If they abuse the YA block feature, would they also abuse their power outside of YA?

Question

Do you ever get the impression that some people on YA (especially in the politics) section would silence the freedom of speech of people on a much bigger scale if they could get away with it ? Seeing as how they seem to have blocked a lot of people from answering their questions ? Especially when it's for no other reason than those people that blocked them disagree with them ?
Can you imagine what some of these people would try to do if they ran for political office and got elected ?

ace, I'm a liberal and have blocked no one. And you ace still aren't blocked, nor will you ever be by me.

justgoodfolk, I know they have the right ( in terms of the TOS of Yahoo) to do it on here. My question is if they are outside of Yahoo would they also strive to inhibit people's freedom of speech ?

captainobvious, you are right in presuming you are the one that brought this question on. And I don't report anyone either. Nor clone. I DO frequently cuss people out.

justgoodfolk, so you agree that people who ABUSE ( NOT those who block for a good reason ) would also probably ABUSE ( limit legitimate speech) outside of Yahoo ?

captainobvious, has unblocked me. Thank you. And I apologize for cussing you out on your 360 page.

Answer 1

Yes I got blocked aby a YA questioner who tried to ask a question about welfare recipients and jobs. It was an obviously biased question against the poor. And, as a result I answered him with the fact that corporations receive far more subsidies and welfare from our government than the poor do in this country. He blocked my answer for not answering his question. If you have a legitimate answer that needs to be addressed before you answer his second order question, don't you think you should say it first? He had me blocked. He's a blockhead and a blocking abuser for sure. I agree these people have issues of power and would censor anyone who disagreed with them on any issue whatsoever. The same people are in the white house right now trying to completely cut off debate and dissent.
BTW, I don't block anyone, nor do I report anyone. But I see that alot of pro Bush cons do.

Answer 2

Well, like anything, this feature can be abused by those who would silence a dissenting viewpoint.

I read one "question" on here by someone whose viewpoints I usually enjoy reading (though not always agreeing with) who said that he blocks anyone that doesn't have an active email address in their profile. I don't know whether that was true, but I thought that was extreme.

I've blocked someone, but only because they chose to email me only to insult me. I don't need that kind of rude behavior, and I'd do that to anyone who was interested in a personal attack, rather than a valid response.

Hope that makes sense. Good luck.

Answer 3

No.Yahoo answers isn't a public place.The community guidelines we all agree to before signing up limit us all in our free speech.I agreed to those guidelines as an adult,nobody forced me so I follow them and expect the same of others.I report and will report violations when I see them to make answers a safer and more enriching place.I will also block users who I consider trolls and to me that's anyone who doesn't take the guidelines serious or comes to my questions with insults and or vulgarity only..Free speech is a wonderful thing and the Internet is very big outside yahoo.Lots of absolute free speech going on.Answers is a concept where certain rules apply.Nobody forces anyone to join or continue to participate.
And I answered you,the answer is NO because your assumptions are wrong to begin with.Reporting violations and blocking has nothing to do with wanting to limit anyone's freedom of speech but with being a good citizen who follows the rules.Abusive reporting is a violation too but is often claimed as an excuse by those who don't respect the guidelines.
The circumstances in the outside world are different so people who follow the rules will probably also do that outside of this format but different rules so different actions.The people who report others here wrongly would probably like to silence others in real life too..

Answer 4

I have open email as well as open 360 you can cuss at me all you want (like you just did) however with the constant abuse by some on this site to root through answers for violations in attempts to get people suspended as has happened on un countable numbers of times (including me) has made it a prerequisite to block those who have gotten a reputation for reporting. (that would be you).

Answer 5

I use the block feature to its full potential - 200 people, and most of them are long-time con trolls in this forum, who post for no other reason than to just piss someone else off. It's not about civil, intelligent discourse for them, and never has been.

I don't believe in censorship, but I do believe that if you open your pie hole wide enough, you deserve whatever comes back as payback.

Freedom of speech is a funny thing. You can utilize it to engage people in really useful, productive discourse, or...you can just go around mouthing slurs, epithets and stereotypes.

Count, it's kind of like fishing, and catching fish is all about what kind of bait or lure you use.

If you want to catch bottom feeders, you can put most anything on the hook, even dead, rotting meat.

However, if you want to catch higher grade fish, you have to use fresh live bait.

There's a lesson in that.

Answer 6

Although one of their biggest scourges - Ruth - claims she is against "group think" the group she belongs to has created their own circle to validate each others vapidity and bigoted hatred. There is no ray of light that can penetrate their narrow minds as the recessed corners of their brains have atrophied.

Answer 7

Absolutely -- and many posters have come right out and said they would silence or exile anyone who disagrees with them.

Which is truly sad for them.

Answer 8

But of course grasshopper, they are cutting their teeth here at Y!A before heading out into the world of the G.O.P.

ace... that was impressive

Answer 9

Most definitely.

Answer 10

I get reported for disagreeing with libs.