Unhappy postings

[browning l]

Originally Posted by Kevin H

"... because I believe in free speech..."

Our local newspaper publisher defines "free speech" thusly:

I have a printing press; I am free to print what I wish to have in my newspaper.

"Free speech" means you may have your printing press and you are free to print what you wish to print."

"Free speech" most definitely does not mean I have to print with my press what you wish me to print.

I supposed that will cause some comments, but I buy into it.

I equate Kevin's board with being his printing press; He can print here what he wishes to, but he is not obligated to print anything he doesn't wish to print. And, the follow-up is plain. If you don't like the way Kevin runs his board, don't come here.

Will this line of thought make his board less popular? Very possibly. I am very familiar with a bulletin board on the site of an American magazine, Shooting Sportsman, to be found at http://bbs.shootingsportsman.com/. The publisher/board editor vigorously edit posts put up there, especially political posts they feel demean people - candidates of the opposite persuasion (yes, they believe candidates of the opposite persuasion to be people; can you imagine that? {Tongue-in-cheek, guys, hold your horses.} or those who do/don't believe in electric dog collars, etc. The result has been the creation of another board at http://notssmbbs.com/index.php, which is roaringly popular, where one can say "whatever you want to say." Note the similarity of the names of the two: one is Shooting Sportsman, or aka as "SSM", while the other is "NOTssm."

In not atypical American style, short shrift is often given complainers. And if one is politically liberal, one posts at one's own risk.