Baker
please delete the bottom #8143 notables post in the current pastebin. It's a partial list of the longer one above. Thanks.
Just so you know, it was changed in #8143 to the current wording. Baker of that bread (first half) was not triggered, I was there, so it must have been by anon request. Look in the bread and see if you're interested. (I baked the second half and didn't change it either.)
BO/BV were informed several hours ago about the German and Brit threads. Others may also be down but not all (Information Warfare). Is it just countries for some reason?
The problem when you start trying to shut anybody down–even spammers and shills–that effort easily becomes a form of "creeping censorship." Which I suspect is why former BO practically never interfered with shills unless it was truly awful situation (eg, comp'd baker putting muh joos in Notables plus shill invasion). Only saw it once.
The rule has always been, "Don't want to look? Then filter."
Once the rule becomes, "Don't want to look? Then the Powers That Be will ban or discourage xyz offensive content," it's natural to start thinking, "oh good, it also gets rid of this OTHER group or content we don't like."
FREE SPEECH ZONE.
Most important.
Glad you replied, I was too pissed to do it.
No, nobody interfered. That's the point. And the point of a FREE SPEECH ZONE is that there is no censorship–except for content that is illegal. You've seen this before:
You do not have a right not to be offended. You do not have a right to be 'comfortable'. Everyone has a guaranteed right to Freedom of Speech. 'Inappropriate', 'offensive,' and 'problematic' are words that do not exist here. YOU are responsible for what YOU look at and how YOU feel about it; NO ONE ELSE IS.
Only while the issue is "hot." Where there are questions, unresolved issues, ethical concerns to be discussed. Where else can they be discussed but here?
"We are the news" has a double meaning.