Dear reader, we're closing comments (IOL)

If people want to use the internet to write derogatory garbage about other people's race, sexuality, religion etc... it's all good, as long as you use your real Facebook or Twitter profile to show how much you stand by your words... not the anonymous cowardice way of using forums or comment sections of news websites.
 
smallearth said:
The ANC has mounted a strong campaign against true freedom of speech. As long as the internet exists the ANC cannot control the news and the facts. They can take down the established press, they can subtly and slowly change the laws, they can ignore court rulings, but they can not stop the truth from being spoken on the internet. Only by blocking internet access to certain sites, such as China has done, can they achieve this.

However, online comments do not constitute a reporting of facts, nor are they 'freedom of speech'. A great deal of it is the spewing of hatred with no original ideas or thought involved.
Click to expand...

I would rather know what those who spew hatred are thinking and engage them which is often exactly what happens in those spaces (from both sides). I don't think it is healthy to let those people stew - rather let them vent. We all know what happens when you prevent steam escaping from a pressure cooker.
 
MickeyD said:
I will not expand as it is DJ...'s personal decision to do so, if he wants to...
Click to expand...

Just talking on what I could have seen happening. No idea what happened behind the scenes. Using it as an example as that's the only one I can think of where something was picked up by someone outside of MyBB and complained. It was handled professionally by all involved and kiddos for that. My point is if someone on here as an example makes derogatory comments on lets say Malema, and Malema then wants to take action. It's a crap load of shyte that needs to be gone through to get the identity of the person involved. Said person would probably not have posted such comments knowing that their identity is not protected.

I'm all for it tbh, people need to take responsibility for what they post, the racist comments and the likes. Not saying don't post something racist if that's what you want to post. But own up to it and not hide behind anonymity. That is why these news sites have turned into such festering hell holes. MyBB is not yet there but why should it reach such a point first?
 
If it's one thing that history has taught us it's that censorship works.
 
Alan said:
If it's one thing that history has taught us it's that censorship works.
Click to expand...

It's not censorship though is it?

Asking for people to post without anonymity is not censorship. It just means that you can defend your stance or view point publicly and even in a court if need be.
 
Pitbull said:
Just talking on what I could have seen happening. No idea what happened behind the scenes. Using it as an example as that's the only one I can think of where something was picked up by someone outside of MyBB and complained. It was handled professionally by all involved and kiddos for that. My point is if someone on here as an example makes derogatory comments on lets say Malema, and Malema then wants to take action. It's a crap load of shyte that needs to be gone through to get the identity of the person involved. Said person would probably not have posted such comments knowing that their identity is not protected.
Click to expand...

Again, it is too similar to DJ...'s case so I will refrain from responding and will leave it up to him.

I'm all for it tbh, people need to take responsibility for what they post, the racist comments and the likes. Not saying don't post something racist if that's what you want to post. But own up to it and not hide behind anonymity. That is why these news sites have turned into such festering hell holes. MyBB is not yet there but why should it reach such a point first?
Click to expand...
All it requires is consistent moderation. Remember that the mods are normal folks, not lawyers or judges. The responsibility for determining whether a post is racist or hate speech cannot be put onto the mods, but they can use the MyBB posting guidelines to remove any post if it even smells of it. At the same time they can also issue infractions to those members per the posting guidelines, i.e. be seen to be taking action.
 
As much as I love that the racists and trolls will be removed from commenting on articles, I can't condone this type of behaviour by IOL and News24. It also removes any valid criticism, while the amount of platforms that members of the public have to air their views keep dwindling. I don't believe for a second that they don't have the means to moderate comments. This is not good guys...
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
As much as I love that the racists and trolls will be removed from commenting on articles, I can't condone this type of behaviour by IOL and News24. It also removes any valid criticism, while the amount of platforms that members of the public have to air their views keep dwindling. I don't believe for a second that they don't have the means to moderate comments. This is not good guys...
Click to expand...

In their case they will have to employ staff to do the moderation... (i.e. Operating costs)

The MyBB mods are not employees of MyBB.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
As much as I love that the racists and trolls will be removed from commenting on articles, I can't condone this type of behaviour by IOL and News24. It also removes any valid criticism, while the amount of platforms that members of the public have to air their views keep dwindling. I don't believe for a second that they don't have the means to moderate comments. This is not good guys...
Click to expand...

Yes, valid criticism is now the victim of this due to News24 and IOL not being prepared to make sure the leg work is done in making sure the identities of these posters are true and available or that the posts are actually moderated as pointed out by MickeyD. They should just do the ground work on their end to comply with this and open the comments sections. That way criticism valid will not be affected by comments and opinions.
 
MickeyD said:
In their case they will have to employ staff to do the moderation... (i.e. Operating costs)

The MyBB mods are not employees of MyBB.
Click to expand...
That's fine, it's not like they don't have the funds for it. Especially for supposed bastions of free speech. Which does seem to lend some credence to some of the conspiracy theories...
 
garp said:
I would rather know what those who spew hatred are thinking and engage them which is often exactly what happens in those spaces (from both sides). I don't think it is healthy to let those people stew - rather let them vent. We all know what happens when you prevent steam escaping from a pressure cooker.
Click to expand...

People voicing their frustrations is not the same as people spewing hatred. If these people are unable to voice their frustrations in a manner which does not violate the dignity and respect of other race groups then they do not deserve to be heard.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
That's fine, it's not like they don't have the funds for it. Especially for supposed bastions of free speech. Which does seem to lend some credence to some of the conspiracy theories...
Click to expand...

To moderate IOL properly would cost a couple of million at least. They gonna loose a lot of Disqus $ as well.
 
smallearth said:
People voicing their frustrations is not the same as people spewing hatred. If these people are unable to voice their frustrations in a manner which does not violate the dignity and respect of other race groups then they do not deserve to be heard.
Click to expand...

BINGO!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X