"The Editor should not fan flames" Topic

sjwalker38. I don't think the anti-Semitic posts and comments are not even political in any way but just out and out racist.

Robert, I agree with you – but while political comment is specifically banned in the FAQs, I don't see any specific prohibition on racism (and it's certainly not being enforced if it is). Most right-thinking people might assume it's not necessary to spell it out, but you know how some posters choose to interprete the 'rules' round here.

But let's keep it simple, why should any of us put up with racists here, when we'd rightly ostracise them from our local gaming group?

"No, do not restrict forum speech" ?

Really?

When normally the option is "No, do not make this a rule"?

Why isn't the other option "Yes, prevent spreading hatred" in that case?

You're showing editorial bias here and not in a good way.

Bill; take some advice here. Supporting holocaust denial is not a popular position outside a very minority social group. A large proportion of the wargaming world is European and over here it ranges from socially unacceptable to illegal with actual prisons sentences imposed.

If you want to turn the world's most popular wargames site into the US' most popular wargames site, you just make steam down this heading and you'll achieve it.

+1 KatieL

Though I think the vast majority of American gamers here have exactly the same reaction to us Europeans.

Maybe change KatieL's last para to " if you want to turn the world's most popular wargames site into the racists and anti-Semites most popular site…"

Supporting holocaust denial is not a popular position outside a very minority social group.

I think you don't understand the principle of free speech.

One of the problems with defending free speech is you often have to defend people that you find to be outrageous and unpleasant and disgusting.
- Salman Rushdie

Bill, you know perfectly well that forum rules have nothing to do with "freedom of speech." TMP has a number of rules on what people can and can't post, which most consider reasonable, and certainly you don't seem to have a problem with. So why is *this* a violation of some vital "freedom of speech" in your eyes…?

Agreed, good point.

I think you don't understand the principle of free speech.

You mean if you are ok for it to be said then it can be posted, but if not then it can't?

If you must play the free speech card then do it properly and let it all go to hell, otherwise people might just think it's a card to play when it suits given recent happenings here.

If you must play the free speech card then do it properly and let it all go to hell, otherwise people might just think it's a card to play when it suits given recent happenings here.

There is no such thing as absolutely free speech, even in the United States. I think the goal on a private forum should be to have the maximum freedom we can have.

So why is *this* a violation of some vital "freedom of speech" in your eyes…?

I feel strongly that it is better to let these views be expressed so they can be debated and refuted.

Bill the forum is your house or business. You are free to let anybody in it, free to let any discussion go on. But do not feel weird if people leave your house or business because of the raving Nazi who is yelling sieq hiel and is let there.

Freedom of Speech is all nice and great, but better applied to the state, than in interpersonal realtionships. No person, except from those who hold the legitimate power of life and death, is required to tolerate in their private life ideas and words that they dislike.

"If you want to turn the world's most popular wargames site into the US' most popular wargames site, you just make steam down this heading and you'll achieve it."

i like that! as if holocaust denial is somehow popular in the usa – trust me, we take it seriously too. many of the survivors came to the usa and a lot of us have friends or even family for whom the holocaust is part of their legacy.

+2 KatieL

But do not feel weird if people leave your house or business because of the raving Nazi who is yelling sieq hiel and is let there.

Seems a moot point, given the way the voting is going…