BTF Moderation/Editing/(Censorship?)

[Ashveer]

I've noticed threads lately getting locked for no reason ("do you think its disrespectful to have a khanda/ik onkar tattood on you?" ??) and posts seemingly getting deleted (Virsa: Our Tradition Bhangra Tryouts) I understand that in both of these threads there was passionate and heated discussion about certain topics, but I don't see how and why threads that are not vulgar and out of control are being moderated as such. Is there a change in moderation of the community that I am unaware of?

 

[Saleem]

Hi Ashveer,

No there hasn't been a change in moderation policy, nor has there been censorship. Please note that moderators will split or delete parts of a thread which have veered off-course of the original topic:

7. Thread Drifting/Steering: Please keep discussions on topic. Moderators reserve the right to split a thread or delete parts to guide the discussion based on original intent.

The khanda/ik onkaar split was hidden/removed because, rather than being a second, vibrant discussion, it had ceased that and gone more towards "are you sikh (enough)". I do encourage BTF members to re-start the thread in a constructive light.

Similarly, the Virsa:OT deletions were relevant to a moderation action (which broke rule #8):

8. Forum signatures are not a place for inappropriate material such as attacks, slander, harassment, political or religious remarks.

and, for reasons similar to above, were hidden/deleted. I also encourage a healthy discussion of Gandhi's contributions to the formation of India as compared to Bhagat Singh and others.

Hope this clarifies things. Not looking to censor, but rather to cull the destructive posts out of the thread.

 

[faizan]

i think the censoring of jabar jungs "fuck gandhi" profile signature was overboard, and went too far. People have their political beliefs, and are allowed to hate who they want. I dislike the policies of the state of israel, and if i had something that said fuck zionism in my profile, it would never be deleted.

Moderator's note: Please refrain from inflammatory comments as per the BTF Registration Agreement. [redacted] . If this comment is not deleted, then this is hypocrisy.

Furthermore, if anyone uses any sexually prejudiced terms, then their post should be deleted as well...

my point is, that i think that btf is getting too censored and patriarchal.

 

[terabaap]

^^^ fail at reading comprehension

 

[Pooja]

i think the censoring of jabar jungs "fuck gandhi" profile signature was overboard, and went too far. People have their political beliefs, and are allowed to hate who they want.

Yes, but this is not a forum to spread hate speech. This forum is not a political avenue where you vent your hatred in such a harsh manner for political figures/policies/etc. when you KNOW it will offend others. By all means, as Saleem said, healthy discussions are the way to go...but there is nothing positive behind that statement and it is by no means enlightening either.

If I wrote (and I don't believe or advocate any such belief) "f*** Bhagat Singh" do you know how many hate spewing PMs I would be getting on this forum?!

Why are people using BTF as an avenue for their political aggressions? Go post it on an "I hate Gandhi" website.

 

[Jeeti]

i think the censoring of jabar jungs "fuck gandhi" profile signature was overboard, and went too far. People have their political beliefs, and are allowed to hate who they want.

Yes, but this is not a forum to spread hate speech. This forum is not a political avenue where you vent your hatred in such a harsh manner for political figures/policies/etc. when you KNOW it will offend others. By all means, as Saleem said, healthy discussions are the way to go...but there is nothing positive behind that statement and it is by no means enlightening either.

If I wrote (and I don't believe or advocate any such belief) "f*** Bhagat Singh" do you know how many hate spewing PMs I would be getting on this forum?!

Why are people using BTF as an avenue for their political aggressions? Go post it on an "I hate Gandhi" website.

Thank you Pooja. By all means, healthy discussion is encouraged on this website...but messages of hate will not be tolerated. Is it too much to ask of members to express their opinions in a way that can be discussed?

 

[Ashveer]

I dislike the policies of the state of israel, and if i had something that said fuck zionism in my profile, it would never be deleted.

+a zillion

Thanks for the clarification Saleem, I personally don't think the tattoo discussion became a "are you sikh (enough)" and instead people trying to discuss an issue that is very relevant among today's diasporia. A couple of members felt uncomfortable with the discussion of such a personal issue, but I don't see that as grounds for the locking of a post, I understand that the moderators have the executive decision and the topic can be reinstated whenever.

 

[Saleem]

Ashveer,
I agree that there can be positive discussion on the importance of the 5 Ks in 'modern sikhism' and what each member feels is appropriate. I encourage you to start the thread. Hopefully it will remain a constructive thread.

 

[Jabar Jung]

I don't even know what happend to my last post on the gandhi topic. I actually explained myself and requested to split the topic, and it was simply deleted. There was nothing offensive and i asked a simple question so we could discuss it and see other people's views. I don't eve know man, it was a legit question. It was totally healthy. Thats unnecessary censorship.

Edit: Can you restore my last post please.

 

[Saleem]

Jabar,

Here is the text of your last post if you'd like to use it in a new topic:

If this is going to split, please title it "Why gandhi failed" or whatever you feel is appropriate.

I have no intentions of spreading hate on such forum as BTF. I don't know how people got the idea of me spreading hate just because i am expressing what i feel like saying. Spread basically means i am distributing something to a lot of people, i did not tell anyone anything, it's different if you want to take it as if i am talking to you, but i am really not.

Quote from: Sapan on August 23, 2009, 11:13:12 AM
wow man youre so ignorant.
Ignorant. Many people private messaged me here who agree with me and there are, i know thousands who agree with me. So i am not the only ignorant one.

I could careless what gandhi did for India, but what he didn't do is why i hate him with passion.

When gandhi had the chance to save the 3 shaheeds, what did he do. Nothing! Because he was a non violent person, he chose to let the British hang them. gandhi was jeleous because he was losing his popularity. when the young generations and more people started to follow what following HRA's and Bhagat Singh's ideas were, gandhi was simply jeleous.

Obviously that non-violence crap wasn't working against the British, so gandhi wanted still sit and get slapped by the british. Why? so they could keep forcing their laws on us and we keep accepting them? So they could keep killing innocent indians? Since mughals or even in the old times, since Bharat had been invaded many times, Sikhs and bharatians had been fighting injustice and guess how they got their freedom?

That one assembly scene cause so much attention in the british raj, even though nobody was hurt, gandhi called it violent. Well, it did get their attention didn't it? What gandhi had been doing for years a young freedom fighter did it in minutes. Jealousy.

So when he had the chance to save the shaheeds, he didn't. Don't say he couldn't because he was, GANDHI! THE "MAHATMA" hahaha! So in my eyes gandhi did 0.

So let's forget what gandhi did. I want to know/educate and un-ignorize(?) :|, myself and hear your point on why gandhi did not save the shaheeds. Please stick to the topic.

 

[Jabar Jung]

thanks very much saleem.

 

[BDR Official Fan]

I already said this in the other topic about censorship or whatever so here it is again.

I'm Sorry, but what happened to taking responsibility for what you say. Just because one person says something on this forum in no way does it represent all of us. If you want to say something then say it. But don't be afraid to back it up or say that it should be banned just because someone is going to rattle your cage. Because you know someone somewhere is going to have a problem with it. Once again to each his own.

 

[faizan]

although i am against the increased censorship on btf, if it is applied evenly across political, religious and team affiliations, then i guess it's acceptable...most of you missed my point, but whatever...if btf was only about bhangra, there would not be an off-topic section.

 

[yraparla]

although i am against the increased censorship on btf, if it is applied evenly across political, religious and team affiliations, then i guess it's acceptable...most of you missed my point, but whatever...if btf was only about bhangra, there would not be an off-topic section.

I am also against increased censorship, I think it should be limited to standard list of offensive slurs (not words) and posts/threads with the clear intent of trolling.

I think it's just been a rough month for mods and members, once the bhangra starts again and people are in school it'll be better

 

[Saab]

Once people see more bhangra, rank idiocy will probably decrease.

 

[Sukhdip S. Chhina]

I think life would be easier for the Mods if there wasnt any off-topic section. Just have one section and all you can talk about is Bhangra Bhangra and more Bhangra lol

 

[Jeeti]

I think life would be easier for the Mods if there wasnt any off-topic section. Just have one section and all you can talk about is Bhangra Bhangra and more Bhangra lol

It would probably be easier for us, but not nearly as interesting...

and Swi...you are correct my brother, it has been a rough month...we have not been doing anything differently. The less we do, the better...but lately certain threads and topics have left us with no choice but to step in. I am a newcomer, but I'm sure some of the original moderators will tell you the same thing.

 

[mafzal]

I think life would be easier for the Mods if there wasnt any off-topic section. Just have one section and all you can talk about is Bhangra Bhangra and more Bhangra lol

It would probably be easier for us, but not nearly as interesting...

I think sometimes people forget this is BHANGRA TEAMS FORUM.com, not Punjabi forum, not desi forum, not Sikh forum, not political forum. There are plenty of other forums for political discussions, religious discussions, etc. Yeah some is cool but the serious ones that have nothing to do with bhangra I think should be taken somewhere else if it's causing issues. Plenty of other forums you can sign up on.

I think the moderators can moderate the non-bhangra discussion as much as they want as long as the bhangra talks aren't bein affected, cuz this is BHANGRA TEAMS FORUM dot com, not people-involved-in-bhangra-meeting-place dot com... The last thing we need is issues between members from off-topic discussions seeping over into bhangra...

 

[Sukhdip S. Chhina]

Maybe for some people it might not be interesting, but for people who come on this site to talk about bhangra, learn more about it etc. nothing is more interesting to them than Bhangra. After all this is BHANGRA Teams forum. If you wanted to discuss other topics such as sports, political issues,etc there are thousands of groups on facebook that cover vast topics and you can discuss those topics with people who actually share your interests/hobbies. The only topics I usually check are Bhangra related or topics with drama which I do when im bored because its amusing.

 

[Sukhdip S. Chhina]

I agree with you Mariam. Let there be a poll on whether an off-topic should exist or not hahahahhaha