The "Spirit" of the online forums.

[travesto]

The “Spirit” of the online public forum.

The intent of this online forum is to make a positive contribution to community debate and the flow of information regarding the Queensland State Government’s decision to dam the Mary River catchment to provide water for the anticipated future demand for water within S.E. Queensland. All users and posts to this forum that contribute to this aim are welcome. Ideas, thoughts and opinions relevant to this intent will not be censored. However, the administrators of this forum expressly reserve the right to remove posts and users that use the forum to address issues outside its intent, or that contravene socially accepted norms of public behaviour. (The forum is a public document.)

Here are some examples of contributions that are “in the spirit” of the forum:
- expressions of the emotional, social and economic impact the dam proposal has on peoples lives
- discussion of technical issues concerning water supply and the Mary Valley.
- scrutiny of public officials in relation to the performance of their roles in society, their public words and actions relating to the issue of damming the Mary River.
- posts that work to constructively engage all people who have a stake in this decision to work with unity towards a desirable future – with respect for other people, regardless of the opinions they hold.

Here are some examples of contributions and users that will be removed from the site by the site administration.
-advertising of irrelevant products, links to off-topic websites.
-savemaryriver material, offensive language.
-personal abuse, potentially defamatory attacks, posts demonstrating a public lack of respect for other people in their private lives.

Unfortunately, some posts, threads and users have already been removed from the forum for each of the reasons above. I sincerely hope that people will ‘get the message’ and we will no longer need to control the forum in this manner.

[elisa]

Dear Administrator

I do not see any names who have been blocked. Only every link I have been on has been locked - why is it when I ask a question, suddenly the link is locked? Surely this is a democratic site?
it would be nice if you answered this, but I won't be surprised if it is suddenly locked.

Elisa Roberts

[Bronwyn]

Elisa, there are some names that have been removed, they were particularly offensive and derogatory. Some have been removed because they had links to savemaryriver sites. I was very pleased to see that your name has NOT been removed, I would've been outraged if that had happened. I do not know you at all, and I have been at odds with many of your comments, BUT I am at a loss as to why the forums where there has been disagreement between yourself and others have been locked. Even the most recent topic where you were not present nor involved in, (only your name was mentioned) was locked. I am struggling with it too, it has made me less inclined to speak forthrightly and to be at ease with what I speak about. My opinion is only my opinion as is everyone elses, including you. In my opinion, this is not representing freedom of speech in a forum that is designed ( I thought) to allow anyone who feels they need or want to express their opinion on ANY issue regarding the DAM. Every single person who contributes to the disscussion (in my opinion) is MORE than welcome to do so, in what ever form that takes. This whole issue is VERY EMOTIVE for ALL involved, your self included, and I am not pleased with the lock down of topics because it has offended a few. I was not offended, I was not happy either, but then I have not been happy with quite a few postings AND I have been offended by some, but I would be LESS happy with a "Big Brother" scenario, being told what I can and can't do or say for fear of recrimination. Please Travesto do not lock any more topics that has "Elisa" text attached to it. Please allow those who feel they want to express themselves to be able to do it, even IF it involves the topic of "Elisa"

[elisa]

Dear Bronwyn
I really appreciate your comments - you are very brave considering the low regard with which I am held. Thank you.

[Darren E]

I think it is clear that this topic "The 'Spirit' of the online forums" was intended as a guide and reminder to ALL members of the forum, including future members.

Many people were offended by some recent contributions, which have since been deleted by the Site Admin, after first giving the offending parties the opportunity to voluntarily edit or delete their posts.

To my knowledge the only users who have ever been blocked are "link spammers" promoting savemaryriver websites, and a few school children showing off their proficiency with swear words. Once blocked these names no longer appear in the memberlist so hopefully the majority of forum members never see them at all.

Yesterday, I made a judgement call to lock three topics relating to recent unfounded comments in the press which refer to the Save The Mary River group as a "vocal minority" and suggest that the group engages in intimidation of the "silent majority in favour of the dam". This was done not as an act of censorship but due to a very low potential for constructive debate and a very high potential for destructive comments. The matter was immediately referred to the Site Admin.

Darren E
Forum Moderator

[travesto]

Some discussion topics were locked whilst the team of people responsible for maintaining the website discussed an appropriate response to the direction that some threads were taking. That response is outlined in "The Spirit of the Forum" announcement, which will be followed from this point onwards. All topics are now unlocked.
Several forums have become so crowded that it may become necessary to reallocate some topics to more appropriate forums.

[captnlaz]

Leading with both feet in my mouth. Stickers back on the cars, Club in hand and back on the warpath.

[elaine]

Hi captnlaz
There was no intention to censor your postings on the site. Many new topics have been added and streamlined, and the topic you refer to has been put into the Pollies and Parliament section, along with quite a few others, because it was considered to be the most appropriate for its content.
Apologies if this move has offended you - it was not done with any malicious intent, but more in the spirit of connecting like threads. The only postings that have ever been removed totally from this forum are those whose content has been particularly offensive. Postings are only removed after discussion between moderators and admin, and not at sole discretion.
We are all feeling pretty jaded by this dam proposal, and sometimes our judgement may not be as sharp as it should be. Your input has been most valued, and we hope that you will continue to participate.
Elaine