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"Freedom of Speech" on Planet Minecraft

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Theevilpplz's Avatar Theevilpplz
Level 35 : Artisan Artist
8
I don't usually go on Planet Minecraft, I come here, upload my stuff, and leave. Occasionally I update it when I can be bothered.
However, lately I've been showing up and deciding to peruse the "most popular" blogs, and sometimes the most recent ones, and I'm seeing an interesting trend.
Whenever I see someone make a blog post about the staff of the site, whether it's a complaint about a seemingly recent issue or because someone's content was removed, I always see the following argument either in the blog, or in the comments (if the blog is popular enough):
"The staff of Planet Minecraft are infringing on my Freedom of Speech."

There are a lot of things wrong with this argument.

Firstly, Freedom of Speech is a constitutional right in The United States of America, and I would like to remind you that the Internet does not only exist in America. If any of the servers for Planet Minecraft are hosted in places outside of America, which there is always the chance, then the Constitution of America does not apply.

Secondly, Planet Minecraft is a privately owned website. I can't pull up an exact example, but if I remember correctly, either the US Government or the supreme court or whoever makes those decisions in America, ruled that Freedom of Speech does not apply in privately owned properties, and this extends to privately owned websites. Their site. Their rules. You are free to post anything on this website and they are free to impose any restriction in use of this website as they wish. They can delete your content, ban you from this website, and they are within full right to do so. You are even free to make your own website, there is nothing stopping you if you dislike Planet Minecraft's restrictions.

Thirdly, any time you use Planet Minecraft, you are agreeing to their Terms of Use. Let me quote appropriate passages, from Planet Minecraft's Terms of Use.
"You agree to follow all applicable laws and regulations when using this website. Furthermore, you agree that you shall not:
1: Upload, post or otherwise transmit through or to this website any content that:
- is unlawful, abusive, threatening, harmful, obscene, lewd, offensive, defamatory or otherwise objectionable;
- might infringe the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, rights of publicity, or other proprietary rights of others;
- contains any viruses, trojan horses, time bombs, or any other harmful programs or elements;"
"[breaking rules] may lead to you being immediately and permanently banned, with notification of your Internet Service Provider if deemed required by us."
"You agree that "Planet Minecraft" have the right to remove, edit, move or close any topic at any time should we see fit. "
"By accessing "Planet Minecraft", you agree to be legally bound by the following terms"
"Breach of these terms will result in the removal of your account, server bans and possible legal action."

Finally, let me quote the United States constitution:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
The first amendment only stops The Government from making laws restricting your freedom of speech.
There is nothing stopping privately owned companies or websites from restricting any content, especially speech, that you produce from being shared to other people on their website or their property.

So please stop complaining about "your freedom of speech" being infringed.
On Planet Minecraft, or anywhere else on the Internet, you don't have it.

Thank you for your time.
P.S.
..so that's how these rant things go, right? First one I've posted. Eh if it's not appropriate or relevant to PMC I have no qualms about it's deletion, it's not like I have any right to have it stay here ;) (though I would like to be notified. I don't know if staff do or not but meh, it's worth the small amount of time required to request).
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1
04/09/2017 5:40 am
Level 9 : Apprentice Network
niceminecrafter999
niceminecrafter999's Avatar
i certainly agree
1
06/07/2012 5:21 am
Level 1 : New Mountaineer
Cybernetico
Cybernetico's Avatar
I totally agree with you my friend, today I just tried to pull up an argument but I ended up getting banned because the things I've said were ignored or made fun at. In my opinion the staff has to be changed because we need mature people on this website that are willing to take up an argument and not ban people that are expressing something in their own language. My point is that there has to be the freedom of speech. I'm very proud that you've uploaded this blog
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