Cyprus-Forum.com

[Talisker]

Bill, you make the case for free speech very eloquently. This is a battle that has had to be fought many times before, and very sad that it is now being threatened within the medium, the internet, that surely provides more opportunity for freedom of expression, without prejudice to race, colour, and creed, and across political and geographical divides, than any other.

I particularly like this famous quotation from Voltaire which provides additional support for your stance:

'I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.'

[bill cobbett]

Bill, you make the case for free speech very eloquently. This is a battle that has had to be fought many times before, and very sad that it is now being threatened within the medium, the internet, that surely provides more opportunity for freedom of expression, without prejudice to race, colour, and creed, and across political and geographical divides, than any other.

I particularly like this famous quotation from Voltaire which provides additional support for your stance:

'I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.'

Thanks a lot Talisker. Yes that was the quote I was refering to. So it was Voltaire ? Thanks for posting it in full.

And yes, fought many times before, as you say. I would say that we should learn from history, from Germany in the '30's - those who don't make a stand on this are very guilty of a vile dereliction of duty.

And yes re: the internet, well said - the internet is the last bastion of free speech - we must defend this.

[Jerry]

Free speech, YES.

Gratuitous, racist, personal, spiteful, vindictive abuse, NO.

Argue the point, not the person.

Let's hope the CF doesn't pull the plug for good.

[Niki]

I do agree that Oracle's and GR's suspension is sad but this was inevitable. I want them back but can understand the decision to suspend them.

They are both interesting people with strong opinions but who's to say all the new members that they sent running weren't just as interesting? Maybe in a different way. They were often insulting and rude to new people and to the regular members although not so much GR as he had recently become more indifferent to anything other than CyProb posts.

The forum surely is about diversity, not just about the Cyprus 'problems'. One thing is for sure, if I ever needed help with something I would never ask on this forum. You are laughed at and very rarely given good advice.
It would be good to change this and allow people who genuinely need advice to 'want' to post here.

It has been said that this forum was set up for debate, more specifically on the Cyprus Problem. It was set up in the same way as 'Cyprus Living' and just went the way it did because of the members, not because of the intentions of admin. There are other forums that are more specifically targeted at the CyProb. Indeed the forum about a year ago was a great place to be, more humour, quick wit with less aggression and insults. Bring back those times!

[Talisker]

Bill, you make the case for free speech very eloquently. This is a battle that has had to be fought many times before, and very sad that it is now being threatened within the medium, the internet, that surely provides more opportunity for freedom of expression, without prejudice to race, colour, and creed, and across political and geographical divides, than any other.

I particularly like this famous quotation from Voltaire which provides additional support for your stance:

'I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.'

Thanks a lot Talisker. Yes that was the quote I was refering to. So it was Voltaire ? Thanks for posting it in full.

And yes, fought many times before, as you say. I would say that we should learn from history, from Germany in the '30's - those who don't make a stand on this are very guilty of a vile dereliction of duty.

And yes re: the internet, well said - the internet is the last bastion of free speech - we must defend this.

In addition to the reinstatement of GR! and Oracle, I believe it would be useful to know why strident forumers on the other side of the political divide, Zan, Shahmaran, and Eric Dayi, no longer post. Were they banned, or censored, and subsequently became so disillusioned they have given up posting? The political debate (in which I rarely participate, but occasionally read for my own interest and education) is the poorer for their absence.

[Jerry]

I don't know about the others but this is what Zan said last Monday -

I received this PM from Zan this morning. Since there are no personal details in it I'm sure he won't mind me pasting it here.

Hi Jerry

Sorry about the delay on replying but I have been quite busy at work and trying to catch up on loads of jobs I neglected at home. I have looked in on occasion but am a little tired. I have also lost hope that there will ever be a sensible settlement in Cyprus. That a few other events have kept me away. I will be back though but as of yet I have no time planned.

Hope to speak to you all soon.

Best wishes

Zan

[bill cobbett]

I don't know about the others but this is what Zan said last Monday -

I received this PM from Zan this morning. Since there are no personal details in it I'm sure he won't mind me pasting it here.

Hi Jerry

Sorry about the delay on replying but I have been quite busy at work and trying to catch up on loads of jobs I neglected at home. I have looked in on occasion but am a little tired. I have also lost hope that there will ever be a sensible settlement in Cyprus. That a few other events have kept me away. I will be back though but as of yet I have no time planned.

Hope to speak to you all soon.

Best wishes

Zan

I look forward to the return of Zan and the others of our northern siblings - and may I also add that I would like to think that I would be amongst those who would join with others to support them if they were ever banned.

[Paphitis]

I don't know about the others but this is what Zan said last Monday -

I received this PM from Zan this morning. Since there are no personal details in it I'm sure he won't mind me pasting it here.

Hi Jerry

Sorry about the delay on replying but I have been quite busy at work and trying to catch up on loads of jobs I neglected at home. I have looked in on occasion but am a little tired. I have also lost hope that there will ever be a sensible settlement in Cyprus. That a few other events have kept me away. I will be back though but as of yet I have no time planned.

Hope to speak to you all soon.

Best wishes

Zan

Dear Zan,

I hope that you do return to us as soon as your other commitments permit. I also wish the same for Eric and Shah. You are all very much missed and I for one hope and wish for your speedy return.

Have a nice day.

Regards

Paphitis

[Eliko]

An Obituary to Free Speech

We should all take stock that a little bit of all of us may have died yesterday. All of us put a tremendously great value on Free Speech and if we do then we must value it all the time. There can be no pick and choose as to the times, manner and tones in which our right to speak freely is limited and if we demand these right for ourselves then we must defend the rights of others to the same benefits.

There may be some who would say that sometimes some members overstepped the mark by openly and deliberately offending others. To these people I would repeat the words of wiser persons than most of us who say that one of the rights in a democracy is the right to be offended. Those of us who don't want to be offended by the posts of others would do well to reconsider their values.

The victims of yesterday's pogrom gave as good us they got and yes they offended with their posts and I for one love them all the more for their frankness and honesty in expressing their views in much the same way as I admire those with an opposing view to mine who post the most offensive of posts, to my mind, filled with personally directed expletives and with bile because they express their opinions uncompromisingly and it's only when people speak honestly that we can come to some kind of conclusion and perhaps even some kind of truth.

So I think we should all reflect that cyberspace is a little emptier on this sad day and to my Brother and Sister in Arms, I would say take stock, re-arm and refresh yourselves in the real world but come back to us soon because many here value your right to speak freely. You have a duty to return to us.


RIP Free Speech ( August 1974 - June 2008 )

bill cobbett, my compliments, the above is a credit to you.

[bill cobbett]

An Obituary to Free Speech

We should all take stock that a little bit of all of us may have died yesterday. All of us put a tremendously great value on Free Speech and if we do then we must value it all the time. There can be no pick and choose as to the times, manner and tones in which our right to speak freely is limited and if we demand these right for ourselves then we must defend the rights of others to the same benefits.

There may be some who would say that sometimes some members overstepped the mark by openly and deliberately offending others. To these people I would repeat the words of wiser persons than most of us who say that one of the rights in a democracy is the right to be offended. Those of us who don't want to be offended by the posts of others would do well to reconsider their values.

The victims of yesterday's pogrom gave as good us they got and yes they offended with their posts and I for one love them all the more for their frankness and honesty in expressing their views in much the same way as I admire those with an opposing view to mine who post the most offensive of posts, to my mind, filled with personally directed expletives and with bile because they express their opinions uncompromisingly and it's only when people speak honestly that we can come to some kind of conclusion and perhaps even some kind of truth.

So I think we should all reflect that cyberspace is a little emptier on this sad day and to my Brother and Sister in Arms, I would say take stock, re-arm and refresh yourselves in the real world but come back to us soon because many here value your right to speak freely. You have a duty to return to us.


RIP Free Speech ( August 1974 - June 2008 )

bill cobbett, my compliments, the above is a credit to you.

Eliko - you're lovely, thanks.

There was a bit of inspiration behind what I posted. A couple of days ago someone sent me a pm (it doesn't matter who), in which they referred to me as a "forumer" and from which I took great pride and it made me feel good for the rest of the day.

Speak to you later "forumers". (Need to go and shave.)