You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. (part 1 of no doubt many)
A drive by mini rant (mini because there are so many parts to this rant) about free speech because it’s so tiresome how this poor principle is used and abused by every clown about.
The most recent aberration - I haven’t posted in your discussion forum for a long time because I no longer wish to be part of it. I respect that it is a totally free and unmoderated discussion forum - and applaud it. In the past it has allowed for many long, controversial and deep arguments. It has also hosted some truly legendary flame wars.
But I have chosen to leave and have stayed away the past few months because the endless, unmitigated and extreme homophobia on the forum is just giving me an ulcer. It’s not worth my time or energy to expose myself to the filth and to continually try to debate against people who are so toxically opposed to everything I am. Staying on the forum but avoiding any thread that discussing homosexuality would be dishonest - and besides the hate crew follows any openly gay poster to any thread. We had a discussion on spanking children and I was told that I could have no opinion since my parents “had obviously failed.” Honestly the homophobes spend more time thinking about gay sex than I do!
Look, we all have a limited amount of time every day. I have just decided that this forum is not where I want to spend mine. That is all and that is what I said to my friends on the site privately to explain my absence.
So WHY are some people trying to characterise my leaving as an attack on free speech? Seriously? I didn’t threaten you, didn’t try to get anyone silenced, I didn’t try to shut the board down. I. Just. Left.
I didn’t even post a big flounce post saying “I’m leaving because of the bigots” or even say something like “if you don’t silence the bigots, I’m not coming back.” I didn’t even tell the mod I was leaving at all! I have done nothing to try to change the unmoderated nature of the board
Free speech doesn’t mean I have to read it. Free speech doesn’t mean I have to take part in it. Free speech doesn’t mean I have to visit a web site or log in or reply. You can spout your drivel - but my refusal to read it is not censorship - really.
The most recent aberration - I haven’t posted in your discussion forum for a long time because I no longer wish to be part of it. I respect that it is a totally free and unmoderated discussion forum - and applaud it. In the past it has allowed for many long, controversial and deep arguments. It has also hosted some truly legendary flame wars.
But I have chosen to leave and have stayed away the past few months because the endless, unmitigated and extreme homophobia on the forum is just giving me an ulcer. It’s not worth my time or energy to expose myself to the filth and to continually try to debate against people who are so toxically opposed to everything I am. Staying on the forum but avoiding any thread that discussing homosexuality would be dishonest - and besides the hate crew follows any openly gay poster to any thread. We had a discussion on spanking children and I was told that I could have no opinion since my parents “had obviously failed.” Honestly the homophobes spend more time thinking about gay sex than I do!
Look, we all have a limited amount of time every day. I have just decided that this forum is not where I want to spend mine. That is all and that is what I said to my friends on the site privately to explain my absence.
So WHY are some people trying to characterise my leaving as an attack on free speech? Seriously? I didn’t threaten you, didn’t try to get anyone silenced, I didn’t try to shut the board down. I. Just. Left.
I didn’t even post a big flounce post saying “I’m leaving because of the bigots” or even say something like “if you don’t silence the bigots, I’m not coming back.” I didn’t even tell the mod I was leaving at all! I have done nothing to try to change the unmoderated nature of the board
Free speech doesn’t mean I have to read it. Free speech doesn’t mean I have to take part in it. Free speech doesn’t mean I have to visit a web site or log in or reply. You can spout your drivel - but my refusal to read it is not censorship - really.