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Rant

Censorship is unethical

Feb 15, 2016 7:26PM PST

Hello,

I just had one of my postings locked. This is un-American! First Amendment is freedom of speech and the locking of my forum posting on here is as stated un-American and demonstrates that there is a complete lack of respect for the First Amendment and one on the percent no journalistic integrity demonstrates that there is a complete lack of respect for the First Amendment and demonstrates 100% that there is no journalistic integrity on here.

My original topic was seeking to discuss if anyone has discovered any substitutions to the site called The Pirate Bay. The discussion quickly went to what everybody pretty much guesses about the site as in discussing pirated software. It was at that point that the moderators shut down the discussion flying in the face of First Amendment freedom of speech. As to whether or not I am seeking pirated software that is for me and me alone to know and I would not discuss that on an open forum but yes it would be nice to know if anybody discovered alternative sites that are identical to that site and that is just basic discussion of the general topic software that is for me and me alone to know and I would not discuss that on an open forum but yes it would be nice to know Penny but discovered alternative sites that are identical to that site and that is just basic discussion of a general topic what I do with that knowledge is my business simply discussing the existence in the world of sites similar to the Pirate Bay is just general discussion it is not discussing the actual using of the site to break a law it is just discussing the existence of the site. It would be. with that knowledge is my business simply discussing the existence in the world of sites similar to the Pirate Bay is just general discussion it is not discussing the actual using of the site to break a law it is just discussing the existence of the site. It would be like disgusting that Paterson New Jersey is a good place to go at night and buy drugs whether or not a person actually goes and buys the drugs in Patterson is for that person to decide them disgusting that Paterson New Jersey is a good place to go at night and buy drugs whether or not a person actually goes and breaks the law by actually buying the drugs in Patterson is for that person to decide themselves.

So, to the unethical anti-American & anti-first ammendment unethical jokes of moderators on this site, welcome to Russia Comrade!

Discussion is locked

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This won't have a wit to do with the 1st Amendment
Feb 16, 2016 1:47AM PST

You might even notice that the US constitution is often discussed and/or argued here. Please feel free to join in. You might add new perspective or you might gain new perspective. Our constitution, through the 1st Amendment, guarantees no government repercussions for speech and its primary intention was to allow citizens to speak out against the government without fear of persecution or arrest. The interpretation has since been expanded to other means of expression such as in artwork, etc. It's not without limitations. Your freedom of speech by the government does not mean you can swear at your boss in your workplace and still keep your job. Just try it sometime and take him/her to court for violating the 1st Amendment. You'll go nowhere.

These forums are not government owned. The government has no jurisdiction over what's constitutionally allowed to be presented in these forums. That's up to the owners of Cnet and rule enforcement is up to the moderators. There are rules governing what topics can be discussed and how members should behave. Violations have their consequences. That's nothing new here but the private nature of ownership changes what can be discussed. If the 1st Amendment was as universal as you seem to think, someone could make a hate speech from your front porch or put up a controversial sign with which you take offense on a stick in your front lawn and claim freedom of speech. Would you be OK with that?

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Re: First amendment
Feb 16, 2016 2:03AM PST

This is the full text of the first amendment:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

All it tells is that there are certain things the Congress is not allowed to do. It says nothing at all about what you may do and not do and what CNET may do and may not do.

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you need to actually read the first amendment
Feb 16, 2016 3:35AM PST

you do not even have a basic understanding of the first amendment and this private, non-governmental forum has the right to lock out anyone for any reason.

Just to note, cnet is owned by cbs. cbs is a major media company and I am willing to bet some of the file you illegally downloaded are owned by them.

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First Amendment
Feb 16, 2016 4:14AM PST

Is Freedom of Speech, not Freedom of Blabber Mouth Wherever. You have a right to walk down a public street, you don't have a right to trespass across someone's property, even if you are on a trail. You can walk up and down the street with a sign, but you can be told to NOT do so in someone's driveway from the road to their house. You can raise your voice in the street but if you go to church and act out of order, you might find yourself disinvited and back out in the street, LOL.

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Stand corrected but still miffed
Feb 16, 2016 6:35AM PST

while I agree that my citing the First Amendment was a bit over-the-top I still stand miffed at how close minded the moderators are and the creators of the policies policies governing these forms are. while I agree that my citing the First Amendment was a bit over-the-top I still stand miffed at how close minded the moderators are and the creators of the policies governing these forms are. these people are supposed to be journalists or involved in the journalistic process silencing a discussion on what is supposed to be a journalistic endeavor should be beneath their dignity and outside of anything they would deem proper to do. I believed that this site since it is owned and operated by CNET which in and of itself is a journalistic enterprise online should have no dealings with shutting down a forum discussion or having policies governing the free discussion of issues that exist in the real world. shutting diwn The discussion of seeking alternatives to the site called the pirate bay was censorship in and of itself. It was not a discussion of how do I download pirated software or content it was simply a discussion of are there alternatives to this site that has been so played over the years private and legal authorities trying to shut it down that it has had to move its website hosting location numerous times. The discussion in no way shape or form directly asked how do I download pirated software how do I crack software how do I cracked the digital rights millennium copyright protection on any kind of software or content it was simply a discussion of hey what's your experience out there have you located any gap fillers that would be viable almost identical alternatives to the pirate bay which has been played with the problems I previously mentioned. Also discussion of exactly how to crack something would not be illegal eith has been played with the problems I previously mentioned. Also shutting down any discussion of exactly how to do those things would not be illegal either but if they were shut down because of narrowminded policies beneath the dignity of journalists would be ridiculous and journalistically shutting down any discussion of exactly how to do those things would not be illegal either but if they were shut down because of narrowminded policies beneath the dignity of journalists would be ridiculous and journalistically unethical.

I know one thing for certain if I have the know-how to be able to establish a forum type of website I would not prohibit the discussion of the existence of pirate sites or how to information being posted in regards to packing or cracking any kind of copyright protection for necessity to enter serial numbers to get the software working. Discussion is free enterprise it is not yelling fire in a crowded theater it is discussing things that are actually done in the world again it would be akin to saying if you go to X block in Paterson New Jersey you can get the best weed or best cocaine or whatever whether you actually use that information and make the drug deal is your decision and that decision is what is illegal because you are committing the illegal act simply discussing the location of the best drug dealers is not illegal if you go to X block in Paterson New Jersey you can get the best weed or best cocaine or whatever whether you actually use that information and make the drug deal is your decision and that decision is what is illegal because you are committing the illegal act simply discussing the location of the best drug dealers is not illegal to pull the only metaphor I can think of off the top of my head.

So, I say again to the moderator that shut down my previous discussion shame on you you lack any sort of proud journalistic integrity and I say that same thing to the people of seen at who created the policies on what will and will not be discussed you did not deserve the right to call yourself journalist if you were willing to shut down and open discussion. I say again to the moderator that shut down my previous discussion shame on you you lack any sort of proud journalistic integrity and I say that same thing to the people of seen at who created the policies on what will and will not be discussed you did not deserve the right to call yourself journalist if you were willing to shut down an open discussion

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You can host your own web site
Feb 16, 2016 6:54AM PST

and freely discuss software piracy in any form you like if you like. If you want to steal software, your own web site will probably probably produce some leads. Or, as an alternative to theft, you can just buy the software and use it legally. Fair enough? Your choice.

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Lack the skills to do my own site
Feb 16, 2016 8:05AM PST

I like both the technical and creative design and marketing skills to establish my own website to discuss sites of the nature of The Pirate Bay. I also lack the funding to get such an endeavor off the ground besides which they were not sites with four rooms to discuss things I need the stupid mistake of thinking that CNET was open minded and had journalistic integrity guess I was wrong.. also lack the funding to get such an endeavor off the ground besides which they were not sites with four rooms to discuss things I need the stupid mistake of thinking that CNET was open minded and had journalistic integrity guess I was wrong.

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If you need to talk about Forum policies
Feb 16, 2016 8:37AM PST

There's the Forum Feedback Forum at http://www.cnet.com/forums/forum-feedback-announcements/

As to your own web site, most folk use a blog. "Google's take on blogging is Blogger, an easy-to-use and free platform that requires only a Gmail/Google account to get started. Blogger blogs can be customized with new backgrounds and layouts easily."

CNET writes about WordPress at http://www.cnet.com/news/wordpress-is-reigning-champ-for-blogging-platforms/ but as you read https://wordpress.org/support/topic/free-hosting-8 many head back to Blogger if they must do so for free.

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Since you mentioned "journalistic integrity"
Feb 16, 2016 12:13PM PST

shouldn't that include some self imposed limits? Shouldn't that include knowing when what one says or writes might cause harm to people and avoiding doing so? If a person stumbled into finding an easy way to get an ATM to start spitting out 20 dollar bills without inserting their bank card, would a site that would allow publishing the details on how to do so be simply exhibiting open mindedness and journalistic integrity? Not in my opinion. Theft is theft and knowingly assisting someone in theft is called "aiding and abetting"...which is also illegal in itself and in no way an act that shows personal integrity.

Ok, you can chew me out for sermonizing. I will gladly plead GUILTY!

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you should have just asked
Feb 16, 2016 1:25PM PST

so you think it is okay to steal if you lack the funding? Most reputable tech forums do not allow the discussion of piracy or torrents. Most would immediately delete your account and banned you. Remember you are the one who agreed to cnets terms of service when you created your account. So why are you still here?

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This site is still useful
Feb 16, 2016 2:56PM PST

I believe that CNET is a good site and it does have its valuable information to offer. I believe that the mainstream information that they offer is good and even and lightning but that doesn't mean it can't take some good poking at to highlight and discuss its weaknesses. If weaknesses are not pointed out no matter where or who or what in life than nothing will ever come of making it better because the weaknesses will never been pointed out. I did not say that I was using pirated software I did not say I was not either. I New the limitations of what should be posted on a public forum and I did my best to skirt around it however even my skirting around stating one way or the other whether I do or do not was still not good enough for the moderator which is what I believe was unfair. I did not come out and ask for this software that software pirated and cracked New the limitations of what should be posted on a public forum and I did my best to skirt around it however even my skirting around stating one way or the other whether I do or do not was still not good enough for the moderator which is what I believe was unfair. I did not come out and asked for this software were that software pirated and cracked I just simply was asking for alternative sites that anyone may have come to know about overtime that would do the same exact thing as the Pirate Bay site does. I did not come out and say I want pirated software I want cracked software so I can steal it because it's too expensive I did not say anything about that I just asked for an alternative site that maybe some people might have come in contact with over there wanderings and knowledge of the Internet. I feel that it was wrong to lock down my discussion when I did not say I want someone software straight out. I will continue to use the net because I stated there are things that they do have to offer asked for an alternative site that maybe some people might have come in contact with over there wanderings and knowledge of the Internet. I feel that it was wrong to lock down my discussion when I did not say I want someone software straight out. I will continue to use CNET because I stated there are things that they do have to offer that are good and useful.

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Can I just ask.
Feb 16, 2016 3:12PM PST

Why there are so many repeated sentences in your posts? The reason is I'm wondering if it's a forum problem.
Dafydd.

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My apologies - its my Siri
Feb 16, 2016 10:43PM PST

Some of it is from Siri on my iPad it has a glitch where it sometimes duplicates what I dictate.

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I am a beta tester for Apple's IOS
Feb 16, 2016 10:45PM PST

Sorry about that....

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Just a friendly observation, if I might,
Feb 16, 2016 4:54PM PST

and similar to Dafydd's observation. Something seems to be going awry with your posts. It's almost as if lines are copied and pasted multiple times. Perhaps it's an editing issue but I'm having a very difficult time understanding some of your posts. If I may offer an example from this post.

" I will continue to use the net because I stated there are things that they do have to offer asked for an alternative site that maybe some people might have come in contact with over there wanderings and knowledge of the Internet. I feel that it was wrong to lock down my discussion when I did not say I want someone software straight out. I will continue to use CNET because I stated there are things that they do have to offer that are good and useful." (underlines are mine)

The two underlines are similar but not identical. In one you had "the net" and the other "CNET". The rest of the text is identical in the underlined portions but the first one has a break in thought and the second one seems to complete that thought. To me, this looks like an editing attempt has failed to remove something. Look it over and look over some of your other posts as well. It's happening a lot.