State of the AzB forums
- Thread starter azhousepro
- Start date
AzHousePro said:
Mike, firstly congratulations on the job you have done in the past and in advance for your future efforts. I personally think you have done an excellent job as moderator.
I was amazed to find you are the Billiards Digest webmaster, as I consider this site to be their primary competition, especially with Inside Pool in disarray, and I am amazed they would allow you to do both. It has always appeared to me that the Billiards Digest managment have no idea the power and scope of the Internet, but I'm sure you probably cannot comment on this, unless you are going to tell us AZB and CCB are getting merged next week!
The main issue I have with posts here is usually offensive language which seems to have gotten very bad recently, and it is worth noting there are no parental controls or "Adult content" warnings on this site. My feeling is this should be tightly reined in, but that is just my opinion. FWIW I have only bothered using the "Bad Post alert" button once in the last 2 years.
drivermaker
Banned
AuntyDan said:
Are you referring to general "swear words" or the 1-900 sex forum?
Sweet Marissa
www.Bella-Muse.com
drivermaker said:
The button he pushed was prolly on either one of my posts or Aaron's lol
T
Timberly
Guest
I think this post bears repeating on this thread...
The really sad part about this aside from the obvious is that there's a few teenagers on here and I've yet to see them conduct themselves in a manner less than adult. Whereas some of the "adults" have acted like immature middle school kids and now Mike has to come babysit adults while the "kids" are tending to themselves just fine.Eydie Romano said:
I simply wanted to mention a few things about censorship and the first amendment since I see it brought up all over the place lately.
Everyone here should understand that this is NOT a public place. Although this forum is provided to the general public, it is not public in nature. Mike owns this site which makes it private property. In a sense, it's the same as getting together in Mike's livingroom to discuss pool. If Mike asks you to leave, you leave. If he says you can stay, you can stay.
The First Amendment and censorship applies to this site only in the sense that the Government cannot pass laws regarding how Mike chooses to express himself. Simply put: The government cannot govern this site's content. However, the Constitution does not apply to how Mike chooses to govern the site. If Mike proclaims himself to be God Almighty and proceeds to ban everyone who isn't from the state of Arizona, he may do so. If he proceeds to ban everyone who uses a word greater than 14 letters, he may do so (and he really should). If he decides to ban anyone who likes Michael Jackson, he may do so. It's his site. It's his livingroom. We're guests and there's nothing more to it.
Censorship cases involve the government dictating what can or cannot be written/said/published in the media. The government cannot tell The New York Times to not print an article (unless of course, there is a National Security issue). Mike can delete all day if he chooses. He can set up rules about what you are allowed to talk about. He can even tell you that you must start each post with "Simon says". He doesn't. He pretty much gives us full-rein. He simply asks that we behave as adults. Don't kid yourself. You have no government protection here. You cannot claim your rights have been violated. If you want to exercise freedom of speech, make a sign and march in the park.
Everyone here should understand that this is NOT a public place. Although this forum is provided to the general public, it is not public in nature. Mike owns this site which makes it private property. In a sense, it's the same as getting together in Mike's livingroom to discuss pool. If Mike asks you to leave, you leave. If he says you can stay, you can stay.
The First Amendment and censorship applies to this site only in the sense that the Government cannot pass laws regarding how Mike chooses to express himself. Simply put: The government cannot govern this site's content. However, the Constitution does not apply to how Mike chooses to govern the site. If Mike proclaims himself to be God Almighty and proceeds to ban everyone who isn't from the state of Arizona, he may do so. If he proceeds to ban everyone who uses a word greater than 14 letters, he may do so (and he really should). If he decides to ban anyone who likes Michael Jackson, he may do so. It's his site. It's his livingroom. We're guests and there's nothing more to it.
Censorship cases involve the government dictating what can or cannot be written/said/published in the media. The government cannot tell The New York Times to not print an article (unless of course, there is a National Security issue). Mike can delete all day if he chooses. He can set up rules about what you are allowed to talk about. He can even tell you that you must start each post with "Simon says". He doesn't. He pretty much gives us full-rein. He simply asks that we behave as adults. Don't kid yourself. You have no government protection here. You cannot claim your rights have been violated. If you want to exercise freedom of speech, make a sign and march in the park.
drivermaker
Banned
Sweet Marissa said:
Funny how the guilty ALWAYS return to the scene of the crime....
I don't think that's what has sunk in with you though, everybody wasn't having so called "fun" like you and Aaron and they definitely WEREN'T LOL.
Fact is...t'weren't funny at all. Comprende?
Sweet Marissa
www.Bella-Muse.com
Well, have you noticed we've stopped? 
You sure have been talking about asses a lot, though!
You sure have been talking about asses a lot, though!
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Splinterhands
Banned
Jude Rosenstock said:
Ok, that is a great real-world description. But do you really think he would operate his forum like this? When someone metions first amendment, they probably mean they want a forum modeled after a democratic government. If Mike "Mussolini Man" were to moderate the way you describe, I would definitely not be allowed here and your "nine-ball" poems would be banned. People should be allowed to speak freely as long as they don't cross the line, and that line is up to Mike to decide. This is a dictatorship, isn't it?
I wish that everyone here would follow my good example. I easily get along with everyone, because I'm non-confrontational... Smorgass "The Angel" Bored
The biggest difference between BD and this site is that they decide what happens over there. I don't ban anyone without running it by them first. (Well, except for a certain Fast one who I was instructed to ban anytime he pops up over there)
They are primarily in the magazine business and they are very good at what they do. They don't really see me as competition since I don't do a mag and I don't see them as competition in the web side of things. You will even see one of the sites using one of the other's stories on occasion.
Mike
They are primarily in the magazine business and they are very good at what they do. They don't really see me as competition since I don't do a mag and I don't see them as competition in the web side of things. You will even see one of the sites using one of the other's stories on occasion.
Mike
AuntyDan said:
Now, that is funny.
Mike
Mike
Smorgass Bored said:
I love you being here Marissa, no matter what anyone says! Take it in stride 
Rock on.
Rock on.
Jude Rosenstock said:
that is a bit too cut and dried. you are stating a fact, for sure, but what is your point when you know acting like "god almighty" is a sure road to ruin and that mike will never cross that line.
i think everyone is aware of whose room they're sitting in.
Sweet Marissa
www.Bella-Muse.com
Deanna Michelle said:I love you being here Marissa, no matter what anyone says! Take it in stride
Rock on.
Don't you mean, "Hooold on for one more daaay" ... ?
Splinterhands said:
Democracy does not equal free speech nor does a dictatorship automatically mean censorship. If you would like to compare it to a government model, then yes, this is a dictatorship. So is your job, your mother's house and MacDonald's.
"People should be allowed to speak freely as long as they don't cross the line"
This is what we refer to as a contradiction. There is "free" and then there are "lines". No, you're not free here. If you want to be free, get your own site. If you want to participate in Mike's place, you must obey Mike's rules. That's pretty much it.
Splinterhands said:
You haven't developed much of a feel for the atmosphere and friendship most of the participants of this forum share.
You've managed to make as much controversy as possible and haven't made any attempts to "fit in".
From my POV, it looks like you've been here before and were banned. I hope I'm wrong about that, but that's what I think.
It's very hard to believe that it is all just a big misunderstanding and that you've been misjudged just because you're socially clumsy and your words are just misinterpreted.
Not plausible in my book.
bruin70 said:
No Bruin, I think YOU are aware but I don't think everyone is. A lot of people have brought up free-speech and censorship and that simply shows that they don't understand The Constitution and how it applies to private property.
My comment about "God Almighty" was sarcasm and not meant to be taken literally.
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