21:45 Sep 28 2012
Times Read: 855
I found a great website that explains a few things:
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2009/09/free-speech-in-online-communities-the-delusion-of-entitlement
Free Speech and Contract Law
Free speech protection, however, does not extend to private homes or businesses. You may have the right to say what you like in a public forum, but you don’t have the right to enter a private home or business and do that. In such situations your right to free speech is subject to the discretion of the owner of that private forum.
Contract law may apply in many cases as well. With some limitations it’s perfectly legal for a contract to limit the right of free speech. This is because you have the ability to enter into a contract that restricts your right to free speech.
I’ve signed many business deals over the years that restrict my free speech rights. Many business contracts include a non-disclosure clause, whereby I agree that I won’t disclose certain financial or other protected info that another business shares with me. This is very common in business.
It’s likely you’ve entered into many contracts over the years that restrict your right to free speech. For example, if you ever sign up for an online service and agreed to their Terms of Service, they usually define pretty clearly what restrictions you’re agreeing to.
Free Speech Online
For many of the online sites where you may think free speech is protected, you’re required to contractually agree to limit your free speech rights. You actually don’t have the same right to free speech that you would in a truly public forum.
This is true of Facebook, Twitter, and pretty much all the major social media sites I’m aware of. Review their Terms of Service and see for yourself.
In most cases the restrictions are reasonable and maybe even necessary for maintaining a quality service. It depends on who’s running the service.
While it may seem that you’re entitled to free speech just the same as you would in a public forum, in actuality you waived that right when you joined the service. That was a condition of your registration.
Some online services are quite liberal when it comes to restricting your free speech rights, while others are more restrictive.
Common Courtesy
When people approach online communities with the erroneous belief that they’re entitled to unbridled free speech, this misjudgment often leads to inappropriate behavior.
For example, sometimes people will register for my forums and try to trash talk me.
I don’t mind a bit of friendly ribbing now and then, and I’m all for intelligent debate, but if people come to my website and try to treat me, my friends, my business associates, or other members of my community with disrespect, they get banned very quickly.
Try going around to various privately owned forums and trash talk the site owner and his/her family. See how long it takes before your account is nuked. Sure, some people will allow you to do that. Some people don’t care. Some don’t pay attention. Some will get into it with you because they like the drama. But quite often you’ll end up having your account disabled. Ostensibly it’s for violating their Terms of Service. But in reality, you got banned for behaving like a jerk in someone else’s home. And when you find yourself bounced to the curb, see how much anyone cares to hear your protests that you were simply exercising your right to free speech. I’m sure the crickets will enjoy listening to your well-formed arguments.
You Are an Invited Guest
Here’s an attitude I suggest you adopt when it comes to participating in online communities. When you visit someone else’s online community, you’re a guest in the owner’s online home. Behave accordingly. Your participation is a privilege subject to the owner’s discretion.
I hit the important parts of a few of the areas because they were so long in explains. But this basically sums up a lot of misconceptions going on. It isn't hard to find things to either prove yourself right, or wrong, on the internet. There is a lot of information at your finger tips. Some people have laid out these certain things for that reason; so people can research and not be ignorant on a subject matter.
COMMENTS
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imagesinwords
21:50 Sep 30 2012
That bites.
supernova
22:47 Sep 30 2012
Nothing was saved on ur SD card? I'm suprized your carrier didn't offer backup assistance...I have a HTC and when I did a system restore it saved all my pics and my contacts thru the backup system...damn...that way sucks...
MooniePie
00:49 Oct 01 2012
It bites big time. I had a game on there that I was really far into. :|
The partition on my phone went bad. I think it was something I downloaded. It was running unstable and I lost most of my stuff then. So there wasn't any point in not doing a restore.
I'll be so glad when I can get a new phone. This phone was good when I first got it. Over time it just went to hell.
Naraku
07:33 Oct 01 2012
Ouch. I personally use an HTC Supersonic (aka EVO 4G) though lost numbers because of other Android handsets. I'm growing weary of the glitches and issues, so I'm doing an iPhone soon.
Abstract
05:20 Oct 02 2012
I should, like, give you my number anyway. Pretty sure you didn't have it before. lol
MooniePie
18:21 Oct 02 2012
You should, dammit! :P