The Student Room inhibits Freedom of Speech through moderation. Discuss.

1. It's an internet forum. Chill your beans.

2. It's an internet forum. SERIOUSLY, chill your beans.

TSR... a platform which claims to be ... democratic.

It's not just 'an internet forum'. It's a microcosm of Western Society, representing the hypocrisy and double standards held by the majority, despite their protestations of 'DEMOCRACY!' and 'FREEDOM OF SPEECH!'

So, considering you're a 'Section Helper', are you professing that TSR is an entity which does not support Free Speech? The ironic stance of so many on here, who exclaim the repressive nature of Eastern Nations from the tops of their voices, and can't even have their say on an online forum (Unless it's mocking Islam, that's O.K!).

TSR is discriminating against certain groups.

There are things which upset us about remarks of Allah SWT and Muhammad SAW. You don't see Muslims jumping on Atheist threads or Christianity threads but the opposite actually occurs. Everyday minimum 2 threads about hate speech towards Islam and repeated debates with remarks towards the religion that were actually discussed several times before. However, troll threads are left to continue to their own devices whereas direct insults are not dealt with.

Please take this American vitriol off here.

I understand there were rules when I signed up. But these rules are being misused, and double standard has been created, as I previously mentioned. Either have moderation against ALL negative remarks, or have NO MODERATION. Discrimination is something which is most certainly illegal.

I can agree with the above to some extent in principle. One issue is how this is often inconsistent.

One example is how a post suggesting that overly promiscuous women make less than ideal long-term partners, was removed as "offensive", and warnings were given.

While another post saying that disabled people committing suicide when their benefits are slashed is a "positive outcome" as it constitutes "burdens on society releasing themselves", was judged not worthy of taking action against. It remained and no warnings were given, even after it was reported.

Yes, I am serious, that really happened. My respect for the TSR moderation team went down quite a bit after that. Censorship on feminist grounds with a clear bias towards that ideology and protecting the feelings of professional victims, while simultaneously giving a free pass to glorifying the deaths of vulnerable members of society, is pretty much bottom of the barrel in my assessment.

organisation*

I'm not saying it's unlawful. I'm saying that it's a grave miscarriage of justice, and a double standard shown by TSR, on a platform which claims to be inclusive and democratic.

I am a member of this society, and I will push for a change to moderation. This is a democracy, don't tell me to leave. I'm sick of the double standards shown by the moderators.

It's not just 'an internet forum'. It's a microcosm of Western Society, representing the hypocrisy and double standards held by the majority, despite their protestations of 'DEMOCRACY!' and 'FREEDOM OF SPEECH!'

TSR is like reddit there is a hive mind of people who all share the same views. The more similar their views are to the standard hive mind uniform view the more likely they are to become a moderator. If you disagree with this then you will be censored if they consider it to be too extreme, the same people that become mods on TSR are the same people that get elected to student unions crazy fanatical communists generally.

I'll have you know that Mods range from left to right wing, range in age, religious beliefs and ethnicity.

I believe that TSR fundamentally undermines the principle of Free Speech through the use of moderation to ban users (temporarily and permanently) who do not ascribe to their own views on conduct. Whilst these may sometimes be hostile remarks, we should nevertheless seek to uphold this ideal which we place so much emphasis on in our democratic society. It is a heinous act to inhibit free speech.

Moreover, I see hypocrisy on the part of TSR, where they do not ban posts or threads, such as inflammatory remarks to Islam, on the basis that it is a 'discussion'. Many of these threads can be upsetting to Muslims, just as a direct remark could be to somebody else regarding another issue. This is a shameful double standard, and should be addressed immediately.