Why We Do Not Censor
Hello everyone,
Due to a certain thread on here, a few of you have raised concerns on why things should be deleted. I would like to shed some light on this and explain my position on this issue. This is going to be a long read, but you can all feel free to debate it if you choose to do so.
The Reefuge was not set up to be a "traditional" message forum for users to discuss reef related topics. Rather, it was set up as an uncensored medium where users/businesses with common interest could freely discuss reef related topics and anything else to do with the hobby. This has proven to work well over the years. The community seems to have developed not only tight bonds with each other, but also a more relaxed environment where information could be discussed, and more importantly, the truth.
Where one website would delete and over moderate posts/threads, we did not. Where another website would censor their users because it was making their advertising source look bad, we did not. Where yet another website would censor their information because some business threatened to sue, we did not.
This all comes at a cost, and the cost is it works both ways. As an example, if a user posts about how much The Reefuge sucks, it will not be deleted. Normally "forums" would delete posts like that because it makes them look bad. Here however, we believe users have the right to say what is on their mind. As long as the website rules are not being broken then there is no issue.
Now, let's say someone made a post about "shop X", and "shop X" was actually doing the wrong thing to their customers. The user posts about it, and then "shop X" demands for it to be removed. There is no proof the user is telling the truth, but a similar story is stated by many, many users. Should this thread be removed? Should users not have a place to go to in order to find out information? As soon as one thread is deleted, it opens up a can of worms. It also gives way for someone doing the wrong thing to get a free pass and continue doing the wrong thing to their customers.
In the Reef Secrets thread, the owner himself said it is fine for the thread to stay online. His only request was that the thread title be changed, which was accepted. However, prior to any of his requests, there was a big heading added to OP's post stating that OP was incorrect. This means even if a lazy user was to see the thread and not read it in its entirety, they will still be very aware that the OP was wrong.
This also brings up a much larger issue. What about review websites? yelp, product review, whirlpool, etc. Their entire business model is user generated feedback for products and services. Should these sites also delete their content?
The issue is much larger than a reef website. If you want an internet that is open, free and full of information, you need to take the bad with the good.
I would like to stress, please do not assume for a second I am siding with the OP of the RS thread. That is not the case. I am simply explaining why sometimes we need to do things in order to keep things we value from being destroyed.
Thanks.
Due to a certain thread on here, a few of you have raised concerns on why things should be deleted. I would like to shed some light on this and explain my position on this issue. This is going to be a long read, but you can all feel free to debate it if you choose to do so.
The Reefuge was not set up to be a "traditional" message forum for users to discuss reef related topics. Rather, it was set up as an uncensored medium where users/businesses with common interest could freely discuss reef related topics and anything else to do with the hobby. This has proven to work well over the years. The community seems to have developed not only tight bonds with each other, but also a more relaxed environment where information could be discussed, and more importantly, the truth.
Where one website would delete and over moderate posts/threads, we did not. Where another website would censor their users because it was making their advertising source look bad, we did not. Where yet another website would censor their information because some business threatened to sue, we did not.
This all comes at a cost, and the cost is it works both ways. As an example, if a user posts about how much The Reefuge sucks, it will not be deleted. Normally "forums" would delete posts like that because it makes them look bad. Here however, we believe users have the right to say what is on their mind. As long as the website rules are not being broken then there is no issue.
Now, let's say someone made a post about "shop X", and "shop X" was actually doing the wrong thing to their customers. The user posts about it, and then "shop X" demands for it to be removed. There is no proof the user is telling the truth, but a similar story is stated by many, many users. Should this thread be removed? Should users not have a place to go to in order to find out information? As soon as one thread is deleted, it opens up a can of worms. It also gives way for someone doing the wrong thing to get a free pass and continue doing the wrong thing to their customers.
In the Reef Secrets thread, the owner himself said it is fine for the thread to stay online. His only request was that the thread title be changed, which was accepted. However, prior to any of his requests, there was a big heading added to OP's post stating that OP was incorrect. This means even if a lazy user was to see the thread and not read it in its entirety, they will still be very aware that the OP was wrong.
This also brings up a much larger issue. What about review websites? yelp, product review, whirlpool, etc. Their entire business model is user generated feedback for products and services. Should these sites also delete their content?
The issue is much larger than a reef website. If you want an internet that is open, free and full of information, you need to take the bad with the good.
I would like to stress, please do not assume for a second I am siding with the OP of the RS thread. That is not the case. I am simply explaining why sometimes we need to do things in order to keep things we value from being destroyed.
Thanks.
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