Farmerbob1
Rest in Peace
- Location
- Atlanta-ish
Politics have touched on Forum Staff in a way that should be of concern to all of us.
Roughly 24 hours ago, one of the directors of the site, Director @LordSquishy , decided to make clear where he stands on free speech.
Specifically, Lordsquishy stated that "the First Amendment is a very poor model. Inartfully drafted, poorly considered, and in implementation essentially evil,"
Later, in this response, @foamy defended LordSquishy, trying to say that the comment was a rhetorical flourish. If the statement was merely a rhetorical fluourish, where is the apology and/or edit of the original statement by LordSquishy after our esteemed Director was called out on it?
The answer is simple. LordSquishy actually believes that the first amendment is evil. The same first amendent that has been instrumental in ending slavery, allowing women to vote, gaining equal rights for people of color, and allowing those of alternate sexuality to start to gain equal rights, amongst many other things.
As many of you can certainly attest, I am also as a fellow who is very difficult to convince to change my beliefs. At that level, I can respect LordSquishy for being unwilling to make a false retraction or apology. Standing up for what he believes in, even if that belief shows him to be ignorant, shows that at least he isn't an intellectual coward.
I am not calling for LordSquishy's removal. That would need to be handled through different channels. I believe in free speech. I believe that it is LordSquishy's right to believe that free speech is evil, even in a site devoted to literature, despite the fact that literature has long been one of the bastions of free speech.
However, I also believe that it is my responsibility as a member of this community to advise other members of the community, to the best of my ability, what LordSquisy has revealed of his inner thoughts. LordSquishy is a part of the staff. He helps to set moderation standards. If he does hold the belief that the gold standard of free speech is evil, and other staff members abide by it, and even make excuses for it, that bodes poorly for the future exchange of ideas on this site.
I have tagged both LordSquishy and Foamy in this post in order to allow them to quickly defend themselves. I do not know that I would believe a retraction by LordSquishy after he allowed so much time to pass between his original statement and now, but I think he should have the right to express an apology, and the reason for his delay, if Foamy was correct, and the statement was rhetorical.
Something else to watch out for. Will this thread be locked, or will I be site-banned because I dared to make a public announcement that we have a potential free-speech-hater at the highest levels of the staff?
Roughly 24 hours ago, one of the directors of the site, Director @LordSquishy , decided to make clear where he stands on free speech.
Specifically, Lordsquishy stated that "the First Amendment is a very poor model. Inartfully drafted, poorly considered, and in implementation essentially evil,"
Later, in this response, @foamy defended LordSquishy, trying to say that the comment was a rhetorical flourish. If the statement was merely a rhetorical fluourish, where is the apology and/or edit of the original statement by LordSquishy after our esteemed Director was called out on it?
The answer is simple. LordSquishy actually believes that the first amendment is evil. The same first amendent that has been instrumental in ending slavery, allowing women to vote, gaining equal rights for people of color, and allowing those of alternate sexuality to start to gain equal rights, amongst many other things.
As many of you can certainly attest, I am also as a fellow who is very difficult to convince to change my beliefs. At that level, I can respect LordSquishy for being unwilling to make a false retraction or apology. Standing up for what he believes in, even if that belief shows him to be ignorant, shows that at least he isn't an intellectual coward.
I am not calling for LordSquishy's removal. That would need to be handled through different channels. I believe in free speech. I believe that it is LordSquishy's right to believe that free speech is evil, even in a site devoted to literature, despite the fact that literature has long been one of the bastions of free speech.
However, I also believe that it is my responsibility as a member of this community to advise other members of the community, to the best of my ability, what LordSquisy has revealed of his inner thoughts. LordSquishy is a part of the staff. He helps to set moderation standards. If he does hold the belief that the gold standard of free speech is evil, and other staff members abide by it, and even make excuses for it, that bodes poorly for the future exchange of ideas on this site.
I have tagged both LordSquishy and Foamy in this post in order to allow them to quickly defend themselves. I do not know that I would believe a retraction by LordSquishy after he allowed so much time to pass between his original statement and now, but I think he should have the right to express an apology, and the reason for his delay, if Foamy was correct, and the statement was rhetorical.
Something else to watch out for. Will this thread be locked, or will I be site-banned because I dared to make a public announcement that we have a potential free-speech-hater at the highest levels of the staff?
