"The internet is supposed to be open to freedom of expression. But this forum apparently isn't."
Actually, yes, I agree, the internet as a whole should be open and free.
Just like the world (in my opinion) should be open and free.
But...
An individual site on the internet is not "the internet", just like an individual house or place of business is not the world.
A place like this is more like a house than a place of business too.
So, This forum is like it's Susan's place, literally speaking.
Meaning, it's HER property.
There's a few people who work on her behalf to keep her property Safe in accordance to the rules that she has set for her own place, her property.
It's like if we were all in her livingroom. If she says "you're not allowed to smoke in here" then we, on her behalf, would be given the responsibility to kick you out if you start smoking.
This place isn't a democracy, it's someone's personal property.
The rules aren't forced on you, nor anyone else, we're all free to leave whenever we want, you included.
"A regulated forum is limiting the possibility for fair debate of ideas"
That depends on what you consider "fair".
Everyone has to obey the same rules of conduct, whether they're new members or old moderators, that's fairer than most forums I've seen.
What you can't debate here, you're still free to debate in any number of other places, so we're not preventing you from debating the ideas simply stating that you can't do that "here".
And there are only a couple things you can't debate here, the rules are primarily related to how we conduct ourselves in debates.
Meaning that you're not allowed to be a jerk to other people.
Which I think's pretty fair, cause other people aren't allowed to be a jerk towards you either.
So yeah.
I love this place for all the reasons above.
It's a gift from the founder, one worth a lot to me.
And it is, in my opinion, quite fair. More so than most other places.
I love it.
If you don't like it, then you don't have to be here.