Censorship on the BroadwayWorld Boards

pretty sure we are beating a dead horse. This was voiced to them a couple months ago and they responded by promising they would personally reach out to every deleted OP and explain why they did what they did... Yeah. That lasted for about 3 weeks. Maybe 4.



Sadly, at the end of the day, they are a private entity. They can delete a post, thread or profile without having to explain their right. It's such bull!!!

Similarly to gypsy, I missed the whole thread which is a shame because I would love to read that. I feel as if something should be done if censorship of controversial issues exists. A boycott of the site for a few days? I am all for making this site a place where things like racism, bigotry, scamming, etc. are prevented, but the creators must be facing similar issues to what the Supreme Court: where to draw the line? If it means deleting posts trying to sell stolen credit cards (that thread still exists), racism, body shaming, or any of the like than I'm all for it. If it means deleting negative opinions, straight out statements of an actors skills, anything regarding Mrs. Murin, discusion of controversial issues or After Eight like posts then I'm all against it. See, I value people like After Eight. Sure, he has eclectic views that many of us don't share. But because of that, I learn more from him than many posters. There would be no point in coming here if it wad just one big Hamilton fangirl board. People like Roxy are valuable. Sure, it would be nice if he were to give Hamilton a bit more of a chance but I found it really intresting to hear his opinions. One of the most popular threads is the controversial opinions thread. So if this continues then I'm all for a boycott or a site switch. I know I don't post much, but I lurk. That's what many do, without them, the site wouldn't exist. If we were to go away, they would have to revise their censorship. What do we do - post like we're in China or post like we're in America?

Because relentless false positivity about every topic would be poisonous to any discussion about art?



Ultimately the owners of these boards can do whatever they want.



What's fascinating is that hot button topics like the thread calling out Patti Murin's laughable hypocrisy are deleted. Casual racism usually isn't. It's not actually about the content of the post, it's about not possibly offending the wrong people.

Updated On: 5/2/16 at 07:14 PM

The level of snark was deemed to not be "light."

Sunny11 said: "And what is wrong with the motto If you can't say something nice don't say it at all? Honestly my metal health is always better when I approach life that way.



"

What is wrong with it? Well, for one thing that attitude kept us in Vietnam for over 10 years (and I exaggerate only slightly).

Bottom line: playing nice makes a tea party, not theatrical criticism. At it's best, BWW.COM achieves the latter.

I say this in response to your post. i don't know what was deleted or why and have no opinion on that.

Im really mad there's not an explanation why it was deleted. And as the op I should've gotten at least a pm detailing why it was deleted. In this case it shouldn't have needed to be deleted.

Years ago.. there was a fabulous thread that I will call "Day of the Minnelli's" For about 3 days this thread was hilariously habitated by everyone that was at the time surfing BWW. Everyone was posting and being fun, harmonious, and joyful. The thread went on and on and on. Not one insult. Not one barb. No snark. All in good fun. Then the moderator at the time (CRAIG) decided that he had enough and he deleted it with no explanation. Someone used to have a screen grab of this thread. Maybe they will repost it. But the day that thread got deleted.. this board became a phony.

I'm kinda thinking the doomsday clock is ticking faster towards midnight for these boards. WE are not enjoying our time here now and only newbies who (mostly) come and go will remain. Sure the "visits' will continue and the ad venue will drive forward, but I see a lot of pablum in the future, all flavor, good and bad washed out in favor of positivist niceness. Or at least Big Bro double speak for same. Hey! WE HAD TEN PRETTY GOOD YEARS. To paraphrase a great performer "the boards are just a party and a party isn't meant to last"

I think we're close to "midnight," too. And it's an antiquated format. But I really have fond feelings for the community of long-term members who post here. I've learned so much. It's a shame that such shallow, poorly thought-out criticism has helped set things in motion.

Updated On: 5/2/16 at 10:04 PM

"Can't the mods come up with a safeword to use when the snark is getting a bit too intense for them?!Can't the mods come up with a safe word to use when the snark is getting a bit too intense for them?!"



How about,"We're getting' close to going' Patti Murrain on yo azz?"



The boards have become a mere shell of what they once were. Even with the newly added Pulitzer ready articles on shows if you like Reality TV.

Let me clarify the "Minnelli Deli" night:

Someone had started a thread about Joey Minnelli and it was posed as a question. Something like "Is Joey Minnelli related to Liza Minnelli? I started another thread titled something like "Is Liza Minnelli related to Victor Spinelli?" That began a whole evening of Minnelli madness. People started threads about Milli. Vanilli Minnelli, Marty Minnelli, and The Minnelli Deli. Before long everyone was starting Minnelli threads and it went on for pages.It was hilarious but it couldn't go on forever because humor like that would go stale. Yes, all those pages were deleted, but it didn't't bother me. It was time to do so.

The same was true of the thread I started about Rosie O'Donnell touring as Mame. It was an April Fools prank and it was deleted the next day. That was right. The prank was over.

Updated On: 5/3/16 at 07:45 AM

If the time ever comes, I hoe people do what was done over at theatreboard- whatsonstage closed down its forum so the posters made their own site- and it is pretty active! I think there will always be a demand for a broadway chatboard, so if broadwayworld decides it can do without all that regular traffic, I suggest it will be split seconds before someone else- maybe with less vested interest- fills the gap.

Not meant as a threat, but there's only so much of the heavy-handed censorship people will tolerate.