Media Censorship and Free Speech

Barname

It appears that powerful people are too busy scanning boards.ie rather than running the country (into the ground)

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=59640375&postcount=20

Can we expect the Gardai soon?

gandalf

I have a feeling its a April Fools day joke.

Then again the way the government are running the country is one major joke!

gandalf

OH Brian Cowen btw

Sully

About time tbh. :P

gyppo

Im gonna tell on you Gandalf!!

TomRooney

Barname wrote: »

It appears that powerful people are too busy scanning boards.ie rather than running the country (into the ground)

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=59640375&postcount=20

Can we expect the Gardai soon?

censorship is nothing new in this country, this country has more in common with communist china in regards censorship than it does with a western country.

just think back to not so long ago when the state made it illegal to hear the voices of Republicans in the media.

Dublin_Gunner

Well from what I have read on the topics concerning [who shall not be named] I believe the restrictions being supposedly placed on Boards.ie are nothing short of completely unconstitutional - and Boards IMO should really be standing up for the right of free speech - ESPECIALLY when it concern the main political powers in the country.

Those men/women place themselves in a position of scrutiny by taking up their positions in government, and have no legal right to censor what people may discuss on an open forum.

This is beginning to smell of oppression, and I cannot believe Boards is bending over and taking it the way they are - instead of standing up for their rights as a forum of free speech, if not only for the site, but especially for their members.

As a matter of fact - I think this should be leaked to the press.

dsmythy

I can't believe people are falling for this

Seaneh

Brian cowen, M.C.D., what a load of balls, if this isn't an april fools joke then this place has finally lost it altogether.

Nothing against DeVore, Cloud or anyone else they are just making sure they don't get sued which is fair enough but this is a load of balls.

Barname

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

Well from what I have read on the topics concerning [who shall not be named] I believe the restrictions being supposedly placed on Boards.ie are nothing short of completely unconstitutional - and Boards IMO should really be standing up for the right of free speech - ESPECIALLY when it concern the main political powers in the country.

Those men/women place themselves in a position of scrutiny by taking up their positions in government, and have no legal right to censor what people may discuss on an open forum.

This is beginning to smell of oppression, and I cannot believe Boards is bending over and taking it the way they are - instead of standing up for their rights as a forum of free speech, if not only for the site, but especially for their members.

As a matter of fact - I think this should be leaked to the press.

It does not need to be 'Leaked to the press'? It is an open matter. This is a public forum.

I can only conclude that the Zanu-FF title is becoming more and more appropriate for the governing one party state that we live in.

These are Mugabesque times in Ireland.

Thank God we dont have our own currency anymore as the ruling muppets would have been running the printing press 24/7 of late.

Barname

Dob74

Barname wrote: »

It appears that powerful people are too busy scanning boards.ie rather than running the country (into the ground)

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=59640375&postcount=20

Can we expect the Gardai soon?

WTF



Nice to see there are plenty of rats out there.

Kimbot

dsmythy wrote: »

I can't believe people are falling for this

Seaneh wrote: »

Brian cowen, M.C.D., what a load of balls, if this isn't an april fools joke then this place has finally lost it altogether.

Nothing against DeVore, Cloud or anyone else they are just making sure they don't get sued which is fair enough but this is a load of balls.

To be honest it looks real to me:

01-04-2009, 4:44 heruka NEVER GuanYin phoenix account sceptre

01-04-2009, 4:17 GuanYin NEVER insulting behaviour, undermining rules sceptre


Both taken from the ban list and a lot of posts mentioning the unmentionable today have been removed.

Barname

dsmythy wrote: »

I can't believe people are falling for this

no joking here smythy...

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055526304&page=3

There is the thread..

The Mod clearly states at least twice that correspondance to desist has been received.

No further information has been released to us.

What the hell is going on?

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=59644495&postcount=24

Nodin

Very clever. By making us refer to Ireland as "An Shean Bhean Bhoct" and BC as "An Raper o na Shean Bhean ", he automatically makes his rep sound better......

Dublin_Gunner

Barname wrote: »

It does not need to be 'Leaked to the press'? It is an open matter. This is a public forum.

I can only conclude that the Zanu-FF title is becoming more and more appropriate for the governing one party state that we live in.

These are Mugabesque times in Ireland.

Thank God we dont have our own currency anymore as the ruling muppets would have been running the printing press 24/7 of late.

Barname

Well 'leaked' may have been the incorrect word to use, but if this is indeed true - people need to know the extent that this current government will go to in order to keep their 'subjects' quiet.

Regarding it being an 'open matter' and 'public forum' - is that not exactly what is being attacked by banning talk of the un-elected one?

Barname

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

Well 'leaked' may have been the incorrect word to use, but if this is indeed true - people need to know the extent that this current government will go to in order to keep their 'subjects' quiet.

Regarding it being an 'open matter' and 'public forum' - is that not exactly what is being attacked by banning talk of the un-elected one?

dude, we are in agreeance.

effectively, my understanding is, that a legal team is issuing threatening corr. against anyone bothering to note that the Emperor is truly naked...

Dudess

Barname wrote: »

It does not need to be 'Leaked to the press'? It is an open matter. This is a public forum.

A privately owned public forum so free speech does not apply.

These are Mugabesque times in Ireland.

Look, could you not insult the people who have to live through the horror of everyday life under that brutal regime?

People who compare Ireland to dictatorships/societies where the media and free speech are strictly controlled... strike me as desperate for a bit of melodrama. You won't get thrown into prison and tortured in this country, you'll get sued.

TomRooney

Dudess wrote: »

A privately owned public forum so free speech does not apply.

Look, could you not insult the people who have to live through the horror of everyday life under that brutal regime?

People who compare Ireland to dictatorships/societies where the media and free speech are strictly controlled... strike me as desperate for a bit of melodrama. You won't get thrown into prison and tortured in this country, you'll get sued.

the ugly head of dictaorship has been evident in Ireland since its inception as a nation.

Barname

Dudess wrote: »

People who compare Ireland to dictatorships/societies where the media and free speech are strictly controlled... strike me as desperate for a bit of melodrama.

Then why the writs?

Explain.

Scofflaw

Hmm. Just to clarify the matter a little further - in particular we would ask you to refrain from linking Mugabe/Zimbabwe and members of our own elected government for the moment. Use of terms like 'Zanu-FF' will attract prompt action.

moderately,
Scofflaw

Barname

TomRooney wrote: »

the ugly head of dictaorship has been evident in Ireland since its inception as a nation.

Tom,

I would not mind if we had a proper dictator, except we get the Irish version, a snivelling disgusting bend with the wind type conjuring self serving populist type.

la démocratie est morte

Dudess

TomRooney wrote: »

the ugly head of dictaorship has been evident in Ireland since its inception as a nation.

Barname wrote: »

la démocratie est morte

Sure. I suggest you do some reading on the following: Chile, North Korea, Cambodia, Afghanistan, apartheid South Africa, The Philippines, Congo, Sudan, El Salvador. For starters.

I would not mind if we had a proper dictator

'Course ya wouldn't.

Barname wrote: »

Then why the writs?

Explain.

It's vile (if true - why are you so slow to accept it may be an April Fool's Day joke?) but will it result in people being thrown in prison/killed?

Barname

Scofflaw wrote: »

Hmm. Just to clarify the matter a little further - in particular we would ask you to refrain from linking Mugabe/Zimbabwe and members of our own elected government for the moment. Use of terms like 'Zanu-FF' will attract prompt action.

moderately,
Scofflaw

There are alot of similarities...

• The abuse of Patronage
• The 'some animals are more equal than others' attitude displayed by the likes of Martin Cullen and Mary Harneys luxurious excesses as verified by FOI disclosures
• The attempts effective to censoring of public forums

not to be argumentative but shall I continue?

Barname

Dudess wrote: »

'Course ya wouldn't.

my understanding of boards.ie rules is that partial quotes are infractable.

infract yourself their mod :pac:

Barname

Dudess wrote: »

It's vile (if true - why are you so slow to accept it may be an April Fool's Day joke?) but will it result in people being thrown in prison/killed?

Gardai did conduct an investigation into a painting.

Mr Casby (the Artist) was interviwed by Detectives.

Charges may be filed.

All over a painting?

now who is ridiculous?

Dudess

Barname wrote: »

There are alot of similarities...

• The abuse of Patronage
• The 'some animals are more equal than others' attitude displayed by the likes of Martin Cullen and Mary Harneys luxurious excesses as verified by FOI disclosures
• The attempts effective to censoring of public forums

not to be argumentative but shall I continue?

State murder, torture, imprisonment, intimidation campaigns... oh wait.

Do you not see the irony of your whingeing about what you perceive as censorship?

Dublin_Gunner

It seems that the Political forum itself has become too political.

Originally Posted by Dudess
A privately owned public forum so free speech does not apply.

Look, could you not insult the people who have to live through the horror of everyday life under that brutal regime?

People who compare Ireland to dictatorships/societies where the media and free speech are strictly controlled... strike me as desperate for a bit of melodrama. You won't get thrown into prison and tortured in this country, you'll get sued.

I believe Cafe's/pubs/bars/nightclubs/restaurants etc etc are all privately owned, public forums. Being privately owned does not immediately give anyone the authority to disregard a Constitutional right.

6. 1° The State guarantees liberty for the exercise of the
following rights, subject to public order and morality:
CONSTITUTION OF IRELAND – BUNREACHT NA hÉIREANN
i. The right of the citizens to express freely their
convictions and opinions.
The education of public opinion being,
however, a matter of such grave import to
the common good, the State shall
endeavour to ensure that organs of public
opinion, such as the radio, the press, the
cinema, while preserving their rightful
liberty of expression, including criticism of
Government policy, shall not be used to
undermine public order or morality or the
authority of the State.
The publication or utterance of
blasphemous, seditious, or indecent matter
is an offence which shall be punishable in
accordance with law.

Taken directly from our very own Constitution.

Boards is reacting in a very silly manner (if true) to a request made by our very own Government, which is, in fact, unlawful and unconstitutional.

TomRooney

Barname wrote: »

Tom,

I would not mind if we had a proper dictator, except we get the Irish version, a snivelling disgusting bend with the wind type conjuring self serving populist type.

la démocratie est morte

haha true so very true.

Barname

Dudess wrote: »

State murder, torture, imprisonment, intimidation campaigns... oh wait.

Do you not see the irony of your whingeing about what you perceive as censorship?

There is no Irony in your attempt to deflect the OP and its context.

Release the writ for all to examine.

Dudess

LOL - awesome

SkepticOne

Scofflaw wrote: »

Hmm. Just to clarify the matter a little further - in particular we would ask you to refrain from linking Mugabe/Zimbabwe and members of our own elected government for the moment. Use of terms like 'Zanu-FF' will attract prompt action.

moderately,
Scofflaw

So very sad.

Dublin_Gunner

SkepticOne wrote: »

So very sad.

What makes his comment worse is the fact that [he that shall not be named] was in fact NOT 'elected' as Taoiseach.

Dudess

He said "government", not "taoiseach"... and Fianna Fáil was voted in as the government.

Seriously, the "let's pretend we live in a repressed banana republic cuz it's kinda romantic" mindset is getting old...

Barname

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

What makes his comment worse is the fact that [he that shall not be named] was in fact NOT voted in as Taoiseach.

What makes matters worse is the following:

“The electoral mandate that we work off is 2007. I don’t think this country wants, or needs an election to be honest.”

Brian Cowen March 29th 2009

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2009/0330/1224243690662.html

Cowen THINKS he has a mandate.

He inherited his seat.
He was not elected Taoiseach by the people.

Barname

Dudess wrote: »

He said "government", not "taoiseach"... and Fianna Fáil was voted in as the government.

Seriously, the "let's pretend we live in a repressed banana republic cuz it's kinda romantic" mindset is getting old...

You would have to be in denial so as to be unaware of how badly this country is being ran.

The Waste
The Patronage
The Excess
The Bloat
The woeful management at EVERY level

The balance sheet is bust. WAKE UP PEOPLE

aineolach

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

Boards is reacting in a very silly manner (if true) to a request made by our very own Government, which is, in fact, unlawful and unconstitutional.

You're just trying to undermine their authority. You will respect their authority!

Dublin_Gunner

aineolach wrote: »

You're just trying to undermine their authority. You will respect their authority!

Nobody's authority is above the Constitution I'm afraid!

I notice I have not had a reply (by anyone representing boards) to that particular post of mine either. Says a lot.

Dublin_Gunner

Dudess wrote: »

He said "government", not "taoiseach"... and Fianna Fáil was voted in as the government.

Seriously, the "let's pretend we live in a repressed banana republic cuz it's kinda romantic" mindset is getting old...

The FF that was voted to Government - with Ahern as Taoiseach, is vastly different to that which is in power today.

An election is needed, although I believe complete and utter reform is required, but never happening.

Barname

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

Nobody's authority is above the Constitution I'm afraid!

I notice I have not had a reply (by anyone representing boards) to that particular post of mine either. Says a lot.

Gunner did you check my links?

All I have asked for from the Mod is to see the correspondance.

It truly is remarkable that such attempts to quell free speech are being pushed by this Government.

Maybe its time to email Hookie or Matt Cooper?

SkepticOne

Cowen is the lawful Teaseach and FF lawfully and constitutionally form the Government here but that is not really the issue here, imo.

What it says to me is that the current government is on its last legs and is using threats of legal action in an attempt to cling onto power a little longer. Hopefully this will become a political issue and backfire on them.

10000maniacs

As a matter of interest, why did the overweight guy with glasses (I didn't use his name:D) who runs the country order censorship on this forum? What have I missed?

Barname

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

The FF that was voted to Government - with Ahern as Taoiseach, is vastly different to that which is in power today.

An election is needed, although I believe complete and utter reform is required, but never happening.

What makes matters worse is the following:

“The electoral mandate that we work off is 2007. I don’t think this country wants, or needs an election to be honest.”

Brian Cowen March 29th 2009

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...243690662.html

Cowen THINKS he has a mandate.

He inherited his seat.
He was not elected Taoiseach by the people.

Dublin_Gunner

Barname wrote: »

Gunner did you check my links?

All I have asked for from the Mod is to see the correspondance.

It truly is remarkable that such attempts to quell free speech are being pushed by this Government.

Maybe its time to email Hookie or Matt Cooper?

I had already read the content and the mod being banned etc etc before I saw this thread, which is how I have become so involved with this thread.

I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult to scan the letter and post it up for all to see.

Though as this seems a little pro FF, they'll probably have to have a consultation, get a loan from the bank to pay for said consultation (at 3000% interest), get a consultation about the consultation. Hire somebody to actually take on board the work that the consultation has recommended, which will involve hiring 4 deputee's to oversee the work that will actually be sub-contracted to a non-irish firm, will finish over budget, and about 2 years after everyone has forgotten all about the damn letter in the first place.

Then starts the enquiry and subsequent tribunal into why the scanner that was supposed to scan said document was actually acquired from a firm owned by Biffo's second cousins fiancee, at 2000x the price that would be paid had he went to a high street shop.

And we'd still never get to see the letter.

Barname

Dublin_Gunner wrote: »

I had already read the content and the mod being banned etc etc before I saw this thread, which is how I have become so involved with this thread.

I'm sure it wouldn't be too difficult to scan the letter and post it up for all to see.

Though as this seems a little pro FF, they'll probably have to have a consultation, get a loan from the bank to pay for said consultation (at 3000% interest), get a consultation about the consultation. Hire somebody to actually take on board the work that the consultation has recommended, which will involve hiring 4 deputee's to oversee the work that will actually be sub-contracted to a non-irish firm, will finish over budget, and about 2 years after everyone has forgotten all about the damn letter in the first place.

Then starts the enquiry and subsequent tribunal into why the scanner that was supposed to scan said document was actually acquired from a firm owned by Biffo's second cousins fiancee, at 2000x the price that would be paid had he went to a high street shop.

And we'd still never get to see the letter.

You couldnt make it up!

Thats how all documentation in this country is supressed.
Harney excels at it.

And those in denial dont think we live in a banana republic?

gandalf

Until told otherwise I assume this is an April Fools day joke going stale. If its not I would expect a scan of the letter they received to be posted here for all to see.

SkepticOne

gandalf wrote: »

Until told otherwise I assume this is an April Fools day joke going stale. If its not I would expect a scan of the letter they received to be posted here for all to see.

Apparently it goes on all day in Ireland.

gandalf

SkepticOne wrote: »

Apparently it goes on all day in Ireland.

Or for your full term if you are in Government

Dudess

No! :mad:

You can't see the letter. I have it (obviously, seeing as I'm the Alternative & Indie moderator) and I'm not showing anyone.

The paranoia on this thread is hilarious!
There isn't even any proof of what the conspiracy theorists are speculating so they're just deciding it's the case.

Absolutely right - you couldn't make it up!

Oh and I'm not denying Ireland is in a disastrous state at the moment, I'm just denying the notion it's comparable to a brutal dictatorship...

Dublin_Gunner

Maybe they should have the next election on April 1st? That way at least we'd know the government was a joke lol

Barname

The Economist wrote: »

I've received a serious PM regarding this thread.

I don't want to close it but unfortunately for legal reasons the next poster to mention (or allude to) Fianna Fáil or any of its members will be banned.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=59640375&postcount=20

The Economist wrote: »

I'd rather not discuss it too much lads. It was a very serious PM. Was signed and had the date on it and all.

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=59644495&postcount=24

Feel free to review the above links and kindly advise if you think more information should be more forthcoming?

seamus

All of the information possibly available on this issue is already in the public domain. There is no more information which can be supplied.