The Crowded Theater

Yes, UNCENSORED! BBS is a truly uncensored BBS.  You can say what you want, however unpopular, and you don't have to worry about it getting deleted because someone doesn't particularly agree with your view of the universe.

What that doesn't mean is that you can log on and act however you please.  If you're going to be abusive, destructive, or threatening, or if you're going to be overly hostile for a prolonged period of time, you're going to get dealt with.  Usually we simply move inappropriate content to the Trashcan> room, but sometimes we're forced to take disciplinary action against a problem user.

I'm fully of the opinion that this does not constitute censorship. Yet every time we have to deal with some moron who turns the BBS into a war zone for no good reason, someone starts screaming "censorship!" and/or "hypocrisy!" WRONG. Your right to free speech does not include a right to vandalize someone else's online community.

Supreme Court justice Oliver Wendell Holmes noted in the landmark 1919 Shenck vs. US case that shouting "Fire!" in a crowded theater does not constitute free speech. It's the same thing here.  For the "free speech BBS" concept to work, everyone has to have a basic level of respect for each other.  Free speech on a BBS is about sharing opinions, putting ideas out on the table, and generally keeping the conversation going. It is, at times, intellectually stimulating, humorous, chaotic, deeply moving, and/or thought provoking. When people start getting deliberately disruptive, it ruins the open forum environment.

In the past, some sysops have gotten so frustrated with this that they've just pulled the plugs on their boards altogether.  But seeing most people using and enjoying UNCENSORED! the way I had intended keeps me motivated to continue it.  I truly enjoy making this service available to you.  It consumes a tremendous amount of my personal time, money, and effort, but seeing the online community come together and enjoy each other's company makes it well worth it.  Just try to remember that you are a guest on any BBS you happen to visit.  If you don't act as such, then out you go, just like at someone's house.  On the other hand, if you treat others with respect, you'll receive respect as well, and you'll find that we really want to hear what you have to say. Return to UNCENSORED! home page

This page was last modified on 2007-Mar-13. UNCENSORED! is proudly run on the Citadel messaging platform.