I'll keep this brief, since people have covered most of the issues.
Yes, freedom of speech is not absolute. It is not absolute here, nor anywhere. However, sciforums has and always will be exceedingly tolerant, presuming simple rules of conduct.
Primarily, messages should be on topic and relevant. Otherwise, we might as well eliminate the forums, categories, & threads and make one large pit where everyone can shout and hope to be heard above the noise. If this is not in the interests of the community, speak your opinion now.
Secondly, responses in a thread should be productive -- that is to say they should contain something of intelligent value. Messages that are unjustifiably insulting or entirely tangential belong elsewhere (Free Thoughts or a new thread). This is partly a consequence of the medium -- threads persist forever, and unproductive messages are of no value. This is also fairly standard social etiquette. If this is not in the interests of the community, speak your opinion now.
Relevancy and productivity are not just social etiquette in any situation, they are fundamentals in the philosophy of communication and linguistics. The fact that this medium is impersonal does not mean these principals should be abandoned.
These prior two rules of conduct apply mostly to the topic-oriented forums. Free Thoughts is the striking exception where almost anything goes and where there is no moderator. I do not recall ever moderating a thread in Free Thoughts.
Now, in the particular instance of Banshee, I have received but one message regarding her conduct (from Chagur). If others feel strongly about this, they should have sufficient self-certitude to come to me bearing rational arguments. The fact that this has not happened, and the fact that people like (Q) think they are justified in dictating terms to Banshee without even consulting me suggests that this is more of a personal attack than anything else.
No one but me is justified in telling Banshee (or any other moderator) what she can or should do. However, everyone is justified in telling me.
Yes, freedom of speech is not absolute. It is not absolute here, nor anywhere. However, sciforums has and always will be exceedingly tolerant, presuming simple rules of conduct.
Primarily, messages should be on topic and relevant. Otherwise, we might as well eliminate the forums, categories, & threads and make one large pit where everyone can shout and hope to be heard above the noise. If this is not in the interests of the community, speak your opinion now.
Secondly, responses in a thread should be productive -- that is to say they should contain something of intelligent value. Messages that are unjustifiably insulting or entirely tangential belong elsewhere (Free Thoughts or a new thread). This is partly a consequence of the medium -- threads persist forever, and unproductive messages are of no value. This is also fairly standard social etiquette. If this is not in the interests of the community, speak your opinion now.
Relevancy and productivity are not just social etiquette in any situation, they are fundamentals in the philosophy of communication and linguistics. The fact that this medium is impersonal does not mean these principals should be abandoned.
These prior two rules of conduct apply mostly to the topic-oriented forums. Free Thoughts is the striking exception where almost anything goes and where there is no moderator. I do not recall ever moderating a thread in Free Thoughts.
Now, in the particular instance of Banshee, I have received but one message regarding her conduct (from Chagur). If others feel strongly about this, they should have sufficient self-certitude to come to me bearing rational arguments. The fact that this has not happened, and the fact that people like (Q) think they are justified in dictating terms to Banshee without even consulting me suggests that this is more of a personal attack than anything else.
No one but me is justified in telling Banshee (or any other moderator) what she can or should do. However, everyone is justified in telling me.