So, cause Peregrine has closed the thread with the two unmentionable words, I will open a new one, in which the discussion will be: why is it forbidden to mention those two words? Even when they are crap (I can only tell for the book, I don't know the band), this is no reason to forbid the mentioning, am I right?

I beg all participaters, not to mention the two words, so that we don't give Peregrine a reason to close it down again This is a purely philosophical and argumental discussion, it is perhaps also a demand for an answer. When my fundamental right is restricted, I will demand an answer and I will criticize everyone who restricts such a right (one of my personal principles). OK, perhaps I should have opened it in the debates forum. But I warn you, don't close it down, just because I am criticizing here! It is a sign of a mature person to accept criticism *hemhem* Only brutal dictators surpress every criticism, and I sincerly hope you aren't such persons.

So, what are your thoughts? Why is it forbidden? Why forbid to mention a word anyway? I personal think, it is no use to forbid anything. It will happen anyway. It is better to study what is ones enemy, in order to fight it better. This means, you must be able to talk about it. Can anyone say something against this? Can anyone give a counterargument to something which our human sense tells us?

Basically put: this is not the land of the free, this is not a place where the people have power...this is a powerful dicatatorship maintained by sacrifices of goats to the MEMod team and young, female, attractive, humans (I'm not accepting your "recently sheered" sheep anymore, Suz!). If you don't like it - well...adios!

Thus it is written:

For lo, thou hast entered the house of the Dark0ne, and thou shalt be bound by his laws, and thou shalt pay him his due in groats, and thou shalt not speak of that which is displeasing to the Dark0ne's ears, or he shall smite thee with his wrath.

i agree with theta, being here is kind of like a privelege. We have the ability to discuss and debate what intirests us, while be restricted by Dark ones rules. I dont think its very difficult to obey rules, as we do that our whole lives. Thats just what i think...

I do not pretend to know the intricacies of this forum, and perhaps there is no reasonable motive as to why the unmentionables have been decreed as such. However, as this is Dark One’s forum it is entirely his right to make decisions as to what is acceptable or unacceptable regardless of how seemingly juvenile it sounds. This forum is not a public good, but is a private site, much like a pub or a social club. As such he may do as he pleases. His right to run this site as he sees fit trumps others’ rights to say what they will about what they will. Is it fair? I think so. Do the two stipulations in question make any sense to those not in the know? No they don’t. But it should be enough that those topics are against the rules and it should be left at that, even if it does seem silly.

In addition, because of the nature of this thread, it may be better put in the Debates forum; but that is just my opinion.

Off course, I will not demand anything or try to change anything about the rules about these topics, but may I ask if there is any specific reason they are banned topics? Don't answer me if you don't want to, I'm simply asking if I could get knowledge about it, to be honest, I don't even believe I will get an answer myself, but it's worth a try.. unless I get banned or something like that.. oh well whatever nevermind, right?

Freedom of speech and your fundamental rights do not always apply, as they are
not universal; you are free to mention the unmentionables in your house, in the street, or in the city park, but these forums are to be considered as DarkOne's property, and, as such, he makes the laws here.
To give you another example: you have every right of calling your best friend a
goat-loving freak, but if you do so in his own house he has every right to kick you
out of it.

Moreover, I completely agree with those two expressions being banned...
especially the one referring to a very popular fictional character. I also have several other humble suggestions as to other possible bans

Besides, one last note: I don't think it is actually a smart idea to open a new
thread just after the old one has been first censored, and then locked. Do not
rouse the sleeping Bird from Hell!

"Help! Help! I'm being repressed!"

Okay, sorry, just kidding.

Honestly, I must voice my agreement with Maquissar. It is DarkOne's forum, and he makes the rules.

Opening this up again to further the ego pumping and female sacrifices.

Are you not insulted someone hasn't offered you up as a sacrifice?

Peregrine, Peregrine... Before throwing strikes around, please think first. I didn't reopen anything, I especially mentioned that this is a new thread, with connection towards the old one but with a slitly different discussion. The discussion should be more in general, like why to mention any word (it doesn't matter which word) is forbidden or should be forbidden. Secondly, I am bound by my principles to question everything. And this I can do, because questioning is not forbidden on this forum. Or at least I know no rule against it, correct me if I am wrong. And I am questioning now the reason for a certain rule in this forum, which is of course my right to do, since it is not forbidden.

As you can see, I haven't done anything against the rules, so I kindly plead you to remove this quite unnecessary strike. Thanks for your attention, Peregrine.

Darnoc

Shakkara, if I may also suggest, with deference to yourself and Peregrine, that the small picture and quote you have added to your signature seems, from my perspective, slightly inflammatory by nature, and perhaps even a little distasteful. I think your point would be better received sans your protestant signature. Again, I do not necessarily mean any disrespect, but I am attempting to give you the benefit of my dispassionate point of view on the issue.

vandorssen's words are wise, I'd take heed if you don't want another strike to your name.

If you or Peregrine want it gone you have to properly and clearly request it first (usually PM or IM are good media for this purpose), preferably including your motives behind the request, and preferably allowing me to have my say as well, before you go on the unprovoked punishing tour due to unclear rules, again. Thank you......

I've added your strike to the list. I think you'll find I don't do what you say..you do what I say. Hopefully the witty Shakkara can catch on a little faster next time.

What the...

Oh divine god, I hope you answer my prayer and able to properly interpret my posts and come to the conclusion that I always do what the divine being commands, however me, being just a poor miserable sinner have to be told WHAT TO DO first, before I can succumb to your very whim!

Well, when talking about strikes: Does this strike count which Peregrine gave me or is it your oppinion that it was unfairly given, Dark0ne? I tried to defend myself towards Peregrine's accussations, as you may see from my last post. Since you are the one who has made the rules, you probably can judge better than the two of us can do in this matter.

And this thread shouldn't be in any matter disrespectful against you, it is merely a question to the logic and thinking that is behind the rules you apply to this forum which is, so I hope, since I can't find any rules against it, allowed. You may or may not answer, like I may or may not ask questions according to the rules of your forum (which I didn't break, as you can see for yourself). So it would be very kind of you to look into this matter of Peregrine's strike on me and make your judgment which I will respect, since you are the owner of this forum. May I also remind you that critic is something very useful and the wise knows to acknowlegde it. I am making critic on what you have done (in detail the rules about not mentioning two certain words), you may consider to answer me or not or even to change your oppinion, I can't tell. And since I always thought you to be a very reasonable person, not like other certain persons on this forum, I trust that you may accept my statements as what they are and react in what ever way you seem fit.

Darnoc

I think this thread is the perfect example for everyone on this forum to show what kind of people we're dealing with here.

Shakarra has promised to leave after making one last post...

For lo, the wrath of the Dark0ne is swift and terrible

I personally will not rejoice in his leaving, as I see an opportunity where things may have been different. Perhaps yet it may still be for the better. If he was unhappy here, yet still devoted time to this forum, he may be more at ease in another. I only hope that he may yet see wisdom, and with Dark One’s graces, return and be a better man for it.

And lo, the patience of Darnoc may be as deep as the sea, but like the sea it has it's bottom. Therefore I am asking once again: Am I right or is Peregrine right? Was he right to give me a strike or am I right to claim not to have broken any rules? I don't want to spam, but it is annoying not to know if one has a strike or not.

Or should we make an open tribunal, Peregrine as the accuser and I am as accused and defender at the same time? And with Dark0ne as judge? Would be interesting tough... But still I prefer the faster way.

I hate writing this all and all over again, you know. Perhaps you are so busy with "Case Shakkara" that you can't spare any time. Well, I understand you, but I started this thread! And since this is my thread and I got a strike from Peregrine because of it, which I believe to be unjustly given (as I explained and reasoned in my two earlier posts), I ask for anybody on a higher rank than Peregrine to look into the matter and decide, if I really did break the rules and Peregrine's strike was given rightly.

Thanks for your attention

Darnoc

Darnoc.... If you are so desperate to get an answer, talk to DarkOne directly with PM... It's fast and safe (no risk of spaming). I'm new here and I respect the rules, you just have to watch your own back and make sure you do as the holy Admin request. Think of it this way... If you were told not to talk to people about a certain topic, and you asked the same people "why?" infront of everyone, do you think they wil take it well? As you can see, no...

Freedom is not universally free, it is earned and is a priviledge. Just remember respect goes a long way.

I have to say that I do not actually see your name in the strike list. Peregrine, for better or worse, seems more severe in word than in deed. Perhaps it was more meant as a threat of a strike, although I do not seek to speak for him. I only wish to interpret (as fairly as I can) the actions taken or not taken.

From an entirely objective and dispassionate point of view (as I fancy myself having), I cannot see where specifically you may have warranted a strike, either threatened or real. However, I might, if I were so inclined, interpret the rules as having been broken, if in name only, as you prefaced your post by directly referencing a post in which the forbidden topics were discussed. This could be seen as talking directly about the said unmentionables.

However you did call into question the validity of long standing forum rules, which, if this were my site, I may be inclined to take as a violation of the rules simply by questioning them.

Again, it is Dark One’s site. If he feels Peregrine did well by issuing a strike, for whatever reason, it is done. What I say or anyone else says is moot.

From the TOS:

@tyjet and vandorssen: Ah, finally someone with whom you can discuss reasonably. Well, you have a point there. But I can assure you that I don't break any rules, because when I give my word to obey the rules and I don't do it, it would be dishonorable. I wouldn't do it, only if these rules would run against any principle I have, since I deem those to be higher than any rules, because it would be even more dishonorable to not follow ones own principles. It is my philosophical oppinion that certain principles are applying to all humans and one of them is to question everything. I think it is our duty towards the public and the other humans then improvement can only happen when there is questioning. Since I didn't find any rules against doing so, I did what I thought was what I had to do (and still I think it was necessary). When someone approaches me with critisism, I am ready to listen and also to accept it, when I see that the critisism is reasonable and correct. And any other mature person would agree with me here. The reason why I critizise openly in this matter is because this matter is concerning also other persons, meaning all persons who are members of the forum.

I will follow your advise and PM him. Thanks for reminding me.

@tyjet only: Freedom is a basic right for every human being, it is not earned but it comes with being a human being. Freedom is needed for improvement and improvement is the goal (or should be the goal) of humanity.

Darnoc

Darnoc, according to Dark0ne you do not have a strike. But I advise you to ask advance permission before doing anything that could in any way be seen as defiance of moderator instructions. Maybe that was your intent, maybe it wasn't, but especially with the way you started the thread it was very questionable.

Since the topic of this forum is titled freedom of speech, i hope this is not spaming...

Freedom is NOT free.

-Think of all the people that were born slaves (not just black people but other people centuries back)
-America has the right to freedoms because we fought for them (remember the revolutionary war?)
-In our world (Earth), everyone is NOT free!! There are still slave in the middle east! Women still don't have freedoms over there!!
-If freedom was universal, why would people still be fight for them?!
-As long we have someone towering over us, telling us what to do (boss, government, commercials, ect.) we will never be 100% free.

We earned freedom... Not everyone has it, that makes it a priviledge.

@Peregrine: Then I can assure you that I didn't intend to insult anyone or do anything in defiance of the admins. I wanted simply to add some "constructive criticism", if you can follow me. And that was the only thing it was about. As said, I only break rules when they run against my principles and since now this wasn't the case (and of course I hope it won't be the case anytime at all).

@tyjet: Freedom is basic or should I say it should be basic. This is theoretically spoken, reality is different. Every person should be free without any exceptions and without earning it. We must fight for it because there are peoples destroying what should have always been the case. The principle of freedom of man always existed (at least theoretically) but this order was destroyed by power greedy humans. Remember I talked about principles applying to all humans? Freedom of every human being is one of them. Those principles are like laws of nature, they do exist forever (in theory) but mostly the case is more difficult in reality and matters are more complicated. I should explain it in more detail, but I don't have the time now, so excuse my incomplete explanation.

This whole matter has escalated so much... it has grown in importance... I suggest
we all let this drop. Fictional little wizards and alternative hard rock bands (?)
do not deserve such hassle over them :-P

I agree with Maquissar. This seems to have got terribly heavy.

I think there is a huge difference from questioning rules that apply to you by fact as opposed to those that apply to you by choice. There are other MW forums with different rules so you choose to post here. You might think a rule is odd but unless it is impacting on your enjoyment of the forums it seems unnecessary to make an issue out of it. And if it bothers you too much you can go elsewhere. Freedoms witheld by human societies come in a different category completely because it isn't always possible to 'leave' the society.

And we are all free to do exactly as we like, but we must be prepared to suffer the consequences.

Very nice malchik. Thank you for finally shining some light on this useless arguement. The ball is in Darnoc's court...

Accept the rules or leave .

Well, I can never join the military then. I would always argue with my superiors about the logic of their commands...