Bye bye, bile? Websites try to nix nasty comments

Associated Press ^ | Dec 26, 2013 10:34 AM (ET) | BARBARA ORTUTAY

[DJ MacWoW]

NEW YORK (AP) - Mix blatant bigotry with poor spelling. Add a dash of ALL CAPS. Top it off with a violent threat. And there you have it: A recipe for the worst of online comments, scourge of the Internet.

Blame anonymity, blame politicians, blame human nature. But a growing number of websites are reining in the Wild West of online commentary. Companies including Google and the Huffington Post are trying everything from deploying moderators to forcing people to use their real names in order to restore civil discourse. Some sites, such as Popular Science, are banning comments altogether.

[DesertRhino]

Why is that a good thing? The profane and vulgar simply reveal themselves as asses. But the bans actually accomplish little of value. Mostly they are used to enforce the orthodoxy on any given site.

The “cure” is worse than the “disease”.

[BookmanTheJanitor]

only comments like ...”All hail Dear Leader” will be accepted.

[Star Traveler]

There is NO SUCH THING as free speech on an Internet forum. Anyone who thinks so is simply deluded.

[DJ MacWoW]

You always defend the liberal POV so very carefully.

[DJ MacWoW]

Yes. Facts and truth need not apply.

[DesertRhino]

Exactly. And I notice also that the sites never seem to have the stomach to censor moslems, gays, deliberate insults to Christians, etc.

This new speech restraint is a one way street.

[Star Traveler]

I have a very small “issue page” on Facebook and the rules there don’t allow profanity of any kind, because it’s a family-language page and the kids in the family should not be subjected to that, while Reading about other major issues!

And secondly there is absolutely no allowance of illegal threats to anyone, no matter who it is. Something that is violent and done in the course of the law, and thus legally so, is allowed.

[Star Traveler]

I consider that to be conservative ... No profanity and no threats of violence - which are Free Republic rules ... and I fully support Free Republic.

I also fully support Freedom of Speech as enshrined in the US Constitution, but many people don’t seem to know the first thing about it and this they actually think there is “free speech” on Internet forums ... LOL ...

[DJ MacWoW]

This new speech restraint is a one way street.

It always has been. They're just more open about it now.

[LostInBayport]

Some sites, such as Popular Science, are banning comments altogether.

Without the comments, how will I learn the facts deliberately omitted by the authors of many "news" articles, such as the race of a suspect?

And many other sites I won't bother visiting without the comments. On many of them, the comments and resulting debates are the draw for their humor and information. The sites are getting quality content for free and are going to ban it? That A&E 'slit our own throat' syndrome is spreading.

[DJ MacWoW]

This isn’t about any of that. Are you that oblivious or disingenuous................

[DesertRhino]

When someone proudly supports free speech ONLY in the narrowest first amendment sense, I know I am dealing with someone who loves opportunities to suppress voices. :-)

The answer to speech you don’t like is more speech, not less.

[Lazamataz]

We don’t allow profanity or violent threats here, either.

****ing shut the **** up, you **** **** **** ********er or I will **** you hard.

[DesertRhino]

Exactly right. When the only comments allowed are cheerleading, then we are mislead into thinking that is what the readers think. Editing for insults, rudeness, etc, is doing nothing but creating propaganda.

[DJ MacWoW]

This is meant to limit facts and ideas. The sites that do so will suffer.

[Star Traveler]

ALL Internet forums control what is said - even this one. The only issue is “What are their controls.”

For example, we on Free Republic don’t allow the promotion of the liberal left ideas. If someone persists in that - they will be banned.

And, of course, we have rules in place for keeping things civil. So, what people have to recognize is that there is no free speech on Internet forums. All have defined limits to the types of discussions they will allow.

[DJ MacWoW]

Are you that oblivious or disingenuous................

[Star Traveler]

Now, I think you were involved in that Admin discussion where they said that even blanked out profanity and threats would are banned ... LOL ...

[rusty schucklefurd]

I admit that I too think that some people just post things to incite a reaction. They are annoying, but which is worse? Dealing with the idiots or having everything you say censored and controlled?

I say, even idiots deserve to have their say so that everyone can freely speak their minds. When an idiot speaks, it simply is confirmed to everyone that this person is a moron.

But, as others have already pointed out, the liberal press hates anyone disagreeing with them or mocking them. Somehow the leftwing vitriol is ignored and only the “right” is “hateful”.

[Foundahardheadedwoman]

Wish I knew where the rule book is, it would make my life simpler on FR. I do moderate myself, if I said what I really think oft times it would be x rated.

I have a question sometimes when I am writing a post I notice a sentence below my post which says in red Loose Lips Sink Ships. At first I thought the moderator is certainly patriotic, then I concluded that I was being warned that I was replying to a government troll, lastly I took it as a warning that I was approaching an iceberg. If anyone knows what this means please clue me in. Thanks.