The Thought Police

I recently spoke in another hub regarding censorship on HubPages. I received a few comments stating that because I was not able to participate in the Adsense program that this was not considered censorship in that I was still able to post my content.

More recently I was also banned from posting in the Forums for what I feel was having a dissenting opinion of the vast majority towards the authority given to the Elite. I admit that my lack of knowledge had me pointing the finger toward the wrong group of people of which I in-turn stated that I was incorrect in my assumption. Who I should have identified as those having too much authority are the Moderators of HubPages.

"If the First Amendment will protect a scumbag like me, then it'll protect all of you -- 'cause I'm the worst" - Larry Flynt

As I went to resume posting on the Forum, I was astonished to find that I had been banned from the forums with the accompanying message below:

Sorry, you are not allowed to post

If you have any questions, you can contact us at team@hubpages.com

Needless to say, this message compelled me to resume my writing in an effort to help promote HubPages to a higher level of quality than what is currently considered "appropriate content".

I admit that when I first found HubPages, I was immediately drawn to the following statement from the HubPage staff that can be found on the login page of this site: "HubPages allows you to publish Web articles on anything you like."

More correctly this statement should have read: "HubPages allows you to publish Web articles on anything you like as long as it does'nt piss anyone off!"

Little did I realize that upon joining that I had again jumped into a river full of Adolecent Pirahna who, as they did back in the days of Yahoo Chat, would come swimming in at the first sign of blood to take their pompous and deliberate bite out of your ass. Although the myraid of snipes that follow the dessenter's comments are much more sublime, their attacks are never-the-less intended on gaining the attention from the rest of the group to indicate that they too belong with the rest of the pack. It becomes a competition to see who can get the bigger bite and draw the most blood. This feeding frenzy continues as the pack increases its relentless attack on anyone who is not a member of their insider click.

Needless to say, I run the risk that this hub will likely raise the eyebrow of the Though Police who In their infinite display of power may very well use this power to ban the dissident from the literary wasteland that is HubPages, a geographic location on the Intenet that is quickly becoming a sanctuary to those willing to submit themselves to the current vanilla construct of the community norm.

For those of you wondering what the Hub-Bub is about, click here to read my forum comments and see for yourself: http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/92154

You will find there are not threats made, no borderline language, not personal attacks, just suggestions as to what the term "Elite" means to we commoners. Granted the Elite are volunteers who maybe unfairly targeted for their community functions. Moreover, the Moderator is tasked with a relentless barrage of spam, and literary drivel that makes me want to tear my eyeballs out. However, these very same Moderators are quick to apease the Elite, and eliist wannabes, by banning dessenters from participation in the forums when there words don't follow the norm. I submit this form of censorship is as dangerous as any lynch mob, and violates the very fiber of the 1st Ammendment.

The question presents itself: Is the power to eliminate dissenting opinions by overzealous moderators a good thing for the free exchange of ideas and unpopular rhetoric? Should we as writers have to continually look over our shoulders when commenting on someone's hub, or within a so-called open forum situation? Doe's taking an unpopular stand against the norm warrant the wrath of community monitors, who very often utilize this power to eliminate opposing views in order to dictate what is and is not acceptable content? Do you really think these moderators have the intelligence to determine what is and is not acceptable content in the first place? Do you really want to be told what you can an cannot write, eat, or how you should phrase your words just so you can be a part of this community?

Feel free to leave your comments at your own peril.