Quote:
Originally Posted by wbradley
Administrator or Moderator-
Don't forget the value of a site with paid advertising is it's users.
Actions such as deleting non offensive threads due to expletives will drive away people.
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Probably not as much as a forum filled with flame wars.
I'm sure there is a balancing act to managing the environment enough for those that would leave because the environment is too hostile from one leaving because of censorship. Constructive arguments that don't divulge too much into ad hominem attacks seem to be fine, and it also seems to be fine to discuss conspiracy theories or baseless ideas as long as the threads don't turn into a repository for conspiracy statements and propaganda ads. If someone wants to blog nonsense and post conspiracy theory memes then there are other platforms for spam. Genuine inquiry and constructive debates seem to be fine. These threads seem to cycle in a new conspiracy theorist every few months, and that is when the conversation seems to go off topic and divulge into old debates that have been long resolved, or regresses to regurgitated conspiracy theories and propaganda that no one really wants to hear again and again. I don't mind educating people again and again. Teachers do this every year when they teach the same thing to a batch of new students. Same thing. Unfortunately, some people just aren't exposed to the science or correct information. It can be frustrating when it appears like someone has their head in the sand, and sometimes this is the case, but the evidence can speak for itself. Eventually the person will see for themselves that their arguments are fallacious or unsubstantiated, and they will move on or reconsider their position. Isn't that what we have seen so far?