I know I said I was gone, but its apparent I need to provide some explanation for my offense.

The word I wanted to use was dam (correctly spelled of course) and it was not being used vulgarly.

I seriously thought the error was a joke, after all it said "the U.S. Congress might find [it] offensive". I find this very ironic, if not hypocritical.

This board was obviously founded so that its participants would feel free to discuss subjects that are obviously non-mainstream and controversial without harrasment for holding those opinions. Yet the forum operators then turn around and decide to censor the content based on what the U.S. Congress (of all groups!!) deems objectionable? Please! Can you tell me another good joke? It's bad enough for a country that prides itself on freedom of speech to turn around and invent political correctness. It's supidity on the highest level.

As a local LA talk show host put it once, "If something I say offends you, that's not my problem. It's yours. I'm not the one offended. You are. If you don't like what I'm saying, don't listen to me anymore."

As for anyone being glad for there to be censorship, you're living in the wrong country. Move to China. If that doesn't suit you, maybe North Korea? There's still plenty of oppressive governments in this world that would love to have you as a citizen. I'm sure you'll find one that suits you. But I for one do not want you here. Oh, did that offend you? GOOD! Now get out!

Yes, people should be encouraged to be polite. But they should not have it forced upon them by some 'higher authority' no matter what it may be. However, I could perhaps understand blocking extreme vulgarities, such as f**k or c**t, but dam(n)? h@ll? What if I want to talk about my pu$$ycat? Would that get blocked too? I don't know, so I butchered it just in case. What if I was British and mentioned that I liked to smoke a good f@g? (Do they still use that word?)

Well, this isn't my board, and the owners do have the freedom to operate it as they choose. But I also have the freedom to not participate in it's use if I don't like the way it's run.

'1984' and 'Fahrenheit 451' come to mind. Or if you prefer something more modern, go watch 'Demolition Man'.

And Barbara, you're also wrong in that this is not a public forum. It's a private one. At least in a public forum I have the freedom to say what I want, whether I choose to do so or not.

Brian