Censorship in the Hills-A topic unfit for discussion

My participation in exchanges a few weeks ago on the Wakefield news forum about what is acceptable to post and what is not, appear to have provoked the ire of admin and placed me on a moderated list of users whereby for the last several weeks my posts are now screened and sometimes censored.  I accidentally discovered this on Feb 9th after a post promoting my latest blog piece (which ironically is about freedom of speech), did not appear in the Wakefield news in its usual timely manner.  Upon uncovering that I was on such a list (admin had not informed me of this step) I wrote an “open letter to admin” which I attempted to share on the forum the next day. The post was censored, but it did prompt admin to finally contact me privately.

In their email to me they politely explained that one of my posts had disrespected them.  They went on to say I could have been banned according to the rules*.  I was very surprised by this and politely asked what it was that I had written that had made them feel this way.  My email to them (Feb 9^th) has yet to be answered.

On Feb 19th, I submitted a new post to the Wakefield News titled “World day of Social Justice-Local action”.  It was also censored.  Digest 1433 (Feb 20) included several items that, like mine, might be  construed to be lacking “information about the Outaouais” or a “direct local connection”, but nonetheless appeared.  I believe it is fair to ask why some people have been moderated and censored and others not. 

Below are my censored posts, along with the email exchange between admin and I.   I have offered admin the opportunity to respond both publicly and privately which they have refused to do.  Transparency, clarity and the ability to share and discuss, openly and respectfully,  ideas and questions that very much pertain to the Wakefield news forum and its members are of utmost importance if we wish to foster a trusting and inclusive environment. 

I harbour no ill feelings towards admin, but the lack of transparency, consistency and biases shown in handling this situation is extremely disappointing and in my opinion deserves attention. 

“Open letter to admin” Feb 9 -Censored

Dear Admin,

This morning I was unpleasantly surprised to find my submission to Wakefield News did not appear in the regular morning email.  Upon some investigation I discovered that my posts are now being screened for approval and that I am being "moderated via email".   Perhaps my recent post "still seeking clarity" has put me on a list of potential troublemakers/rabble rousers/radicals/shit disturbers!?  

But in all seriousness, if the rules include "be nice", and "ganging up and/or attacking a member" could lead to a ban, shouldn't the unsubstantiated claims and smearing of members of this community as anti-semitic not place others on a watch list too?  Perhaps it has, but somehow I doubt it.  The weaponisation of anti-semitism has done a great deal of harm and destroyed the lives of many, while adding to the climate of fear and silence that enables the ongoing destruction of Gaza and the murder of thousands of innocent Palestinians.

Sincerely 

Vagner Castilho

Admin response via email Feb 9

Hello Vagner.

Tim and I put you on moderated status because we felt that you disrespected us**. We could have banned you, according to our rules. We know you are a very active community member and that you post very important information about topics of interest to our community so we exercised our judgment and decided to moderate you instead.

The second post you submitted today about us as admins will not be posted. We feel it is disrespectful to send a message intended just for us as admins to the group at large.

Thank you for your understanding.

Tamara and Tim, Co-Admins

My response Feb 9

Hi Tamara and Tim

I'm disappointed to hear you felt disrespected by one of my previous posts and am genuinely interested to know what i wrote that caused you to feel that way.  I have made a concerted effort to remain respectful in all my posts.  Yes, my posts are provocative and challenging, but I believe, as do many others, that they raise legitimate questions and concerns. I must admit to feeling the same way (disrespected) when I discovered I was being moderated, although i'm sure that was not your intention. I think it would have been courteous to alert me and explain to me how I had disrespected you or the rules.  It wasn't fun to find out the way I did.  

As for today's post it was intended as an open letter, although I can fully understand why you would have preferred me to write to you privately.  I think it raises, in a respectful way, legitimate questions that should be open to discussion, and that I and many others on the forum continue to have about what appears to be an inconsistency in the application of the rules.   I hope you will respond, privately if you prefer, to those questions.  

I understand this is a challenging situation and continue to appreciate your efforts.

Sincerely

(more than 2 weeks later and the above email has yet to be replied to)

Wakefield news post Feb 20-Censored

“World day of Social Justice-Local action”

The International Court of Justice recently ruled that a plausible case of Genocide exists against Israel ordering 6 provisional measures to prevent acts of Genocide, including to “take immediate and effective steps to ensure the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza”.  Canada’s decision to continue to supply arms to Israel and to cut funding to UNRWA, despite not seeing evidence to back Israel’s claims of UNRWA-Hamas collusion, will exacerbate the suffering of the Palestinian people. Tell Minister Hussen to reverse the UNRWA funding cuts and write to local MP Sophie Chatel (sophie.chatel@parl.gc.ca) demanding Canada end military aid to Israel

I harbour no ill feelings towards admin, but the lack of transparency, consistency and bias shown in handling this situation is extremely disappointing and in my opinion deserves attention.  I invite readers to come to their own conclusions. 

*In a Feb 2^nd email sent out by admin to all members of the community forum the rules were made clear; Be Nice and Do not post the same message more than once per 24 hours

** my posts can be read here Jan 27, Feb 2, and Feb 4