A New Spin on Free Speech
 

The new forum member, milweskee, brought up something in another thread about the injustice he felt about there being a lack of free speech on this website.

At first, I just felt this was another rant by yet another "green member" who was upset at having been disciplined so quickly. But then I examined it some more and realized something I hadn't thought of before:

We (that is, all of us who partake in discussing things in these forums) are our own democracy.

Krang is the president. What he says is the law. You can take it or leave it.

The moderators are like his second-in-commands. When Krang takes a hiatus, the moderators are in charge. But they don't have the final say exactly. They still report weird goings-on to Krang, and then he deals with the situation(s) how he sees fit.

All the rest of us are just the citizens who "live" here. We follow the rules, even bend them at times, but we abide by the law Krang and his second-in-commands have set.

And this got me to thinking about what milweskee said. "There's no free speech here!" he cried.

And my response to that is: "Why?"

Now I know the obvious answer that comes to mind is, "Well, if everyone said what they really thought, Krang would be issuing Warnings and Bans left and right."

But is there a way to play it both ways? Meaning, is there a way to say what you really want, express how you truly feel, without suffering a backlash? Are we, as the citizens of Technodrome City, civilized enough to let free speech run its course?

Or are we just a bunch of barbarians who have to be policed 24/7?

What are your thoughts, people?

"Whoa! That's deep."
"Too deep for me."

Michaelangelo and Raphael, from "The Beginning of the End"

This board isn't a democracy, it's more like Soviet Russia.

As I posted in the other thread, the right to free speech is overuled quite a bit on the internet. Especially on Private Message boards, because the owner has the right to set policy for what can and can't be discussed. It doesn't just stop at the old toon either, discussions of things like sex, drugs, religion, and other 'adult' topics are usually on the no-no list on most forums. Because they can get the owners of the said forums in trouble, or can cause fights with the users. And as much trouble makers like PWEDI, LoneWolf, and other shmucks pop up, yes......we do need monitered 24/7. We shouldn't have to be, people should know enough to follow the rules. But on the internet, people don't see another face that they have empathy for. So that's why you find quite a lot of people that don't care what they say or do, cause they can't see who they're hurting.

Keep the responses coming! I'm finding this very interesting.

You gotta love Technodrome Politics. :)

"Don't you know how to say please?"
"No. But I do know how to say nooowwwwww!"

Shredder and Krang, from "Peking Turtle"

I think that people get can get their point across just fine with out being the next PWEDI or using sexual content. Your not being opressed, because you can just leave whenever you want.

Re: A New Spin on Free Speech
 

"If you've got a problem with it, stay out of the thread or get the hell out"

That's pretty much the bottom line.

Free Speech is indeed, a valid commodity, but so is learning to respect the beleifs and system of a message board and it's rules and regulations.

Free Speech would give us the ability to post Sexual contents on sites like Toon Zone without caring what others thought, repsect for the rules prevents that.

Free Speech:

Even in the United States you can't go around saying anything you wish ie. "bomb" on an airplaine...and the internet is no different. You don't have to speak with graphic language to get your thoughts accross. This site is available to 13 year olds....I would be pretty embarresed if I went around talking in explicit language infront of my 13 year old cousin. While, I'm sure she's heard it all already, the point is, I should be setting a good example....this place is no different.

A message board is a place to exchange thoughts and ideas...to discuss and even debate. It is not a place for calling names, bashing other people, being rude for nothing more than gaining attention. Basically, it is not a place for negative vibes. No one wants to be treated with negativity, nor do they wish to read it.

While I think it is alright to disagree, how one handels their disagreements shows what kind of character and person they are.

I assume we all like, and respect, the legacy that is Master Splinter. Then, we can thus agree that while He would believe in free ideals, he would not believe that those should be expressed with malice or vulgarity. Period.

I agree with you on this one. That is something I see as a problem on these forums. Too many people around here like to swear to get their message across. There are plenty of other ways to express your opinion.

Exactly. Some people get very offensive when you disagree with them. Others take it in stride. And most of the things people have arguments over on these forums are so petty as to be forgotten two days later. Which is better? The old cartoon or the new cartoon?

Who cares?!

"You mind giving us a hand here, Donatello?" - Raphael, from "The Unknown Ninja"

Free speech means you can say what ever you want, as long as it doesn't take away from other peoples rights. Every one that typed in here is trying to make their point, but if you look at it, we all agree. Who ever it was that tryed to pull that "freedom of speech" crap is really just looking for a fight.

Freedom of Speech and other rights are great things, and it saddens me that people use them as an excuse to hurt each other. We should be free to express any ideas we wish, but we must also deal with the consequences. Giving me the right to say something also gives someone else the right to disagree. I simply wish people would consider outcomes beforehand.

Laws exist to keep everything from going to Heck in a handbasket.

Well said, Shadow... :D

I dont agree with your comparison of Krang to a president. If he has the final say...and we have to take it or leave it, that makes him more of a Dictator. And thats fine with me. Im not one to cause trouble on a these forums. I just wanted to point that out...cause its 1 in the morning and im bored.

you only say that not for my mastery of the english language, but for my referance to splinter! :wink:

:tangel:

Gotta love the Sensei... :D

I referred to Krang as the president in the sense that . . . well, he really is the president of the Technodrome forums.

He designed the website; he maintains it; and he has the power to overrule whatever bad things are going on. But I wouldn't describe him as a dictator.

When I hear the word dictator, I think of someone who's power-hungry and a mean person. I'm pretty sure our beloved Krang doesn't fit that mold.

"You can be Vice President!"
"Hhhmmm, just a heartbeat away! Not bad!"

Krang and Shredder, from "Cowabunga, Shredhead"

So I'm a "dictator" for creating and helping enforce a set of rules? Apparently you don't know that there are moderators and another administrator that are also responsible for making decisions, not just me. I don't see what makes me more of a "dictator" than any other forum administrator on the internet. But if you think you can do a better job, try setting up a message board with no rules, no moderators, and no administrators and see how long it lasts before it gets out of control.

or Just go to the LOP Forums. You'll learn right quick.

if we did not have rules on the internet, there would be flames everywhere. I believe in free speech but sometimes you have to follow the rules of the forum/chatroom. The rules are set in place so there is no trouble on the internet. yes, we are allowed to speak our minds but only to a certain point.

Krang is not a dictator but I considered him as the president of the forum because he is the one that set up the website.

Took the words right out of my mouth! :)

It's too bad there isn't some way to make both sides happy on this issue. You can speak your mind, yes, and not make anyone angry in the process.

With the exception of a few posters who will remain nameless, things have gone pretty well on these forums. Sure, we have our arguments every now and then. But this board is, by far, the cleanest one I've ever seen.

"Death to all dustballs!" - Donatello, from "Turtles, Turtles Everywhere"

i disagree! krang is dictator!, he wants to take over the world with the help of shredder!! but turtles will never allow it! :D .........

emm...guys you know i'm talking about the cartoon, don't you?...........

the chatroom that I monitor has more rules than the forums does. Some people love the chatroom because it is clean and friendly. Other people tend to hate it because of the rules. They end up being punished when they break the rules that are set before them.

You KNOW it's a dull and crappy world when you can't even say "Hell" in a PG-13 rated forum :roll:You know, there's something of a paradox in that: the right to free speech gives people the freedom on the internet to bar free speech from others that disagree with them...funky.

Don't believe me? Check out:

eBaum's World
Something Awful
Doomworld Forums

...and other such places. Whether they mean what they say or not, they still exhibit this "holier than thou" attitude. I even posted a link to a thread on the Doomworld forums debating the "power hungriness" of the mods/admins on there not long ago...look for that thread, and you'll see what I mean.

now seriously

i like this forum's rules and administration because the Administrator is nice and he actually responds you if you send him a pm, besides of being active, and the moderators are very nice people too.

Krang, as well as the forum moderators, do allow quite a bit of leeway when it comes to arguments. If they are kept clean, that is.

It's only after people start attacking each other that The Powers That Be put their foot down, and I like that. Let the arguments wear themselves out if they're done so in a proper fashion.

"You've made your riverbed. Now lie in it." - April, from "Funny, They Shrunk Michaelangelo"

LOL! For some very strange reason, I didn't feel like saying Hell last night. :lol: If I have the right to use that word, I certainly have the right to sugar coat it. :D

:lol: Dont think of the Technodrome as a Dictatorship!


Krang's more of a CEO, and us mods are part of the board of directors... :D


Krang = Mike Eisner? :o

*shudder* compare it to a different business...

some forums/chatrooms are not quite as bad as some of the others

Yes, I will agree that this forum is one of the tamer forums I've ever seen. And that speaks to the character of those who post here.

Most of us, anyway. :goofygri:

"I wish gravity would make up its stupid mind!" - Rocksteady, from "Sky Turtles"

my chatroom does not allow foul language, caps, harassment, stalking, bad topics.....there is some others too.

Yes, I don't think comparing Krang to Satan is a good idea.

So, your mad because the forum has rules?? Every forum has rules. I don't understand what the problem is.

It seems that there are a lot of ungrateful people around here. You should be thanking Krang and Shredder for this forum. They seem to be getting a lot of crap thrown at them as of late. They go through a lot of hell keeping this place running, including paying for the hosting. Give these guys a break already. They own this forum like they would own a house, and if you were in my house and did not follow my rules I'd ask you to leave or kick you out on your half-moons.

Krang/Shredder, thanks for putting up with us.


DarthRaphael -

the forum would be more chaos if it did not have rules

Yeah, imagine a place where Pwedesai and TheShredder weren't banned

Heaven?

Come again?

I've been to a place where that exactly happened. Some members here may remember the Under Manhattan forums. There were no mods, and no admins present (after Fugitoid sadly disappeared). And yes, Pwdes was a member, and he constantly spammed the forums while fighting/arguing with a bunch of other trolls. I was sad to see the forums get reduced to that state, since they started out with a bunch of amazing people (Mas Resnik, Samantha, Miss Mab, Arctic, and also our very own Kali, HT, Leo656, Brodie, and zRealTokka). We have the right to freedom of speech, but without rules, these forums would go under fast. I've seen it happen.

Believe me, I'm very grateful to Krang and Shredder for creating such an awesome message board. And they're paying for everything out of their own pockets! It's rare to find such a great place to chat (Mikey's forum comes to mind as well). The admins run/own this place, and we should follow the rules in play.

Had I read that post before today, I would not have gotten what you meant.

To whom were you directing your thoughts? I was confused. No one in this thread appears to be mad because the forum has rules.

"What's going on?" - Michaelangelo, from "Shredderville"

*nods* I'm soooo glad Fugitoid came around to shut that site and forum down. In my opinion, that forum turned into a cess pool real fast. I left it, and did not wish to ever look at it again.

I also agree with Shadow's and Kali's intial statements. Free speach is quite alright, if it exists to enrich everyone's conversations. But if all people want to do is speak filth, hurt other people's feelings, deface their name, and fight up and down the thread like mindless idiot's.... what is the POINT in all of that? Nothing.

I also mod for a Yahoo Group mailing list, that basically runs on three simple rules. The biggest one is that no one is allowed to bash or flame anyone or anything. We do allow for the discussion of religion and politics too... but I'll admit there are days I wish I can just say "Shut Up!" all together on that kind of discussion and insist that people just talk about TMNT only. I'm just a mod though. I don't own that list, and I don't have the right to say that. But I can just leave any time I want if the moderating job gets to be too much there.

Which is where I come to make my final point. If members here CAN NOT stand the way we run this fourm, then just leave and go somewhere else. We ain't holding you by gunpoint to stay here. I think it's a total farce to call Krang a dictator in that sense. Most Communist countries don't even allow it's people to leave, or at least, not without putting up a fight.

But, you are free to come and go. You are free to start up your own forum or mailing list elsewhere with your own rule, or lack thereof. You can even make it a private one that only your friends can particpate in. Just don't start a war with this forum in the process. No one wants that either.

"Speak friend, and enter."

Apparently topics are locked now when one person decides to explicitly state the true way he feels (which goes against the way a mod thinks) whilst still minimally following the forum guidelines...*COUGH!*