Do american's like censorship?

[TheVisitors]

I was not really sure where to post this, so if I'm in the wrong place... Please forgive me.

This was debated on a few communities I belong to and I thought I would see how Offtopicz viewed this....

Recently a few sites in which I am a member of, have relaxed their rules and allowed more open minded options, thoughts, and ideals. Overall I think this was a good thing, allowing people to better communicate their true attentions and not having to worry about an over powered staff coming in and locking their threads or deleting their post.

But a few members noticed something odd on each one of those communities... I, myself even noticed it and was all little confused by it.

All The American members started to visit less and more people from Europe, South America, Africa, and Australia started to pick up. This lead everyone a little puzzled.

America after all uses all it's "might" to endorse freedom of speech and equal rights. So why would it's citizens be turned off from such a thing?!

 

[itsmeJonB]

We care about order and a pleasant community not censorship per se
This isn't a breeding ground for anon, this is board for people to share ideas and discussion and even make friends

 

[porterjack]

Puzzling for sure

 

[Aries]

We care about order and a pleasant community not censorship per se
This isn't a breeding ground for anon, this is board for people to share ideas and discussion and even make friends

I agree. I come to forums to have fun, for a few laughs and make some friends that you normally wouldn't have a chance to meet in person.

 

[HK]

It'd be interesting to see if there is any correlation between geographical position and style of debate.

It probably depends on what subjects are prevalent as well. Debate covers a wide range of topics after all.

 

[TheVisitors]

I think 1 of them was a debate forum

But the other 3 were just general chit chat.

It was interesting that on all 4 sites, the results seem to be the same.

Most of the American members left and everyone else stayed. It was just kind of an odd and unexpected thing. When most people think of America, you remember the values they preach. It's kind of odd to see them remove themselves from those values and only stick around when there is a strong will of "arm of the law" feeling.

 

[Francis]

I was not really sure where to post this, so if I'm in the wrong place... Please forgive me.

This was debated on a few communities I belong to and I thought I would see how Offtopicz viewed this....

Recently a few sites in which I am a member of, have relaxed their rules and allowed more open minded options, thoughts, and ideals. Overall I think this was a good thing, allowing people to better communicate their true attentions and not having to worry about an over powered staff coming in and locking their threads or deleting their post.

But a few members noticed something odd on each one of those communities... I, myself even noticed it and was all little confused by it.

All The American members started to visit less and more people from Europe, South America, Africa, and Australia started to pick up. This lead everyone a little puzzled.

America after all uses all it's "might" to endorse freedom of speech and equal rights. So why would it's citizens be turned off from such a thing?!

Classify relaxed rules ?

Meaning more discussion on Gay Rights, Sexuality, Abortion Death Penalty
or
More rights to abuse other posters, less rules in the Forum, more trolls ?

How were the two intermixed.. So if more liberal thoughts were permitted such as Gay Rights, was bashing not tolerated ?

 

[Tim]

America after all uses all it's "might" to endorse freedom of speech and equal rights. So why would it's citizens be turned off from such a thing?!

Here is where most people get it wrong when it comes to freedom of speech.

Here in the US our freedom of speech is ONLY protected from abuse by the government. So there is no such thing as freedom of speech on a privately owned forum like this, or in your workplace, or at your local bar, or any privately owned business.
This owner of this forum can censor anything and everything. They can prevent certain topics from being discussed and it won't be infringing on anyone's rights.

Like I said, most people don't even understand what freedom of speech means in this country and throw the term around where it has no business.

 

[hart]

I'm wondering what prompted you to write a title that is bound to strike American's wrong? Would you like a title stating Does your Citizenship Like Restriction? Why did you post this? What is your motive?

 

[porterjack]

I'm wondering what prompted you to write a title that is bound to strike American's wrong? Would you like a title stating Does your Citizenship Like Restriction? Why did you post this? What is your motive?

i would guess a bit of anti US sabre rattling

 

[Niamh]

Well, I'm joined two forums, this one and one that has mainly British posters (I'm Irish btw) and i can honestly say this one is alot less censored then the British one

 

[rback33]

As a member of many forums with international membership, I was not the least bit offended by the title. Intrigued, yes. I am in the camp of wanting to know exactly what dynamics were allowed to change. I think any combination of things can happen. Europeans and Americans tend to have different ways of debating things and forming conclusions. Cultural differences abound. I hope I don't offend him by using him as an example, but I can see how Peter could rub Americans the wrong way. He's steadfast in his opinions and vigorously defends them. Americans also have a bad name in the rest of the world for thinking they are better and smarter than everyone else. A loosening of the rules might have opened them up to shots their skin was not thick enough to take. I think it mostly comes down to interpretation and cultural differences. I have been doing this long enough to know that Peter is not trying to offend, he's just defending his position in his way. Not everyone is mature enough to handle true adult debate not matter their age.

Note: I can edit this as needed

 

[Mystic]

...not to mention the size of these other forums vs this one....

every forum has its cliques from different parts of the world and each have their own view points. The US ppl on the other forums you speak of may have been from a different culture, not just US.

Also, you'll find our humour vs their humour sometimes is not understood and goes completely over the US persons head, so if in fact these other forums lost members it is very likely due to comments that would be considered insulting and rude to US people.

So it comes down to understanding and tolerance of culture and language and not censorship. People tend to grab hold of the words "free-speech" and take that to mean they can say and do anything they like with ill regard to others. Most people are VERY ignorant as to exactly what the 'rules and manners' are to free-speech.

I am not American and have had to learn over many years of dealing with them online and in RL, to be more delicate with them as they are not as thick skinned as the rest of us. This is not an insult to them, it is an understanding that they are on the defense all the time because of fingers being pointed their way(media and how the rest of us view them). ...such as this thread is doing.

 

[Unicorn Guild]

Utterly random fact regarding American censorship, but if I'm not mistaken songs such as Panic at the Disco - I Write Sins Not Tragedies have the word "God" censored out but not a word like "Whore" when they're played on the radio or TV.

It seems a bit odd to me, especially considering the fact that (as the OP said) they're very pro-freedom of speech.

YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCDB_2WSmTY

Edit: Sorry, I'm not able to post just the link, it's insisting on being embedded.

 

[Peter Parka]

Mazhur? Is that you? :24: