Thread deletion and the marketplace of ideas

[Gentle Giant]

I come here to talk at a high level about the value of discussion in threads, whether the thread is begun in controversy or even just devolves into controversy.

In the old days, the person initiating a thread had the ability to delete. As far as I know, that is no longer the case. Threads can only be deleted by Lois at her own initiative or by request of others.

There currently are at least two threads in the Alley where a lot of negativity is going down. One is Goodie's, the other is mine on Mia Farrow. I will only speak of my thread and its motivations. I voiced an opinion about something and a lot of people disagreed with me about it. That's cool. That's the marketplace of ideas. Yet even people who sort of agree with me are not fans of how I expressed my opinion, and maybe even the force of that opinion. Again, I am OK with that, we all have different perspectives, we all are passionate about different things, and we all have hot button issues.

However, it now appears that people with whom I have been on good relations in the past are disappointed, maybe even angry or disillusioned by me based on the opinions I have expressed in the thread (and the way in which they were expressed). That made me unhappy, and I considered asking Lois to delete the thread because I didn't want to be responsible for creating a negative pit of shit in the Alley. OTOH, others have been posting their thoughtful opinions and whether I agree with them or not, as a basic proponent of social networks and the free marketplace of ideas, it would seem a shame to throw out the baby with the bathwater.

Meaning, even if I'm taking a personal hit, I feel there is a value in letting the discussion take its own course until it ends up on page 4 or 5 of the Alley threads. OTOH, if people think it stinks so bad, I am happy to ask Lois to delete it and I won't broach the subject again.

There are no current cries from the community to delete my thread, but there are in Goodie's thread. Again, I don't want to speak for Goodie as to his motivations or intentions but I do wonder if even an ill-advised thread, or an intentionally or unintentionally divisive one merits standing purely on First Amendment principles and the fostering of dialogue and debate. If someone is really out of control and spewing hateful and threatening remarks, I can see taking one down, but my sense at this moment is to let them die a more natural death; if a thread upsets you, leave it alone and if you want to make your feelings known, make it known in the thread as fodder for more discussion.

As for me, I've said my piece(s) about Mia Farrow and they haven't been well-received so there's no cause for me to say more. But feel free to continue to debate the issues raised there. And anybody who no longer thinks I'm all right because of my stance on this issue, I'm sorry to have disappointed you. Hopefully, we'll be on the same side in another thread.

[rollhead]

[jesus marion joseph]

Dude, you've been pwned by Mia Farrow.

[clinthopson]

GG, I would never ask any of my threads to be deleted because they are a product of dazzling insight which must be posted as soon as the thought occurs.

Now there may be some here who actually give serious thought to a thread they initiate but I deeply believe that they are in the minority.

If you mange to upset or even offend someone, that is all to the plus. Folks need to be brought out of their lethargy.

[rollhead]

You mean I'm pwned by Mia Farrow?