[lpkmckenna]

So I was banned from ehMac.ca.

I'm not bitter or angry about being banned. It's no big deal, really. I mean, it's only a message board, after all.

But I decided to risk being banned on purpose, to demonstrate what a reactionary screwball the moderator is.

Here's the story:

EPISODE ONE: THE LIBERAL MENACE

Way back on 1 Feb 2006, I started a thread about the protests against the Danish "Mohammed cartoons" being held by ultraconservative Muslim groups around the world.

Here's the thread: http://www.ehmac.ca/showthread.php?t=36836

I made several points:

1. It was not Muslims who were anrgy and protesting, but only a tiny sliver of ultraconservative and reactionary Muslims. They are not representative of the overall Muslim community.
2. The cartoons themselves were not particularily offensive, except for the bomb-in-the-turban one, which was border-line.
3. Whether or not they were offensive, no one could justifiably demand that these cartoons should be banned. Free speech, freedom of religion, and secularism trump that notion flat.
4. But the orthodox groups demanding censorship believe in neither free speech nor secularism.
5. I made a big deal about the "secularism" issue, because I am an atheist and a liberal, and religious taboos are their problem, not mine.

As part of the discussion, I linked to several of the cartoons, starting with this post: http://www.ehmac.ca/showpost.php?p=353096&postcount=34

Here was my favorite post: http://www.ehmac.ca/showpost.php?p=354027&postcount=64

Mohammed with the bomb/turban is offensive, the rest are not. The attached one in particular is hilarious, given the ridiculous protests over a bunch of cartoons.

Offensive is not hate speech, however. Fundamentalists regard the crucifix as blasphemy, while Catholics regard it as holy. But in no way could fundamentalists demand the censorship of the crucifix on the grounds that it "offends them." That's their problem. And so it is with Muslims. No one's religious views are entitled to special protection under the law.

And I've said before, there is no such thing as "Islamophobia." But there is a legitimate fear of theocratic tyranny. That's what this is all about.

You're right about one thing. I am smug. Smug in the knowledge that liberalism is the movement that began changing the world for the better 300 years ago, will remain vibrant 300 years and more into the future. Regardless of a bunch of reactionary zealots carrying signs preaching "DEATH TO LIBERALISM."

Only the delusional mindset of a reactionary zealot could conclude that this is hate speech or blasphemy:

The thread was very contentious. But there was virtually no moderator presence there at all. Many posters to that thread were saying offensive things, but the mods said nothing. I found myself constantly at war with offensive messages.

But I like I really enjoyed that discussion. I like the web message boards because it provides a chance to debate with some really nutbars, and to demonstrate to them how narrow-minded their opinions are.

EPISODE TWO: ATTACK of the CARTOONS

Recently, a student newspaper in Winnipeg ran a cartoon of "Capitalist Pig" getting a blow job from Jesus Christ. There was a little upset at the school, but the issue blew over quickly as the staff apologized and editors were fired or quit.

On 8 Mar 2006, someone at ehMac started this thread on the matter: http://www.ehmac.ca/showthread.php?t=38210

The overall tone of the thread was humorous. I decided to add to the discussion, and I included a link to the picture. (I did not post the actual cartoon, because it was sexually-oriented, and thus against the rules of ehMac). But I didn't think a link to the picture was against the rules. The moderator, ehMax, thought it was inappropriate and deleted my post. Fine, I have no problem with that. He may have deleted a few other posts, I have no idea, because he didn't leave any "paper trail."

Then someone complained about the deleted posts. He complained of a "double-standard," saying: "the links to the cartoon were removed from this thread, but not from the original cartoon thread when the target was Muslims. Nice job mods."

The moderator reacted in a knee-jerk fashion, and deleted my linked to the Mohammed cartoons. He said: "Links and images of things like pornography, and images that totally disrespect various religions, or images making light of things like the holocaust... are absolutely not allowed on ehMac.ca."

Now ehMax was completely in the wrong. None of the cartoons even approximated anything like "totally disrespect various religions" so I decided to tell him what a fool he was being.

http://www.ehmac.ca/showpost.php?p=367943&postcount=173

It's good to see the mods are right on top of things here, deleting links to the Mohammed caricatures more than a month after I linked them. Of course, the need to appear fair is important after deleting links to a caricature of Jesus.

If you still want to see the Jesus pic, go to http://www.moderateview.com/. The writer there links to it on his page.

Of course, at moderateview.com you'll actually encounter a moderate view of things, unlike what you find here at ehMac, despite the occasional half-hearted attempt by the mods. And of course, the mods at ehMac do ironically immoderate things as "moderators." Like this silly event, for instance.

ehMax fired back: http://www.ehmac.ca/showpost.php?p=368002&postcount=176

lpkmckenna, not every one of the quarter million posts on ehMac.ca gets read by moderators, and if I knew you had posted a direct link to any overly offensive material on ehMac, it would of been removed immediately. Saying I'm not being fair, because I didn't delete that one link, is kind of like telling a cop, he/she is being totally unfair for giving you a speeding ticket, because they missed that time last week when you were speeding.

Feel free to go to Google and search for whatever turns your crank. As I said, direct links to images that are vulgar or profane, hateful etc.. will be removed from ehMac when noticed. Its really not that difficult of a concept to understand.

The discussion of concepts and ideas are not censored on ehMac, as this 18 page thread displays. I certainly respect everyone's point of view.

However, if you intend on being rude and insulting, you can take it elsewhere.

Was I being rude and insulting because I linked to the pictures? or because I criticized the mods? We'll never know, I guess.

But I insist that ehMax's actions were only a desire to "appear fair."

So I shot back: http://www.ehmac.ca/showpost.php?p=368408&postcount=180

"Overly offensive material?" Rubbish.

Like I said: "Your post implies they are all offended. They aren't. We are only hearing the hysterical, hyper-sensitive orthodox side. Just like all religions, there is a continuum of attitudes. These protests are not "the Islamic people," but only the irrational hysteria of ultraconservatives."

Interesting to see your standard of "offensive" is in line with such a reactionary and repressive group of theocrats.

Go look at the Mohammed cartoons yourself. Are they overly offensive material?

ehMax replied "Well, unfortunately for you, that's for me to decide." http://www.ehmac.ca/showpost.php?p=368474&postcount=181

For the first time, he's right. It's his message board. I never once complained about "censorship" or demanded my "free speech."

I wasn't complaining about being censored. I was telling him that his standard of "offensive" was a crock, roughly in line with the intolerant zealots parading in the streets. It's like the board was being moderated by Ahmed Akkari himself.

I'd had enough. Time to make the mayor of ehMac "put up or shut up."

EPISODE THREE: REVENGE of the AVATAR

On 10 Mar 2006, I changed my avatar and signature. My new sig was the same as the one you see here: "My mood: defiance. I will not live in fear of a tiny faction of intolerant zealots."

My new avatar? This:


ehMax's response was quick. He deleted my avatar and sent me a nasty-gram thru the private message. I can't exactly remember (or link to) the message, but in essence it was: "do that again, and you'll get a vacation from ehMac."

So I did it again, but with a newer, better avatar:


Next time I went to ehMac.ca, I got an expected message:
You have banned. Reason: none. Length of time: Forever.

Forever? My my, ehMax, you have a vindictive streak to you!

I quickly registered a new account. I saw what the mayor was saying: http://www.ehmac.ca/showpost.php?p=368767&postcount=202

lpkmckenna'd decided he doesn't want to be on ehMac. lpkmckenna posted a very clever and witty image of the ehMax logo burning a Canadian flag. Boy, that will teach me.

Also: http://www.ehmac.ca/showpost.php?p=368780&postcount=208

I further sent him a warning via PM, entitled "Your choice". Well, he made his choice. I don't have to take insults from anyone for deciding to remove offensive images from ehMac. If ehMac is not your cup of tea because I won't allow pictures of Christ giving oral sex to a pig, or a picture of the ehMac logo burning a Canadian flag, I'll be more than glad when you leave. Cry censorship all you like, it will fall on deaf ears from me.

Notice what he leaves out? The reason he sent me the PM in the first place: because I wanted this as my avatar:

The mayor of ehMac has a very selective memory.

I wonder what the membership of ehMac will think if they hear ehMac threatened me with banning because I wanted an innocuous picture of a "fearful political cartoonist" as my avatar? I suspect the liberal members will be very disturbed by it.

Like I've said, I have no problem with being banned. My pic of ehMax burning a the flag and giving us all the finger was insulting. But he deserves the insult. He's behaving just like these orthodox nutbars burning flags in the streets and protesting these same cartoons.

EPILOGUE

Sorry for the long, long post. I just wanted to get this story off my chest so I could forget about ehMac. And, since a crucial part of the reason I was threatened has been left completely unmentioned by ehMax I needed to post that.

I also think this is an interesting story, but one that played out in the world all the time. But the moderator is replaced by government censor boards with equally absurd standards of "offensive." So innocent cartoonists and political commentators are not banned from a silly little web-board, but sent to jail or to their deaths.

The moral of the story: Only the delusional mindset of a reactionary zealot could conclude that this is hate speech or blasphemy:

[ReggieX]

Keep your forum drama private.

[lpkmckenna]

Gee, why would that be, "Macs & web-guy" from Toronto?

[hickey]

holy crap that was a long ass post.

[CharlesS]

1. I've never heard of ehMac

2. Probably very few others here have heard of ehMac

3. Even if we knew what ehMac was, who cares?

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by CharlesS

1. I've never heard of ehMac
ok

2. Probably very few others here have heard of ehMac
ok

3. Even if we knew what ehMac was, who cares?

someone might, if not you.

[brapper]

i've been there once or twice. Meh.

Move on, or make your post more sensational. I only skimmed, 'cause I got bored.

Welcome to the MacNN, bitch.

[Cody Dawg]

I think it's a ploy to get MacNNers to go to their "ehMac."



Spammer.



Where's Tookie? "Oh, TOOOOOKIEEEE!"

[aristotles]

Originally Posted by ReggieX

Keep your forum drama private.

Who pissed in your Cherrios?

[meelk]

take it to livejournal, we dont give a crap.

[Eug Wanker]

1) Nobody cares.

2) Even if someone cared, wrong forum.

3) IBTL.

[rparke1]

i just went to ehmac and its so yawn worthy. viva la macnn ;-)

edit:
"Who pissed in your Cherrios?" LMAO

[Chuckit]

Too long; didn't read.

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by Chuckit

Too long; didn't read.

Just like the Star Wars prequels, the best stuff is in episode three.

Just for those with ferret-like attention spans, here's the new REVENGE of the RE-EDIT:

BANNED v.2

I wasn't complaining about being censored. I was telling him that his standard of "offensive" was a crock, roughly in line with the intolerant zealots parading in the streets. It's like the board was being moderated by Ahmed Akkari himself.

I'd had enough. Time to make the mayor of ehMac "put up or shut up."

On 10 Mar 2006, I changed my avatar and signature. My new sig was the same as the one you see here: "My mood: defiance. I will not live in fear of a tiny faction of intolerant zealots."

My new avatar? This:


ehMax's response was quick. He deleted my avatar and sent me a nasty-gram thru the private message. I can't exactly remember (or link to) the message, but in essence it was: "do that again, and you'll get a vacation from ehMac."

So I did it again, but with a newer, better avatar:


Next time I went to ehMac.ca, I got an expected message:
You have banned. Reason: none. Length of time: Forever.

Forever? My my, ehMax, you have a vindictive streak to you!

I wonder what the membership of ehMac will think if they hear ehMac threatened me with banning because I wanted an innocuous picture of a "fearful political cartoonist" as my avatar? I suspect the liberal members will be very disturbed by it.

Like I've said, I have no problem with being banned. My pic of ehMax burning a the flag and giving us all the finger was insulting. But he deserves the insult. He's behaving just like these orthodox nutbars burning flags in the streets and protesting these same cartoons.

----

Still too many words? Would you prefer more pictures? How about a dramatized puppet-show instead?

[rparke1]

your gunna get banned here too if you keep up the insults, and posting flag burning pics. gifs or not. and personally, i dont blame ehmac for banning you. could of been grown up and let it be, but you kept it up and see what happens? you get banned.
edit: im so glad that everyone from Toronto is not like you. your making Torontians look bad

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

Even if someone cared, wrong forum.

ok, which forum works for you, wanker?

[Eug Wanker]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna

ok, which forum works for you, wanker?

http://forums.macnn.com/announcement.php?f=95&a=12

Originally Posted by rparke1

your gunna get banned here too

That would the best result of all of this.

[bradoesch]

I don't think there are any good forums.

edit: crap, another accidental post in the political lounge

[rparke1]

^ agreed

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by rparke1

your gunna get banned here too if you keep up the insults

Who did I insult? The only semi-nasty thing I said was a humorous gib at those "with ferret-like attention spans." You get banned for that here? I doubt it.

Originally Posted by rparke1

and posting flag burning pics. gifs or not.

If the moderator erases the picture it won't bother me none.

Originally Posted by rparke1

and personally, i dont blame ehmac for banning you. could of been grown up and let it be, but you kept it up and see what happens? you get banned.

Like I said, I was expecting to be banned. I was just incredulous that someone could think the picture of the "fearful cartoonist" is offensive.

Originally Posted by rparke1

im so glad that everyone from Toronto is not like you. your making Torontians look bad

uh huh.

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna

ok, which forum works for you, wanker?

Looks like this got quietly moved to the "political lounge." ok

[Jawbone54]

I'm very glad that I didn't read that entire post.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna

I'm not bitter or angry about being banned. It's no big deal, really.

-t

[Jawbone54]

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

-t

[rparke1]

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

-t

awesome

[Kevin]

And your sig is against the guidelines here.

[ShortcutToMoncton]

I haven't been on ehMac since it got started a looooong time ago. I wonder if my account still works?

Anyways, while I do agree in principle with you, repeated prodding by you really only serves to stir the pot, so to speak. If you looked at our own thread(s) on the issue you'd see they're quite contentious as well.

I'm just more amused by the circulated picture which was supposed to represent a Muslim as a pig, which turned out to be a poorly photocopied picture of a French minister wearing a mask at the 2005 Pig-Squealing Contest.

greg

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by Kevin

And your sig is against the guidelines here.

Opps, you're right. I'll fix that right now....

[mrcolton]

wow, macnn has fallen tremendously in my absence.

[Kevin]

And we can't get up!

[Pendergast]

Originally Posted by what_the_heck

-t

Hey! Good for you!

[Pendergast]

Originally Posted by mrcolton

wow, macnn has fallen tremendously in my absence.

Yeah. It started with dcolton and ghostflash.

[Pendergast]

Originally Posted by Kevin

And we can't get up!

How could I forget about you!

[meelk]

haha. return of son of HAHA Guy is the best part of this whole thread.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Pendergast

Yeah. It started with dcolton and ghostflash.

Nope, when there was a NEED to make this part of the forum.

AKA the bush haters couldn't stop posting a ZILLION redundant anti-bush threads in the lounge.

[RAILhead]

[Jawbone54]

Destined for the MacNN Hall of Fame

[rparke1]

MacNN Hall of Shame is more like it

[OldManMac]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna

So I was banned from ehMac.ca.
<snip>

I certainly hope you're not older than 12.

[Spliffdaddy]

Welcome to the Political Lounge, lpkmckenna, you'll fit right in.

Oddly enough, we're running a bit low on liberals - so we have an opening.

[Oneota]

I think this thread can be summarized succinctly, for those that don't want to read the whole thing:

lpkmckenna -->

MacNN Forums -->

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by Oneota

I think this thread can be summarized succinctly, for those that don't want to read the whole thing:

lpkmckenna -->

MacNN Forums -->

Right on the nail.

[rparke1]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna

So I was banned from ehMac

[vmarks]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna

Time to make the mayor of ehMac "put up or shut up."

Which part of challenging "de Mayr"* was going to win you vindication and approval?




* "de Mayr" is a reference to the Mayor of Chicago. Any one, they're all named Daley anyway.

[lpkmckenna]

Try to remember this, folks. i was threatened with banning for this:


So I provoked the moderator to ban me. Far from whining, I made it happen.

I thought the story of a forum moderator who thinks innocent cartoons are "offensive" would be a good story. Sorry it was "too long" and went over your heads.

Next time, I'll use shorter, simpler words, and lots of clever animated gifs.

[lpkmckenna]

Originally Posted by vmarks

Which part of challenging "de Mayr"* was going to win you vindication and approval?

I think you Americans have an expression: "better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." That's the moral of the story here.

[vmarks]

I don't think it was lost on anyone, or went over anyone's heads.

It was simply dull and uninteresting. A forum moderator applies the rules, even if you don't like them or see them as obviously wrong-headed and laughable.

If you told this story to me at a bar or café over drinks, I would listen, nod, and then ask you 'so what?'

Free speech is a natural right protected by some governments from government encroachment. When last I checked, ehMac doesn't have any such restriction, and can do what he pleases to your speech. Is he doing something very silly by restricting your 'speech' in posting a cartoon, a cartoon at the center of a free speech debate? Yes.

Oh well. Ho-hum.

(someone, pour me a drink.)

[rparke1]

i said it once and ill say it again. im so glad not all people from toronto are like you ipkm, your making all torontians look bad. i sure hope your not older than 12 years of age

[Mister Elf]

Originally Posted by lpkmckenna

So I provoked the moderator to ban me. Far from whining, I made it happen.

So let me get this straight...you baited a forum admin, got banned, and now you're whining about it here, so yet more people get pissed off at you and just want you to go away?

Oh, and stop double-posting. It's annoying. If I were an admin, I'd ban you just for ignoring forum etiquette.

[Y3a]

zzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzz zzzz zzzzzzzz......