Free speech is OT, or should be OT on this forum. Not relevant.
There is no freedom of speech on these forums. What we have is a User's Agreement, which we all agreed to abide by when we signed up to get the privilege to post here. Here is what the User's Agreement says about calling someone a rude arrogant jackass, or similar:
"Personal Attacks - Bear Insider will not tolerate hateful speech, degrading remarks, or personal attacks made about other posters, athletes/coaches/faculty at University of California, or anyone else.
Due to the size, scope and diversity of this forum, subjects that elicit differing opinions and passionate beliefs will undoubtedly be posted. Please remember that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Refrain from attacking users in a malicious manner because their opinions and remember to direct your disagreement at a poster's argument and not at the poster as a person. Many good threads have been derailed in the past because they have devolved from constructive debate into name calling.
Criticisms of coaches or administrators at University of California need to be kept to their official capacities as coach or administrator. Attacking these individuals personally is not an appropriate discourse on this forum. This includes calling for the firing of a coach or administrator. In no way does this mean that we agree with the performance of a coach, or are hedging our alignment with a coaching staff or athletic department."
GreyBear and some others started this very popular forum, and they developed those rules to control totally free speech for a reason. I've twice been banned for long periods by GreyBear himself, for what I cannot remember. Since then I have tried to tone it down, but still have my moments of getting ticked off and exercising no self control. It requires that one thicken one's skin, and get to a happier place. Since the passing of GreyBear, fewer posters seem to get banned. In the absence of close supervision by the moderators, it should be up to us to control our outbursts in accordance with Forum policy. Otherwise, it will get really nasty, and already has started again in that direction. If GreyBear were here, several of us would have been banned or suspended by now. I think the moderators have been tolerant enough now and we need to start monitoring ourselves like adults, so they don't have to step back in and boot some posters out of here.
The Arabs and the Israelis hate each other. The smart Arabs and the smart Israelis continue to talk to each other. Which is better than throwing rocks or rockets or shooting bullets and dropping bombs. What is the purpose of calling another person a vile name? Is it just to feel good, like, "Boy, I sure nailed the SOB with that one," didn't I? Aren't you also just trying to shut down his opinion, because you don't agree with it, and you can't seem to convince him otherwise? You will never be able to convince someone of your opinion if you don't engage with him, don't talk with him. If you start calling him names, you just get farther apart, and you both get madder and madder and ------ no where. Let's all try and get back to what GreyBear envisioned: Cal basketball.
I will if you will.
SFCityBear
