The way I see it, there are two separate issues here. The first has to do with people who want to censor those with whom they disagree, don’t like and/or feel threatened by for whatever reason. The second has to do with how SI runs this site and whether or not they do so in a biased manner.
The questions to those who feel that TLC "did the right thing" re bigsablepoint are: Why did he only report bigsablepoint?? Certainly, there are dozens of posters (TLC being one of them) who blatantly violate the TOU on a daily basis, so if this was just a case of reporting a simple TOU violator, why was bigsablepoint singled out? OK. Maybe you don’t care if someone posts dozens of vulgar off-topic posts. Maybe "paid touts" are what bug you. Well, SI has given us the tools to rid ourselves of what we, personally, don’t like without deciding for others what they should be able to read. Why not simply use the Ignore button?? Why not change to a moderated thread?
I’ll tell you why: Because TLC doesn’t care about the TOU. He’s only interested in getting rid of someone who he feels is a threat to him. He’s a censor.
Censors are people with a variety of psychological problems, generally rooted in a serious inferiority complex. The typical profile is a loner with low self-esteem. An internet message board is just what the doctor didn’t order for these people, because it allows them to create fantastical personalities to compensate for the fact they are lacking one in the real world.
Since TLC has already served himself up on this thread, I don’t consider it a personal fowl to use him as an example. This is mostly tongue in cheek, but he reads like the stereotypical rejected candidate for the local PD training program. Notice how he uses the term "busted" when referring to his numerous TOU collars and purports to be performing a public service. I checked his profile and it doesn’t appear that he posts on any actual "stock" threads, but it’s hard to tell because he posts so much. Most likely, his "friends" here on SI are his only friends. Check out the number of posts on Thanksgiving Day. I mean - get a life! Well, then again, maybe he posts from work and had to work on the holiday. I wouldn’t think K-Mart security guards used computers on the job, but I could be wrong. Probably sneaks his laptop in and hunkers down behind the Lawn and Garden Center Counter ( pretty much deserted this time of year) or perhaps Sporting Goods with the kid that peddles paint ball equipment.
As for SI’s part in this, I can find no evidence that what they did or didn’t do was wrong. I don’t know if or why bigsablepoint was suspended or expelled. I don’t know if any of her posts were deleted. I don’t know that, if she was sanctioned, if it was because of TLC’s complaint, the number of complaints received or for something else entirely. Maybe at some point we’ll find out.
From what I can determine, SI pretty much lets the boards police themselves and takes a hands off approach, especially when it comes to Coffee Shop threads. I have NO PROBLEM with that policy. If they didn’t, they’d be kicking people off left and right. My guess is that, because most of us aren’t censors, no one has reported any of the other obnoxious GWB posters for TOU violations and that’s why SI hasn't gotten involved. If that’s not the case, though, then I think we have a problem. If swisstrader, has indeed reported TLC on TOU violations, we should have an answer shortly.
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