mikeporterinmd":1id3snme said:
We have some serious choices to make soon. Allowing folks who have no
credible evidence, no education on the topic, or really much of any basis
to speak on a topic to continue to spout off as if they do really needs to be
called out.
Free speech is a great thing, but we all need to a good job vetting who
we listen to.
Mike
Agreed!
Free speech is not unlimited. It is constrained all the time by the laws regarding slander, libel, and incitement to riot, etc.
It is also true that discussion forums are created for certain purposes, this one for the purpose of discussing boating and related issues.
There are forums elsewhere for discussing politics, religion, economics, history, and whether Adam and Eve should have used birth control, etc.
I liken the situation coming to here like going fishing. I do it for pleasure. If the two buddies that I have been taking along start getting into some outrageous debates everytime we go out, I'll find other friends that can stay with the day's agenda. I don't need an ongoing diatribe from two or more people that already know each other's positions. No fun in that!
If some of our members want to debate a controversial off-boating topic, let them do it elsewhere! No point ruining this very best boating forum on the internet so that a few can vent on each other in the pretense of free speech. I personally doubt they would do it privately without the audience this forum provides.
No, I'm not wanting to live in fantasyland, just enjoy all my friends here without letting a few turn this place into the equivalent of an Letters to the Editor section of a rag newspaper.
Every year folks get bored and testy with the winter weather change and the in-house "lock-up". I do think it contributes to these issues developing, and I also believe we're also getting a lot of imput from new folks that don't yet appreciate our standards and expectations.
It's time to put an end to wanton and controversial discussions that are rude and not about boating!
Vent your boredom and anger elsewhere!
Joe. :thup