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Bye bye, bile? Websites try to nix nasty comments
Associated Press ^ | Dec 26, 2013 10:34 AM (ET) | BARBARA ORTUTAY

Posted on 12/26/2013 8:38:09 AM PST by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: academicbias; achillwind; bigbrother; censorship; dissentispatriotic; downthememoryhole; orwelliannightmare; pravdamedia; publicdebate; thoughtcrime
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To: Star Traveler

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”.


21 posted on 12/26/2013 8:59:34 AM PST by DesertRhino (I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office.)
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To: DJ MacWoW

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


22 posted on 12/26/2013 9:00:21 AM PST by BookmanTheJanitor
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To: DJ MacWoW

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


23 posted on 12/26/2013 9:00:39 AM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: Star Traveler

You always defend the liberal POV so very carefully.


24 posted on 12/26/2013 9:02:10 AM PST by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: BookmanTheJanitor

Yes. Facts and truth need not apply.


25 posted on 12/26/2013 9:03:37 AM PST by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: DJ MacWoW

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.


26 posted on 12/26/2013 9:04:08 AM PST by DesertRhino (I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office.)
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To: DesertRhino

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.


27 posted on 12/26/2013 9:04:56 AM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: DJ MacWoW

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 ...


28 posted on 12/26/2013 9:08:05 AM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: DesertRhino
This new speech restraint is a one way street.

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

29 posted on 12/26/2013 9:08:20 AM PST by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: DJ MacWoW
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.
30 posted on 12/26/2013 9:09:32 AM PST by LostInBayport (When there are more people riding in the cart than there are pulling it, the cart stops moving...)
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To: Star Traveler

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


31 posted on 12/26/2013 9:09:44 AM PST by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: Star Traveler

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.


32 posted on 12/26/2013 9:09:58 AM PST by DesertRhino (I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office.)
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To: Star Traveler
We don’t allow profanity or violent threats here, either.

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

33 posted on 12/26/2013 9:10:22 AM PST by Lazamataz (Early 2009 to 7/21/2013 - RIP my little girl Cathy. You were the best cat ever. You will be missed.)
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To: BookmanTheJanitor

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.


34 posted on 12/26/2013 9:12:03 AM PST by DesertRhino (I was standing with a rifle, waiting for soviet paratroopers, but communists just ran for office.)
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To: LostInBayport

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


35 posted on 12/26/2013 9:12:11 AM PST by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: DJ MacWoW

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.


36 posted on 12/26/2013 9:13:00 AM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: Star Traveler

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


37 posted on 12/26/2013 9:14:07 AM PST by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
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To: Lazamataz

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


38 posted on 12/26/2013 9:14:32 AM PST by Star Traveler (Remember to keep the Messiah of Israel in the One-World Government that we look forward to coming)
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To: DJ MacWoW

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”.


39 posted on 12/26/2013 9:15:04 AM PST by rusty schucklefurd
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To: Star Traveler

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.


40 posted on 12/26/2013 9:16:39 AM PST by Foundahardheadedwoman (God don't have a statute of limitations)
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