Of course the weapon of a mod is censorship. Today was the day that the mods at /r/bitcoin threw their weapons.
Moderation is not censorship. Can't you win the argument based on facts and logic, without resorting to cheap self-pitying melodrama?
Reddit and bitcointalk are not public places where free speech applies.
I'd love to send you delicate snowflakes to a place with real censorship and watch you beg to be allowed to return to theymos' "epitome of authoritarianism."
You have a point somewhat but it is also fair to say that harping on the admittedly imprecise use of the word censorship isn't the point. When people make the censorship objection, you can reasonably interpret their concern as being over the subreddit banning or even over-aggressively moderating the topic. Either way the substance is the same.
Being moderated on a private forum is NOTHING like being suppressed by censorship. What a nasty, horrible lie! Why don't you just track down some Chinese dissidents and shit on their faces? Either way the [trivializing, disrespectful] substance is the same.
What you gloss over as "imprecise use of the word censorship" isn't accidental or mere ignorance. It is a calculated attack on the mods' integrity (IE shaming), and a purposeful re-framing so as to paint them as victimizing brave supporters of free speech ("zomg it's a human right!!!").
As to their (and now your) "concern as being over the subreddit banning or even over-aggressively moderating" let us note that alt-coin discussion is explicitly subject to certain time/place restrictions by the forum/sub rules. If you break those rules, expect to be moderated. If you persist despite moderation, expect to be banned. Duh! This isn't hard, except when thou doth protest too much.
It is not honest to, by visitation and participation, implicitly agree with the existing moderation rules and their arbiters (the mods), but then act SHOCKED when playing the Censorship Card fails to win a dispute over/with them.