Mellifluous
08-28-2007, 08:21 PM
The First Amendment and private message boards
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Message board administrators and moderators hear this argument a lot: "It's a free country! You Nazis are denying me my right to free speech! First Amendment! First Amendment! Help! Help! I'm being repressed!"
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution reads:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
That clause is extended under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which reads:
No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States...
APF.com is not the United States Congress or a state. It is a privately owned Web site.
Contrary to popular belief, "freedom of speech" does not give one the right to say anything they want, anywhere they want. While free expression is encouraged, there are topics and behaviors that are inappropriate for this message board. As on most message boards, staff is empowered to delete content they feel is inappropriate, and suspend or ban troublesome users. The First Amendment does not obligate us to provide unlimited access for everyone to voice their opinion on any subject, or promote their personal agenda.
The First Amendment only prevents the government from trampling on your right to free speech, not the people who run a message board.
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Message board administrators and moderators hear this argument a lot: "It's a free country! You Nazis are denying me my right to free speech! First Amendment! First Amendment! Help! Help! I'm being repressed!"
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution reads:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
That clause is extended under the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which reads:
No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States...
APF.com is not the United States Congress or a state. It is a privately owned Web site.
Contrary to popular belief, "freedom of speech" does not give one the right to say anything they want, anywhere they want. While free expression is encouraged, there are topics and behaviors that are inappropriate for this message board. As on most message boards, staff is empowered to delete content they feel is inappropriate, and suspend or ban troublesome users. The First Amendment does not obligate us to provide unlimited access for everyone to voice their opinion on any subject, or promote their personal agenda.
The First Amendment only prevents the government from trampling on your right to free speech, not the people who run a message board.