Forum Censorship

I think it's quite important to differentiate between censorship and moderation.

Censorship is the control of information and ideas circulated. Moderation is the process of eliminating or lessening extremes.

When I delete a post, or a string of posts, on this forum my aim in moderation - usually due to a breach of the forum and website rules. Arguments that get personal and vulgar postings are by far the most common reason that I have to moderate posts.

The Y&Y forum is not another SA, although I believe that has its place too - it's something I read and have posted on occasionally. I also of course got the standard SA welcome when I first posted!

For reference, on average I have to moderate on the forum once a month and I have to delete spam postings about once a week.

Assuming we all agree that spam should be removed, moderating the forum on average once a month does seem pretty, well, moderate. Maybe the majority of people who post on here accept the feel of the forum and don't feel the need to push the boundaries. If that makes it more like a country pub than a wild west saloon bar, so be it. I'm not sure we would get more people posting by allowing more bad natured banter. Unlike many of the bike sites or whatever that have bigger audience, most dinghies have their own forums, so many won't bother with a general one. Perhaps.

I think your attitude to this all depends on what you are looking for in the forum.

If you want an environment where people share ideas and knowledge and are respectful of each other then I think you should expect a bit of moderation for those who can’t play by those standards.

I find it odd that people will behave on a forum in a way that they wouldn’t in “real life”.

If you walked into a pub and started abusing strangers if you didn’t agree with their opinions you’d pretty soon get straightened out and perhaps end up barred from the pub.

If you want a forum where some hide behind false names and abuse each other in the name of “humour” then just let it run, but I am not interested in that ... I personally post under my own name, I don’t hide behind a forum name as I never post anything I would not be happy to say to anyone’s face. Perhaps because I post using my own name makes my view of what is acceptable less than those who choose to hide behind a forum name.

I am sad that most of the women have been driven off this forum and a number of good sailors who used to post no longer do so; we even had the comments of and Olympic medallist & AC Skipper who was hounded off ... without these people where is the value of a forum for sharing knowledge?

Banter between friends can operate at different levels than between strangers, I know people have different boundaries on such matters but I think if you post as if the person was standing in front of you, you will not go far wrong.

Rick I behave on here as I do in real life. So yes I'd call you a cock to
your face. Because Rick, it's a friendly bit of banter, that actually says
you are bigger than the point you were holding on to. If you want to
take it the wrong way there's not a lot I can do about it.

The real problem with this forum is the sensitivity of the users.

Originally posted by Jack Sparrow The real problem with this forum is the sensitivity of the users.

So let me get this right Daryl. Is this basically what you're saying, "I'm fine, it's everybody else who has the problem"?