CENSORSHIP - Paul Wheaton requested

Jason Hernandez wrote:
And the rest of us would not know that if you had not told us. I really do think that a thoughtful reply, such as this one that you have written to Henry Coulder, is more constructive than the two apple cores and two thumbs down that his post also got. Because this tells him -- and the rest of us -- something useful about what was wrong with it. Now, if his post had just been deleted, no need, because the rest of us would not see it; but given that it remains here, I for one find it helpful to see an explanation of how it was problematic. Sometimes, when I see a post with an apple core, I am perplexed trying to figure out the reason. Especially since I was not privy to any Purple Moosage communications with whomever wrote it.

I've gotten thumbs down and apple cores. They hurt, they really do. And the not knowing why is terribly demoralizing. I equate them with middle fingers from passing motorists. Somebody was upset but the details are never going to be known. Maybe I took a wrong turn and need to get off that road.
Getting deleted by Paul would be the equivalent of hitting the highway rumble-strip. A rude awakening to tell you that you've reached the edge of the roadway and that you need to be more cautious. It's certainly uncomfortable to experience but the fault is almost certainly one's own.

thumbs down and apple cores.  Yep they hurt.
Any chance you ventured into the cider press?

It's all in the name - a great place to chew up excess apples.  

r ranson wrote:thumbs down and apple cores.  Yep they hurt.
Any chance you ventured into the cider press?

It's all in the name - a great place to chew up excess apples.  

I did. It seemed like a good idea at the time and I thought it'd be okay but I got beat up and mugged. I'm lucky I got out with any apples at all.

I guess I should say thanks to you for your work. This place is pretty darned cool and I understand that you're pretty busy making it so. Great work!

Thanks.

Yeh, I try to stay out of there as much as I can.  But I'm an apple whore - I love my apples!

Even Paul has lost apples posting in the cider press.  When the owner (and dictator) of this site can lose apples... well...

r ranson wrote:Thanks.

Yeh, I try to stay out of there as much as I can.  But I'm an apple whore - I love my apples!

Even Paul has lost apples posting in the cider press.  When the owner (and dictator) of this site can lose apples... well...

That’s pretty funny, in a brutal way.

Giving this thread a bump with a link to another great thread about free speech - https://permies.com/t/35740/violating-rights-free-speech

I agree that it is getting very difficult to speak ones mind online against the grain lately.. I'm ok, and sometimes even happy with private companies choosing to, like here at permies with the, "be nice," rule, openly censor certain things. I'm not ok with governments putting pressure on entities to do so.
I won't vote with a ballot hoping that one puppet will change the system that is meant to function this way. I try to solve the problem by buying less stuff, and making my own stuff when possible to avoid offering my energy, (tax money, compliance, etc) to be abused.
From what I've experienced, the solutions seem to be the same whether somebody knows the problem or not, so usually I try to focus on solutions. This place is great for that. I even bought a book on the same topic, https://buildingabetterworldbook.com/

This is Paul's site. It gets done his way. If I don't like it, no one's going to drag me back here. There are plenty of sites (way too many, actually) where people are welcome to argue, insult and demoralize people for any and all (or no) reason. If it were that way here I wouldn't be here. I welcome diverse perspectives and opinions and methods but as I tell the kids at school - No matter what you need to say, it can be said respectfully. I'm all for the 'be nice' rule. Please keep enforcing it.

Travis Johnson wrote:The truth must always be said, but the truth does not always have to be spoken.

Or: "if you can't say something nice, say nothing" and move on.

Nancy Reading wrote:

Travis Johnson wrote:The truth must always be said, but the truth does not always have to be spoken.

Or: "if you can't say something nice, say nothing" and move on.

This. I find that saying nothing is often a very good option.

When I was a bit younger (like late teens and early 20s) I felt like I had to constantly put my opinions out there, regardless of context or circumstances. As a result, I'm afraid I came across as not-very-nice on more than one occasion. Then, at some point, I realized that I didn't have to say what I thought all the time. My opinions are mine, no-one is going to take them away just because I don't constantly assert them. Once I got this, it felt hugely liberating.

In my humble opinion, being able to not state your position all the time is a sign that you are confident in your views and ideals. At least, that's how it was for me. Conversely, I think the people who shout the loudest, the people who feel compelled to crush anyone who isn't exactly like them, they are likely to be the least confident.

Nice does not mean weak. Quiet does not mean stupid.