The problem is drawing the line. I think we can all agree that their are lines that shouldn't be crossed. Personal attacks, ugly, racist hate speech, advocacy to violence are examples.
I like humor. As an Irish Catholic southerner, I appreciate some religious, ethnic, hillbilly humor. But humorous ethnic threads are like political ideologues. It always gets carried to far. In an effort to top the last poster, someone inevitably goes over the line of decency and posts some crass, hurtful, mean-spirited, ignorant comment.
So we need some editing and some constraints must be imposed. If not, this site would totally implode within weeks, if not days.
Another issue is one of topic relevance. This site is for the discussion and advancement of pipe smoking. It wouldn't be unreasonable to restrict all threads to this topic. There are other sites where we can post political diatribes and swap jokes. So, what topics should be permitted?
In the end, you have to decide if you want a moderated site where content is filtered and edited or a free for all. I don't know about you but I no longer waste my time posting to un-moderated or lightly moderated comment sections on news sites, e.g., the Washington Post or NYT. It has become a running joke in my family about the number of responses posted before someone gets called a Nazi. And the ignorant, racist crap that is permitted has turned me off so much that I now rarely read the stories on those sites, much less the comments.
I'm predjudices. I'm moderator and editor for other websites and news lists. I was a print editor for one of the above mentioned news companies. I can tell you that it is IMPOSSIBLE for an editor to make everyone happy. The job description requires you to draw lines and that decision is often subjective, no matter how objective we try to be. You learn to live with the constant criticism from readers, reporters, your publisher and your mother, or you find another career.
As a forum member here and elsewhere, I've also received the brunt of some snarky, ad hominem attacks, often over piddling matters of little consequence. I visit PipesMagazines and similar subject matter sites to enjoy some fellowship and banter over a non-controversial topic. My goal is relaxation, education and distraction from the crap I read and hear about everywhere else. It is a refuge of sorts, like my pipes, from the day-to-day grind and aggravation of life.
So, while I may choose to draw the line at a different point than Kevin or our moderators do, I'm grateful that they are drawing them and not me. I'm happy that I don't have to defend those editorial decisions to some people who think they have a God given, constitutional right to say what they want to whom they want in the way they want. Even those members will almost certainly agree that lines should be drawn - but at the point where they think they should be drawn.
So, thank you Al and Kevin and Jason, for handling the thankless jobs of censoring. Yes, I used the "C" word. It is a dirty word in America but as much as it pains us to admit, it is sometimes needed.
IMHO. Your mileage may vary.
Please pardon the pompous gravitas.
Pax
