Technically it’s a private forum.
And there are far more important issues to worry about.
Explain that to me? I don’t understand how anything on the Internet can be considered “private,” I guess…
Well, you have to pay to have a website. Right? There’s all sorts of equipment and software involved that someone has to pay for. So you pay and then you get advertisers to help defray the cost. Probably the company you pay has some rules, but you also get to set up rules for the space you are renting. You could have a password required and only let certain people view your website. Or you could let anyone see it or use it. Haven’t you come across websites you couldn’t access? You have to pay to use them or be a member of a group or something. They aren’t public things unless the person paying for the space wants it public.
Cynth is absolutely right.
Even for something as simple as flutesite.com, I pay money to put it out there. Because it’s my money, it’s my site, and I decide what goes on it and what doesn’t.
Consider it publicly viewable private property.
I don’t pay that much for flutesite; something like Chiff & Fipple with message boards and chat is going to be quite a bit more expensive.
Because it’s their money, it’s their place, and they decide what goes on it and what doesn’t.
A good real-world example is a library.
It’s a public building, the books are considered public property, but you can’t just go in the building and take all the books and not bring them back. Even though it’s public, there are rules that must be followed.
Whose rules? Usually the rules of the person(s) whose money built the library.
–James
[quote="peeplj"Whose rules? Usually the rules of the person(s) whose money built the library.[/quote]
So…that makes Dale our Undisputed Librarian?
Well you’d think that, wouldn’t you? But some people seem to be disputing it rather vigorously at the moment. I can’t make head or tail of their arguments but I do believe they are disputing his right to run his wesite his way. Or so it seems.
I wonder if it’s possible that many of these people actually don’t understand that you have to pay to have a website. Could they really think that websites are public property? I have never felt that would excuse rude behaviour, but I’m just at a loss to understand their arguments any other way.
Of course the other option is that they understand it perfectly well and that they simply enjoy conflict. I have met people for whom life was dull unless conflict was present, they have actually told me so. I suppose that could be the other explanation.
In exactly the same way that a restaurant, store, or other brick/mortar store is “private” - the proprietor doesn;t need a court order to get someone to leave.
I’m hardly around the forums at all anymore. I’m still providing the forums’ home and keeping the software running right and so on, but I can’t remember the last time that I did any moderation work that wasn’t just cleaning out spam and that sort of thing, or flipping switches on Dale’s request.
-Rich
DALE FOR CONGRESS!!!can i be your campaign manager…pppplleeesase???
I’ve had discussions like this before:
(Someone to bartender) “Why are you kicking me out? This is public property! (Turns to me) They shouldn’t be able to throw me out!”
“Oh, they can, all right.”
“No, they can’t. It’s public property.”
“No, it’s private property. It’s a public SPACE, but not property.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Yes, it is. It’s a bar, and someone OWNS it and has a mortgage on it. Pays taxes. Wages. All that good gig. And YOU happen to be a guest.”
“Guest? I pay money to drink here, so I have the right to do whatever I want.”
“'Fraid not. The owner --OWNER-- didn’t have to make this dump into a bar, and he or she doesn’t have to put up with every little thing.”
“Screw you.”
enter the bouncer
Remind me to teach my evolutionary biology class in a fundamentalist Baptist church.
Only Congress? He was born in the US wasn’t he? Let’s get that 2008 campaign rolling. Wonder who he’ll choose for a running mate.
Why yesssssss!!!
He can run on the Fipple Party ticket!!!
Dale For President!!!
Actually, we have already nominated jim stone. He’s going to beat Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, Dick Cheney, and Newt Gingrich.
Preferably with a cudgel. 
So, they’re all gonna get stoned, eh?
Or that. Oh, wait. You meant like at a party.
It’s a party either way…
I’m picturing it.