Hi JoAnne,
You raise some interesting points and just wanted to comment on them.
In a perfect world I couldn't agree with you more that the popular vote should be the deciding factor in a win or not. Adland is a great "mini world" but not perfect by any means. The judging and additional points for the forum with the most votes was incorporated only a while back due to the ability of members to manipulate votes. Granted the new system isn't perfect but is fairer then it was before. We have to remember that we're talking about the BEST forum and in my opinion content and the discussions should be a major consideration. Cheer leading forums may be popular and of course completely legitimate but are they in fact the best forums???
You wrote: On another matter, I strongly believe that there are other pertinent reasons that a forum owner may choose to monitor a forum beside weeding out spammers, and those reasons don't necessarily have anything to do with censorship of ideas or opinions. Among the other legitimate reasons may be to keep the forum free of profanity, vulgarity, racial slurs, abusive language, religious bigotry, gratuitous nudity, advocating illicit drug use, violation of intellectual property rights, and illegal activities. Once again I can't agree with you more BUT you don't need a moderated forum to delete, block, ban and report the offender.
Debating ideas is great but that is not the object of the forums to begin with. A discussion is created and if a debate arises it makes it all the more interesting when it's done in a respectful manner. There is no reason to Imagine a discussion on different gardening techniques, best times to plant and the easiest flower to grow being deleted if it is in direct opposition to the forum owners opinion. :) If I'm not interested in gardening I won't go there to discuss politics, religion or any other subject other then gardening.
Cheer leading forums definitely have their place and I participate in a few of them to honor the person being featured. Personally I would like to see more content forums and threads cos they are simply more interesting and in many cases a lot to be learned.
All the best & Shalom,
Peter
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