As I have never noticed you, or some of the others here, being reticent in making extremely disparaging comments about views you don't like, it's highly hypocritical to complain about me using perfectly accurate descriptions, in my opinion.

I have no wish to silence anyone. All I expect is that any criticism of their views is not silenced either. I completely accept that there are plenty of left-wing views on Twitter and I criticise them just as readily if I believe it's appropriate. As you are very unlikely to read such views here you won't ever identify such criticism.

I am a democrat. I want all views to have representation and the consensus view to prevail. That way won't result in any view being silenced but it will ensure they are only given an appropriate valuation in reaching decisions.

Found this.

A ruling in the SEC's lawsuit against Ripple Labs, the company behind the XRP cryptocurrency, could come in mid-2023. If the court rules in Ripple's favor, XRP's value could skyrocket. However, a ruling against it could send XRP to zero. Given the nature of the risk involved, long-term investors should avoid XRP.23 Jan 2023

On the fence tbh. What’s the chances of it losing

I will leave it to others to judge as to whether your comments here match up to the reality of your commentary on this site over the years.

So on the previous post you say you have no wish to silence people and then in the very next post you agree with moderation that would see me banned.

I think most objective people can see the cognitive dissonance within that and can discern what's likely to be really true there.

I don't agree with your suggestion that I'm breaking rules in any meaningful manner and having been on Hol much longer than you I think I know where the line is reasonably well.

Regardless when it comes to free speech I would say that it is only relevant when it protects those who's opinion is what you don't like or deem offensive. No one needs to protect inoffensive speech. For example, Stalin did not censor or punish speech he agreed with.

Anyway, it seems from what I've highlighted that what you are saying here is that Hol is not moderated properly.

On this I will say this.

You are allowed to be on this forum despite being against the majority of political opinions on it. You are allowed on this private site...and I stress, this is a private site because the owner believes in free speech.

Not what you think should be free speech or anyone else thinks but how he and mods interpret free speech. All while that remains the law that is perfectly valid.

Now you decide voluntarily to come and post on this forum most days . No one makes you do this yet you complain about the opinions here, which is your right given to you, on this private site....just as it's mine to point out issues with you....when I can be bothered.

Now, instead of talking about 'normally balanced forums'(something I, and probably many would probably dispute). Instead of complaining about this one you could post on those forums that you think are moderated how you like. There are plenty of them.

But instead of that you decide you want to come here and complain about people with opinions you disagree with.

Well, the answer to that is, I presume no one is paying you to be here so if you don't like it you know where the metaphorical door is. As you have said in the past that you don't want to do this some might speculate that this means you're a bit of a whiner.....I personally think you seek out negative attention but regardless if that's your bag then it's for you to carry.

On the censorious sites you speak of many conservative opinions (and not just right wing opinions either) are banned and each year the progressive left (which is now the mainstream left) seek to narrow further what is deemed to be acceptable. There is nothing stopping you from existing on these forums.

If you want more censorship then go to where the censorship is, instead of freely coming to sites....that were just the norm...a few years back and then complaining that they aren't exactly the same as others.

Edited by Stirlingsays (01 May 2023 1.12am)

Wonderful! Yet another long and pointless personal diatribe which perfectly proves my point. If this was posted elsewhere it would risk a ban. Not because the views come from a particular political perspective. Only because they are directed at a poster and not at a post. In other words an ad hominem. It has zilch to do with the freedom of speech.

It starts by suggesting I "agreed with moderation that would see you banned". Actually, I did no such thing. I made no personal comment on it at all. All I did was point out it existed.

I too believe in free speech. I also believe that rules should be followed and applied. Whether they are, or not, I make no comment upon.

Nor am I responsible for, or even aware of, the moderation standards of those sites which are suggested censor opinion. What I believe is that it isn't very likely that it is opinion which is removed, but rather offensive, threatening and illegal posting that is. Some folk either cannot determine the difference, or think everything ought to be allowed. I don't agree. I don't think real freedom exists unless it is freedom under the law. Or in the case of a forum one that has, and applies, the rules.

I don't complain in any way about opinions here. My remarks are solely about the personal nature of comments.

Regularly trying to bully me off the site by making suggestions that this is, or ought to be, a place where right-wing opinions dominate would have exactly the same impact, if successful, as calling for a ban. I post opinions. I don't offend, threaten or post anything illegal. Nor anything intended to be taken personally. Just opinions. I won't be bullied. I will point out ad hominem tactics. I will go on posting. I will call out hypocrisy and the consequences of opinions I disagree with.

I find the constant bleating by the hard right on their perception of the way that left-wing opinion is now dominated by the "progressive" left to be quite amusing. We need to ignore the left, just as much as we need to ignore the right.

There is nothing essentially "left" about being progressive. I hope I am progressive, in that I am in favour of social progress, and prepared to listen, reflect, learn and adapt. It's perfectly possible to do that and still believe in capitalism and its power to enrich us all. Being progressive also means, I think, accepting that our world has changed and will continue to change. Unless we adapt to those changes and progress our thinking we will be left behind.

What was, is no longer. What we have, will go. What we will have depends on how we progress. Old-fashioned politics needs to go.