A matter of "balance"
Let's have a discussion and debate it.
All well and good.
This board seems to be evolving into a situation where there is about as much free speech taking place as one would find at those town meetings where pro-health care reform Congressman are shouted-down by those who have been put-up to their dirty work by Fox News.
A "debate" has a significant element of balance to it. The classic one-on-one debate is a good example. Each side has an equal amount of time, give or take 3 to 4 minutes. Within the context of a debate, the most charitable description I could give to the current state on this board is a 6-person debate made-up of 5 Republicans, and 1 Democrat. Whether the rule book is followed, or not, in the latter example that Democrat is going to get the short end of the stick.
So, if Mothers Against Drunk Driving had a forum, and the majority of those that REGULARLY post are connected to the distillery industry, do those distillery people have a legal right to post on that forum? If the forum moderator allows it, they probably do. Can one say that such a board represents a serious debate, or fair and balanced opinion? I doubt it.
Thus we appear to have a case on this board where, of those who REGULARLY post, a majority are either directly employed by a US-based airline, or have a vested interest such as being employed by an airline catering service. Do they have a right to be here? As Silent Bob pointed out: The moderator is allowing this, so obviously they do. Is there a fair and balanced debate taking place? Do aggrevied airline customers, who post complaints on here, know of the possible imbalance I've suggested? I don't think so.
Last comment on balance: If I've understood their posts of Jetliner, Silent Bob, Gromit, et al, they seem to be suggesting something like "If big bad Butch were gone, this forum would be a great place." I don't think so. Once I'm gone, the next target in their crosshairs will be Jim or AADFW. The incremental approach: A sometimes effective strategy to strongarming one's way into total domination.
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