Turkey Thread and censorship

[GeneW]

I just checked out the "Turkey Thread". Aside some use of profanity and a picture of a young woman that would pass the muster in any lingerie catalog that one gets in the mail I didn't see anything that could be classed as "offensive". Except for those of us with pronounced sensibilities about animal cruelty or vegetarian leanings.


I think that the idea of censorship needs some further discussion and elaboration. One cannot discuss some topics without the risk of offending some people. There are ideas which by implication will offend the comfortable assumptions and values of some. There are also ideas that trouble some folks because of their own prejudices and values.

In my opinion we need to demarcate what is and is not "indecent" and worthy of censorship. The moderators are busy and cannot respond to every complaint.

There is also the disturbing prospect of some abusing their "sensibilities" to stifle some posters or ideas from some posters. This is known as "censorship by proxy". Such posters will act as moderators and impose their own values upon others.

I think that most cultures are able to demarcate between "adult" and "juvenile" content. Children do not discuss some things because they lack the experience and maturity to comprehend them.

Would it be safe to assume that anyone who owns a Yaris is probably at least in their late adolescence, perhaps older?

Would it also be reasonable to assume that there is a way to reach consensus upon what is and is not "out of bounds"?

In this way we can self censor and spare the moderators the burden of policing us. We can also eliminate the grotesque prospect of some persons imposing their own values upon others in an underhanded way. I am not accusing anyone at this time of doing so, but I wish to prevent the possibility.

Gene