Do you really think a US company should have to follow free speech rules?

Question

I have read a lot of complaints about Yahoo censoring some people here. Complaints being filed, etc. Should US business be bound by the first amendment? Should an employee be able to run around and tell everyone that the boss is a jerk? Or every time they get work they say, boss I wish you would die. I hate you. And that the boss could not fire them?
We the people have told the Government that it cannot stop us from saying what we like. But baby, if you join the CIA, oh boy is what you can say going to be restricted.
I am only sorry I did not find this place long ago. It is great. So, I watch my language a bit. (I tend to swear a lot) and that is not a big restriction on me. Watch the name calling and have fun.

Answer 1

Yahoo forums are private property. Therefore, they are not bound by the 1st Ammendment. Yahoo has every right to control content.

But, it's not Yahoo doing the censoring. It's trolls who think that anonymity gives them the right to control not only the content of Yahoo, but access to that content and to Yahoo itself. And, if you've been following the posts on this--here and in the forums, you'd know that it's the innocuous users who are the prime targets, both for account deletion and stalking.

Sooner or later, allowing a minority of customers who are non-contributing thugs freely abuse legitimate customers, who in turn bring in other customers, thereby contributing to higher advertising rates gets to be bad for business.

How many Reportitrolls do you think are whipping out their debit cards to buy from Yahoo sponsors? And how many legitimate users who might support the advertisers are being turned off by systematic abuse by the Troll Patrol and free lance trolls and Yahoo's failure to make a serious effort to control it?

Answer 2

This is a public forum, we do not work for Yahoo. As such, free speech applies.
When working for a company, while on the company's nickel restrictions can be made. But, the minute I go off the clock, free speech applies. This is why I carry a personal shirt in my vehicle and the company shirt comes off before I meet the public. I also have a beef with the company tring to censor what I read and talk about during lunch, which is off the clock. I was once reading an interview with Jesse Ventura in Playboy, when he was running for President, during lunch and nearly got fired over it. We'd have all spent a whole lot of time in court over that one. (If they were lucky. That's a shooting offense. You have no rights but those you are willing to fight and die and kill to protect, and that is what the second amendment is all about.)
EDIT: I have to disagree, Madpol, if it comes before a jury and I am on it, I will find that this is a public forum run by a private company. Free speech applies.

Answer 3

Free speech is a highly misunderstood concept.

1) Free speech does not mean that there no consequences to what you say.
2) Free speech does not mean others owe you to let you use their soap boxes (or web sites) to say whatever you want.
3) Free speech does not mean that what you say should be respected, as many contemptible things can be said that would still be covered under free speech. They are still contemptible.
4) You can always start your own platform/soapbox/website. Those of us who don't have to deal with the playground behavior of others here on the site LIKE THEM! Saves us from having to sort through hours of nonsense just to get into a real discussion.

My answer: "NO!"

Answer 4

Well said, Madpol. One thing to add, the newly introduced "Community Guidelines" let networks of people target other users and have them deleted in minutes. I do not know if Y! did not anticipate such outcome, or indeed it was done on purpose. I suspect the latter.