censorship is the devil.

twiggz · Newbie Joined: 25 Jan 2008 Posts: 74

It should be up to individual channel owners to decide what is or isnt acceptable in their own channels, not the network.

greg27 · Newbie Joined: 07 Oct 2006 Posts: 90 Location: Australia

why?
why shouldn't a network administrator be able to say what should go on on his/her network?

PingBad · Guru Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 1881 Location: New Zealand

I'll partially agree to both posters above me. In my mind, a Network Admin should only censor the most necessary of censorships (kiddy porn, network-wide spamming - like sites that exist only to peddle viagra/cialis/porn/unused condoms, etc) while it should be up to the individual channels and their respective ops to determine the finer points of censorship on a channel-by-channel basis (swear words, user/op harrassment, and such)

Just my 2c + GST

Bertrum · none Joined: 30 Mar 2008 Posts: 17

I kind of agree. Network Admins should decide rules when it comes to advertisements porn links etc... and the channel owners should decide the rules that arent as important. for example what swear words are actually allowed etc

greg27 · Newbie Joined: 07 Oct 2006 Posts: 90 Location: Australia

datacenters are allowed to prohibit certain activities/content on their servers, why shouldn't network administrators be able to do the same? there are some networks out there designed to be family-friendly - i think it's fair for the admins of those networks to censor inappropriate content network-wide.

if you don't agree with what the netadmin says, there are plenty of other networks out there.

katsklaw · Eleet Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 964

The fact that SIRC staff can delete this post/thread at their whim is a form of censorship.
The fact that your account can be deleted is a form of censorship.
The fact that you can be banned is a form of censorship.
The fact that SIRC staff doesn't need your permission to do any or all the above is a form of censorship.
Protesting about what you can or can't do in your own channel is a form of censorship because you are attempting to deny the admins right to make rules on the network as a whole. Name one country on this planet that doesn't reserve the right to make globally enforcable laws and leaves everything up to the individual state/providence/territory. (globally meaning throughout the entire country as a whole, not globally as the entire planet).

Since most networks are paid for by the admins and most IRC channels are completely free, I'd say you either accept their rules or find out how hard it really is to run a network and finace your own. In danger of sounding rude, I'd say that whinning about how unfair or censored something is will only get you a "I'm a whinner" Sticker and a box of tissues.

Yes, there are times and places where demanding the lack of censorship is a good thing. Unfortunately for you .. IRC is not such a place. IRC is not nor ever was a democracy and no matter how hard a network tries to make it one, there is the limitations of protocols that can and will prevent it for truly happening. There is no freedom of speech on IRC either, not that it matters anyway, most people don't understand what the term "freedom of speech" really means. But that's another thread.

Censorship in it's various forms on IRC is simply unavoidable .. get over it.

PingBad · Guru Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 1881 Location: New Zealand

katsklaw · Eleet Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 964

Sure most people apply compassion and a certain level of dilligence to the considerations for the potential victim prior to taking action. I think that's just common courtesy, but that consideration is the only thing stopping said action and that courtesy can be desovled.

You as a moderator have all the access you need to do it with just a few mouse clicks where most of us do not. That scenario creates a situatation where you are in a position of power and influence. That ability, access or privilege is the censorship because those of us that do not want to be banned will have to behave in fear of the posibility. Not performing the task is simply a choice.

PingBad · Guru Joined: 05 Feb 2005 Posts: 1881 Location: New Zealand

Again, I agree with you. But I am only a moderator, I cannot ban people - nor would I even if I had the option.

As for power and influence... well, I don't have any real power (yeah, okay - I do and I don't). But it does come down to discipline as to how to use it. I honestly don't like having to use moderator's commands - not on here, nor on other forums (letalone on IRC itself); I feel it stifles one's creative expression when a moderator pops along and steps upon another person's ability to speak their mind. That being said, I refer to what I said earlier - and that is censorship is a necessary evil in order to maintain community stability.

Safer_Sephiroth · none Joined: 18 Nov 2004 Posts: 28

katsklaw · Eleet Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 964

I can't say anything about other countries, but I'm sure most have something similar as the USA in this regards.

The US has a Federal level set of laws that all states must enforce and can not create any law that contradicts a federal law. States are allowed to ADD to laws but not take away from. IRC is no different. The network establishes a set of rules that the channels must follow just as states must follow federal law. If you don't agree with the rules of any network .. take your channel elsewhere. However, I'd bet you will be hard pressed to find a good quality, professionally run network that lets channels do anything and everything they want.