Fair enough. We have decided our priorities and maybe that is good. But we can't say "don't accuse players of cheating" and at the same time declare that we are hardliners on free speech. We accept there are grey areas and we accept that we decide when a boundary had been crossed.

Our rules about intentionally false accusations of cheating are equivalent to society's rules about intentionally false accusations of crimes. The "line" here -- and I don't really feel it's a line at all -- is that when it comes to matters that lead to banishment from the community, you don't get to accuse people falsely on purpose.

That's not restricting free speech. That's protecting individuals from false banishment.

The line here - is you don't get to accuse people full stop, whether true or false.
It is still a line. You may call it "protecting individuals" but by the same argument we could say "I am not against free speech, I am just against racial vilification".
As soon as we define "protecting individuals" or "stopping racial vilification" we limit speech. This is not a bad thing. Free speech is not a black or white issue.

Claiming there is a problem on the site or making up false claims about cheaters lead to a waste of resources in investigating nothing. Racist remarks do not. The former could lead to the site being in a state of disrepair as the real cheaters have a higher chance of getting away with it because the mods are flooded with shit. The latter is just an inconvenience to those who are easily offended.

jD_ShockTrooper. That is a much better argument than the claim that we are "protecting free speech".

sticks & stones
get over yourself

Freedom of speech is a fine thing... but then so is freedom of association. If I own this site I can ban anyone who gets on my nerves just as I would kick out a rude guest in my house. This is a private forum.

Let's assume for the moment that this was a forum paid for by tax dollars and sponsored by the government... well, then this site would be akin to a public building or square - where individuals have the right to pass through and assemble peaceably without being assaulted (assault does not have to be physical) or harassed. There is an expectation of civility in a civil society. Can we define it to the gnat's ass to cover all cases and all societies? Probably not - but, some expectation of civility and respect for your fellow man is reasonable - and there is no reason why purely harassing/abusive behavior should be tolerated. How privileged someone must feel to think that they can be purposely obnoxious in a social setting and yet somehow still feel that they have a right to full membership in that social group. Again - freedom of association. These things must be balanced.

Well said dextor morgn. +1

I burst out laughing. lol@roland being butthurt over nothing.

oh, and you're a backwards hick, Eden, I always knew it. How's that crocodile taste? Tell your sister hello for me.

Alligator, not crocodile, you fucking weird-talking boy-kissing Yankee. And my sister said not to come up in here with that 3-incher ever again. I spoiled her.

((See? THAT is how you respond to a comment like the one the TC dealt with.))

That's what I figured. Well out here in California the women love the 3-inchers. they consider them 'cute' and 'gentle' so there!

That's 'cause they're so high on that 'marriage-uh-wah-nuh' shit y'all smoke that they can't tell left from right! At least our tobacco-ridden women have good sense to see when somebody can't deliver! (And the lack of teeth means no risk of getting it bitten on the job. So THERE.)

It's better that way, because then they accidentally use their left hand instead of their right :3. Tobacco isn't the only thing your women are ridden with.

That may be true, but can you beat me in football?

Maybe not, but I bet I can play a meaner game of baseball than you.

I wouldn't be so sure about that, since baseball, football, fried seafood, women and oil are the only things we have down here.

You can hit a baseball pretty far when the LSD you took makes the baseball look like a bat out of hell.

Yeah, but when your environmental standards are so lax thanks to hyper-conservatism that your drinking water contains elephant steroids, you can smack around just about anything, baseballs included.

Sure, especially in anonymous games. It is a great way of getting people to underestimate you or attack you when they are not in a good position to do so. Though I do not think that abusive language is ever necessary or welcome. However, this is the internet, lets face it you can't search for anything without dirty and pornographic references appearing as a result. If you cannot deal with idiots, people who use foul language, or sex references get off the computer.

The way I was using the word was like "What the Hell did he say?" kinda of saying a Jew is going to hell. That is my belief so is it still anti-semitic?

I personally try to avoid any religious questions/phrases online, less chance of offending anyone.

Hopefully the new mute feature will let people block out people they dont want to hear from while keeping the mod team from having to get tied up in the impossible task of deciding what is / isn't offensive. Let me know if you spot any problems

That's what those are. This might be problematic in the actual games, but should be an interesting feature. Thanks, kestas!

Can we all agree to mute Eden? Would be hard for him to form alliances and win if he can't talk? :)

...FUCK

I knew I could use the new feature to my advantage. Next, how to make sure you stay up all day...

Damnit, i muted Eden, how do i unmute him?

You can't. That's the beauty of my strategy.