Low membership activity

[TroutSlayer]

Unfortunate circumstances of crushing free speech.

This "free speech" thing comes up from time to time. Free speech can be practiced in public. Stand on a box and Queen and Main and have at it.

The OOD forums are a private, members only platform. Members agree to rules in order to participate on these forums when they sign up. Although we try to let members have their say, there is a code of conduct here that is enforced to keep OOD a family gathering place.

Here are the rules again in case you did not read them before clicking "I agree".

https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...-Rules-Conduct

[Gilroy]

Unfortunate circumstances of crushing free speech.

Exactly what is happening.

So the interpretation of the rules are that "free speech" is for a public area only and this is a private place and added to this we have "OOD a family gathering place." Not to sure where I read that in the rules.

[finsfurfeathers]

The problem is the Moderation and censorship which has been a feature on here since I joined 16 years ago. If they dont like your opinion your banned off certain sections, polititcs and off topic.
That stiffles debates and exchanges of ideas and therfore no traffic.

If a Moderator steps overboard and its pointed out to the Administration and the member is completely brushed off then nothing can improve , the member feels taken for granted and simply stops posting.

Folks even get afraid to post anything in case they get labelled so just don't bother with the drama.

Thats my two cents worth but I also know from PM,s that more then just me thinks this way.

A re posting by Administrators and Moderators of posts already available on the OOD Facebook page does bring some reading by not many debates on the topics posted.

Unfortunate circumstances of crushing free speech.

This "free speech" thing comes up from time to time. Free speech can be practiced in public. Stand on a box and Queen and Main and have at it.

The OOD forums are a private, members only platform. Members agree to rules in order to participate on these forums when they sign up. Although we try to let members have their say, there is a code of conduct here that is enforced to keep OOD a family gathering place.

Here are the rules again in case you did not read them before clicking "I agree".

https://www.oodmag.com/community/sho...-Rules-Conduct

Please do not conflate "free speech" and social decorum. Although the site is intended primarily for outdoors topics of interest there is a certain need for a place for things that don't quite fit in other areas.
debate is encouraged and like any debate there are moderators in place to keep things civil and on tract.
Those that have a problem with following agreed upon rules of the forum seem to have the most concerns.

[finsfurfeathers]

Exactly what is happening.

So the interpretation of the rules are that "free speech" is for a public area only and this is a private place and added to this we have "OOD a family gathering place." Not to sure where I read that in the rules.

This might help Gilroy , Rules 2 and 3 pretty much covers it.
2. Controversial, religious or political threads deemed inappropriate or needlessly provocative will be removed without warning.

3(a). Personal insults, inappropriate or offensive content, the incitement of violence, or disrupting behaviours, which are detrimental to discussions in the forum will not be tolerated.

You can clearly see here some topics are just of no value to an outdoors forum that they can be removed without a second thought. If you want to purse them them the soap box on the corner is where you go.

[BoltgunBill]

Exactly what is happening.

So the interpretation of the rules are that "free speech" is for a public area only and this is a private place and added to this we have "OOD a family gathering place." Not to sure where I read that in the rules.

Reading past threads, seems some type of mass exodus of unhappy unwanted or banned members took place a time ago here.

Moderation and censorship can certainly play a role and reflect membership numbers and presence.

Meta/Facebook going through transition from heavy censorship resulting in millions of deleted accounts of unhappy members. Meta has since open free speech, ditching fact checking censorship to secure reclaim member accounts..

[B.C.Duck]

Well I’ll contribute if I can, our winter goose season starts Monday for a month, that’s right I have another month of waterfowl hunting so hopefully I can post something.

[Gilroy]

Reading past threads, seems some type of mass exodus of unhappy unwanted or banned members took place a time ago here.

Moderation and censorship can certainly play a role and reflect membership numbers and presence.

Meta/Facebook going through transition from heavy censorship resulting in millions of deleted accounts of unhappy members. Meta has since open free speech, ditching fact checking censorship to secure reclaim member accounts..

I am sure a few members will reach out to you and let you know what happened.