Attention Webmaster

[ishoot308]

Are you really censoring the word Trump from this site? (Sounds like Chrump) if so count me out as I find any censorship is despicable!!

Edited to add to please reply here and NOT send me a private message or email….

Thank you!

Dan

[phoenix]

Maybe don( who isn't paid) will stop and the site will disappear

[pondguy]

It's happening in all the mainstream media as well it's very sad whats happening to our country.

[Biggd]

Maybe the webmaster should start a heading for politics only so everyone that wishes to, can trash or support each other in one spot and leave the rest of us alone to enjoy nonpolitical lake stuff.
Otherwise, this will be a long and agonizing 2 1/2 months on here.

[Blyblvrd]

Wondering if Biden gets redacted (rhymes with widen)


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[ishoot308]

First off, I have been on this site for over 15 years. I am going to assume this is a hijacked situation. I can’t imagine Don would ever allow something like that to happen with his knowledge.

Waiting patiently for a reply from Don…….

Dan

[Sue Doe-Nym]

While I am not in favor of censorship, the webmaster does a great job, all in all, so I would be wary of being too critical. The current political atmosphere is pretty heated ; in fact, watching the news makes me so upset that I frequently have to leave the room. Maybe someone else could start a political forum, where the craziness would be limited to just that space. JMO.

[Mr. V]

LOL at the posters who just can't STAND not being able to argue their political positions on a site dedicated to the lakes region.

Hey people...you've got lots of other places to rant, rave and try to look feisty: please don't pollute this one, OK?

[WinnisquamZ]

Trump is a legitimate candidate for president of the United States. His name being censored is wrong.


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[WinnisquamZ]

But Harris isn’t? Tells us all we need to hear


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[LoveLakeLife]

Originally Posted by pondguy

It's happening in all the mainstream media as well it's very sad what happening to our country.

Mainstream media is a misnomer. Except for a few outlets, it’s left wing media. There’s nothing mainstream about it and they should be labeled appropriately.


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[LoveLakeLife]

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ

Trump is a legitimate candidate for president of the United States. His name being censored is wrong.


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Agreed. He’s also a former President who survived an assassination attempt. It’s disappointing that his name is being redacted, especially where the original post was about a lake event. It’s a private enterprise, so nothing unlawful, but disappointing nonetheless. I’m glad we can all voice our views on that aspect of the situation though. The comments have been measured and deliberative.


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[magicrobotmonkey]

if you type your password, it also gets censored - mine is ********* try it out!

[Winilyme]

Originally Posted by Biggd

Maybe the webmaster should start a heading for politics only so everyone that wishes to, can trash or support each other in one spot and leave the rest of us alone to enjoy nonpolitical lake stuff.
Otherwise, this will be a long and agonizing 2 1/2 months on here.

Or perhaps those individuals that can't help but move a thread into the political arena, against the Webmaster's frequently reinforced appeals over many years, should start their own politically-oriented forum or participate in the countless ones that exist elsewhere.

Unless you are a newbie, you know that the Webmaster has made it crystal clear that the political conversation doesn't belong here. I for one, like it that way.

[LoveLakeLife]

Wini you have a point regarding substantive discussions on political issues, but the post was a neutral, innocuous description of a lake event in the Weirs channel. It didn’t and hasn’t provoked any political issue discussions, which is good. The only point at issue is the decision to evaporate the President’s name when it’s typed into a post.


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[Winilyme]

I know, but what starts as neutral and innocuous with only a glimmer of political connotation, on this forum, almost always builds quickly and goes right down the rabbit hole. That has happened time and time again and it’s why the webmaster is so quick to shut these threads down.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Are you really censoring the word Trump from this site? (Sounds like Chrump) if so count me out as I find any censorship is despicable!! Edited to add to please reply here and NOT send me a private message or email…. Thank you!

Dan

All of us go through this same "treatment" every four years.

I can offer a forum where such ad argumentum discussions take place.

After 70 days, we'll have a favorable resolution, so have some patience...!

[pjard]

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ

But Harris isn’t? Tells us all we need to hear


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KABOOM!!! Proof right there of the bias. I have been on this form since 2002...never have I been this disapointed.

[Blyblvrd]

Testing to confirm, Trump candidate (rhymes with pump) Harris candidate (rhymes with farris)


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[SAMIAM]

Originally Posted by Sue Doe-Nym

While I am not in favor of censorship, the webmaster does a great job, all in all, so I would be wary of being too critical. The current political atmosphere is pretty heated ; in fact, watching the news makes me so upset that I frequently have to leave the room. Maybe someone else could start a political forum, where the craziness would be limited to just that space. JMO.

Me too Sue
I leave a home search channel on and immediately change when politics starts on the news

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by LoveLakeLife

Mainstream media is a misnomer. Except for a few outlets, it’s left wing media. There’s nothing mainstream about it and they should be labeled appropriately.


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At least with main street media you chose to read or watch it or not.
With internet media you are fed stories and articles that an algorithm picks for you, and you don't even know if they are written by a real person or AI generated.
You still have the right to watch it or read it but much of it is fake!
Even social media sites and forums are filled with trolls and bots to incite civil unrest.

[ishoot308]

Looks like the issue has been resolved as I was able to edit my initial post to include the word Trump.

I do hope this was a hijack situation…hopefully Don will respond here to clarify…

Dan

[Puck]

This forum has been available to all of us for free for @20 years during which the webmaster has really given us a great deal of leeway. Yet he got called out publicly and, within hours, a not insignificant number of longtime members assumed the worst and piled on rather than wait to see it the issue would be resolved. Dang, he is a far better human being than I am...

[sky's]

Originally Posted by pondguy

It's happening in all the mainstream media as well it's very sad what happening to our country.

it happened to me on Facebook i was suspended for supporting Trump. this country is in sad sad state if freedom of speech is taken away

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by sky's

it happened to me on Facebook i was suspended for supporting Trump. this country is in sad sad state if freedom of speech is taken away

Fakebook is 90% trash, full of scammers, trolls, and bots.

[webmaster]

Originally Posted by pjard

KABOOM!!! Proof right there of the bias. I have been on this form since 2002...never have I been this disapointed.

Wow, some of you are so quick to attack. People on this forum who know me personally are getting a good chuckle over this accusation. Not adding Harris to the block list was an oversight, not bias.

I've been running this forum for 25 years and have been very consistent in attempting to keep this forum 100% dedicated to Lakes Region issues and activities. I've struggled with this through many presidential elections. I think trying to limit arguments over national politics on this forum is necessary if it is to achieve its stated goal of being 100% dedicated to Lakes Region issues and activities. Apparently some of you with thousands of posts here no longer see the value in such a dedicated forum. That's disappointing to me after spending so much of my life trying to provide a forum fully dedicated to Lakes Region issues and activities.

Just to be clear, there have been many times over the years that national politics and the Lakes Region have come together and have been discussed here. When candidates have visited us there have been many posts and threads about it. When Sarah Palin spoke at the Weirs there were pictures and comments posted. When Trump was here last year his visit was discussed. There have been other boat parades. Do a search for "Trump" and you'll see lots of posts.

I will say that blocking the names Trump and Biden was just something I tried to discourage divisive, non-Lakes Region debates which always seem to start when those names come up. It was really meant to discourage a few posters and probably wasn't a good idea. It had some unintended effects on threads like the one about the boat parade. I have removed that block but will still discourage bickering over national politics. If you want to do that may I suggest https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/

Not much support here for the old webmaster. Thanks Puck and Winilyme for your comments. It's sad that many of you are so quick to pile on. This is probably one of the least moderated forums. Facebook, Reddit and other popular forums are rampant with biased moderation and shadow banning. I feel a double standard. Maybe it's time to hang it up.

[Sue Doe-Nym]

You have our support. My comments were meant to discourage people from rushing to judgment. This household is on your team! Thank you for all you do to make this forum informative, exceedingly helpful, and at times side-splitting hilarious!
Sue

[Sue Doe-Nym]

P.S.
It’s definitely NOT time to “hang it up!”

[ITD]

Keep doing what you’ve been doing Don. While the parade posts have been fine, anyone who’s been here a while know what happens when politics is discussed here, it turns into a **** show. Please don’t allow that.

Signed ITD,

A long time participant


PS. I take my “been fine”, comment back due to the one or two who just can’t control themselves….

[WinnisquamZ]

“Oversights” appear to happen only for one side. So I am positive you can understand one’s concern on censorship


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[ishoot308]

I have never discussed politics here and agree this is not the place. I do however feel that censoring the names of both presidential candidates was a bit ridiculous and as Don admitted “probably wasn't a good idea”…

OK so time to move on….

Dan

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I have never discussed politics here and agree this is not the place. I do however feel that censoring the names of both presidential candidates was a bit ridiculous and as Don admitted “probably wasn't a good idea”…

OK so time to move on….

Dan

I think any attempts to keep this forum free from politics is worth a shot—as we can see, some people need literally nothing to go rogue. As a moderator of a "positive" forum in Merrimack, I know how hard it is to keep away from this stuff.

Thanks, Don, for doing whatever you can to keep this forum on track—it's been solid since I joined a decade ago!

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[ITD]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I have never discussed politics here and agree this is not the place. I do however feel that censoring the names of both presidential candidates was a bit ridiculous and as Don admitted “probably wasn't a good idea”…

OK so time to move on….

Dan

Dan, for the record, I agree with you. If everyone could stay within the rails of saying the name without commentary , Don probably wouldn’t have done what he did.

[Grant]

It's not said often enough -- THANK YOU, DON, FOR ALL YOU DO. It's a shame that an increasing number of folks have to get their undergarments in sub-optimal configurations over political crap when this has always been a LAKE-FOCUSED forum.

Guess it comes with the territory. Sad.

[The Real BigGuy]

Don, as my father told me years ago, “don’t let the bastards get you down!” You provide a wonderful service but unfortunately, humans are quick to criticize but very slow to praise.


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[Puck]

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ

“Oversights” appear to happen only for one side. So I am positive you can understand one’s concern on censorship
Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

Are you talking about here on the Forum specifically or in general? For what it's worth, my concerns about censorship are very real but they are not founded on a belief that one side or the other is more frequently the victim. Frankly, my observation is that there are individuals at the outer edges of both sides that are equally guilty and a whole lot of people closer to the middle who pay the price. When we allow ourselves to be dominated by the few on the edges rather than the majority in the middle, that truly concerns me.

[FlyingScot]

Whoa! So happy to have missed this thread over the past couple of days.

Don, thanks so much for your work in general and for censoring out politics. You're not the government, use whatever methods are easiest for you

[SAMIAM]

Political discussions always seem to turn ugly. So glad the Winni forum keeps them out

[JayR]

Here's another "THANK YOU DON" because I know a webmaster such as you has an impossible task: Put in tough restrictions that piss everyone off and drive traffic away...or do nothing and watch chaos seep in from the fringes, driving traffic away. So you do the dance of trying to enforce order using common sense, direct messages and a couple of rules. I think you do a GREAT job and almost everyone on this thread agrees.

But politics makes people crazy, that's for damn sure.

[mcdude]

Long time forum member.....not as active lately since not living on the lake any more. I, for one, appreciate the lack of political discussions here.I almost hung it up back during the contentious "discussion" of speed limits on the lake but still here most likely due to the moderation. Thank you Don!!!

[Susie Cougar]

Don, It’s my turn to tell you how much I have appreciated everything you have done on this forum. I feel sorry for you to have to listen to all those people turn on you. It actually took me aback because I wouldn’t have expected it. You have certainly made it very clear over the years that politics will not be tolerated. I thought it was a little bit strange to have Trump‘s name replaced with Asterisks. When you explained the situation, it made perfect sense. I am very disappointed in some forum members for not even waiting for your side of the story.
Please don’t be discouraged. You have done a wonderful job for all these years.

[TiltonBB]

As other people have said, the Webmaster, Don, does a great job of keeping the site's mission intact and headed in the right direction. Without his guidance and daily policing of the forum this site would have self destructed years ago. He spends a lot of hours cleaning things up, many of those efforts are things we don't see. And that is the point.

I have been on this lake some or all of every summer for the last 50 plus years. And yet, I continue to learn things about the lake and the area from posts on the forum. The comments help. We have often gone to restaurants that are recommended here and skipped places that had negative comments on the forum. I have used contractors that other people have recommended here.

Everyone will not always agree on what comments should or should not be allowed and that is just the way it is. However, I think the majority of us can agree that we find this site to be a valuable resource and the information here improves our enjoyment of the lake.

As has also been said, the Webmaster's job is thankless, you can't please everyone. There is a "Donate" tab at the top of the page. Please consider making a donation, of any size, to help keep this site running.

[pjard]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I have never discussed politics here and agree this is not the place. I do however feel that censoring the names of both presidential candidates was a bit ridiculous and as Don admitted “probably wasn't a good idea”…

OK so time to move on….

Dan

Well said....now someone go remove this thread and burn it.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ

“Oversights” appear to happen only for one side.
So I am positive you can understand one’s concern on censorship

Coincidentally, Pavel Durov, developer of Europe's equivalent of FaceBook,
was arrested yesterday by the French government for not censoring enough!