Is this how free speech looks on this forum??
Ask Horkabork:
[The] principles [of free speech and censorship] don't apply in internet forums...
I agree forums (and servers) are private property and it's perfectly reasonable for the owners of such to impose whatever rules they feel like it. Then we as members are free to comply or simply leave.
Well, the previous rules were nearly unlimited free speech. Things were put in FAQs like "some users here have prickly shells, but we've grown to love them". Now it changed overnight. Sure, everyone is free to leave this forum (and in effect leave bitcoin, because bitcoin is very linked to this forum). But it is unfair to mislead people so grossly. One day the biggest bitcoin forum is advertised as free speech, the next day there is no free speech.
First the whole bitcoin is advertised as a libertarian currency in global media, then it quickly changes, because some early adopters from the United States want to safely cash out. If bitcoin is something different than everyone thinks, maybe you all should advertise it as another Facebook Credits or another World of Warcraft coins, or Second Life money, and stop misleading people and wasting people' time.
I agree with everything you have said so far. "useless" posts would very much be decided based on opinion. If there is going to be moderation, I would say limit it to the MOVING of posts to off topic and what not. Perhaps even make a "trash bin" where all the sailor mouthed people can hang out and throw fecal matter at each other. Seeing as this is an international community and there is no way to satisfy everyones sense of morals due to differences in culture/religion/age/upbringing etc, my vote is that ALL posts may not be deleted and only moved.