There have been several messages posted here that we were not able to approve. A quick word on why...

There is a big difference between ignorance and stupidity. We will not post any messages that point fingers at any one individual or accuse anyone of stupidity. We will also not post any messages of someone making fun of someone else's opinions.

Many of the posts had valid points but had one or two lines which sent them afoul of our guidelines. Here are a few of them.
-you should educate yourself
-Your knowledge on the subject...is obviously very limited.
-It is time for you to open your mind

If you wan to re-post your messages with this in mind, please do so.

I will be the first to admit I have limited knowledge on lots of things. We all do. The only reason someone may not think the cutting of the tree is important is if they have limited knowledge of the subject. This is so like the sea turtles that it makes me sad. That is also due to a lack of knowledge. So I do not think my comment was disrespectful at all. I have someone change the oil in my car because I have limited knowledge. This does not make me stupid. If I say that automobles do not cause polution, I would not be ignorant either. I would just be lacking knowledge. That's all. I know this won't be posted either, but that is OK. I think you understand what I am trying to say and that is the important thing.

Well, Web Master, you do seem to have a strict moral code, and some might say even a vague one, and even, and this is not said lightly, a somewhat arbitrary one. You give no specifics, ever, about "open-mindedness," getting "educated", and "It is "time for you to open your mind." What the heck do all those mean, exactly?

To say that you will not permit any finger-pointing at any individual, why not? What if the individual at whom fingers are being pointed needs to be taken to task for his actions? How else can such persons be identified, if not by name? There is much chat on this forum about Jason Henzell, and what his role is in the future of Treasure Beach. Many people on (and off) this board have the same questions about his motives, and how his actions might affect the future of the community. Why do you sometimes seem to feel constrained to censor things said about his actions?

I will add that people who email back and forth about Treasure Beach, and I am among them, spend considerable time discussing your guidelines. Your heavy-handed censorship - again, seemingly arbitrary - is often parsed, discussed, and wondered about: "Gee, will the web master approve this, or not?" "Gee, how will I get my point across without offending the web master's sometimes-seemingly delicate sensibilities?" And perhaps most pertinent of all: "What is the web master afraid of, that he does not seem to honor the First Amendment?" After all, those of us who care about The First Amendment, or about Treasure Beach - who love Treasure Beach and who long to be there whenever we can, and are happy to spend our tourist dollars there, are using foul or threatening language. So, can you give some specifics that illustrate your rules? It seems it would be a lot easier on you, and more amenable to a lot of the thoughtful people who love Treasure Beach and do in fact appreciate this forum and the time you put in it, if you were to permit all posts that do not threaten, or use "cuss" words. As they say in the States, Lighten up! :D Don't require that your posters always be wondering, altering their language, choosing their words too carefully, in the hope that you MIGHT post their words.

And will the web master allow this message to be run on the forum? It contains no cuss words, nor any threats. We ALL appreciate your hosting this site.

Bottom line is that these are subjective decisions on our part as to whether something goes over the guidelines. We use our best judgement to apply the same standard as evenly as possible. If you tell someone off or are derogatory towards them, it won't fly.

Here's the best way we can explain it: Don't write anything that you wouldn't say to somebody in person...in church...in front of your grandmother. You don't have to lie, but you have to be nice.


And a quick word on the First Amendment. You're referring to a very powerful and very important item in the United States Constitution which says that America's government cannot and shall not restrict what you have to say. It means that the FBI, etc. can't edit the language of the emails you send out questioning our sanity (and perhaps our parentage :-). It does not mean that we have to approve any and everything that is posted here.

Respect Due,
-TBNet

Exactly!

I have also seen much inconsistency. Sometimes what is an obvious attack is posted, yet others more subtle are not. I am not sure that there is not favoritism by the Webmaster. I am not going to leave my usual username, because I know from past experience I am not one of the Webmasters favorites. This inconsistency has been shown to me time and time again.

This forum IS NOT a democratic society with "freedom of speech". It is a private website and thus is subject to the discretion of the webmaster !!
If he chooses to not post a comment, it is his right to do so !
He is not denying you the right to speak, but he has the right not to post it !
Personally I think he (ok maybe she) is doing a good job, and does not over censure comments.
ONE LOVE !!
Mike

I am mystified. Tranquility Bay was not to be mentioned. Today, it is in the lead story. If what is being said about it being turned into a police training facility, it is a important story and I am glad it was published.

However, it is getting more and more difficult to sort out what is allowed to be published here.

We realise personal attacks are taboo. We know insults are not allowed. No lies. No false or unsubstantiated rumours.

Correctly, what we say should contribute toward something positive. Sometimes we need to express negative things to be able to reach for the positive. If not, this forum will become sugar-coated and sound like Mary Poppins wrote it.

Well put, Please Help Me Understand. Tranqullity Bay is not to be mentioned on this site. Yet, how do we learn how to go forward if we do not recognize our past, whether it be good or not quite so good?

In being free to discuss about what was not so good in the past for Treasure Beach, we can then consider what is good for the future of the community. Merely talking about all those things does not constitute personal attacks, lies, insults, or unsubstantiated rumors. No one will be driven away from Treasure Beach, no guest house owner will lose business, this site will not lose business if the online community that cares for Treasure Beach can discuss freely and unhobbled what matters to us, to all the people of Treasure Beach, and all of us who want to return again and again. And if talking about what seems to threaten the community includes mentioning the name of someone who might not have the interests of the community at heart, naming that person does not in and of itself constitute a "personal attack." The community, if it is to preserve what is good about it, must be able to communicate with one another about anyone they see as threatening their present fortunate way of life. Their free and open and savvy exchange of information about the stadium and the float plane ought to be taken as a positive sign that the are recognizing that there is strength in numbers.

By the way, Mikey Mike, how do you know if the Web Master censors a little or a lot, since you have no way of knowing how many posts he censors? :-)

The Web Master is indeed doing the community and us friends of the community a fine service with this site. It is good to see that he seems to be letting up on his rules just a bit and allowing people to say what is on their minds. Free speech is free speech, and it is paramount no matter where it is exercised. And if free speech cannot flourish on this site, I fear there may be some who will not want to return to their beloved Treasure Beach.

I trust this post will not insult my grandmother (May she rest in peace), nor my Preacher, nor anyone else, and that it will be allowed to run on this site, which of late is getting more and more interesting, addressing, as it has been doing, issues that really matter to the community, and whose readers - Treasure Beach citizens and us visitors alike - seem to be in amiable concert about the problems facing Treasure Beach that we fear, in considerable agreement, will turn the lovely place into another Negril (to use the oft-repeated analogy).

I think you must be misunderstanding Webmasters policy not to talk about Tranquility Bay. The comments about the police training facility is about a BUILDING, and not what once was the OPERATIONS of Tranquility Bay. There is a big difference, and I must defend Webmasters policy on this as being consistant and not comprimised.

Ok now i see. I am one of the posters whose post was "censored".

Well TB.net is the admin/owner of the site i guess, who are anyone of us to tell them how to operate their site?? LOL.

I am actually the onwner/admin of a website that has a discussion board. It ts www.bostonreggae.com (i did not read the guidelines so i hope me posting my website is not breaking the rules)I guess i will know sooner or later. So i know the ins and out of dealing with members and dealing with different kinds of people

Anyhow i think censorship and trying to put a gag on anyone is just ridiculous.That is just my personal opinion in general.

I wish TB.net and all its intelligent higly educated members that wants the "best" for Treasure Beach the best.

(I wonder if the above will offend anyone. I will find out soon)