Forums & Free Speech

**Jolteon** · 04-09-2008, 10:19 PM

I'm fedup of members screaming "You can't tell me to NOT say that, I have free speech", so can someone tell me once and for all. Does free speech laws apply on forums, can i actually tell someone to stop talking about something on my forum, or does Free Speech actually prevail and I can do nothing to stop them?

**BamaStangGuy** · 04-09-2008, 10:30 PM

No, they don't. Ban them if they keep claiming free speech.

**Jolteon** · 04-09-2008, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BamaStangGuy

No, they don't. Ban them if they keep claiming free speech.

Can you give me the reasoning for that? Just so I have something to post when it happens again, and it doesn't look like i'm getting all stuck up and just a plain twat on them.

**Caddyman** · 04-09-2008, 10:47 PM

no personal attacks and no racial slurs. thats the only limits they (my members) have. if a rule is broken, they are punished.

if its in your rules, you have a rock solid "fall back on" everytime.

bama said what he said, cause it's YOUR site, you made it, you pay for it, you run it, you can do as you please....period.

**BamaStangGuy** · 04-09-2008, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jolteon

Can you give me the reasoning for that? Just so I have something to post when it happens again, and it doesn't look like i'm getting all stuck up and just a plain twat on them.

Would you let someone go into your business and dog cuss you for 8 hours a day and let them get away with it on free speech?

**Jolteon** · 04-09-2008, 11:53 PM

....er no. I get your point

Thanks guys.

**bdude** · 04-10-2008, 06:37 AM

You are only entitled to free speech in public places - your forum is a private place which has its own rules.

**Moelman** · 04-10-2008, 04:29 PM

Yeah, you're basically the president of your own state and can do whatever you want as long as it doesn't break the rules of the country.

**bcmtouring** · 04-10-2008, 05:57 PM

Exactly, but make sure you got this covered under forum rules and TOS.

**Zane** · 05-10-2008, 01:08 PM

Send them a private message. Kindly explain that the laws of free speech do not extend to privately owned communities such as this one. I quote from Managing Online Forums."you have no legal obligation to allow users to say whatever they want, whenever they want, however they want - or, in their eyes, to 'uphold free speech.' "

04-09-2008, 10:19 PM	#1
Jolteon Forum Junkie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Holmfirth, England Posts: 3,699	Forums & Free Speech I'm fedup of members screaming "You can't tell me to NOT say that, I have free speech", so can someone tell me once and for all. Does free speech laws apply on forums, can i actually tell someone to stop talking about something on my forum, or does Free Speech actually prevail and I can do nothing to stop them? __________________ Ack, no currently active projects To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-09-2008, 10:30 PM	#2
BamaStangGuy Forum Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,483	No, they don't. Ban them if they keep claiming free speech. __________________ *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.* More to be listed soon.

04-09-2008, 10:47 PM	#4
Caddyman Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Delaware Posts: 1,342	no personal attacks and no racial slurs. thats the only limits they (my members) have. if a rule is broken, they are punished. if its in your rules, you have a rock solid "fall back on" everytime. bama said what he said, cause it's YOUR site, you made it, you pay for it, you run it, you can do as you please....period. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. boomshockalacka

04-09-2008, 11:53 PM	#6
Jolteon Forum Junkie Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Holmfirth, England Posts: 3,699	....er no. I get your point Thanks guys. __________________ Ack, no currently active projects To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-10-2008, 06:37 AM	#7
bdude Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 1,628	You are only entitled to free speech in public places - your forum is a private place which has its own rules. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

04-10-2008, 04:29 PM	#8
Moelman The Webmaster Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,328	Yeah, you're basically the president of your own state and can do whatever you want as long as it doesn't break the rules of the country. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - The Largest LucasArts Gaming Community on the Internet To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - tell me your comments! To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. - Your #1 place to discuss all things World of Warcraft.

04-10-2008, 05:57 PM	#9
bcmtouring Veteran Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Delhi, India Posts: 585	Exactly, but make sure you got this covered under forum rules and TOS. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. \| To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

05-10-2008, 01:08 PM	#10
Zane Lurker Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 12	Send them a private message. Kindly explain that the laws of free speech do not extend to privately owned communities such as this one. I quote from Managing Online Forums."you have no legal obligation to allow users to say whatever they want, whenever they want, however they want - or, in their eyes, to 'uphold free speech.' " __________________ No trees were killed in the making of this post. However, many trillions of electrons were however inconvenienced.

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