Whitby Shores Community Forums

I have been noticing that a lot of posts are being censored/deleted lately.  This really worries me as to the freedom to express opinions, concerns and thought.  People can be rude, ignorant, and obnoxious but that doesn't mean they should be silenced.  I realize there are rules to the forum but the policing happening here lately is really starting to shape things into certain perspectives. It is a slippery slope.

There was a discussion going on about real estate agents in the community and one in particular was not being talked about favourably. The entire thread was adjusted.

Kitty,

If you don't like how I run this forum then stop using it.

I run this site as a volunteer and the board and the site is privately owned, run and paid for by myself which gives me the right to restrict posts and posters.

Thank you to all who came to my defense.

This is not my 'real' job so I don't have time to give warnings and explain the rules. If I think a post violates the rules or is likely to encourage not great behaviour (as we've witnessed in the past) , I delete it.

PS....

Actually,  as I re-read this thread, I find it hard to believe that someone is actually complaining that I've removed insulting, rude, and, in some cases, potentially libelous comments made by board members about other fellow board members or community members.  If mandating a respectful and polite public forum is considered censorship, then I guess this forum will continue to (unapolegetically) slide down that slippery slope....

I am just getting concerned about freedom of speech. Would you have deleted the real estate thread if agents other than ones that live in our area were being discussed? I mean there was constructive criticism as well as personal opinion. Why isn't that allowed? Honest feedback about first impressions is important, especially in real estate.

Anyways, I am just pointing it out. I mean we need some more interesting discussion and at least I have done that. As for those who disagree with my point, good for you! We are all entitled to our opinions!

P.S. It was not a complaint, it was an observation. If it were a complaint it would have been something along the lines of 'how dare the administrator of this site delete our posts....' But it was that I have a concern. Anyways, enough said.

Kitty,

There was more going on with that real estate thread than you realize, but to answer your question, yes, I would have deleted it if it was anyone being atttacked because for some bizarre reason, I'd like to avoid a lawsuit.

BTW, don't you think it's a bit over the top to be bringing the topic of censorship and free speech in over a forum thread that involved people insulting realtors? What's with that? If in the future, you feel the need to really slam someone (or should I say, give your feedback), do it on your own forum, or send an email and save me the grief of having to delete it. :-P

BTW, are you a realtor?

Yes, we're all entitled to our opinions so long as expressing them doesn't infringe on anyone else's freedoms or on my time.

No I am not a realtor.

And where have I slammed anyone on this forum?

Wow, we certainly have a lot to say on how the board is run and the proper protocol for moderation.

While I have all of your attention, I thought it would be a good time to see if any of you would like to share your expertise and volunteer your time to assist with this forum's moderation? You may find this hard to believe, but I've not had one person volunteer to help out in any way. I have, however, had my share of input on how to run things. Funny how that goes....

Before you rush out to apply, just a note to let you know that this is not your typical cyberspace board with thousands of people who are from wherever and you don't care because you'll never meet them.

You actually live next to the people who are posting on this board, and you run into them at the park with their kids, or when walking, or at the grocery store, so if you're up to people knowing who you are, and where you live when they have an issue with what's been posted about them, then please send me a PM to apply. If you can look a fellow neighbour in the face and tell them they shouldn't be concerned that rude/insulting things are being written about them or their business in cyberspace, then I'd like to hear from you because personally, I have great difficulty in doing this and would love to pass this role onto someone else.

For those of you on the forum who know me personally, you know that I really don't mind if someone or everyone wants to find another venue to talk about WhitbyShores that suits them better and their desire for free speech.

As much as I like talking with my neighbours, debating and reading what people have to say, closing down the forum would give me a bit more free time. I really just started this site to rally support in the community to help in the campaign I was co-leading with Peter to get a school for this community. Now that I have achieved what I set out to do, the original purpose for the forum is gone.

Well, Kitty, your thread actually resulted in something positive, apart from a lively discussion, we now have two new volunteers who will help out with forum moderation!

I'll announce them in another post once we have everything set up.