(Headdesk)
So, did you read what I actually posted, or did you just skim it, decide you didn't like what it said, and reject the whole post out of hand? Because that sure as shit seems like what you did.
I flat out said that OF COURSE the moderators on this forum are allowed to dictate what is allowed on the board and what isn't allowed on the board. I clearly admit that. What I THEN go on to say is that seeing as how it's a DISCUSSION forum, it is usually in the best interests (as in, it promotes DISCUSSION) to allow a myriad of viewpoints to be posted so that people with differing views can meet, realize that there are people in the world who do not necessarily agree with each other, and then they can DISCUSS as to why they don't agree with each other.
Look, I can't speak for anyone else's academic training, but the first thing I learned when I was an undergrad was this principle: "People aren't always going to agree with you. This is not the end of the world. It is therefore imperative to talk about why you don't agree about things and maybe they'll convince you, maybe you'll convince them, or maybe you'll just decide you're never going to agree and you both walk away with no hard feelings. But it is important that you TALK."
This is something that is getting lost these days because "No. You're wrong. I don't want to hear about it. And also, you're a Nazi."
Again, for the record, I do not dispute the idea that it is well within the rights of the people who run this board to shut down whatever it is they don't like. I do, however, think that it works contrary to the purposes of a DISCUSSION board. Now you want to argue the technicality that "Well, this post doesn't belong here, but it does belong there, etc. etc." Ok, fine, that's a different topic. And you may just be right about that, but that's not the argument you were putting forward a moment ago. The argument you were putting forth a moment ago was basically "I (or whoever is in charge here) can tell you to shut up... so... shut up."
See my point?