CompuServe Messages

Hi Mark, Personally, I agree that people are sometimes too sensitive about words. However, commercial networks are not democracies, even if it may appear that way because of most sysops bending over backwards to avoid using the selection powers they have as contractors… powers used far rarer on CIS than most places, I think. I know *I* should've been censored once or twice <grin>. In any case, your phone conversation analogy doesn't hold… a private talk is quite different from speaking in public, as we're doing here. A better analogy might be something like this: Someone joins a huge Amiga club where there are thousands of paid members of all ages. He gets up before a microphone and happens to throw in some minor swear word while describing his current problems. Some people ignore it, others slightly raise an eyebrow. An official (or anyone) might even later take him aside and make a well-intentioned suggestion, to prevent the possibility of his offending other members in the future (which could also be bad for membership). I don't think anyone would consider this a matter of "free speech rights"… but only the usage of common sense, taste, and public manners. Here, as in real life, what "goes" depends on the group and the audience. Use of the club microphone in the future has no Constitutional guarantee, and is not subject to your personal tastes, no matter how paid up your dues are <grin>. Either official or membership tastes decide all. best – Kevin