There is no free speech here

**Dhepee** · 11-06-2006, 22:00

I've been on the org for awhile, including a stint as a glorious assistant moderator in the Backroom, with scars to prove it.

People have a catalog of arguments when their posts get edited or deleted and they get disciplined, one of the most popular is "I have the freedom of speech." In most cases they are referring to the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution. As a side note, people in the Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany, and France have invoked the 1st Amendment to mean freedom of speech in their country; so it's fair to say that that Amendment's standards are ubiquitous.

Okay, here's the contoversial part. The First Amendment guarantee only applies to state action. In other words, if a private party, such as the org, deletes your post, edits it or disciplines you for what you said, the freedom of speech doesn't apply. A private entity, such as the org, may limit speech however it wants, period.

That means that when the glorious moderators edit you post, delete it and/or discipline you, it isn't a free speech issue. The way free speech works is simple, if a private entity censors your speech you are free to leave and start your own private entity and say whatever you want.

Note to the glorious mods. I posted this here because it relates to how people react when they are edited and to how the org rules work. Feel free to move, edit, or delete this post.

**MSB** · 11-06-2006, 22:04

Of course there isn't: the Org is a communist forum with onlyone rule: Do as admin says or the Gestapo will get you!

**Kralizec** · 11-06-2006, 22:05

Note to the glorious mods. I posted this here because it relates to how people react when they are edited and to how the org rules work. Feel free to move, edit, or delete this post.

I think it would be a good idea to make this a sticky thread.

**MSB** · 11-06-2006, 22:09

Originally Posted by Kralizec

I think it would be a good idea to make this a sticky thread.

Seconded.

**Ser Clegane** · 11-06-2006, 22:23

Welcome back, Dhepee

**Caius** · 11-06-2006, 22:28

Tomas Pwnias must see this.
And i tooo think this must be stickfied

**TosaInu** · 11-06-2006, 22:29

Hello Dhepee,

http://www.totalwar.org/cgi-bin/Rules.shtml

We have the ability to remove objectionable messages and we will make every effort to do so, within a reasonable time frame, if we determine that removal is necessary.
..

The staff has also the ability to edit all messages by all users, but we rarely use it in order to avoid misunderstandings as to the identity of the originator of any given text.

Unfortunately, rarely isn't that rare anymore these days. Perhaps it happens more that the rules/good manners are ignored?

I have removed objectionable language from posts too. It's not rare that I then get a complaint that I should leave it there and politely, humbly and kindly beg the author to edit it. Yes right, keep swearing/rants/insults up for days until the hothead cooled down to please edit it.

**Andres** · 11-06-2006, 23:43

Poor guy, it must be hard being at the top...

Hoge bomen vangen veel wind.

Just a pity people forget to appreciate what you guys are doing (all of that on a voluntary basis). And off course, nobody is perfect, so some of the complaints may be just (in which case I suppose you'll gradely (did I spell that correct?) admit it), but still, people should show more respect for all the effort you guys put into this community, all of that for free (or am I totally wrong here and do you gain astronomic (or even obscene) amounts of money for this?).

**Epistolary Richard** · 11-06-2006, 23:49

Additionally, please note that the Org is essentially the 'publisher' of your comments. How far do you think I would get saying that a book publisher was restricting my freedom of speech because he refused to publish my 5,000 page novel describing my exploration of navel lint?

**The Wizard** · 11-07-2006, 22:08

He speaks the truth. A forum just can't be run as no democracy. The Internets (

) are the last bastion of despotism in Western society. Be considerate. Protect the despot!

**Papewaio** · 11-07-2006, 22:33

Due to the laws of entropy there is no such thing as free speech.

**The Stranger** · 11-14-2006, 19:22

its like a hit to complain these days... ive got around 30 warnings and maybe like 2 werent correct... stop whining if you dont like it nobody stops you to leave

**Avicenna** · 11-14-2006, 23:00

The Gestapo is fascist.

+0

**Adrian II** · 11-15-2006, 01:12

No, there is no free speech on the .org, and for a reason. Deal with it. Stop bothering admins and moderators who put an inordinate amount of time and energy into making this board arguably the best of its kind. And don't you dare compare the likes of TosaInu or Mithrandir to the Gestapo again -- you are lucky you weren't banned for it. Now shoo.

**ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88** · 11-15-2006, 16:37

Agreed Adrian.... I also got at least 10-12 warnings in the Many Months I been here... and 2 or 3 proably was wrong.... But it like, stop whining. There really no Free Speech in Real Life or here. You say somelike that Tib, for example, then you proably going to get banned, there you go..