprises me that so many people claim a lack of free speech on PW. As Zapp highlighted it is a private forum so Teal and his team of moderators are quite free to impose whatever rules they deem to be appropriate. If people wish to exercise their right to free speech then start a blog page and rant to your heart's content or grab a soapbox and pitch up on a street corner, neither of which has moderation rules. Ultimately we all choose to post here knowing what the rules are and it is nothing short of being wilfully disrespectful to Teal and the mod' team to continually to push the rules to the limit. Ultimately these guys are just the same as the rest of us non mod's with the same strength of opinion on various subjects, but they have the almost thankless task to try and remove the sometimes excessive amounts of drivel that is posted by the ignorant and stupid. It is a really vibrant forum and I think the rules and level of moderation contributes to that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mungler Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 I think the 'skinny tanks' did for it in the end. Indeed, he's banged his head of late. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 Yes, but you also are free to wear jeans and trainers every day, but you wouldnt expect to be able to get into every restaurant and club in the country, as they are private entities and are therefore permitted to set conditions of service and membership. This being a privately owned site, has rules on what can and cant be posted for the reasons already mentioned in this thread. All members agree to this on joining, and reaffirm their agreement to it by logging on and posting. It's all in the user agreement when you join. Zapp, I stated a fact. I'm well aware of the terms of my user agreement thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 Zapp, I stated a fact. I dont see how that changes anything about my response to it, which was also a statement of fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 and the only place in the whole of the uk where you can not be prosicuted for slander, liable or heracy is at the speakers platform inside it any where else you can be charged with aiding and abating any of the above and a zillion more due to the wonderfull ( for them only) anti terrorist laws/freedom of speech laws and of course anti racisiam laws so not only do you get rolled over for spouting words so do the people that allowed them to be seen on the internet, as for what words are good and which ones are bad is totally hereay as well hahahahahahahahaha i would rather the forum lock threads and do so often and still have a forum than no forum at all, the people that normally cause all the worded issues will just leave here and spout their words on another forum after this one is closed down and shut as for paris threads, i saw that happening as soon as we hit the first page Got it. Bottom of the class as well for grammar. The O/P is a class bloke with a point of view. It's not even up for discussion is it? I can see this site dying a slow death. Things seem to be must more liberal on social media don't you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velocette Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 I too have no objection to the moderation of a private forum,,but I do strongly object to laws in this country which prohibit me expressing my views in public in relation to various groups/races and thereby force the moderation as we experience it on here. That is the true restriction of free speech !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitebridges Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 I dont see how that changes anything about my response to it, which was also a statement of fact. Agree. I surprised you bothered to post a reply to be honest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zapp Posted November 16, 2015 Report Share Posted November 16, 2015 Agree. I surprised you bothered to post a reply to be honest. Yes, with hindsight there are probably any number of other more worthwhile things I could have done with the time it took. Anyway, I'm sure we've all got better things to be doing with our evening, so.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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