Thank you dancinginchains. for taking the time to respond to this.

Veracity and others - We do not make a habit, nor do we want to censor the free speech of anyone however there are limits. These limits are outlined in the rules of the forum. Most people would rather have a moderated community than not and there are many examples of unmoderated forums on the internet. Most of them are filled with spam and ongoing arguments between members. It often times doesn't take much to get an argument going when it's coming from behind a keyboard. So the less of this we have, the better.

There are some people who join forums just to argue. They think it's fun and amusing. It's very easy to do but it's just not in line with the direction or mission of this forum.

The most important philosophy of all applying to the forum and communication like this is the philosophy of social interaction and human relations. It is also the most difficult but in the end can be the most rewarding. When people can communicate philosophy without beating each other up with words or insults, that in and of itself is a big step towards the understanding our fellow man.

What a joy it is to be here today and in these times with the Internet and the freedom to communicate with others from all over the world while learning to communicate peacefully. The walls and barriers that have separated countries, religions, philosophies and communication for centuries have been lifted by the Internet. What a great thing... let's not take it for granted.

So, the censorship you speak of isn't censorship at all. It's moderation and it's in line with the mission statement and rules of the forum.

Before signing up in any community it's important to read the rules and the mission statement of the forum. That alone will characterize what happens inside the forum. If you don't agree with the mission statement or the rules, then it's probably not a good idea to join. Find the forum that suits you and a forum that you can get involved in.

Anyway, no sense rambling, this has been taken a little off topic... thank all the members here who do recognize the moderators for what they do. While none of us are perfect and at times we will all make bad decisions, we are doing the best we can to keep this community both civil and enjoyable.

Just a guess here, but every society is to some extent civil. We tend to use that word like we do the word Christian. We apply both without a lot of thought, so when we apply Christian to non Christians either for insult or encouragement, we forget all the multitude of meanings the word conveyes including anything but Christian. It is one thing to offer civilility as some mark of achievement, but by my book it is easier to paint civility and culture, as civility often means, -with a very dark shade. Primitives where often far more adapt at reaching agreement that the civilized who must often accept in peace what ever is handed to them by the powerful. Primitives more often recognized the universal need for justice, and set about finding how to concieve of it in a particualr instance, and achieve it. We are too often peaceful without being civil, and depend upon force to punish violence while feeding violence and resentment with injustice.

We have to learn what all primitives knew, and that is how to find consensus, and make a deal, and live up to it. The further we can get away from the trappings of civility, of law, of courts, of lawyers, of prison, -all of which are forms that have come to inhibit rather than facilitate social relationships- the better. We have to learn how to talk to each other again and for that purpose, nothing is more relevant than these forums. So, moderators may be essential, and if it is their lz it is theirs to police. It should not be policed with a view to shuting up badmouths so much as trying to open mouths rusted closed, and giving all the sense that their opinions count, and they do.