Censorship/Why are our posts being deleted??

[joycekatherine]

I don't understand why the post "Intolerance of other's views" was deleted!  Don't we all have a right to voice our opinions?  Most of us are adults and act accordingly.  There was absolutely nothing wrong with my post and I didn't really see anything wrong with other's posts!  I have to say that I resent it very much, this is a way for everyone to be heard and to work out any problems on our own.  I will allow that I did not see any of the posts after mine, but to remove the whole discussion???  I don't know if this is a place that I want to be a part of, if every word we say is subject to a moderator's delete button!!  I feel that most everyone handled themselves with dignity and respected the TOS and if some did not, then remove their posts, don't remove everyone's!!  I am really ticked about this and it takes alot to get me there!  I suppose that no one will be able to read this either, as it will undoubtedly be removed by BIG BROTHER again...this is wrong...

[Cherie762]

sending you a pm

[zodiacqueen]

I totally agree with you!!!

Get ready to say good bye to this thread too!  =(

[April2]

I agree. It was surprising to see that and another one deleted. I thought it was going well. There was no cussing or abuse that I could see. I didn't see it to the end but I thought it even lightened up there towards the end.
We're all going to have different opinions and beliefs and that's ok. This is how we learn from each other by talking about all of that and sharing with each other. I honestly didn't see anything wrong with the threads that disappeared. I've seen worse, much worse. I really don't understand it either. It's disappointing as I truly think, given the chance, that we can all work things out, talk, learn from each other, and hopefully grow. It's ok to have emotions as long as we are still respectful of each other. No one should have to feel threatened by another's viewpoint or beliefs if we're secure in our own beliefs, which I know I am. Oh well, all we can do is try, right? It does make me wonder, though, what we can talk about.

[joycekatherine]

The only way to learn tolerance, is to be given the chance to do so...by deleting our whole discussion, we were not allowed to express ourselves and work thru the issues.  And, what is the worst that could happen by allowing the thread to continue??  Nobody would be able to make it into a physical altercation, not over the internet...they were words, and I don't believe that the terms of service were violated...very perplexing to a lot of us, I'm sure...

[redheadaussie]

Maybe they are trying to keep the topics light hearted and less inflammatory...just my 2 cents worth.

[joycekatherine]

Maybe so, but, if that is the case, why do we bother sharing our opinions and thoughts?  If the only thing that is acceptable to write about are light hearted thoughts feelings, then we are not really sharing our total selves...Stepford Wives comes to mind.  This is a site for people with illnesses, we don't always feel light hearted and we need to be able to express ourselves...good or bad.  I understand and appreciate what you are saying, Red, I guess censorship really rubs me the wrong way...here in the States, the issue of Freedom of Speech is something we hold dear and are willing to fight for and defend the right to it.  I could understand if someone was talking dirty or swearing or threatening, but, as far as I know, that was not the case here.  I thank you for your 2 cents and defend you right to give it!!  :) joyce

[Barb135]

I agree with joycekatherine - there was nothing wrong with that thread.  We ARE adults and we won't always agree on every little thing that comes along.  That's what made this a neat site - there was always something interesting going on whether you were interested in politics, the news in general, games, or whatever.  

Now it doesn't seem like there's much point in starting a "conversation" or joining one for that matter because if you sign off the computer, the thread is likely to be gone when you come back to check it.  As soon as someone doesn't like what's being said, it will be deleted.  Wow, that shocks me...........

joycekatherine is right - we don't always feel lighthearted, so it appears that we can't be ourselves.  What a shame!!  

[ChitChatNine]

It's my opinion (and from what I've seen in the past 2.5yrs being a very active member)  that when a thread takes a turn where one post after the next is against the TOS the thread is going to come down.   It causes a disruption on the community, and is destined to disappear --- In my opinion it isn't censorship --- it's about continuity and following the TOS which apply to the entire site.

I love this Social site as a place to "escape" to when the health concerns get to be a lot, it's a place to kick off my shoes and be me ---- and it's a great place to see my friends and talk non-health -- talk real world.  

I feel it's not censorship -- it's a well-run, moderated site and when a whole thread comes down, it isn't aimed at one person -- it's the negative flow of the entire thread is what I think.

So, let's move on and start a new thread and a new day.

C~

[margypops]

I dont take it personally, its going to happen, I was attacked personally yesterday by a member for the second time this time she chose to do it on someone elses thread the last time it was on my journal, where I was expressing my disgust thgat the mi=ain stream media would put up a lot of new regarding the late term abortionist who was shot whilst I had heard hardly any news regarding the shooting of a soldier in our country by an Islamic terrorist, , the member didnt like this and attacked me called me a bigot , and full of hatred.I deleted her form my journal then I wrote a journal telling what happened why I deleted her ,and calling her out as a bully, I did not name her.Yesterday out of the blue she dicided to do the same thing, she called me personal names ,Bigot etc  it was taken out immediatly , rightly so ...it says no personal attacks will be tolerated...It had nothing to do with Big brother MH was right.......

[Melissa0116]

Thank you for posting this thread.  I was very angry about the deletion of my thread once again.  This has been the 2nd thread that I had deleted and 10 of my posts from the other day were deleted.  I was so angry about this last evening that all that I wanted to do was post a new thread and attack whomever did this.  But, I kept me cool and just left the site for the evening.  I really have met some wonderful people on MH and all of them with different views.  I have no issue with different views unless they attack me personally or call nasty names.  I really thought that possibly that last thread was turning out great and that everyone was starting to understand that we must show each other respect.  

This is considered a form of censorship no matter what anyone considers it.  If you do not want others views on a particular thread then don't post it to begin with and if you don't like the subject and feel you will just be on the attack against the person that posted it then do not read or post any answers to it.  

I just do not find this all to be a coincidence.  I have had someone delete my posts as well as threads and I have not been nasty or ignorant to anyone or their views.  I just think that some just do not want to deal with others points of view and then decide that they have the power so they will delete them.  

I would let this go and move on but unfortunately, I have been personally attacked too much and this is just totally out of hand.  I enjoy being here but some just try to push people out for their own agendas.  

[kitonthemoon]

I don't get on MH often, due to my health issues, except to check on few friends that I've made h ere and concern about.  However, this thread caught my attention, I hope you don't mind me giving my 2cents.

I suppose each site has its own R & R's and webmaster has the right to decide to remove ones' post or not.

I don't believe making personal attack  just because you have a difference of opinion. I usually ignore posts that come on too strong and different than my own.

We all have our health problems, negative emotions can excerbate our condition and make us feel more miserable.  It is really not worth it.  Don't you all think?

In friendship,
Kit

[PlateletGal]

The only censorship that I really don't approve of is censoring members posts who don't violate MedHelp rules.

[twehner5]

WOW!  Maybe these people need to join Green Peace!

[tatorbug40]

your journal could have been incriminating anyway, once you actually "offed" him-  so it is good you took it down!  LOL!

[twehner5]

GOOD ONE!!!!  She's thinking about your welfare, have 2 kids!!!!

[margypops]

You know on reflection on what is happening I think everyone is under pressure at presant due to  things happening to this country, , there seems to be an undercurrant of hostility coming frorm both parties ,we have had many 'rows' here,about Policies we believe in, we are never going to be that tolerant are we with so much at stake, I think we should let it happen and have a good old debate but not get to the personal attacks  this is what this member  has been doing, sounds like she cant help it..so no personal attacks but hey lets have the Political ones ...Bring it on I say...remember we are Not a Nation of Cowards we are Americans...

[heatherlynn22]

big brother is watching.....

[Med Help]

Hi,

As with all communities here, if there are personal attacks stemming from disagreements, we will delete them. If the entire thread gets out of hand, we will delete the whole thread instead of just continually deleting comments. Recently there have been a lot of posts that have turned into personal attacks, mostly around politics. Disagreements are fine, just don't attack each other. If you do, the post will be removed.

MedHelp

[Barb135]

There we have it - sounds like,  so long as we play nice in the sand box, we can have our discussions, even when we don't agree - did I understand that correctly?  

Being attacked and called names is no fun for ANY of us, so how about we "do unto others as we would have them do unto us" ??  Works for me............

[margypops]

Yes ... Truce to anyone who offended me.....I am now unoffended now lets get on with getting this country back to its original Glory, its almost the 4th July Folks whatever policies we have we are all agreed you didnt want the Brits here 'ruling 'you..  did you .....

[ChitChatNine]

We can go on over to my poll about What are you Doing for 4th of July ...

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/MedHelp-Social/4th-July-Plans--What-are-you-doing/show/989183

Let's see how many of us are up to something fun this weekend!

C~

[margypops]

Oh I am sorry I didnt see that I was so astounded and pre-occupied with mine ,all is cool ..all done with .....

[April2]

I must have missed something too. Last I knew we were talking about "Shmoopy" and all was well. Oh well, life goes on, eh?

[Melissa0116]

I love my schmoopy's!  LOL

[lonewolf07]

I don't think I'm the Shmoopy type - although I don't remember what Shmoopy means.

That's fine Margy.  I guess a lot of us are preoccupied.

[teko]

I thought things were improving? Im gone one day and come back and half the posts are gone again! hmmm. Im not surprised. Oh well...

[Melissa0116]

shmoopy means a term of endearment.  So, you are a shmoopy since I and others care about you and find you to be a friend.  So, a shmoopy is just a term to show love and admiration for someone.  

[MJIthewriter]

I missed the original thread, due to being active on other websites. I can't judge for sure if it crossed the lines somewhere or not. I'm just stating what I've observed over my one and a half so years of being on this site.

Could it be they want members who need to work things out with each other to use the pm feature, rather than trying to work it out in public? I noticed that if members have personal issues with eachother, if they are brought out in the open, eventually the discussion becomes heated and the thread goes down.

[MJIthewriter]

Also to add to this, ideally if members have an issue with the medhelp staff or disagree with something the staff are doing, they want you to contact them directly, rather than to post about it in the open.  Lately the medhelp staff don't favor negative feedback about their site being posted out in the open for the world to read.

If I think about it, I probably wouldn't like it either if I had a website. I guess it all boils down to, do you really want your potential heated discussions left out in the open for the world to read?  I can be rather emotional and not think before hitting the reply, but lately I have been giving it some thought.  Not just members read these threads but anyone who searches Google and stumbles upon a medhelp topic.

[joycekatherine]

I did contact them directly,  and they were very nice, about the whole thing, and explained the reasons they had for doing what they did, now, I understand why,
and give props, to the moderator, who handled the situation, with dignity and "Tolerance."
And the reason, that I posted this thread, on social, is because a lot of people were involved with what happened, it was not a "private' problem.  I like to keep everything in the open, above board,no secrets, stand for what I believe in, and to have the questions answered, for everyone,  not just for myself.  Also, I don't write anything, in private, that I would be ashamed, for anyone in the public to see...
As for this site, while it is true, that *we* don't own it, essentially, it is ours, because without *us*, there would not be, a MedHelp site functioning & growing everyday!
Happy Fourth, everyone!!!!!!  Happy Birthday, America<3  joycekatherine

[Melissa0116]

Very well said.  Have a great weeken and wonderful 4th of July.