A poll about censorship, then

[Orrex]

[lumberjack_jeff]

1. Of course it is. It is the definition of censorship.

It is part of our charter.

It is also the main reason that the site is popular and effective. A site for "Democratic values and progressive ideals" can't function if it hosts discussions promoting the polar opposite.

[WeDidIt]

2. Contradictory poll

It is censorship, but it has nothing to do with free speech.

Speech is free from governmental intervention. DU is not a governmental body, ergo DU censoring certain topics has absolutely nothing to do with free speech.

Tehrefore, I did not vote in your poll becuase the correct answer becomes implied as making a false statement true.

[MercutioATC]

3. Bingo!

Too many people incorrectly use "censorship" as the opposite of "free speech".

[Warpy]

7. I spotted the same flaw.

A private website is permitted to limit content.

The government is not.

[lumberjack_jeff]

12. Only governments can censor?

When someone comes to my house, they don't use the "r" word.

I'm fine with calling that censorship.

[WeDidIt]

13. No, only governments can deny free speech. Private entities do not have that power

Private entitites are free to censor as they choose and it has nothing to do with free speech.

[Orrex]

14. I have revised the poll's subject line per your suggestion

[Tuesday Afternoon]

9. +1 and

is this what one would call a push poll?

[KharmaTrain]

4. Censorship? More Like Attention Grabbing...

I also am bypassing this poll as I see a lot of discussion here...almost every topic under the sun is discussed. It's when it turns into a flame war that mods step in and I'm grateful when they do.

Many of us do our own censorship and editing here...avoiding threads of topics that either one feels is ireelevant or vanity. Look at other discussion boards if you want to see censorship. Yes, some posts get scotched here, but generally because it's designed to inflame.

Most absurd is how people feel that if their posts get bumped from a web page that DU is becoming some authoritarian hell. Sheesh.

[BlooInBloo]

5. "Disallow"? BWAHAHAHAA!

[slackmaster]

6. Of course it's not censorship - DU is a BUSINESS, not a government entity

It provides discussion forums for FREE with optional additional services at cost, and sells advertising space. If you don't like what is said or not allowed to be said here, you are free to go and say or not say whatever you want somewhere else.

I hope that clears up the concept.

[MercutioATC]

8. It IS "censorship"...it's just not a violation of "free speech".

...for the reason you posted.

[Laelth]

10. Hard to answer.

DU is not the government, so it is free to censor people at will. When DU censors posts and people (and it regularly does), there's nothing unconstitutional about that.

I don't like the unrec feature, but it's not improper or unconstitutional in any way that I can see.

:dem:

-Laelth

[jwirr]

11. When I came to DU I was looking for Democrats not trolls.

[elocs]

15. DU is a privately owned forum that is open to the public.

I may invite people into my house, but that doesn't give them the right to say and do whatever they like. In my house I make the rules, the same thing goes for here at DU.