Censorship and SB..how far are we going to take this???

[El Orans]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

I've removed a few dozen posts that had no business being here.

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[tc]

Actually that post wasn't intended as an insult.

My point was, join the forces, go and serve in Iraq and then come tell us what you are fighting for....
Military personal don't tell civilians things they tell other military personnel...including, in fact especially, their most loved ones.

This is not meant to be insulting, just a hint from a former soldier.
This will also be my last post on this.

Take Care

Sorry, the paper bag over your head pretty much destroys any credibility you would have had if you were posting under your own user name. I'm sure you have some reason why you think your need to post anonymously but to me anonymous too often equates to people making any false claim they feel like because they know there will be no repercussions. Except people like me wasting time yelling at a face on a paper bag.

I'm down at Camp Pendleton twice a week most weeks talking to my son and the other Marines he serves with and the guys that have been overseas are generally very forthcoming about their experiences.

Saying it's your last post on this is meaningless since any user on the board can pick right up where you left off and post with that same user name.

You take care too, please use your own user name next time you post!

Tom

 

[dlndavid]

Removed due to some of the posts that were removed. My post lost complete context.

true...

 

[onfloat]

But, it does go to show that maybe we are to young to be left to our own devices.

 

[El Orans]

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A ScubaBoard Staff Message...

Anonymous Posting has been disabled.

If you wish to make a statement anonymously, just send me a PM or send an email to support@scubaboard.com.

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[Cave Diver]

Awwww, never mind

 

[D_B]

.... I don't think this thread is about the Surface Interval, but the SI is a good example of the attitude needed to make a Mild West area work. People post as friends in there, even if they are taking jabs and joking around. I post in there and I don't worry about 2 dozen people flaming me because they don't agree with my opinion or they disapprove of my post. For example, there was a discussion about reels a few threads ago- several people threw down their 2 cents about reels- divers with different backgrounds, different training, and different opinions. It was civil and didn't blow up into "My instructor can beat up your instructor." In my opinion, the threads in there much more respectful of differing opinions.

I think the SI forum is the best part of Scubaboard- it's a smaller, more perfect retreat from the big board.

Civility .. Friends talking to friends .. Discussions that can be had that don't degenerate into hissyfits and name calling ... That is what is sometimes lacking in the Board "out here" at times ... anyone here for any length of time will pick up on it and I wonder how many do not post their questions because of it.
And that is what is good about the Surface Interval .. I can ask, and feel free to ask without reservation, any questions, to my friends there, most of whom have vastly more diving experience than me, some of whom are very much DIR, and get thoughtful, insightful answers without any judgmental stuff.
Yep, sometimes the Surface Interval posters "spill" out to other threads with hijacks , but I think there is something more important that comes from there too .. how to talk to each other

DB

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

My personal opinion, coming from a non-us resident, is that often politics are allowed on here, but only if they run with the current US Government policy. It's just little quips and remarks here and there but when one replies to these, the post is wiped and told it is outside the TOS.

Just my point of view...take for what its worth.

You noticed ... huh?

Sometimes I feel like this board is hosted by Fox News Network ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[Doc Intrepid]

I think the anon poster was created with good intentions in mind but isnt going to work.
I also support Jep in his bid to loosen the moderation here.
I dont particularly care if bikini models are posted here or not but I would like to be able to discuss politics and other non-diving topics here.

My personal opinion, coming from a non-us resident, is that often politics are allowed on here, but only if they run with the current US Government policy. It's just little quips and remarks here and there but when one replies to these, the post is wiped and told it is outside the TOS.

Just my point of view...take for what its worth.

Azza, just a note -

First, I enjoy your posts because you have the experience to back up what you say. Your posts and observations on diving are valuable to the board, and I hope you stick around to the extent you can stand it here.

Second, with respect, those posts and exchanges that are political in nature are by no means tied to US government policy. El Orans, for example, is a dedicated mod who does not live in the US, nor does he have any inroad to US government policy. Amitywife is another example.

While I admit it may sound entirely utopian, the guiding principle is 'civility', or if you must 'being nice'.

If two posters can exchange viewpoints or conduct a dialog with political overtones in a civil manner, which basically means disagreeing perhaps but in an adult, civil way - e.g. being nice - that dialog will likely be allowed to exist on the board. One example that comes to mind is the Creationism versus Darwinism Thread, not political (directly), but controversial nonetheless.

Any dialog that spirals down to the point that two primates on opposing branches are screeching and flinging monkey poop at each other is going to get canned.

Often (but not always) political threads reach that point even faster than threads about DIR or censorship - which is why political threads get pulled pretty fast under most circumstances.

But if posters can fundamentally remain civil, even political discussions have been allowed to remain ongoing.

Whether a political thread gets yanked or not has nothing to do with US government policy. It has to do with board policy - we're not going to have a lot of nasty infighting, vulgar insults, and deliberately rude or mean dialog on SB. There are plenty of creative ways of telling someone they are mistaken without calling them (individually, specifically) a f&$%)($%& moron.

Thats where the line is drawn. Not in accordance with US government policy.

FWIW.

 

[fisheyeview]

Okay, so the Anonymous Poster is gone. That’s a shame. I thought it was a good idea. It allowed people to post without the fear of possible retribution spilling beyond this thread.

It has been a long help principle here in the US to have secret ballets in elections. People can vote for who ever they want without fear.

It is unfortunate that this option ended up being abused to the point that it no longer worked.

I think that it is great that people on SB have different points of view, and different opinions. If everyone was the same you would all be boring. Everyone’s point of view is to some degree filtered through the prism of their own beliefs. An example of this would be my view of some of the political posts here. As a conservative I view things through that prism. At times I have felt that the board leans more to the left, and is run by CNN.

I have received PMs from MODs asking me to tone things down. I have received PMs from MODs informing me that threads I have started have been removed. I have had posts deleted, or been told to modify them. In other words I have been censored. But you know what. In most cases the MODs were right and did the right thing for the board.

I have also had civil discussions with other members that had different views on the world than I did. Global Warming comes to mind. But it did not degenerate into a name calling free for all. I did not agree with a lot of what was said, but I believe the people doing the posting did. I also believe in their right to their beliefs.

I am not advocating a broad loosening of the TOS across the Board. I think that the Management and the MODs are doing a great job. With this said I would like to see some loosening of the TOS inside the Opt-In forums. I’m not asking for a free fire zone where anything goes. I am merely seeking a bit more freedom. Regardless of the whether this happens or not I will still be in the SI and the MOF, and probably still pushing the envelope in there.