Censorship

aidan kelly

I think there is a certain promoter who is taking this to a new low. The threat of legal action against any independent website that dares speak their name, or any of the acts they are promoting. Do we live in a Stalinist totalitarian state, where our channels of communication are conitinually monitored in an Orwellian manner, and our words will result in us being disciplined and punished?


I'm aware that my post could see my IP banned from Boards.ie, but I don't care. Should a certain promoter not be able to allow negative feedback about a certain gig? Would they impose such censorship if said certain gig had gone well and according to plan? Should we be banned from discussing anything that will upset any corporate interest? Is this not a board where we should be free to express our opinions about music-related topics?

I'm above all very disappointed at Boards.ie, and why they have taken this threat so seriously. Do you think said promoter really wants to appear as anti-democratic in public as their implicit threat? The owners of this board should show some backbone, and stand up to corporate bullying, this is a denial of our right to discuss matters in an open forum, and an unwarranted censorship of free speech. Does this mean that any commercially sensitive topics cannot be discussed on Boards.ie, for fear of legal action? Does this mean that we cannot express our views about anything related to a commercial entity? (which includes all discussion about music, by the way) Where does the censorship stop? This is a serious issue, and if Boards.ie are prepared to let themselves be trampled on, its a sad state of affairs overall. And if they aren't prepared to stand up and be counted, how "independent" are boards.ie anyway?

Does anyone agree?

bobbyjoe

I agree with you its crap what that company is doing. But I don't blame boards.ie nobody wants to get involved is some case against a large organisation with lots of money.

aidan kelly

Thats the thing though, surely a disclaimer would do the trick? The teachers couldn't stop www.ratemyteacher.com from the comments that students were leaving, so I don't see how boards.ie should be any different. This is an idle threat, legally I can't imagine said promoter can do very much about it.

Cake Fiend

aidan kelly wrote:

I'm above all very disappointed at Boards.ie, and why they have taken this threat so seriously...

The owners of this board should show some backbone, and stand up to corporate bullying...

if Boards.ie are prepared to let themselves be trampled on, its a sad state of affairs overall. And if they aren't prepared to stand up and be counted, how "independent" are boards.ie anyway?

Got a few grand for legal costs lying around, have you?

Until it's your (personal) ass on the line, it's very easy to go on about 'showing backbone'.

aidan kelly wrote:

This is an idle threat, legally I can't imagine said promoter can do very much about it.

Possibly not, but Boards doesn't have the money to go to court to find out. 'A certain promoter' has the financial clout to make things very difficult for the people (real people, with bills to pay and families to support) behind boards.

drive3331

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054965641

aidan kelly

Well I can see your point, we all have bills to pay, and nobody wants to end up on the receiving end of a costly legal battle over something as trivial as freedom of expression.

But David can beat Golliath. The McLibel case proves it. Besides, you don't have to go to court to find out, you can have yourself covered before you even go down that road.

Anyway, the issue is that a certain promoter is restricting freedom of speech, in an open and public forum. I actually go to a lot of the gigs this promoter runs, so I'm not someone with a grudge, but this leaves a bit of a sour taste.

It was unfair of me to have a go at boards.ie, I can see they are in a difficult situation. We all know who is to blame anyway.

Vexorg

Aidan,

This ground has been covered before, seeing it raised yet again is a little frustrating. If you have an issue why not take it to the promotor directly.


Vex.

Ps wrong forum to post this sort of thing, and your facts are just a little incorrect.