May 26, 2009
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Xanga and Censorship
I wrote a post yesterday about rape that received some attention. It was a sarcastic post but it was pointing out that fact that more women were sexually assaulted in the military than killed by the enemy. So I mentioned in a sarcastic tone we should honor those who were raped for us.
This caused a stir around xanga and even some anger. But after the stir and anger, xanga decided to censor the post and took it off top blogs and the feed to the front page. They did that by giving the post a community rating of “C.” I mentioned it to a xanga team member and he could not change it meaning the decision was made at the highest level of xanga.
I expressed my concern about the censorship to the xanga team member but took the post down. I posted another one instead.
My concern is that we have come to the place where we have emotional appeals running the censorship at xanga. Some in the community were upset at the idea so xanga took the post down.
So I went to Top Blogs today and took a look at some of the posts that xanga is not censoring. I noticed a post by an “ish” site. This post includes a penis cake that has c** on the penis. Here is the link: Link
In other words, xanga decided to censor an idea but had no problem with a cake with a penis that had c** on it.
So I looked at another post on Top Blogs. It was a post about X-rated sites. The post lists 8 porn sites on the internet and gives clear links to those posts. Here is that link: Link
Both of these posts are currently on Top Blogs and probably won’t be removed.
The xanga team member asked me last night whether I would want a 13 year old reading my rape post. I would think that a 13 year old could pick up on sarcasm and catch the larger point that it is odd that we honor those who have died in war while ignoring a larger problem such as rape in the military.
I am not sure why we protect porn but don’t protect ideas.
But do I want a 13 year old seeing the penis cake with the c** on it and the post with 8 links to porn?
Comments (137)
Mine was just removed.
*gasp* but…but…I thought you were a Xanga God and all of the Xanga team worshiped at your feet??? *sarcastic eye roll*
Think of it like politics. You have to appeal to the masses.
As much as I would like to ask you if this all surprises you, it’s almost as much of a shock to me they took it down as they did putting up some shit post by that dear ricky freak.. My faith in the front page system is null… this is just another cherry for the top of that sundae.
Are we expected then to only write at the level of a 13 year old? That’s ridiculous.
I can’t help but agree here, actually.
totally weird
yea it’s sad. xanga is not getting any better
hmm… I did see that penis cake earlier. I guess coz your previous rape post made ppl angry
Why aren’t all that moms angry at the penis cake???
Go f*** a s*** and lick my nappy b**** peni$ t***.
Tis a little wishy/washy on the Xanga teams part. A 13 year old shouldn’t be reading any one of the three. But then, I don’t believe a 13 year old should be reading any posts on Xanga or any other blogsite without a little supervision.
honestly dan…it’s really hard to tell when you’re being sarcastic/serious. maybe it’s just me and i’m really dense, but you always manage to surprise!
Hey thanks for linking to that porn post. I missed that one.
In this case, it was hypocracy.
Xanga’s priorities are completely fucked right now. Or maybe they’re trying to keep ASM at bay?
i guess since you’re more well known on Xanga, you are more prone to causing offense on the site – which isn’t anything new from my past experience – it’s more possible to get censored if your site gets a lot of daily traffic. you’re constantly on the EXPLORE section or even featured. also, the Xanga Team knows you more of this alleged popularity.
it all comes down to who watches you the most at any given time.
like TV, everyone almost watches it, while on DVD, only a few decide to watch it whenever. it’s all down to appeal.
I dont think they notice them right away, but they eventually take down the “bad”(?) ones.
Either way, do you honestly care if they put on the front page? If that was your real opinion and you stood by it, it shouldn’t matter if its featured or in top blogs.
just sayin =]
@the_loveliest_tragedy - lol well, there was someone that commented and his had a pic of his hard dick in his profile picture, so I could see why they would take it down.
Xanga doesn’t worship Dan’s feet. Quite the opposite. And props to you, Dan. I agree 100%.
@wherethefishlives - LOL. censorship at its finest. That was like an Episode of trailer park boys on Showcase in the afternoon.
Are you serious? I saw that same post with the porn this morning and just shook my head. I had no idea they removed your blog since I saw it last time I was on there.
This angers me. I may not agree with everything that gets posted in someone’s blog, but I am first and foremost all about free speech.
Such is life.
Maybe people were upset because rape is a lot more serious then a penis cake and you don’t get that. Clearly you don’t know about some women who get raped and can’t live with themselves so they kill themselves.. and you think we should say “hey ladies thanks for getting raped
” I’m not sure how you’re mind works but most people think before speaking. You should have censored yourself knowing the damage you could do to rape victims by making a sarcastic joke out of it. Grow up. Seriously comparing it to a penis cake? If you think a penis cake and rape are on the same page.. you should really stop being naive.
That’s how I feel about thinspo sites. Should a 13-year-old be exposed to sites involving girls who are starving themselves in an effort to get skinny, literally killing themselves in the process?
@mr_faust - who are you talking too?
I’m thinking today is just a craptacular day all around. The Supreme Court is denying basic rights to people, xanga is pulling down posts from top blogs because they don’t think a 13 year old should be reading it, and I can’t find my effing starbucks card to go get more coffee. Screw this, I’m going back to bed.
You’ve always said some of the things people will hate you for and unsub you, some of them will love your posts. Yes, I said that it was a low blow, but i found it hilarious. I have been with xanga for 4 1/2 years and they cenor some of the lamest shit there is. Don’t really worry about it. They did the same thing to Dear Ricky for his shit list blog.
Some people’s kids.
XANGA SUCKS COCK
Xanga shouldn’t regulate anything nor should they hand choose Xanga posts on the frontpage. Goddamn fucking socialist pigs.
Well said. I’d be aggravated by it all too..
I FULLY AGREE. You make a good fucking point. If they’re going to censor what you write but leave PORN and disgusting, vulgar pictures on, then what’s the fucking point?
You should message them about what you wrote there. About the 13 year old thing, what they asked you. Ugh.
I never saw the first post, but ireallylikefood is probably going to have a high traffic surge now for sure.
I hate it when posts get censored. I have a thirteen year old nephew and I can tell you that I haven’t seen anything on Xanga that he has not seen somewhere else before. ….. I didn’t realize that my Penis cake blog had made top blogs thanks for the heads up…. I think I self rated that one with a caution or something when I originally posted it. Not because I was worried about 13 year olds because I would assume most of them had probably seen a real penis by now and this was not a real penis….. I warned about the penis because I know some readers would not find it amusing or a subject they would want to have illustrated…. I had not considered it porn…hmmmm maybe some people would… but I realized when I posted it someone might not like it so I put the warning in the title…. which is probably why no one complained about it… they knew what was in the post before they opened it and so couldn’t really blame me if they didn’t like it. I felt like your post was sort of the same the title “Happy Rape Day” prepared me quite well for the content of your post. If it’s any comfort I think sites like Xanga have to occasionally do something “shocking” to the big guys to make the little guys feel like you are not “the teachers pet”…. I am insignifigant to Xanga because my readership is so low…. you on the other hand are like the preachers kid so to speak… you must therefore be held to a higher standard ….. Even if it isn’t exactly fair…. sorry this happened…. I will pull the penis cake post if it will make you feel better……….
@brittbritt__x - Yeah I noticed that too and I even friended him quickly before he commented. My bad.
To be fair, I think all of your posts should be censored.
@oopsexcuseme - I was being sarcastic, because some people actually think that.
@repressedwriter - Good
@apyus - me, myself, and i
I just took a look at top blogs. Your rape post is back at #1, and there is also one countering you with rape in the title.
Apparently, the Xanga cop only works part-time.
@mr_faust - coward
@CelestialTeapot - ha
My guess is that they respond more quickly when they’re inundated with complaints about a specific post, and the others are brought to their attention more slowly. Allowing a post with hyperlinks to porn sites seems much more harmful to impressionable young minds than a discussion of the danger of rape in the military.
lol you’re such a shit starter!
love it.
My Waco memorial post had over ten thousand hits at one point. But was it featured? Nope. Will it ever be? Nope. I can only imagine it is too controversial. They’d rather stick with safe topics about why you should or shouldn’t cut yourself, why eating disorders are good or bad, or how to have sex when you’re a teenager.
13 year olds cannot know sex
Some people are more easily offended than others. I think graphic material of any sort should be censored– such a dead body pics, dead baby pics, porn. Your post made some mad–but anger should not dictate censorship. Sounds like Xanga caved.
@radicalramblings - Your point is spot on and a heck of a good one at that
I appreciate that Xanga makes some attempt to regulate content. However, they are not consistent at all. But neither is our society with it’s lack of core values and its “if it feels good do it” attitude… and damn the cost. You’ll never see an anti-Obama post at the top, regardless ratings. You won’t see serious discussion yet you’ll see nice shallow things like “Are my boobs too big??” showcased. Anti-American, and Anti-Christian posts make the headlines. But you all know this.
Xanga and its censorship… that’s a way to encourage open-minded creativity…
Don’t we have enough questions of the day from every ish site all over top blogs? Enough mediocre but family-friendly and mild-mannered content.
I think they’re just mad you didn’t talk about the even smaller minorty MEN who get raped in the army
I wouldn’t have posted what you did but I don’t see why it would have been taken down.
There are times when I just don’t get it. I would much rather tell my 13 tyear old about the realism of being raped in the military, but I do not want him/her seeing a cake with a penis and such on it or looking at Porn! Something needs to be done. If Xanga is going to censor your idea, then they need to censor the porn stuff, too!
@the_loveliest_tragedy - lol im just suprised he hasn’t got the boot yet. I didnt go to his profile so i dunno how long he’s been here for, but yeesh. talk about self centered! hahahah
I would SO much rather see a 13 year old reading about rape statistics rather than finding porn sites and looking at pictures of penis cakes.
I’m kind of irritated by what they did, but I’m even more irritated that so many people would be offended by your post.
I’d gladly give some appreciation to the women who are raped in the military-just as much as I would the men who are fighting. They’re all there doing the same thing, and yet there is so much underground, ‘hush-hush’ things that go on that soldiers may be able to get over, but it’s the HUMAN BEINGS inside of them and who they are that don’t deserve to be treated like that.
I’m not a fan of our military.
I don’t quite understand it either. You’re in a tough position because you’re read by many users. But you are a user like any of us and just because you’re more popular doesn’t mean you should have your content deleted over someone else who isn’t as popular.
But then, life isn’t really fair.
I am completely with you on this! I understand where you are coming from. I don’t remember if i commented on it, but I thought you brought up a valid issue with the military rape post. Why is it bad to discuss a serious issue like rape in the military but okay to show penis cakes and porn sites? I don’t get it.
I actually agree. Your “rape” post my have had some ill-thought out sentences, but I could still tell you were trying to make a good point. I’m much more offended by people who post graphic descriptions of sexual encounters or bash ethnic groups, both of which I see too often on Xanga.
Could your post have been worded better? Yes. Sarcasm isn’t the best attitude with which to talk about a subject like rape. Did it deserve to get censored over other “Top Posts”? Hecks, no.
Because porn makes money and profit but ideas don’t?
I was sitting here for about 5 minuets saying all sorts of explicative at the screen. So I guess people can handle getting horny, but not the idea that there is a grave injustice being done to women in the military(and everywhere else for that matter…). WHAT THE HELL. Wussies. Its called REALITY, can’t people deal with it? Evidently its easier to fap off then to do some deep, contemplative thinking of why we have more women getting raped than killed in the military, and the possible things that could be done to fix it. This disgusts me beyond words.
@melissa_orchid - exactly… I’m going to start having my son write my blogs for me.
And I HAVE to see this penis cake.
Hypocrisy, I tell ya! It’s time for a revolution.
Letters followed by boycotting if things don’t change. That’s how I feel about that one.
Dan you are dead on The stuff they do not censor is borderline . .. NO sorry they do real porno at times, and you do sarcasm (a bit of bad taste) and it gets censored. I could do an entry on blow job methods and they would let it go.
You just got hit by the mindless masses, a mob went after you
I don’t know if I think xanga should be censored or not, it’s really not up to me since I didn’t make this site.. but if they do choose to censor it, I find a post mocking women in the army who get raped far more offensive than porn, a penis, or cum.
I don’t think the xanga team member gave you the best answer when he said “Would you want a 13 year old to read that?” If parents don’t want their kids reading things on the internet, they should keep a better eye on them, or filter, or a password the kids don’t know, or something.
As far as adults go, I don’t find porn offensive at all, or penis’ or cum. It’s what consenting adults choose to do.
you make some good points dan. i agree.
@Tiffanyy_Co - Rape victims need to grow a pair if they can get damaged by text on the internet… or at least stay off of it.
@haloed - they didnt leave the porn on…. plus there wasnt any vulgar pictures.
I’m intrigued about this original post. I never saw it. Granted, the phrasing probably could’ve been more delicate from the sounds of it, but you were making a point. Sounds to me like your point hit home and people got their panties in a giant bunch.
And yes, there’s a lot of rape in the military. There’s also tons of sexual harassment and discrimination … of both genders and all sexualities. Sure it’s disturbing, but if you keep the idea that when put into a situation with a lot of stress, pressure, and the inability to make decisions, it will turn chaotic. No, it’s not acceptable, but it’s understandable.
Why are we writing at the level of 13 year olds when they’re all on Myspace?
You should unsub from featured posts and then write a long post explaining why you are.
I get you. I think, no matter how hard we argue or fight we’ll never really control what they do. I dunno, I guess I’ve lost my passion to fight somewhat. But hey, if you’re up for a riot, turn up that RATM and count me in!
WTF. Penis Cake?
That cake is wrong… but the fact that there was a penis shaped mold is so much worst.
Are we not supposed to put our age in when we sign up? I’m not sure I signed up a while ago. They should bar you from visiting sites or acknowledge that you are of age.
Porn?
Let me first say that you have your thing and you do it well, Dan. So your sarcasm comes with a heightened shock value. Did I agree with your original post yesterday? Absolutely not. I think there was a degree of insensitivity in what you wrote that completely overshadowed your point and rendered it useless. Do I think they should have censored it and removed it from Top Blogs? Absolutely not. It was my choice to read your post… my choice to leave a comment… and should be my choice to avoid it or not.
It’s also my choice if I want to write a rebuttal or mocking tribute… and Xanga should allow for it all. Why? Because this medium of expression is not regulated by any content restrictions other than those forbidden by law. And there was nothing in what you wrote that was illegal. Poor taste, maybe. But well within your legal right to post.
Didn’t something similar happen to someone who referred to you in one of their posts not too long ago?
Yeah, I’ve been blocked from many a conservative blog, and I was banned from all revelife blogs because I called them an asshole for censoring my blog comments (the comments weren’t even offensive). I was banned from the entire site in like under a minute, no kidding.
Very “forgive and forget” christians over at revelife.
From a 13-year-old’s point of veiw:
I totally got the sarcasm in the post.
I thought the penis cake was funny.
And I’ve already heard of, if not ‘accidentally’ visited most of the porn sites listed.
But maybe Im just beyond.
Hmmmm… you bring up a good point, Dan. You would think that by now, people would recognize your sarcasm. I didn’t see an issue with your post and I don’t know why it would be taken down.
I think that (a) people being offended at you, and (b) the success of those posts are one in the same. Controversy gets ratings.
I’d much rather the 13-year-old read an educational post about women being raped by soldiers than got access to 8 porn sites and looked at pictures of cake-cocks…
Even if it didn’t catch the sarcasm, it’d still get the message.
100% agree with you on this one….
I completely can tell when you’re being sarcastic, I don’t know why others have such a hard time. And it IS a serious topic. Women DO get assaulted and raped and the fact that it happens in the military, where america’s “finest” are supposed to be, is disturbing.
@agnophilo - Even as a conservative myself (mostly), I don’t get that line of thinking on other Conservative’s part. I don’t have to like or agree with anything you or anyone else says, but I appreciate and encourage everyone to state their opinion even when it’s the complete opposite of mine. I think everyone has a right to say what they want to say just as everyone has a right to be offended. The Revelife people are kind of a scary cult to me.
hrm, that is quite unfair
xanga’s got their priorities a little mixed up LOL
just because something in controversial because some ppl are upset by the pointing out of unsavoury truths doesn’t mean that that post was wrong or even something unsuitable for younger ppl
considering how many 13 year olds get raped, i don’t see how someone could be like “OMG THINK OF THE CHILDREN” go get yer head out of the sand already T_T
too bad u had to repost it, but i’m glad you did!
After several minutes of thinking and digesting all this…
I think you’re right.
It’s hard to please everyone, isn’t it? =
Xanga fucking sucks these days, it NEVER used to be like this, but then someone up there got wind of it.
You should be able to write whatever you like on your site. i cant believe they did that!
STICK IT TO THE MAN!
I want to know what reason(s) they gave you for censoring your post?
Did you ask that same xanga team member why these posts were ok and yours was not?
This ‘censoring’ thing has gotten to me, too. Tsk tsk… I’m almost 15, and I can’t post anything, almost, about the human body. Not even body parts, or my posts- as well as comments, get blocked. D;
Well then. I clicked on one of your plugz, and it was a mistake … why should penises and porn be censored? what is wrong with them?
What you said is just wrong, it was offensive. Maybe you were being sarcastic, but a lot of people don’t pick up on that.
Excellent point Dan Theologian.
Sometimes I think people are more offended by rape then by killing. I’m a little curious if people would have been as offended if it were male soldiers raped rather then female soldiers. Either way it’s horrible any of this happens to any of them.
There is obviously a need for more consistancy in what the head hanchos (sp?) are going to censor and not. Personally, I wouldn’t want my kids reading any of the three posts. The one you have now, sure…but the other with the actual use of the word “vagina” and that sort of thing, sarcasm or not, I wouldn’t want them reading it. That’s why my kids don’t play on Xanga.
Technically I don’t think it’s censorship if it’s just removed from Top Blogs. It’s more a matter of front-page content-control. I have to admit, the penis cakes are eye-popping and I can’t imagine why they would be less offensive.
Censorship is twisted, backward, and often abused.
I know I commented that post, questioning the sarcasm, but I was not at all offended. I don’t think anyone should have been offended. It was an innocent post.. But really, what happened to having the freedom to write what you want in your blog? It’s like you have to try and giddy up to the Xanga team just to be heard now… ?
Oooh… I sense resentment from the community with this one.
they all have their tighties in a wad.
Hmm…
@odiado - i’d imagine that censorship based on morals comes from the right wing and not the left.
@Chinese_Sait0u - What the fuck are you talking about, bitch?
@odiado - sorry. did your mother drop you when you were a baby? or did you forget your meds today?
I’m curious to see if john will weigh in on this subject or remain silent. I think it would probably be best if he didn’t say anything.
@Chinese_Sait0u - Fuck off, chink.
You do have a point there.
@odiado - are you a guy or girl? it’s pretty hard to tell. from your comments, you always seem to be PMS-ing, yet you have a manly face. maybe you’re a shemale.
@Chinese_Sait0u - I’m a guy, and I’m just fucking with ya.
hmmm…If you are a good writer and capable of generating controversy and interest with your blogging, you may be better off hosting your own blog on your own URL where no one can censor you. Just a thought – Ryan
Uh…this might be stupid, but what do the rating C and c** mean?
If we’re only allowed to say what is popular then we’ve already lost our freedom of speech. Censorship = tyranny.
I wonder if my post was cut from top blogs for the same reason, or just bumped out by other blogs. Hmmmm….
@DirtyAndShaken - I don’t mind people disagreeing, and quite enjoy it when they can do so intelligently.
penis cake with the what on it? I’ve been too much offline. lol
your attempt at sarcasm was Lame at best…..
not really a topic that warrants sarcasm
-___- 13, and saw both of them.
thanks.
There is always a balance between serving the public needs and the needs of the individual. Your post became a squeaky wheel, and Xanga decided to grease it. If enough people complained about the other stuff mentioned, it would probably get greased as well (at least I hope so. That would be fair).
I’m not sure censureship is quite the right word. Nothing stops you from posting the piece elsewhere, or on your own server. When I think of the word censureship, I tend to think of countries where the governments tell the press what they can and cannot print. Not really the case here. I’m sure you would agree that, as much as you have a right to express yourself, Xanga has a right not to publish your expressions (or in this case, demote one of them). You’re a pretty rational guy; you can see my reasoning.
One last thought, from a purely ideological stance, ideas are much more dangerous than dirty pictures. Free thinkers are always the first to go when a tyrant gets power, whether they be politicians, pastors, teachers, journalists, and of course poets. A dictator will always attack subversion before perversion. I suspect you and I would both be in some trouble.
Maybe I’m wrong but isn’t xanga for the purpose of people writing their opinions and thoughts? I don’t believe a small group of people should have the right to choose what stays and what goes. I’m offended by the language, but I don’t expect it to be sensored or removed. (I would like it to be, but don’t expect it to be) If a person doesn’t like a blog, leave a respectful comment and move on. It’s as simple as that..
personally i think you shoul have tried a little harder to defend your opinion. its not right for them to censor your blogs. blogging is about expressing your concerns and voicing your opinion. its okay for people to not aggree with the things your saying but for them to ban you from saying it i think is naive.
in the words of henry steele commager-
The fact is that censorship always defeats its own purpose, for it creates, in the end, the kind of society that is incapable of exercising real discretion.
yeah thats my input.
The guidelines are indeed screwy. But I’m sorry…you can say it was sarcasm but it was in awful taste nevertheless. At least that’s how I felt about it and told you so in the comments. However, I thought Xanga kept a tight lock on what does and doesn’t appear on the front page concerning dirty words, images, or morbid ideas. Maybe it’s just “one of those” things. You know, how we aren’t allowed to dog out/dis/whatever people say/insult the character of our soldiers at war. There’s lots of debate and opinion going on in that area. It’s touchy. Perhaps to avoid extra drama from non-Xangans, they nipped it in the bud.
No matter how we felt, you should have kept it up. I understand not wanting to be censored. I GUARANTEE the sickening drivel I write will never make first page and thank God. To have my thoughts and ideas labeled or cast aside in such a way would kill a part of me as the writer I am. It’s a double standard for you, however. As others have said you are one of the so called “higher powers” on the site when it comes to bloggers. What some other bloggers have gotten away with (and I mean…WOW….I have stories…) probably won’t be under the microscope and the binoculars.
Go figure.
i can never honestly tell when your being sarcastic.
I believe I can understand Xanga. They are concerned about legal troubles. I do not believe they are very idealistic about protecting freedom of speech, and I don’t think we can expect them to be, since they are a business which appeals to the masses. I just don’t expect free speech from Xanga. That’s not what they are about.
If I want to read about freedom, I go to the Foundation for Economic Freedom, or maybe the Heritage Foundation, or Cato Organization, or Foundation for the Defense of Democracy. If one of these made such a clear gaffe in “catering to the whims of the masses,” and came down on the opposite side of free speech, I would feel abused(fleeced) of my donations to them, and strongly consider cutting ties.
But not with Xanga. Xanga is all about pablum, very ordinary, socially acceptable chats, nothing that would ever be too offensive, raise a political eyebrow.
I like it. I hope my lifetime subscription will be up here for my grandchildren to read. I write nothing very controversial, and try to keep it as ordinary as possible. I also very much like my friends on Xanga. I just think it unrealistic to expect Xanga to take a strong stand on free speech. It’s not their main thing.
I don’t understand why your post got took off when it was just raising awareness and someone posted a distasteful joke about rape and cancer and their post is still up.
honestly, rather than a 13 year old, would you really want a military woman who is currently trying to get past being raped, to read your sarcastic comment? do you really think that they would laugh and say, Boy that Dan is such a funny, sarcastic guy! I can’t believe Xanga would rate his post a C!
dont you have more important things to worry about than whether or not your entry was taken off top blogs?
That’s ridiculous. Either they should remove them all or don’t remove any. That’s rather hypocritical of them.
Count your blessings shipmate, the “highest level” of X-gods could have deep-sixed your whole blog…what would your therapy bill be then?
Sail on… sail on!!!
I agree with you 100%.
There’s a PORN BLOG!? And a PENIS CAKE BLOG!?
I missed those! Thank you for bringing them to my attention!!
SARCASM AND RAPE DONT MIX U FUCKIN IDIOT!
Am I naive? What the heck does c** stand for?
@joey - You know I respect you, Dan, but the man has a point.
Wow. I missed all of this. I do agree that there is a problem when something is censored and other things arent. I agree with you completely that something like that cake should not be so visible on the “ish” site…
I just don’t know what to say. But I can say I totally understood the post and in fact liked the sarcasm. Maybe you should post it in another way. You know, “both sides of the story”. LOL
Just go ahead and post how the men in the military (and women…wouldn’t want to be sexist) don’t get any ass outside of the military so you thank them all, the rapists for defending the country and the women for giving the men the ego boost the apparently need (unintentionally and forcefully in fact) to do it.
I thought the post was great. Sorry Xanga didn’t.
I agree with you 100%..the young people are naive because they just don’t know any better….But this country is creeping toward TYRANNY…”old country RUSSIA” with dictatorship & socialistic ideas…and taking away our freedom and rights that made America so great.
And I also ask..Where are the PARENTS of these 13 year olds? Why aren’t THEY SUPERVISING their kids? Or did I forget that they are too busy trying to be the 13 year old’s buddy? Again, scary how these people commenting don’t understand or don’t have the mentality to comprehend what is the idea at stake??? Eroding of what was once the American way of life; and empowering the rise of corruption and corrosion of our Constitution and real family values.
Dear Dan: To call this a “double standard” is not only an understatement, but it would ignore the “moral” prioritization that the Xanga heiarchy seeks to impose on its members. Why, for example, is there an X-rated section to begin with? Why should there be? Who gains from the degradation of women and children- and on a site occupied and visited by numerous ones- except that selfsame heiarchy… seeking to boost their membership by any means, no matter how vile? The Xanga Community, being an online “neighborhood”, should exist to promote not only free and informed dialogue, but likewise the highest standards of conduct and personal responsibility that make that dialogue (and the freedom of America’s citizens) possible from the onset. Ultimately, one cannot exist without the other. Neighbors helping neighbors and keeping faith with friends and family with dignity and respect is the cornerstone of any free and decent society. If Xanga has rejected that premise for the sake of immediate self-interest, they have rejected not only their moral compass, but also their core purpose.
So here is my thought. I think that Xanga should allow you to have free speech, with respect. Now, as far as your description of the post, I don’t think it is “removable in it’s criteria” and this comes from a military wife. In fact, my husband would point out that there are always things that need to be changed in the military, and that no organization is perfect. I could tell you a story that coincides with your post that was removed, but I can’t for the privacy of that person. What I will say is that it is out there, and you were trying to bring a reality check to this subject. Personally, I enjoy reading your blogs and appreciate the time you put into them (or most of them lol).
Well I’ve known you long enough to detect your sarcasm, but I’m not 13 and even I’m kinda slow at detecting it in general. But yeah those other posts should be taken down I guess. Don’t really care hehe.