Jeff DCUM and Censorship

[Anonymous]

Jeff is repeatedly deleting posts that are not hostile but that do explore the impact of illegal immigration on MCPS. He apparently thinks that of we don't have a discussion about the massive influx of immigrant children in our classrooms, that no one will connect the dots and will blame it on evelopment. Meanwhile a recent Bethesda Magazine article all but spells out that overcrowding is a direct result of illegal immigration but we are not allowed to discuss it here in an open public forum.

Meanwhile he allows people to say the meanest nastiest most vile things to other posters as long as those people allign with his political ideology. Posts that are not even remotely thoughtful or considerate are allowed to stand. Even the most hostile posts stand. He, on occasion, will even participate in the bullying. His censsorship of an important issue detrimentally effecting our schools is a huge disappointment. The kids, all kids, are paying for it and not talking about it or exploring solutions is far from helpful. And the fact that a massive tax increase did nothing to help the overcrowding problem is alarming and a huge red flag. So it is not a money problem, it is a numbers problem. Too many kids, not enough resources, shrinking tax base.

And this post will be deleted in one second but as long as Jeff sees it, I don't care. He is a part of the problem and is hurting our children by stifling honest discussion and free speech.

[Anonymous]

Why don't you start your own board then? I mean, how pathetic are you?

[Anonymous]

Maybe he wouldn't delete your posts if you'd post your doomsday rambling with the rest of them - in the political forum.

[Anonymous]

Again, for the gazilionth time. Feel free to write to your paper, call your rep, stand on the street corner with a sign, start your own blog. You really DON'T HAVE TO COME HERE TO BE HEARD.

[Anonymous]

Start your own forum on the topic? Idk..

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Jeff is repeatedly deleting posts that are not hostile but that do explore the impact of illegal immigration on MCPS. He apparently thinks that of we don't have a discussion about the massive influx of immigrant children in our classrooms, that no one will connect the dots and will blame it on evelopment. Meanwhile a recent Bethesda Magazine article all but spells out that overcrowding is a direct result of illegal immigration but we are not allowed to discuss it here in an open public forum.

Meanwhile he allows people to say the meanest nastiest most vile things to other posters as long as those people allign with his political ideology. Posts that are not even remotely thoughtful or considerate are allowed to stand. Even the most hostile posts stand. He, on occasion, will even participate in the bullying. His censsorship of an important issue detrimentally effecting our schools is a huge disappointment. The kids, all kids, are paying for it and not talking about it or exploring solutions is far from helpful. And the fact that a massive tax increase did nothing to help the overcrowding problem is alarming and a huge red flag. So it is not a money problem, it is a numbers problem. Too many kids, not enough resources, shrinking tax base.

And this post will be deleted in one second but as long as Jeff sees it, I don't care. He is a part of the problem and is hurting our children by stifling honest discussion and free speech.

If Jeff were a representative of the government and was not letting any viewpoint other than the "official" stance be written/spoken/otherwise expressed, than yes he would certainly be stifling free speech.

However, he is not. He is a business person. Doing what he sees best with his business (DCUM).

[Anonymous]

I don't know, he allows a lot of crap but it is still his line to draw.

[Anonymous]

I agree that *illegal* immigration is a problem in the schools. However, I also think that this is Jeff's forum, his website and he has a right to, although unfair, delete what he doesn't like.

[Anonymous]

Why not post this in website feedback with the other complaints?

[jsteele]

As is the case with almost all of those who accuse me of censorship, they fail to understand either "censorship" or moderation. Their complaints -- like this one -- boil down to "Jeff doesn't let me hijack any thread that I want to spew my political talking points". This poster repeatedly posted in a thread for which his anti-immigrant posts were off-topic. Similarly, he could not be bothered to post this complain in Website Feedback because his right-wing talking point is so important that it does not require following the website guidelines.

With that said, I'll be locking this thread.