Posted by Lou Pilder on July 22, 2014, at 9:47:00
In reply to Re: The Hsiung-Pilder discussion, posted by Dr. Bob on July 22, 2014, at 2:58:58
> > When you allow the escalation, there could be the case where you could be too late to stop it, for the forum can go into homes all over the world and you are not 24/7 moderating your forum anyway
>
> That's true, there could be that case.
>
> Bob
Mr. Hsiung,
Let there be no misunderstanding here. Your terms of service invite people to participate in a mental-health forum for support and your rules lead readers to think that they have a safe environment, and not be subjected to ridicule, mocking and taunting, debasement and other forms of defamation as your rule states to not post anything that could lead one to feel put down or accused and not to post insensitive content or vulgar language that could offend others. And also not to post what could lead one to feel that their faith is being put down.
You also list how you will enforce those rules and how one can alert you to posts through your notification system. That all can give readers an expectation of security that they will not have to suffer the harm that can come to them if defaming statements are directed against them, and if statements that put down their faith are posted here. But that expectation , now, could lead them falsely into a community that is not going to uphold those terms of service for you now state that you can turn a blind eye to much and allow defamation to be posted and those readers do not know that. They do not know that because your TOS states otherwise. A subset of readers could think that you are using deception now to attract members under the aspect that your rules will protect them when you state here that you are operating differently from your stated TOS. This could lead to harm coming to people that take you at your word when they come here and read your TOS that protects them from the harm of defamation since your rules state not to post what could lead one to feel accused or put down and not to post what could put down those of other faiths.
The harm from defamation being allowed to be posted is well-known by psychologists and psychiatrists. It could lead one to kill themselves. It would be too late for you to sanction a defamatory post then, after you allow {No non-Christian will enter heaven} to be seen as civil by you in the post where it is originally made. That could trigger a deep vortex downward of feelings of unworthiness, let's say, to a Jewish middle school girl that is already in depression as coming here for support. The support that she could receive is that she is inferior to Christians for the statement in question is analogous to {no Jew will enter heaven}. It is the statement in and of itself that insults the girl's faith, not as to if there is escalation. The statement is called a flame, and fans the flames of hatred toward the Jews, consigning them to an inferior status as that they will not enter heaven, but Christians can.
And you post a link that displays the swastika and will not delete it per my request to you.
The harm that could come to readers from here could be prevented by taking action, rather than refraining from action. And readers are led by your TOS to expect that they will be protected. By you luring members to think that, but then say that you will not act on defamatory statements or anti-Semitic statements unless there is escalation, could lead a subset of readers to think that you desire harm to happen to readers here by deceiving readers to believe that you will abide by your word in your FAQ/TOS to sanction what could lead one to feel accused or put down, when you turn a blind eye to hate posted here. They have a reasonable basis to think that because your TOS/FAQ says that in your enforcement section.
The natural consequences that come from defamation can inflict serious emotional/psychological harm to even the strongest victims here that you allow them to be debased by allowing defamation to stand were those statements are originally posted. For you also say that if a statement is not sanctioned, it is not against your rules. To lead people to think that they will be protected and then find out that you are not keeping your word in your TOS IMHO ,is a terrible, is a terrible, is a terrible thing to do.
Lou Pilder
poster:Lou Pilder
thread:1050116
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20140304/msgs/1068672.html