Freedom of speech is a myth. You cannot literally say anything you like and then claim it okay we have 'freedom of speech'. If you have mental offensive opinions, it's not okay to pop them on a forum and claim that you are debating an issue.
One of the posters your so sad you can't 'debate' with anymore made a disgraceful comment on that board, about the family stand, not really debating.

Although I still have mod powers I rarely have time to help moderate the site these days.

The thread in question and it's inclusion in the programme I think should be seen as a chance to highight and challenge certain behaviours and opinions. It was doing that and this thread can do the same.

As for Parchmore not being able to comprehend the difference between political correctness and equality, I think he's far from the only one. It's also particularly tragic when someone views "PC" as a negative. Each to their own though.

Football fans are behind the times on this issue.

I think there is always a point to be made about context and intention behind chants at a football match, but the point remains that if your actions cause offence or upset to others, why wouldn't you want to modify your behaviour?

The only real answer to that would be because you want to cause offence - and if that is the case then you can't complain when people are offended.

I am glad the thread has now been pulled, it was the appropriate reaction to what was a generally pathetic set of responses. It's a shame the healthy discussion part was lost in the idiocy. It was always going to be left out of the documentary though - you know full well that from moment one there was an agenda there and the agenda wasn't to paint a balanced view.

Last season on Hol Radio we talked about challenging homophobia, I told a story myself about doing so with some Palace fans at Victoria station.

Palace & Proud are doing some great work on this issue too.

The times are changing - some people take longer than others to adjust. Some people won't. That's the human condition.

It's a shame that this balance wasn't welcome in the BBC programme.

Maybe I'll invite Gareth onto Holradio in the new season and we'll have a more open discussion about the topic.

A good and fair post bar some highlighted points

The infection of PC culture, the shaming of anyone who disagrees with it, and the attempted silencing, of anyone who questions it, is what we as a society have become.
PC is constantly fighting free speech and individuality and are trying to alter reality just for the sake of this culture.
In many cases it’s dangerous, putting lives at risk and highly intolerant.

We should always think of ourselves as individuals. Not to be afraid of any area of thought that needs to be explored, challenged, questioned or to be doubted.

Always feel free to ask and then to agree or disagree with any given claim.

Never follow an ideology or adopt a set of beliefs or values that do not convince you.

As adults and human beings we are becoming a society that does not seek to take responsibility for our decisions and conclusions and having control over them instead we vilify those or mock those who do not conform.

If we did not have free enquiry, new knowledge and different ways of looking at things then a decent world can’t be acquired.

With PC culture we are left in ignorance and subsequently, we are unable to improve our condition.

This is such an interesting area.

There is no doubt that some people will say things that simply should not be tolerated. It was a big debate about the Nazis. Sometimes what they say is deeply offensive to the point of being an assault. By its nature this is mainly aimed at minorities and the majority simply must prevent this.

Sometimes it is pernicious thinking that - when given air time - influences the hard of thinking to produce a negative overall outcome in the long run.

But prevent debate completely and you drive nasty thinking underground and never challenge it. Especially given that it can spread largely invisibly through social media

And just as important, philosophy changes. Prevent proper debate and your society will ossify.

Edited by Mapletree (30 Jul 2017 10.01am)

You complained about the free speech on this board.

You aren't important enough to outrage me, but I regard your viewpoint as outrageous. Hopefully you can understand the difference.

I may have misinterpreted your post but I'm not so sure about the balance you strike.

Are you saying that minorities should be protected from offence?

Who decides what is 'highly offensive'? Who decides what is 'pernicious thinking'?

Shouldn't we keep what this is to what is definable and apply it equally?....Such as threats of violence or incitement to violence, for example.

Edited by Stirlingsays (30 Jul 2017 10.11am)