Puritanism!

[Palustris]

   I used to enjoy this site for its free and open exchange of information, opinions and humour.  I have not always agreed with the correctness of the information, the opinions expressed nor has the 'humour always appealed to my tastes. But I accept them as examples of the differences in peoples' attitudes and beliefs.  However, of late there seems to have crept in the sort of 'control freakery' which seems to be prevalent in general in society at present. We appear to be heading for the sort of Puritan political correctness of the 1600's. I for one do not need self appointed  guardians of my morals. I am more than capable of deciding for myself what images I wish to view and what material I wish to read. If I do not like what is being posted then I do not read it. Nowhere on this site can I find an obligation on my part to read every posting. I act as my own censor. I do not need anyone to do it for me.
    The only person who has any power of control on here is the Administrator and owner. If Dan does make any objections to a posting or the misplacing of a thread or the inanity of some comments then that is HIS right and his alone. So far there have been only a few very unpleasant incidents which have been removed by him.
    It would be a sad day for all of us if this site descended into the sort of narrow minded, strictly contolled, moderated sites which some posters seem to want .
   Since one of  the hardest thing in life to do, is to allow someone else to hold an opinion different from one's own, I have no doubt that this posting will ruffle a few feathers. Tough!
             Just try to remember that this is AMUSEMENT not LIFE.   
   

[Palustris]

[Roy Bham UK]

Well said.
I have never been very good with words and have had to bite my tongue only a few times in the short while I have been here, I know that if I were to express my views with what little English literacy I have learned it would upset a lot of peeps, thankfully Eric you have saved me that ordeal.
But I will just stick my neck out and say to 'all' why not use the “Report to Moderator Button” and let the appointed man “Dan” deal with all the upsets, there aren’t that many.

[sandersj89]

Eric

I may be the reason for your post, following on from my post on the Face behind a Name thread in the gallery.

My reasoning for that post was there I know there a number of members who access this site from work. In today’s world there is a huge focus on internet content accessed from a company’s assets. The rules are fairly generic but the common theme is that anything approaching pornography, soft or hard, must not be view using a company asset. If you do so it is normally an instant dismal. We have all heard of such events in the press. (How you define pornography is a huge issue though, what one person thinks is rude might be artistic in another’s eyes!)

I work for a large household name, in an IT environment. I hear constant tales of such problems. Clicking on that thread and seeing a couple of the recent images could be construed to be viewing inappropriate content. Not intentionally, however this could still lead to a disciplinary action.

I simply wanted to protect other users here from getting into trouble. If the pictures are not upsetting anyone they should simply be posted in the appropriate forum, Watershed, a forum I do not access from work “just in case”.

Like you I do not like the “Nanny State” effect that seems to be common place and I have my own views on censorship and what I want to view or not view. I am an adult and wish to make my own choices. But when at work I have to abide by their rules and a simply mistake can lead to unfortunate circumstances for members here.

Just my thoughts and opinion.

Now, that is enough serious thoughts for me today, back to gardening!

Jerry

[Palustris]

Sorry, Jerry, I should have added that my posting was NOT aimed at any one particular poster or posting. It was just a general observation. And, yes I agree that there may have been an error of judgement on the part of some recent posters, but I stand by my opinion, as you have every right to stand by yours. The whole point is that we can agree to differ. We do not have to resort to unpleasantness, but can treat each other with respect.

[sandersj89]

The whole point is that we can agree to differ. We do not have to resort to unpleasantness, but can treat each other with respect.

Exactly, life would be very boring if we all agreed all the time!

Jerry

[rosebud]

PALUSTRIS, I could not agree more with your post .
There are people who have taken it upon themselves to police the boards,if you dare to disagree with anything.
As you say DAN is the man and the only boss we have a few people have mentioned this to each other over the last couple of months .
It is not very friendly to have clicks forming ,its such a nice board to belong to. You said everything lots of people wanted to say thank you.

[Spurdie]

 ???  ???  ??? Huh? Have I missed something? Is something going on? Are some people having a ding dong?  ;D I used to go on the Beeb's board and if anyone expressed an opinion, you could be sure that someone else would accuse them of being something or other, till it got to the point where it wasn't worth posting at all in case there was a backlash! I'm all for everyone having their own opinions, and how will we know what they are unless they are allowed to express them?
Is this what this post is about or have I missed the point?  ???

[ina]

What brought this on?

[Palustris]

I see that one of the people at whom this posting was directed has not read it!

[Spurdie]

Ina, read the Face Behind A Name thread in the Gallery ...
Has everyone calmed down yet?  ;D

[ina]

Holland is still is shock after Theo van Gogh, writer and movie maker was murdered last week by a religious fanatic who doesn't believe in freedom of speech and decided to silence him forever.
Theo said and wrote things that many people didn't like but that's allowed in this country.

I just found out this thread was about postings of flowerbaby_uk and Peter H, all this time I had just scanned over them and not bothered to read them. I just did and found them to be a waste of time and space.

Just as these two are allowed to post what they want within the boundaries set by the moderator of this forum, so are the people who don't like it (even puritans) free to post their opinion. I see nothing wrong with that even tho' I don't like either and it jeopardizes the friendliness of this forum if we let it. It's the price we pay for freedom of speech and it works both ways.

Unlike Theo, I'll live with the consequences of this statement: I'm glad flowerbaby_uk and Peter H left this forum and I wish they had taken their junk on this board with them. To me, it was a bunch of exhibitionistic nonsense.

[Palustris]

My original posting was not in fact about the posting which you mention. It was and still is, about the desire of some people to control the content of, and where messages are posted. There are those who seem to want to take on themselves the authority to decide what I am allowed to view. The murder of your countryman is a good example of this taken to extremes. The reactions of some members to various postings have not been expressions of opinions, which is all well and good, rather they have descended into personal abuse and threats.
There is a major difference between members choosing to leave because their opinions are disagreed with and members leaving because they are threatened with violence.

[tim]

I'm SORRY, Eric - and all the others - I had just not got around to it.

My only reason for commenting was that the site was created, I believe, in a serious vein, as a means of establishing better relationships. I believe it has done that. I do not see it as puritanic to suggest that the play-station should be used for games & that 'faces' should be kept as a reference to real people.

No unpleasantness was intended. = Tim

[busy_lizzie]

Thought I would put my two penny worth in.  PeterH and flowerbaby did post inappropriately, my perception of it was they both made an error of judgement, though I don't think anything was probably meant by it, more a joke that went wrong.  

I too would worry about anyone being threatened and abused by what they had posted.  This is not that sort of Board.  I have been here more than a year now, and I feel I know and like the people who post on it, so I can't believe any one of them would send abusive mail.  I can only assume the people that did the posting of abuse were non contributors and I deplore their actions.

I am sorry about any upsets that have been caused, lets not change the tone of the Board and not make the incident more than it is - a silly misjudgement!  Christmas is coming lets be nice to each other.   :) busy_lizzie  

[rosebud]

I must speak up for myself here . I was sent 2 very nasty e mails when i dared to voice my opinion about a joke on the watershed, we have free speech but some people disagree if one uses it.
I did ignore itat the time although it was very upsetting and hurtful.
and thanks to a good friend of mine i stayed. But i would name and shame if it happened again, also bring DAN the man into the picture.

Now lets forget all this unpleasantness and look forward to good old father christmas.  BE HAPPY  love Rosebud :) ;) :D.

[ina]

I don't mean to drag this subject on and on but I would like to get one more thing off my chest if you don't mind.

Can I safely say that we all agree that threats and abuse are not permitted?
Why oh why are we protecting those who cross that line by not naming names? If we know who they are, we can all ignore them to death.

(I sugest any abusive pm's be quoted here, this will id the sender, to verify it's not some flamer making things up to distrupt the board)

[Mimi]

Can I just put one comment in to all of this.  I agree with most of what has already been said.  There is no need at all for any nasty or abusive pms.All our postings have a little area at the bottom which says Report to Moderator.  I suggest that this is used more often if people feel offended by a posting. I can only agree with you Ina.. Why are the senders of these threats and abuse not being named???It is sad when a misjudgment causes people to leave this great site.  

[rosebud]

 I hope you do not cast asperions on my honesty Ina in not naming .
What would be the point after 3mths anyway.
The watershed comments were about the tampax jokes which i said i did not like and certain people took umbridge TOUGH i still stand by that comment .
Now for gods sake lets all shut up about it and talk about something interesting before we all go mad.
HEY ITS CHRISTMAS SOON    ENJOY!!!
PEACE AND FRIENDSHIP AMONG  US ALL IS GREAT. LOOK FORWARDS NOT BACKWARDS. :) ;) :D

[Wicker]

The internet is a powerful tool which should enhance all our lives allowing us to venture out to meet people while preserving our anonimity if that is what we choose.  In the same way the PM facility is there to enable us to exchange more personal information with willing "partners" and it is sickening that it is being abused by people who are not confident enough in themselves to post their viewpoints in the open boards.

As individuals we cannot possibly agree with or find amusing everything that is posted on these boards and it is our personal choice to either ignore or post an opinion in reply but it is flagrant cowardice to send abusive PMs on a matter which is already under open discussion.  Surely anyone with the courage of their convictions would be happy to post openly.  I strongly support the right to express an opinion and in "free speech" but it must be done openly with acceptance of the consequences - be that the intervention of the moderator who must have the ultimate control - bearing in mind. what appears to have happened on the Beeb Boards

Probably this is just a rehash of all the sense that has been spoken by others before (Eric, Ina etc) but I keep starting to post and backing out ::)  All over a silly thoughtless act of showing off by two people who never realised the consequences - maybe they ahve rejoined and are laughing at the state we are all getting in :-\

Oh Oh Rosebud - I must ahve been infull swing whe you psoted so didn't see it - but I'll leave this on anway!! :-* :-*

[rosebud]

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