Is Blocking Censorship?

by Ugh! Posted 2012/06/20 16:14:51

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	Yes...	19 votes	17%
	No...	66 votes	57%
	Maybe...	20 votes	17%
	Hmmm...	10 votes	9%

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Queen B to ALofRI 2012/06/20 17:02:35

+5
It has always been and always will be right wing because those who own it are right wing. It's their playground, they just let you hang out here.They don't care what your opinion is, but it's all good if it happens to be the same as theirs. But the bottom line is they just want to make money.

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Melizmatic to Queen B 2012/06/20 17:03:33

+4
AMEN!

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Queen B to Melizmatic 2012/06/20 17:07:23

+3

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Melizmatic to Queen B 2012/06/20 17:09:10 (edited)

+2

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Lulu's Mom to Queen B 2012/06/20 17:21:46

+2

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Vennie to Queen B 2012/06/20 17:30:14

+1
Another interesting slant on the question. To date I have not been under the impression that the site itself was "right wing". As near as I can tell all the questions and comments submitted get posted unless the profanity filter kicks in. Extreme right wingers tend to be on the noisier side, confident that their opinions express "patriotism" and that "right makes might". Historically a larger percentage of those who have expressed liberal opinions have been maligned, persecuted, and even killed. Perhaps that's why they are not as noisy. That said, you're probably right about the site wanting to make money, which in itself is not necessarily a bad thing. If it wasn't profitable it wouldn't continue to exist, and all of us would lose this opportunity to say what we think.

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Queen B to Vennie 2012/06/20 19:23:11

+1
Fef and those who own this site are right wing. Check into it. The ads on the site are what makes a profit. Advertisers want to make sure their ads are seen by as many people as possible. Look at the advertisers. Who are they targeting?

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Vennie to ALofRI 2012/06/20 17:20:40

+2
Interesting. I see a great many ultraconservatives posting here and I generally disagree with them. I also don't like it when some of them express unabashed hatred or bigotry. I seriously doubt, however, that I would ever block any of them unless it became too personal and/or scary. If any of them blocked me, who cares? Their eyes and ears were closed to my opinions in the first place. I still have the right to express my opinion here, as you just did. It's kind of like saying that putting your name on the "do not call" list interferes with free speech of advertisers and telemarketers.

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ALofRI to Vennie 2012/06/20 18:00:06

+1
Everything you say is true. I just feel it becomes a gathering point of like minded conservatives, a place where they get the feeling 99% agree with them, (because all others are blocked). That fires them up to a fever pitch and they all start banging out hate questions with the "we can do no wrong" idea, with little disagreement coming from anyone with an opposing argument. Once opposing views are "blocked out" they are winners in their own minds. Just not my idea of how America is supposed to work!

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Foxhoun... to ALofRI 2012/06/20 20:39:38

+1
You said it. They are cowards.

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Jackie ... to ALofRI 2012/06/20 18:28:14

+3
Nope, Censorship is stopping someone from speaking - and Free speech does not mean that everyone must listen - A single person posts a question - they may chose to listen or not but they are not stopping the person from speaking elsewhere hence there is no censorship

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Foxhoun... to ALofRI 2012/06/20 20:37:42

+1
You are so right.

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Melizmatic 2012/06/20 16:50:17

No...

+11
Is not opening your door for an annoying Jehovah's witness "censorship?"

Is turning off your phone to ignore an intrusive caller 'censorship?'

Is walking away from a creepy stranger who's bothering you on the subway "censorship?"

NO.

If people can still make their own posts, and engage other members in conversation, then their freedom of speech isn't being impeded, no matter how much anyone may whine about it.

Not everyone is going to like each other, or want to talk to each other; that's life.

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Lulu's Mom to Melizmatic 2012/06/20 17:23:06

+3

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Vennie to Melizmatic 2012/06/20 17:31:01

+1
Exactly!

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Melizmatic to Vennie 2012/06/20 18:23:05

+1
Seems to me that the people who are most 'offended' by the block feature are the ones who are just upset that they cant pester people who don't want to be bothered with them.

Life is too short to be a 'bugaboo.'

*shrugs

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Jim in SC 2012/06/20 16:48:22

No...

+5
It isn't, because it does not remove the blocked person's ability to get their opinion out. It does restrict them from some venues or some direct contact, but it doesn't censor them. If that is considered censorship, than anybody who avoids a phone call or who ignores an e-mail, or blocks someone from texting them is censoring.

Bottom line is, censorship occurs whey of remove someone's right and all venues of proclaiming something they rightfully can say. Blocking doesn't do that.

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RoyDMercer - IFOTFD 2012/06/20 16:48:09

No...

+8
I like to look at blocking the same as I do the Pizza Hut buffet. If one side of the buffet has pizza that all contains mushroom, I avoid that side because mushrooms gross me out.

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taylord... to RoyDMer... 2012/06/20 20:57:26

+1
But that is your choice. You still have the option, unlike blocking.
I love mushrooms btw.

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RoyDMer... to taylord... 2012/06/20 20:58:27

+1
okay, you can ride to the buffet with me and balance out the other side of the buffet line.

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Queen B 2012/06/20 16:47:09
taylordoesntdeserve 2012/06/20 16:45:15

Yes...

+2
It is a form of censorship because it reduces the material I am able to comment on.

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Chris- Demon of the PHAET 2012/06/20 16:44:27

No...

+3
No.

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mk, Smartass Oracle 2012/06/20 16:41:47

Yes...

+2
Yes it can be in a way. It is certainly immature

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Foxhoun... to mk, Sma... 2012/06/20 20:49:22

+1
It sure is.

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Lily 2012/06/20 16:38:58

No...

+2
When people use the "blocking" option, they've effectively weeded themselves out. Saves me the trouble. However, there is a flip side. There are those who rather reduce every statement to a 2nd grade level and argue. That doesn't do any topic justice.

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☂cinderella.dress.in.yellow☂ 2012/06/20 16:37:58

No...

+2
there's a difference bewteen blocking and censorship
censorship is controling what you say blocking is trying
to stop that person from borthering you whats is blocking is for
people just dramaticly use it for dumb excuses

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wtxwoman 2012/06/20 16:37:36

No...

+4
It's censorship if it is done by an authority, like if SH blocked you from responding to particular people. But, when other members do it, it's simply telling you they don't want anything to do with you.

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Lulu's Mom to wtxwoman 2012/06/20 17:24:17

+1

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Willski 2012/06/20 16:35:47

No...

+6
only if refusing to pick up the phone is, or ignoring someone in person.

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Griegg 2012/06/20 16:35:04

Maybe...

+1
What Rose said.

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Pixie·MzAwesome♠ƤĦĂĔŢ♠ 2012/06/20 16:31:41

Maybe...

+3
blocking somone for not agreeing with you is... blocking because someone is an idiot and will not leave you alone is not

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Jackie ... to Pixie·... 2012/06/20 18:27:13

+1
Nope, Censorship is stopping someone from speaking - and Free speech does not mean that everyone must listen - A single person posts a question - they may chose to listen or not but they are not stopping the person from speaking elsewhere hence there is no censorship

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Foxhoun... to Pixie·... 2012/06/20 20:51:30

+1
i agree. Opinion blockers like to spread lies and they shut off anyone who dares to oppose their opinion.

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Crystal 2012/06/20 16:30:43 (edited)

No...

+3
Blocking is a good thing if you don't want to see someones face anymore. If you don't want to see something no one should be able to force you to look at it. You are not taking away other peoples right to see it .You are making the choice not to see it. Blocking is a great thing.

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Melizmatic to Crystal 2012/06/20 16:51:58

+1

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Jersey Roze ♥Jwon's Cyar'ika ♥ 2012/06/20 16:30:21

Maybe...

+4
Depends on the reason. Blocking due to harassment, no. Blocking because of difference in opinion, oh yeah...

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Jackie ... to Jersey ... 2012/06/20 18:25:10

However, if I do not wish to hear your opinion, I do not have to listen - the posts here are done by a person who can chose not to listen to another for any reason. Free speech does not mean that all must hear anothers view, nothing is stopping the person from speaking else where. Censorship means one is stopped from speaking

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Foxhoun... to Jersey ... 2012/06/20 20:52:28

Yes. Opinion blockers suck.

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TruBluTopaz 2012/06/20 16:29:32

No...

+4
If I don't like what's on a radio or television station, I change the channel. I don't make it impossible for them to broadcast, I just don't listen. It's the same with blocking. There may be people who like those messages, but I don't have to put up with them if I choose not to. Blocking is NOT censorship, because I don't prevent people from expressing themselves in those forums or to those people who desire their comments.

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