You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means. (part 1 of no doubt many)

[sparkindarkness]

A drive by mini rant (mini because there are so many parts to this rant) about free speech because it’s so tiresome how this poor principle is used and abused by every clown about.

The most recent aberration - I haven’t posted in your discussion forum for a long time because I no longer wish to be part of it. I respect that it is a totally free and unmoderated discussion forum - and applaud it. In the past it has allowed for many long, controversial and deep arguments. It has also hosted some truly legendary flame wars.

But I have chosen to leave and have stayed away the past few months because the endless, unmitigated and extreme homophobia on the forum is just giving me an ulcer. It’s not worth my time or energy to expose myself to the filth and to continually try to debate against people who are so toxically opposed to everything I am. Staying on the forum but avoiding any thread that discussing homosexuality would be dishonest - and besides the hate crew follows any openly gay poster to any thread. We had a discussion on spanking children and I was told that I could have no opinion since my parents “had obviously failed.” Honestly the homophobes spend more time thinking about gay sex than I do!

Look, we all have a limited amount of time every day. I have just decided that this forum is not where I want to spend mine. That is all and that is what I said to my friends on the site privately to explain my absence.

So WHY are some people trying to characterise my leaving as an attack on free speech? Seriously? I didn’t threaten you, didn’t try to get anyone silenced, I didn’t try to shut the board down. I. Just. Left.

I didn’t even post a big flounce post saying “I’m leaving because of the bigots” or even say something like “if you don’t silence the bigots, I’m not coming back.” I didn’t even tell the mod I was leaving at all! I have done nothing to try to change the unmoderated nature of the board

Free speech doesn’t mean I have to read it. Free speech doesn’t mean I have to take part in it. Free speech doesn’t mean I have to visit a web site or log in or reply. You can spout your drivel - but my refusal to read it is not censorship - really.

Comments

[brownkitty.livejournal.com]

Why does your leaving not count as free speech?

Or am I doing that thing where I ask what seems to be a reasonable question and the answer turns out to be something like "People are just like that"?

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Because I'm not listening to them. Which means I'm OPPRESSING them! Awww, the poor lickle bigots!

[suryaofvulcan.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes.

Just because they're free to speak doesn't mean you - or anyone - is obliged to listen. Poor little bigots - can't be as much fun shouting in an empty room.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Everyone shunning them and ignoring them - damn it can be SO HARD being a bigot! Will no-one think of the bigots!

[polarbee.livejournal.com]

Wait...what? I can't even begin to understand how they arrived at that thought location.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

I believe the reasoning can only be achieved by having a HUGE ENTITLEMENT complex

I.e. people should be forced to listen to you

[helbling.livejournal.com]

Wait, wait - someone is honestly trying to argue that you not reading their tripe is an impediment of free speech?

Surely then, they are impeding other's free speech, by not reading everything in the world ever written? They're imeding mine! Unless they have a categorical knowledge of everything in my blog, they're censoring me!!!

...

I can't actually believe the stupidity behind this...

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

But they're SPESHUL. And everyone's treating them like arseholes for some reason! And it's not fair that we're IGNORING their speshulness

[janetmiles.livejournal.com]

That is all and that is what I said to my friends on the site privately to explain my absence.

So WHY are some people trying to characterise my leaving as an attack on free speech? Seriously? I didn’t threaten you, didn’t try to get anyone silenced, I didn’t try to shut the board down. I. Just. Left.

I just had an AHA! moment. I suspect that the "attack on free speech" may not have been your leaving, but rather your telling others (a) that you left, and (b) why you left. Or I could be wrong.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Could be - but I don't think those others spread the word beyond saying "oh, he's not going to answer you, he left."

[tinimaus.livejournal.com]

Erm, it's free speech, not enforced listening. You can say what you want, doesn't mean anyone has to be interested or lend you an ear, let alone agree with you.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Apparently their right to spout off like a howler monkey becomes an obligation for me to read the crap. Sad really

[harald387.livejournal.com]

See, in social venues that I moderate (and there have been a few, including my WoW guild), you do NOT have a right to free speech. You agree to abide by the rules (which include 'no bigotry') when you join. I find this takes some people by surprise. Then they try to pull 'free speech rights' on me.

Then I kickban them and their IP.

It's good to be the mod.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Cookie Dalek!

90% of the ones I frequent are moderated, but this has a clear "we're not going to interfere, you have been warned" policy so everyone knows what they're getting into

Ah and that's another thing I have to cover "free speech - doesn't apply in my back garden/my space etc"

It's good to be the Mod :)

[soappuppy.livejournal.com]

Clearly, it's just no fun screaming at you if you're not listening.

Gah!

*patpat*

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

No-one listens to the bigots any more :(

[klgaffney.livejournal.com]

*beats. head. slowly. on. desk.*

so these guys only know of one tool, and then still fail to use it properly? dude, retarded monkeys can do better.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

I was too busy pointing at the computer and giggling to headdesk :)

[logophilos.livejournal.com]

"my refusal to read it is not censorship "

No, it's self-defence. Why *should* you go through the pain of reading homophobic drivel when you know full well it won't change their tiny minds.

Oh hon, I wish the people who make you feel bad would all die in a fire, because you're absolutely one of the very nicest and most decent people I know and you don't deserve any of this shit at all.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Exactly. It's just not good for my mental well being to SEEK OUT crap like this. They're not listening so talking to them is pointless, so why present myself as a puniching bag?

Thanke you - few people deserve this shit, but I have a thick skin and a wicked sense of humour which helps so much when dealing with morons. They can't hurt me if I can laugh at them

[thisdaydreamer.livejournal.com]

Silence is also speech.

And, while they have the right to say whatever they want to say, they don not have the right to force anyone to listen.

How is that complicated?

I think they are afraid that it will get to the point where no one is paying any attention to their idiocy. We should be so lucky.

[sparkindarkness.livejournal.com]

Agreed. Whether my silence will send a message or not I don't know - but I refuse to bne part of it any longer