Should public communications forums like FaceBook and RallyPoint be able to delete/control topics if they are communicated with respect?

PO1 Steven Kuhn — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 15:54:18 -0400

RallyPoint just deleted a conversation or thread with no explanation as to why. FaceBook deleted everything I ever posted (along with every friend who had similar stuff posted) regarding Islam, ISIS/ISIL, President Obama news threads, anything against the far political left (news items, etc.,) anything pro-legal carry or pro 2nd Amendment, and anything against Obamacare, the President's falsified birth certificate, etc. I did not make these up, I just reposted links from news articles. The big question is in a land of free speech should anyone have the power to delete a conversation or thread or what ever it may be called if we use respect when trying to communicate with one another and respect our differences of opinions? Freedom of Speech is still allowed here, right?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2014 4:00 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 16:00:32 -0400

It seems to me that we do have free speech, PO1 Steven Kuhn. Can't speak for Facebook, but my experience here on RallyPoint is that all viewpoints are allowed. And I think if you posted respectfully, as you said, you should see your post.

There may be a specific reason why your post was deleted or removed. Duplicate post? I'd recommend checking with one of the admins (the folks with the stars on their profiles). If they don't know, they can probably find out why your post was removed.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Oct 12 at 2014 4:19 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 16:19:55 -0400

Great points CW5 Private RallyPoint Member and PO1 Steven Kuhn I understand your frustration as well. The first several times I had omments or entire threads removed I felt like it was a personal attack, but that wasn't the case. Sometimes, as previously stated, the thread is almost identical in content with another and it is the responsibility of the administrator to determine which started first and then merge the two together. Pictures can be offensive for some people more than others. Profanity is watched like a hawk and there is NO wiggle room for the F-bomb, but there is a little wiggle room for other spicy verbage if it is a thread that is designed to be "entertaining" only. It has been addressed that it is frustrating to not receive feedback when something gets deleted. Human naturekicks in and we scratch our heads wondering if we "did something wrong." Check out the guidelines on RP 3-1 and see if your question has been addressed.
V/R, Mark
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BwGCGf-BJVo-V2dWSVdvMXRQX0E/edit

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Oct 12 at 2014 4:24 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 16:24:01 -0400

RP is generally lenient on letting discussions go unless they become a REALLY big hot spot and the down votes start flying. They do tend to catch repeat posts rather effectively so if your post was very similar in nature to a prior post it may have been eliminated.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2014 7:02 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 12 Oct 2014 19:02:36 -0400

They aren't public, as much as you'd like to think so. They are corporations. If they believe something you have posted will damage their bottom line more than pulling it will, then they will pull it.

It's the same as when a radio talk show host gets fired for some comment or another...it isn't free speech, it's a corporation weighing which will be a better bet for their profits.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Oct 13 at 2014 11:42 AM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 11:42:58 -0400

Yes, if they own the forum, they can control what it is used for. Your freedom of speech doesn't require another to broadcast your message. Their freedom of speech gives them the ability to determine what will be said on their stage.

Whether they should in a given situation is a moral/ethical question. Legally, they are on very solid ground.

NOTE: It would be different if they were considered a utility or a public accommodation (Open to all, all the time, not allowed to discriminate based on viewpoint).

Response by SFC Robert Bailey made Oct 13 at 2014 6:37 PM

SFC Robert Bailey — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 18:37:21 -0400

Contrary to what most people think, "freedom of speech" is not what they imagine it is. I recommend to research the true legal basis in freedom of speech and you will find that you truly dont have freedom of speech.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Feb 27 at 2016 5:21 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 17:21:09 -0500

As one of "them" that does remove posts from time to time, I can tell you that we take careful consideration before taking any action on any post. We do not remove posts as a way to limited one's freedom of speech. We remove posts that do not follow the published standards set forth by RallyPoint and that are available to any member at any time through the Support Portal. If you feel that your post was wrongly removed, you can contact any four-star user admin like myself, SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" and SSG Carlos Madden for a review.

Response by Steven Sam Starkey made May 28 at 2016 6:11 AM

Steven Sam Starkey — Sat, 28 May 2016 06:11:17 -0400

If it's owned/produced by an individual or company, YES. This is America! IF someone /organization deletes a thread or topic you are communicating on, SIMPLY CREATE A BLOG or find another site to participate with.
You have the right to FREE SPEECH AND EXPRESSION OF POLITICAL VIEWS. THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO DELETE OR discontinue any thread on their SITE!
To be a FREE COUNTRY IT MUST GO BOTH WAYS- NOT JUST OUR OWN!

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 28 at 2016 10:30 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 28 May 2016 10:30:42 -0400

Are RP and FB public forums or are they privately owned sites?

Therein lies the answer.

Play by the rules or the owner has the right to not allow you to play.

Response by AB Duncan Anderson made Dec 7 at 2017 6:40 AM

AB Duncan Anderson — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 06:40:52 -0500

Free speech does not mean that you can propagate lies and/or misinformation... that’s how you dumb down the populace!

Response by SPC David Willis made Apr 10 at 2018 10:48 AM

SPC David Willis — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 10:48:13 -0400

You're using someone else's intellectual property to communicate over. The 1A only states the police cannot come and arrest you for speaking your mind, it does not state business owners must let you use their platform as a bully pulpit.

Response by CWO2 James Mathews made Apr 19 at 2018 11:34 PM

CWO2 James Mathews — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 23:34:23 -0400

Not having all the information on this topic, I feel that I need to ask the following questions:

>> When RallyPoint removes a comment, do they have the courtesy to notify the author of that comment about the action taken and the reason for it, and if not, why not?

>> If the answer to the first question is "NO", then does RallyPoint remove so many comments that such a courtesy is too financially or practically possible to do so?

I tend to agree with the CW5 Montgomery, in regard to corporations setting rules for their opinion organizations, since without such rules there is always someone who will take advantage of an offered situation and do damage either as a prank or with deliberate intent! This possibility must be considered in all such organizations. In regard to the term "freedom of speech" each person in the world takes that comment in a slightly different context, and mature comments, having considered both sides of the question, and using civil language is not often understood by all. Added to the confusion, any one of the three preceding standards will differ in the understanding of different people. What Civil Language is to Peter, may not agree with John's View, and Joe's idea of a mature comment may not meet Susan's standard, Geraldine's view of considering both sides of a question, may well differ significantly from Richard's view! So care should be used in the speech that you use or select for additional publishing, together with the permission of the original author. I believe all of the above should be followed in making personal views here. I cannot speak to Facebook since I do not understand the other side of that particular story, fully as yet. When a mistake is made an apology is normally the proper thing to do, and again, that idea surely will have differing opinions among a wide variety of people!