1 (edited by xeno syndicated 26-May-2009 01:36:07)

Topic: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

Why, when signing up for an account for an internet discussion forum, are we asked to provide our real name, address, phone number, and, in some cases, even our credit card information, all in order to have the 'privilege' post our thoughts? 

Now, I'm not saying this site is particularly authoritarian.  I mean, yes, it is free, and mods don't tend to censor much here.   But, the trend is for other sites for mods censor it quite a bit more; even censoring controversial topics. 

The very structure of the internet discussion forum has authoritarian control principles built into it.  Laws of authoritarian states are pushing for even more censorship and control.

Truly free speech would allow people to post their thoughts / opinions without needing to have an 'account', or provide any personal information in order to do so.

There should be  purely free and uncensored discussion forums, where anyone can post anything completely anonymously.  Sadly, it seems there aren't any anymore.

What happened to free anonymous speech on the internet?  Is it completely disappeared already?

2 (edited by Lizon 26-May-2009 01:53:00)

Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

It's a liability issue on the part of the forum host. If somebody on a forum for instance provides links to illegal software for instance or provides information to find drugs or something like that. The Forum host can be held accountable for that information. By getting a person's personal information they can shift liability to the user, not the forum. It's that simple.

"But, the trend is for other sites for mods censor it quite a bit more; even censoring controversial topics.  "

That's a hypocrisy right there. Who are you to determine what can and cannot be posted on a host's forum? Posting on a forum is not a right, it's a privilege. The host has the right to determine what can and cannot be posted on their forum. That is in itself a form of free speech.

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Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

>What happened to free anonymous speech on the internet?

Clearly you don't understand the internet tongue

All websites and their forums are hosted on servers. Those servers are regulated by other normal people. When they host a forum they have the power. They use their power to monitor the conversations to ensure that only opinions they agree with are presented. In effect they convince other people of their opinions by leading discussion in certain directions. On the internet you have no guarantee of free speech, unless you're ambitious enough to host your own server (put a box in your closet and check it every now and then)

Rehabilitated IC developer

4 (edited by Lizon 26-May-2009 01:55:52)

Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

Xeno seems to have this view of entitlement. As if he can go around saying whatever he wants and everybody has to listen. Guess what, nobody has to listen. If you don't like it, make your own forum.

Boards:
http://www.phpbb.com/
http://www.simplemachines.org/

Hosting:
http://www.zymic.com

Fear not the Darkness, for without it there is no Light. Embrace the Light, for it brings forth Darkness. Embrace both, to embrace the gift of Life. ~Kai Master Creed
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Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

Zymic is a very good host.

Rehabilitated IC developer

Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

best free host on the net

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Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

by far, I use zymic.

Rehabilitated IC developer

Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

zymic = blocked in China

sad

Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

"Xeno seems to have this view of entitlement. "

#$@$= right I do.  Liberty is an entitlement, fought and died for by our ancestors.

10 (edited by Lizon 26-May-2009 02:45:05)

Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

Since when has Liberty meant anything when it comes to personal opinions. I have the right to think how I want to think, and you don't have the right to tell me what I can think otherwise. You are being authoritarian in doing so. You are what you fear the most. Liberty must be earned, not given, and liberty works both ways. You again have no right to tell people what they can and cannot allow on their forums.

If you want to voice your opinion, make your own forum and voice it there. That's the beauty of the internet.

Note: Nobody has died for the internet....not yet at least tongue

Fear not the Darkness, for without it there is no Light. Embrace the Light, for it brings forth Darkness. Embrace both, to embrace the gift of Life. ~Kai Master Creed
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Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

"you don't have the right to tell me what I can think otherwise."

Wrong.  I do have that right.  And you have the right not to listen.

Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

Stop whining and make your own forum. Nobody is forcing you to cry.

[I wish I could obey forum rules]

Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

Rights can't be empirically tested

Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

Justinian if you ever become 'the man'... I am hunting you down and killing you...  on behalf of humanity, k?

Everything bad in the economy is now Obama's fault. Every job lost, all the debt, all the lost retirement funds. All Obama. Are you happy now? We all get to blame Obama!
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Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

"Wrong.  I do have that right.  And you have the right not to listen."

Arrogance at it's best. So you like telling people what to do eh? Fancy yourself a dictator crushing the liberties and rights of others? Trying to be a law unto yourself? And here you were worring abou the NWO when you aspire to be it yourself. ^.^

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Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

He made that clear months ago.

[I wish I could obey forum rules]

Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

I just find it amusing that's he's all worried about Big Brother coming to get us and that we all need to live in trees before it's too late to preserve our liberties when he himself wants to be that Big Brother and control how people think and do. Going so far as to suggest we change our entire social/economic structure just to appease his own well being. Very inconsiderate and self centered.

Fear not the Darkness, for without it there is no Light. Embrace the Light, for it brings forth Darkness. Embrace both, to embrace the gift of Life. ~Kai Master Creed
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Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

Do you have any idea about the concept of private ownership? If you own the website you get to make the rules end of story.

Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

I had mentioned about liability issues. Apparently it went over his head that websites are privately owned.

Fear not the Darkness, for without it there is no Light. Embrace the Light, for it brings forth Darkness. Embrace both, to embrace the gift of Life. ~Kai Master Creed
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Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

> Einstein wrote:

> Justinian if you ever become 'the man'... I am hunting you down and killing you...  on behalf of humanity, k?>

I'm sure you would prefer me as your emperor than Obama as your president, and you have yet to eliminate Obama.

But... one of my professors said he's never seen someone so capable of succeeding but determined not to quite like me, so I wouldn't worry about it.

Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

>>all in order to have the 'privilege' post our thoughts?<<

You guys have to understand, xeno feels that he is entitled to the private property of others, regardless of the labor and resources used to produce it and where they came from. He feels that it is his right to do with others' property as he pleases, regardless of their will.

[I wish I could obey forum rules]

Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

If you look at his previous threads it's obvious that he's a staunch supporter of Marxism, the pure form of Communism. Which is for all intentional purposes impossible given our current social/economic position. He doesn't realize that his thinking that "we need to do this now else we're doomed" mentality is the exact same one that the Bolsheviks had during the Russian Revolution. And we all know what that led up to.

Fear not the Darkness, for without it there is no Light. Embrace the Light, for it brings forth Darkness. Embrace both, to embrace the gift of Life. ~Kai Master Creed
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23 (edited by xeno syndicated 27-May-2009 00:27:02)

Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

Wow, there is so much I am not going to bother to respond to.

If you idiots want to paint me as a communist, go through the threads I've posted in and QUOTE ANYTHING that I have said that shows that I am a communist.  Good luck.  Happy hunting.  Take your sweet time.

I will however respond to Phssthpok, who was the only one who said anything even remotely intelligent:

"Do you have any idea about the concept of private ownership? If you own the website you get to make the rules end of story."

Phssthpok, if the law makes the forum host liable for the content anonymous posters place on his forum, ALL forum hosts will protect themselves from litigation (or worse) by NOT allowing anonymous posters and requiring everyone who does post to provide detailed identifying and contact information.  The law, in effect, diminishes free speech in our societies. This is another step towards authoritarian control over the internet and society at large.  Without anonymous posting on internet forums, and if authoritarian, opressive governments are known to be able to trace identities of people who post articles that are not supportive of the Party, and then quietly make them 'disappear' in the middle of the night, the oppressed would censor themselves when posting online, and remain quiet about the crimes committed against them by their oppressive authoritarian governments.

Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

Xeno wants to be able to anonymously post about his crimes. He steals his neighbors' chickens (they're the most valuable thing in town) and gets a rush by bragging about it online.

[I wish I could obey forum rules]

Re: The Structure of the Internet Discussion Forum is Authoritarian!

> Phssthpok, if the law makes the forum host liable for the content anonymous posters
> place on his forum, ALL forum hosts will protect themselves from litigation (or worse)
> by NOT allowing anonymous posters and requiring everyone who does post to provide
> detailed identifying and contact information.  The law, in effect, diminishes free speech
> in our societies. This is another step towards authoritarian control over the internet and
> society at large.  Without anonymous posting on internet forums, and if authoritarian,
> opressive governments are known to be able to trace identities of people who post articles
> that are not supportive of the Party, and then quietly make them 'disappear' in the middle
> of the night, the oppressed would censor themselves when posting online, and remain quiet
> about the crimes committed against them by their oppressive authoritarian governments.

This makes sense. Basically you are saying that being forced to link yourself to your thoughts
on the internet makes it easy for your government to remove anyone with disagreeing thoughts
to them.

(NOTE: by the way 'your thoughts' and 'your government' are abstract. It applies to everyone).

Morbo: Morbo can't understand his teleprompter. He forgot how you say that letter that looks like a man with a hat.
Linda: It's a 't'. It goes "tuh".
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