No Kevin, my comments are directly on the mark and your understanding of what a private website is may be a little off the mark. Just because you can type a web address and have free access to something doesn't mean you get free speech. You have no right to free speech here, period. You have no right to an account here, period. Just as I have no right to free speech here, and I have no right to an account here. This website is completely opt-in.Kevin Salter wrote:Forums need members. Without members a forum can't exist, so I think your view is a bit off the mark.
As for free speech isn't that what every one is entitled to ?
Let's not floss and bullshit in this topic and pretend a website is something that it's not. This fantastic website is built by Toby for us to use, we get to use it under a set of guidelines, these guidelines are not a democracy, they are rules decided by Toby the owner and operator of this website.
We are allowed to discuss, use, interact and partake on this website within the guidelines, a framework which stipulates to what extent we can interact, partake and discuss. This website is not a "foundation" with a democratic board, it is not a government / tax payer funded facility for us to use, it is a private website where we all agreed to the rules on signup when we "opted" to join. Therefor by holding an account on this website you agree to abide by those rules.
The great thing about the internet is that you have choice, and nobody is holding anyone hostage here. People don't like this website, fine go elsewhere, partake elsewhere. For those of us that enjoy it here, enjoy the flow of information here, and really don't have an issue with the guidelines we will stay around to enjoy this website.
This website is no different to a house, where if Toby was hosting a party we would all be invited to join. The party would be quite dull without people, as a forum is quite dull without members. However we remain in the house at the discretion of the host, not the guests. If a particular guest is running around tormenting other guests then naturally the host will remove them from the party.
This website is under private ownership, just like the Flexifoil forum. Here's a post from a Moderator on Flexifoil.
I hope that clears thing up a little for you Kevin, and you understand that having a membership here means yourself, myself and everybody else needs to abide by the guidelines set out by Toby. We don't make those rules, we don't get a choice in those, we simply accept those guidelines by having an account here.Just a moderators point of view here, but if you don't like the way we moderate the forums, leave.
You don't have any 'right' of free speech here, this is an entirely voluntary 'opt in' system where you chose to read and post, not a public area where your rights to free speech are protected. On the other hand, the expressed and actual right reserved by Flexifoil to "remove, edit, move or close any thread for any reason without notice" is legally binding, and by using these forums you accept that.
So, the next time you wonder why a thread criticising Flexifoil's pricing, products, customer service or forum moderation is deleted, don't complain about it, because you have no grounds for complaint.
Hope that's all clear for everyone. Happy posting.
Regards,
.Joel