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?...........