I recently answered a question in which I was critical of Islam. My critcisms were factual and relevant but my answer was censored by Yahoo. I have asked for an explanation but recieved no reply.
Should Yahoo be doing this?
2007-02-28 07:55:26 · 18 answers · asked by Geoff E 4 in News & Events ➔ Media & Journalism
Perhaps you would feel better if you got an explanation to your censorship. I feel shocked some days that certain questions get withdrawn and others including answers are left in limbo so to speak.
2007-02-28 08:15:15 · answer #1 · answered by deep in thought 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yahoo can censor what it deems offensive because it's a private company and because it's in their best interest to protect themselves from being sued.
Think about it if the tables were turned on you. If you start your own forum on the web and you allow people to say whatever they want, sure you can do that. But since our society is so lawsuit-happy, someone can drag you through the mud and cost you lots of money, not to mention a blow to your reputation. Is it worth all that so some 13-year-old can post all his little thoughts? I'm sure you'd say no, and as an American web site owner (assuming that you're American and that you ever develop your own site for the sake of argument), you have that wonderful right of operating interests and business as you see fit. Comprende?
If you don't like Yahoo's rules, don't use this site. Yahoo isn't owned by the government, so it doesn't have to post your stuff if they think it might cause an uproar.
2007-02-28 16:09:10 · answer #2 · answered by Opal 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I'm not sure that it is OK to be critical of Islam...or any other sensitive or multifactorial issue. You are entitled to your opinion but there is dignity in silence...why would you air your views in a public domain? There is a lot of history underpinning and, indeed, contemporary factors that contribute to personal and public opinion on many subjects. I do not think that one person should get on their soapbox and compartmentalise a very diverse issue. I'm not actually thinking about Islam necessarily...but for every argument there is a counter argument. Values and beliefs are very personal, born out of individual experiences and lifestyles. One person can not be in possession of all of the facts and foundations in order to make a generalised statement about anything. This is an arena for questions not for opinions and suggestions. Maybe you could look at your own groundings and the belief system that has made you express the opinions that you have...will this really stand up to scrutiny? Why do you feel this way? On what do you base this? Whose values are these really? What if you had been brought up in a totally different setting? I'm not disputing the power of free speech...but people are too quick to pontificate about things that they really have no solid idea about.
2007-02-28 16:18:25 · answer #3 · answered by Rocket 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I thought that was the whole point about yahoo answers that you could answer what you liked without having to worry about it being censored, i have seen a hell of alot of comments on yahoo answers that should be censored but they are there for all to see
2007-02-28 16:01:26 · answer #4 · answered by ✿Regina Felangie✿ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That must be a relatively new thing...I've seen LOTS of critical answers on this forum--and a lot of stupid, thoughtless, and wildly inappropriate ones as well. It could be that someone reported you because they got their panties in a bunch over your answer. I don't think that Yahoo should be censoring sincere, thoughtful answers, regardless of who they criticize, but I don't know what their process is when it comes to other users reporting answers.
2007-02-28 16:06:46 · answer #5 · answered by Woz 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know how you feel, somebody asked for the name of God, and I replied with the true answer: his noodliness, the Flying Spaghetti Monster. It was deleted as "harassment".. How one message counts as harassment, I'm not sure.
Without seeing your answer, I'll have to take you on your word that it was factual... If people didn't like it, they are free to both vote it down, and add their own answer where they correct any misunderstandings you may have.
They are obviously trying to tread the path of not offending people, but deleting too many posts will alienate people as well. It's a fine balancing act, which I would hope favoured open discussion.
2007-02-28 16:05:22 · answer #6 · answered by kirun 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I don't think they should...freedom of speech right? I asked a question that got removed and whe n I asked why reciveved no response either. If they are going to censor, they should at least give a reason why they consider your comments or questions inapproprate
2007-02-28 16:04:10 · answer #7 · answered by missyhardt 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There's a very thin line in the community guidelines. I don't think critical answers should be removed only the insulting/harassing ones.
2007-02-28 16:01:40 · answer #8 · answered by ropemancometh 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No. People should be allowed to express their answer. They have asked the question so they should be prepared for what people are going to say. If the answers offend the questioner than don't ask the question.
2007-02-28 16:04:25 · answer #9 · answered by biancajh 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I dont know Ive had a couple of my questions deleted right from under me how bad is that.
2007-02-28 21:00:51 · answer #10 · answered by julie p 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋