"Moderate" is being used in two senses:
1. As a noun, the avoidance of excess or extremes, not virulent or
attacking--> in reference to the /tone /of posts to one another (not
necessarily content...we have a right to our opinions)
2. As a verb, to /make /the posts less violent, severe in /tone/--> in
reference to how this can be accomplished and by whom
No one is suggesting a limit on free speech, but I am flagging the idea
that perhaps we could all /agree voluntarily /to moderate the /tone /of
our posts, adopting a spirit of inquiry rather than one of hostility and
reactivity. Ideally, it should be our goal to openly invite others into
conversation rather than alienate them.
[log in to unmask] wrote:
> Freedom of speech is a hallmark of democratic society. It was important
> enough that our founding fathers spelled it out fairly succinctly in the FIRST
> amendment to the Constitution (not somewhere near the end of the amendments). It
> is important because freedom of expression is one of the tools that a
> liberated people can use to prevent oppression and injustice and to assure the
> survival of democracy. It obviously comes with a price tag. Citizens will
> sometimes be exposed to opinions and viewpoints with which they do not agree. But
> it’s a small price to pay for freedom.
>
> On the other hand, people talk about free speech, but fail to recognize that
> freedom of speech does not cover what a private enterprise can and should
> allow.
> In case we’ve all forgotten the first amendment:
> Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or
> prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of
> the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition
> the Government for a redress of grievances.
> Nowhere does it say that freedom of speech is protected in a private,
> non-governmental enterprise. The Supreme Court has generally agreed with this
> theory.
> If this forum is a private enterprise, and not a publicly sponsored
> enterprise, some censorship, or "moderation" as some on this forum like to use in its
> place to try to soften their position, seems to me acceptable. But which is
> it?
> J South
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Assisting Producer of Research
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