A Conversation for Protest Against BBC Policy Over Iraq
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
Afrabian the scribe Posted Mar 28, 2003
Stop press! Right now there is a football match being played in Baghdad er 5000 spectators this tell you somethin?
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
Peregrine, 22nd Duke of Earl ~ What would Magnum P.I. do ? ~ Posted Mar 28, 2003
That they're incredibly brave and resilient people ?
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
Dorian Gray Posted Mar 29, 2003
who ever said it you are so right the media is out of control.
Dorian
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
Ace Rimmer [pretending] Posted Mar 29, 2003
What's the score?
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
Secretly Not Here Any More Posted Mar 29, 2003
What d'ya know. The government won't let us have our say against a war we don't want. No matter. I'm in with the petition!
Vive la Revolution!
Andy
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
Afrabian the scribe Posted Mar 29, 2003
Dunno how the match ended cept someone said the ball was blasted into the net! Reckon ole Beckham would rule there eh!
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
Afrabian the scribe Posted Mar 30, 2003
For an interesting look at the other side try www.arabnews.com
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
DA ; Simply Vicky: Don't get pithy with me! Posted Mar 30, 2003
Will comply!
Thanks, Afrabian...
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
DA ; Simply Vicky: Don't get pithy with me! Posted Mar 30, 2003
Will comply! Thanks, Afrabian...
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
Neugen Amoeba Posted Mar 30, 2003
In times when justification for violent conflict uses banners such as "liberation", "democracy" and "freedom", it's ironic and highly hypocritical that the BBC has chosen to restrict one of the most basic freedoms of all: the right to free speech.
Below is an article from a Chinese newspaper:
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200303/29/eng20030329_114217.shtml
"A report in the British newspaper the Guardian strengthens this impression, saying that in America, democracy is under threat, and that people against the war are not allowed to express themselves."
When the Chinese begin to criticize the tenet of free speech in the west, the BBC may want to take a closer look at its role in a democracy.
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
SEF Posted Mar 30, 2003
Technically there isn't a legal right to free speech in the UK. It's a common assumption though. What is hypocritical is to hold up peer moderation as a model for the future and immediately reverse that opinion when the going gets tough - without even giving us a chance to prove we can be responsible for our own community. It's not that I particularly want to talk about current affairs! I just resent the attitude that we can't be trusted to know where to draw the line (ie hit the yikes button) on sensitive details. 
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
Neugen Amoeba Posted Mar 30, 2003
Legality has nothing to do with it. When the PM calls for sacrifice in the name of freedom and democracy, you'd expect the media outlets in his own country to reflect those ideals.
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
R. Daneel Olivaw -- (User 201118) (Member FFFF, ARS, and DOS) ( -O- ) Posted Mar 31, 2003
I support the idea of ending censorship on the Iraq issue, or at least decreasing the restrictions on it. In general, I support free speech in almost every case. However, I also respect the right of the BBC to decide what and where things will be discussed on their website.
Therefor, I petition the BBC and H2G2 to lift or lessen the restrictions, but I accept that they have a right to keep them and to ignore my opinion on the subject.
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
R. Daneel Olivaw -- (User 201118) (Member FFFF, ARS, and DOS) ( -O- ) Posted Mar 31, 2003
One note. Please do not add me to the petition. While I agree with your general ideas, I do not feel comfortable sighning it because it claims that H2G2 is violating our right to free speech. While I believe in a right to free speech in public, this website is being run by the BBC. They have a right to decide what is published here and to limit free seech on their site.
I agree that I don't think they should censor Iraq debates (I was moderated for trying somewhere, btw), but I don't wish to assert a right that I don't feel I have. If I really want to exercise a right to free speech about the Iraq situation, I should buy a server and start my own website.
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
Peachy Keen Posted Mar 31, 2003
Why did you come here then ?
Peachy Keen singing up and ready for duty Sah !
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
spook Posted Mar 31, 2003
>"If I really want to exercise a right to free speech about the Iraq situation, I should buy a server and start my own website."
i would do that, however, i have a few problems:
1. no cash to do it
2. no staff to run it
3. no time to run it
4. no technical skill to make it
5. no community to talk on it
the petition is about free speech. if we cannot talk about iraq on this site, where we have a community, then free speech is being blocked. why should we only talk about it in 1 bbc place and not another? especially on a site such as h2g2 that follows peer moderation and has shown over the afghan conflict that they are happy to follow certain restrictions during times of conflict.
>"I do not feel comfortable sighning it because it claims that H2G2 is violating our right to free speech."
it doesn't say that at all. our free speech is not being violated, but blocked. i would say that most people who sign this petition are like me and are signing up, not because they want to talk, but want to have the freedom to talk, about the iraq war.
spook
Key: Complain about this post
Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq
- 141: Afrabian the scribe (Mar 28, 2003)
- 142: J (Mar 28, 2003)
- 143: Peregrine, 22nd Duke of Earl ~ What would Magnum P.I. do ? ~ (Mar 28, 2003)
- 144: J (Mar 28, 2003)
- 145: typolifi (Mar 28, 2003)
- 146: Dorian Gray (Mar 29, 2003)
- 147: Ace Rimmer [pretending] (Mar 29, 2003)
- 148: Secretly Not Here Any More (Mar 29, 2003)
- 149: Afrabian the scribe (Mar 29, 2003)
- 150: spook (Mar 29, 2003)
- 151: Afrabian the scribe (Mar 30, 2003)
- 152: DA ; Simply Vicky: Don't get pithy with me! (Mar 30, 2003)
- 153: DA ; Simply Vicky: Don't get pithy with me! (Mar 30, 2003)
- 154: Neugen Amoeba (Mar 30, 2003)
- 155: SEF (Mar 30, 2003)
- 156: Neugen Amoeba (Mar 30, 2003)
- 157: R. Daneel Olivaw -- (User 201118) (Member FFFF, ARS, and DOS) ( -O- ) (Mar 31, 2003)
- 158: R. Daneel Olivaw -- (User 201118) (Member FFFF, ARS, and DOS) ( -O- ) (Mar 31, 2003)
- 159: Peachy Keen (Mar 31, 2003)
- 160: spook (Mar 31, 2003)
More Conversations for Protest Against BBC Policy Over Iraq
- BBC PLEASE CONFIRM THE MUZZLE ON IRAQ..& IF TRUE - IS THIS NOT IDEA CONTROL ON YOUR SITE? [5]
Nov 5, 2003 - "I don't agree with what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it..." [10]
Oct 17, 2003 - Petition For The Right Of Free Speech About Iraq [541]
Oct 12, 2003 - Are you collecting votes against your petition? [48]
Apr 18, 2003 - We should be able to talk about Iraq [1]
Apr 4, 2003
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