Censorship, defined as removing material based on content we don't like, is absolutely not practiced here.  We reserve the right to alter or remove any content if it is determined to be potentially illegal, or if it incites violence, violates copyright law, or otherwise gets us into questionable legal territory.  We typically edit out any personal information, such as real names of members, addresses, or other such material.

Very occasionally, we will delete a post that is purely trolling or spamming, but typically, we want idiots to be seen in all their idiocy.

When a thread has gone so far awry that it is making life difficult for mods, we will sometimes lock the thread, but we do not delete it.

Typically, useless threads go to trollville.

Exactly!!!  If I had reported this person as troll, s/he might have earned a warning.  According to that forums' rules...if you aren't responding to the thread but only making denegrating remarks about the 'author' or any other responder, you are a troll and can be banned.  Usually that's a temporary ban, but some people learn to moderate themselves.  (others are a waste of space and deserve permanent ban). 

And, yes...if the post is especially agregious.(porn/spam) not only is the post deleted, but the 'author' is immediately banned from the site.  Otherwise...an inflamatory thread is put in the 'garbage' forum and sometimes 'locked' so that everyone can see and read, but not comment.  That way the 'author' is supposed to be humiliated.  That website has one 'author' who has every post dumped in the garbage and he counts it as a 'badge of honor' (white supremacist type).

I don't even know if I want to go back to that site.  I am feeling ashamed...and I don't even see the other forum member getting a 'warning' from the mods, which they also post for other members to see.

Why do you edit out names? Both first and last?

Well of course.  By deleting it it is being denied therefore it isn't undeniable evidence.  Simply by deleting your posts we prove you wrong. 

Obviously they don't edit out both first and last names or I wouldn't have had the screen name I've had for the last 2 years plus (note a few of us have our first name in our screen name.)

But that's their choice, and completely under their control. If I were to announce your name, Cpt (which I don't know), that wouldn't be fair, since you have no control over me announcing it. Things like phone numbers and email addresses being announced on the internet would be worse, and for the same reason. Imagine if that guy who decided to harass you by private message thought he should give you a call and tell you what he really thought of you. That's not just inconvenient, that's scary.

Now, I've made it obvious that my name is Will and I have a picture of myself as my avatar, but that's my choice, and anyone who wants to harass me can bring it. Technically, I think telemarketers are already doing just that, so it probably wouldn't be much of a change of pace. But you should have the right to anonymity.

...I feel more or less the same way.

Must be a Canadian thing.

It's ShellEy. 

I think it can be spelled both ways.

http://www.babynames.com/Names/name_display.php?id=3589

KInd of like Upgraydde - spelled with 2 d's for a double dose of his pimpin'.

I think I recognise your user-name.
Are you a poster on Faith Freedom International?

We get much more spam for gambling and dick enhancement.  Those posts never make the cut, so yes, we censor. 

Do we censor people for simply disagreeing?  No.

The midnight shift is cool too ....

Only Christian web sites censor people that don't agree with them. So much for the truth setting people free.

I figured out what happened (after putting my foot firmly in my mouth). 

But the mod did also finally explain.  When someone posts a response, but not to the topic, just to yank the author's chain...the mods can 'split' the thread and move the objectionable portion (snip snip) to the garbage bin. 

I was a little upset because the other person was accusing me of 'trolling' but by not responding to the thread but just trying to yank my chain...she was trolling (pot calling the kettle black).  I hadn't wanted the thread to be split...but some zealous mod decided that was best.  Oh well.  Live and learn.

Once I realized what had happened, I apologized to the mod for any offense.  I've been doing that alot this week.  Perhaps I am the one who needs an 'attitude adjustment'.