32 replies to this topic

[Pat]

It's been a long time since I've been on this forum. I had a bit of a look over the "Off The Wall" section which I've always enjoyed. There was always the odd redneck rant on here but it was generally just good natured ribbing and lively debate. Some of the posts on here are now extremely offensive.

 

There are plenty of forums on the net where paranoid racists can say their piece and I'm sure some of our members frequent these sites and replicate the bile they spill out on this one. It simply should not be allowed on here.

 

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I think far too much leniency is been shown to certain individuals who want to throw in a volatile topic starter often based on right wing lies and propaganda. I just picture a kid getting into fish keeping who finds their way onto our site. They happen to be of an ethnic minority, "god" forbid they might even be a Muslim. They check out "Off The Wall" and read the sort of stuff they might expect to find if they had stumbled onto Stormfront. It makes me cringe.

 

Like I said there are certain people that are shown far too much leniency on this forum. I am happy to name them but I think you know exactly who I am talking about. I am by no means a bleeding heart lefty, I am a working class, middle-thirties man. I believe in sensible, controlled immigration and I am a the stereo typical footy loving, beer drinking, Ashes watching Aussie but I am utterly disgusted at what I have been reading in the past half hour.

 

I get that this is Off The Wall. But I assumed that this forum is also part of an inclusive non-descriminatory (except for hybrids) Society. I reiterate that there are plenty of forums where our more racist members can share their extreme opinions with like minded types. I know I will probably offend moderators as they may view this post as me as accusing them of not doing their jobs and I will no doubt offend some of our far right minded members, but I am prepared to wear it.

Edited by Pat, 11 July 2013 - 01:08 AM.

[BIG-PETE]

what has been posted is true not some story thats been made up

[bigjohnnofish]

hi pat good to see you've taken the time to comment... must i point out to you i am in no way being racist talking about muslims or christians or budhists etc... these are religions and has nothing to do with the colour of your skin or your eyes... there are white , yellow , black , brown , red people that are all christian and the same white , yellow , black , brown , red people that are all muslims... 

 

please dont label me as a racist... in my experience the first person that cries racist is normally the one that has racial issues... 

 

i have friends of all nationalities and a couple indigenous mates too......

 

p.s. i may be racist to certain minority groups within a race but the discussion topic being discussed has nothing to do with this...

 

p.p.s.  it seems everyone wants to be offended by something these days it just seems to be the trend...

 

p.p.p.s  you see far worse uncensored stuff on facebook and u-tube these days... not much gets moderated on these sites.... if your still living in the dark ages i can give you multiple links for you to see ... as your prepared to wear it pat so am i  

[TheTexasCichlidMasacre]

it is not racist for people to discuss halal meat and what it is ... alot of people dont know or don't understand it... alot of people will be educated on it from reading that post

[werdna]

Thank you Pat. I was starting to wonder if I was the only person thinking this.

 

Personally I would love to delete the threads in question, however seen as I participated in them I don't want my personal views to cloud my moderation duties.

The problem is not a single person on here has reported the post, nor has any other moderator seen a problem with it apparently.

 

I find it rather disturbing that no one else seems worried by the obvious racist/xenophobic opinions of these few, hopefully all Australians do not feel that way.

 

If you or anyone else has a problem with these posts/threads, please report them straight away.

I will happily delete them ASAP.

And if my actions are deemed unwarranted I will happily resign from my position.

 

It seems extremely arrogant IMO to continually publicly criticise a religion, not think about the fact that 2% of Australians are of that religion so in theory around 100 members on here will belong to that, and then complain that everyone is offended by something.

 

Wake up people, YOU are the ones offended by someones religion.

And your ill researched biased comments are going to upset someone as you are publicly spouting one sided bullshit about something they deeply believe in.

[Anka]

I agree Andrew and Pat.

However, the reason I have not deleted it is that no one reported it and I see it as bordering on free speech.

Forum users criticise mods for over moderating even though stuff rarely gets deleted on the forum. I guess, because of that, myself and other moderators want to avoid rocking the boat by deleting anything in the grey area as we will umdoubtedly be criticised for it.
I sort of leave it as the fact that people are ignorant and I thank God that these types of opinions do not represent the masses.

[TheTexasCichlidMasacre]

i did my best to explain whats going on with halal meat in western australia...   hope nobody found my comments racist lol as they weren't

Edited by TheTexasCichlidMasacre, 11 July 2013 - 09:15 AM.

[Anka]

No problem with your comments mate. They were good and informative.

[kangakoi]

http://www.youtube.c...r_embedded#t=0s

 

This is in no way racist...but it is funny....Please enjoy the humour of it. The guy came up with a song...which is, in my opinion..cool... 

Edited by kangakoi, 11 July 2013 - 10:19 AM.

[werdna]

please dont label me as a racist... in my experience the first person that cries racist is normally the one that has racial issues... 

 

 

p.s. i may be racist to certain minority groups within a race but the discussion topic being discussed has nothing to do with this...

 

You just labelled yourself as a racist.

And in my experience, the racist is the one making racist taunts, the one crying racist is the one who is sick of listening to it.

But that's just my experience

 

If you or anyone else has a problem with these posts/threads, please report them straight away.

I will happily delete them ASAP.

And if my actions are deemed unwarranted I will happily resign from my position.

Post was reported. Please refer to my comment here.

If you believe it was unwarranted, please make a formal complaint to committee

[Buccal]

Democracy ??????????

[Barf]

"Psst if one of you report it to me I will delete it"

Hahaha you lot crack me up

[malawiman85]

To each their own on The Race/religion Argument... It Has raged since Ancient History In One Form Or Another You Folkes Wont Change Anyones Minds On The Matter. Surely Though A friendly, Open Fishkeeping Forum Is Not The Place For Such Potentially Volatile Discussion.
Yes There Is Such A Thing As Free Speech But Remember There Are Kids And People Of Other Races And Religious Beliefs reading These Posts... Surely Our Kids Should Be Able To Access These Forums Without Being Exposed To This Debate.
Whats More If People Want To Throw Out Facts Then Reference Them, give People The Opportunity To Examine The "Evidence" In The Correct Context. Dont Base An Argument On Rumour And unsubstantiated Claims That May Not Have been Reported In Even Close To The Right Context.

[waxy]

http://www.youtube.c...r_embedded#t=0s

 

This is in no way racist...but it is funny....Please enjoy the humour of it. The guy came up with a song...which is, in my opinion..cool... 

Funny and That was really well done.

[knock]

dont have an off the wall section if you dont want members to debate non fish related topics...run your site as an Autocracy

[werdna]

IMO, Pat hit the nail on the head.

 

If you don't like my decision, make a formal complaint to committee.

[Kleinz]

Point taken, Pat. The reason the board looks like it is populated by bogan rednecks, is that it is populated by bogan rednecks...this is the demographic . I have not seen race enter into it per se. Do not conflate being against a religion with being against a race: They are two different things. While I don't agree with a lot of things said on this forum, I don't really feel they merit censoring. The way I see it we can have the site be about fish and nothing else, or we allow discussion of what is on peoples' minds.

 

Do I agree with most of these posts? Hell no! Can I be arsed spending time refuting them? Not really.

 

I tend not to weigh into those debates in any serious way, because it's more fun not to, and who is going to change anyone's mind on a fish forum anyway?

 

If it were up to me I would ban all mention of football. Can't stand it. Grown men obsessing about  who has a groin strain. I think a kid coming onto this site  to find about fish could stray into the posts about footy and it might give them the idea that devoting energy to such a pointless and annoying pursuit is normal behaviour. I find the endless attention it is given offensive, but that's me. There are a heap of things  here I don't give a stuff about. Tatts and cars, for example. I loathe the way religious people think they are entitled to proselytize, and think the danger to kids posed by that to be by far the greater evil. For all of that, though, people are entitled to put their views and interests, and the most I will do is take the piss.

 

I'd be interested to hear exactly what you find offensive. If we took out all the posts someone found retarded, there would be nothing left.

 

Here is a thought experiment for you: Take what is said about moslems in some of the posts and apply it to, say, communists or scientologists. ie "I don't want more communists coming to this country, because this is a capitalist country and they don't respect private property. They have to respect our ways.", or "scientology is a joke and a cruel cult.Their techniques amount to brainwashing" or "Nazism is a murderous senseless belief. The amount of trouble caused by Nazi countries is way out of proportion" etc etc. Not that different, is it?

 

As long as someone is advancing an argument, I'm OK with that. If it's just namecalling or personal attacks, then that is where I draw my line.

 

Other mods might have a different view; these are just mine.

[sandgroper]

Stop the special treatment and you will stop a lot of the racism. One set of rules for everyone, vote 1 for One Nation at the next election and unite this divide country.

[BIG-PETE]

Stop the special treatment and you will stop a lot of the racism. One set of rules for everyone, vote 1 for One Nation at the next election and unite this divide country.

 

i think that is why so many people feel the way they do

[bigjohnnofish]

well hearing what you said werdna about no-one reporting the posts does give the discussion a whole lot of merit.... now that you've asked people to report it i'd expect a few to do so... but had you not highlighted this then perhaps you wouldnt have got any reported posts...

 

anyway back on topic - i always appreciate werdnas input as he always likes to take the opposite side and provide factual information and even up the topic conversation... well done although i dont always believe that its your belief... 

 

i have talked to majority of all my friends and many people at different events... and the majority view is they donot like whats happening with islam in australia... some believe as i do most of the muslim population will live amongst us without too much problem...  its the muslim radical extremists among them that is going to cause problems in our country - the same as they have in every other country they have immigrated to...

 

every other immigrant that has arrived on australias shores since WWII has come to australia has endeavoured to learn our language and has mixed into the australian way of life... the new immigrants have brought their religion , culture and their way of life with them and want us to change to islam... sorry if this offends anyone.... but we have been very lucky to live in this great country and live the way we have...  our quality of life is very high compared to the rest of the world... and i donot blame people for wanting to come here... but sure as hell i donot want them to change our beautiful country and culture... and i believe a big majority of australians will back me up...