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Censorship in Any Form is Still Censorship
I had the experience this morning of having one of my comments deleted on a discussion, and then the person who had started that discussion sent me an email about making personal attacks and keeping it friendly.
I would like to state for the record that I did not call anyone or any organization by name, but I did voice my opinion that I was sick and tired of people who act as if therapists who provide Swedish or relaxation massage are not valuable.
I went on to say that plenty of people need stress relief, and many people cannot take a deep tissue massage. I made a few other comments that the person running the discussion apparently found offensive, including my statement that you could call yourself the Pope and there will be 1% of people who still think massage is about sex.
My own clinic is mainly focused on medical massage, but we also have plenty of people who want nurturing, pampering, or whatever you want to call it, and none of the medical massage therapists who work there will refuse to give a relaxation massage if that's what the client wants.
My main blog, The Massage Pundit, which originates on the Massage Magazine website, is usually about the politics of massage. It is also on RSS feed on hundreds of other sites. I am known for being opinionated, and not mincing any words. I don't expect everyone to agree with me, and I print the comments I receive from every respondent, whether they agree with me or not. I would not dream of censoring yours or anyone's comments because they disagree with my opinion, or because of the way they state it.
If you'd really like for someone to kick your butt, go over to Bodhi Haraldsson's website on evidence-based massage, and let the scientists over there have at you. There are some real arguments going on there--and no censorship. I'd rather get ripped to shreds by one of them for my opinion than to be prevented from expressing it. They may think by my opinion that I'm a moron, but they still respect my right to express it.
I will go on further and say that the leadership at ABMP, which started this website, personally asked me to blog on here and assured me that I would not be censored. I will not hold them responsible for the fact that one individual deleted a comment, but I will say that censorship, in any form, is not what they had in mind when they started this forum. And that's my sermon for today.
I would like to state for the record that I did not call anyone or any organization by name, but I did voice my opinion that I was sick and tired of people who act as if therapists who provide Swedish or relaxation massage are not valuable.
I went on to say that plenty of people need stress relief, and many people cannot take a deep tissue massage. I made a few other comments that the person running the discussion apparently found offensive, including my statement that you could call yourself the Pope and there will be 1% of people who still think massage is about sex.
My own clinic is mainly focused on medical massage, but we also have plenty of people who want nurturing, pampering, or whatever you want to call it, and none of the medical massage therapists who work there will refuse to give a relaxation massage if that's what the client wants.
My main blog, The Massage Pundit, which originates on the Massage Magazine website, is usually about the politics of massage. It is also on RSS feed on hundreds of other sites. I am known for being opinionated, and not mincing any words. I don't expect everyone to agree with me, and I print the comments I receive from every respondent, whether they agree with me or not. I would not dream of censoring yours or anyone's comments because they disagree with my opinion, or because of the way they state it.
If you'd really like for someone to kick your butt, go over to Bodhi Haraldsson's website on evidence-based massage, and let the scientists over there have at you. There are some real arguments going on there--and no censorship. I'd rather get ripped to shreds by one of them for my opinion than to be prevented from expressing it. They may think by my opinion that I'm a moron, but they still respect my right to express it.
I will go on further and say that the leadership at ABMP, which started this website, personally asked me to blog on here and assured me that I would not be censored. I will not hold them responsible for the fact that one individual deleted a comment, but I will say that censorship, in any form, is not what they had in mind when they started this forum. And that's my sermon for today.
Views: 655
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Mike Hinkle on
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Wrong again.
Christopher A. Moyer said:Not true Christopher. Emma deleted her message because she felt it was wrong to even be having that discussion in that group.
My mistake then. I apologize for getting the facts wrong.
It's funny to me that people could think that discussion somehow didn't belong in that group. The poster was getting her questions answered. The fact that she and some of the lurkers didn't like the answers was the issue.
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Permalink Reply by Lisa on
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it's threads like these that make me very disappointed in this site. just sayin'
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Permalink Reply by Laura Allen on
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At least you're free to express your disappointment, and I wouldn't dream of depriving you of that right, Lisa.
Lisa said:it's threads like these that make me very disappointed in this site. just sayin'
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Permalink Reply by Christopher A. Moyer on
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Mike Hinkle said:Wrong again.
Predictable.
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I do wish when people are telling someone they are wrong, they would tell them the right answer. Inquiring minds want to know. If there is censorship going on anywhere, it is wrong.
People have the right to delete their own posts, when they regret something they said, or the manner they said it in. Deleting other people's is the same thing I am talking about here. It is incredible to me that there are apparently people who still don't believe in freedom of speech, and they don't belong on a discussion forum where the free exchange of ideas and opinions is the point. If you don't want to hear people's opinions, then for god's sakes don't start a discussion!
Christopher A. Moyer said:Mike Hinkle said:Wrong again.
Predictable.
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and i've never been one for moderation. but the fact IS that 90% of message boards have some sort of moderation. it's something you just come to accept when sharing your views through such avenues.
Laura Allen said:At least you're free to express your disappointment, and I wouldn't dream of depriving you of that right, Lisa.
Lisa said:it's threads like these that make me very disappointed in this site. just sayin'
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This was a completely different discussion that Christopher is bringing in to the subject. I did delete my discussions because the girl had asked for info about a Reiki class in LA. Emma gave her what she asked for and Christopher jumped in and started belittling Reiki. That started us in another avenue.
I know Christopher's stance and he is entitled to it, but a new person to the site was not expecting this and she didn't moderate the discussion. It got way off subject and was removed per her, I guess.
We had a discussion going on in one area and he carried it to that one. Before I knew it, we were way way off topic. I thought it was also wrong to subject a new therapist to this upheaval on their site. It probably would have been handled differently on mine.
There is a big and weak spot in massage research.The industry needs to let their feelings be known that more in-depth studies are needed done on energy related work before these scientists do away with modalities, that have comforted so many clients and therapists for centuries! And it should be done by, open minded, researchers that will report their findings without pre-formed ideas or beliefs. I think this should be promoted by all therapists.
Laura Allen said:I do wish when people are telling someone they are wrong, they would tell them the right answer. Inquiring minds want to know. If there is censorship going on anywhere, it is wrong.
People have the right to delete their own posts, when they regret something they said, or the manner they said it in. Deleting other people's is the same thing I am talking about here. It is incredible to me that there are apparently people who still don't believe in freedom of speech, and they don't belong on a discussion forum where the free exchange of ideas and opinions is the point. If you don't want to hear people's opinions, then for god's sakes don't start a discussion!
Christopher A. Moyer said:Mike Hinkle said:Wrong again.
Predictable.
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I remember that discussion. I wondered what happened to it too!
Mike Hinkle said:This was a completely different discussion that Christopher is bringing in to the subject. I did delete my discussions because the girl had asked for info about a Reiki class in LA. Emma gave her what she asked for and Christopher jumped in and started belittling Reiki. That started us in another avenue.
I know Christopher's stance and he is entitled to it, but a new person to the site was not expecting this and she didn't moderate the discussion. It got way off subject and was removed per her, I guess.
We had a discussion going on in one area and he carried it to that one. Before I knew it, we were way way off topic. I thought it was also wrong to subject a new therapist to this upheaval on their site. It probably would have been handled differently on mine.
There is a big and weak spot in massage research.The industry needs to let their feelings be known that more in-depth studies are needed done on energy related work before these scientists do away with modalities, that have comforted so many clients and therapists for centuries! And it should be done by, open minded, researchers that will report their findings without pre-formed ideas or beliefs. I think this should be promoted by all therapists.
Laura Allen said:I do wish when people are telling someone they are wrong, they would tell them the right answer. Inquiring minds want to know. If there is censorship going on anywhere, it is wrong.
People have the right to delete their own posts, when they regret something they said, or the manner they said it in. Deleting other people's is the same thing I am talking about here. It is incredible to me that there are apparently people who still don't believe in freedom of speech, and they don't belong on a discussion forum where the free exchange of ideas and opinions is the point. If you don't want to hear people's opinions, then for god's sakes don't start a discussion!
Christopher A. Moyer said:Mike Hinkle said:Wrong again.
Predictable.
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Hi Lisa,
We could fall in that 10% that isn't moderated. But I think, we are being "loosely moderated" and as long as we don't call each other names or be abusive, they'll probably let us continue. I think ABMP realizes these discussions have been happening behind closed doors for years and if the profession is to grow, they need to be aired.
I commend ABMP for their efforts to allow these discussions. Although, it is hard for me to accept the other side of the argument, I try until we get to exclusion. It is the same problem I have with AMTA. Exclusion is not what I was taught as the massage therapist way. And for sure, it is not my way.
I say bring on the discussions. Don't think about quitting the group, just don't jump in those discussions that you don't want to. We need answers, if we are to grow.
Lisa said:and i've never been one for moderation. but the fact IS that 90% of message boards have some sort of moderation. it's something you just come to accept when sharing your views through such avenues.
Laura Allen said:At least you're free to express your disappointment, and I wouldn't dream of depriving you of that right, Lisa.
Lisa said:it's threads like these that make me very disappointed in this site. just sayin'
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Permalink Reply by Kathy Bradley on
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Rock on Suzanne! I agree with you!
We are fortunate to have a place to express our opinions and learn from one another. Even though I may not always agree with someone, I don't believe that I or anyone should delete their opinions.
Thanks Laura for all you do, I have learned much from your postings! Keep up the great work!
Suzanne H Eller said:Before I became a massage therapist, I was an English and Journalism teacher. I learned a lot about censorship from teaching yearbook and newspaper and working within an organization that can legally censor speech that is considered disruptive of the school day. I fought for the students' rights to express the truth and/or their opinions as opinion. People with power often don't like criticism, but I believe the students have the same rights as other news sources. Soemtimes I won; sometimes I did not.
Comments should be deleted when they are libelous as that entails a legal matter. Ethically, we should keep our comments on-topic and free of personal attack out of courtesy for our collegues and simple good manners. That said, freedom of speech and freedom of opinion are guaranteed. I oppose censorship completely.
If your opinions ruffle my feathers, I am free to respond or click the mouse and leave your site/blog. We say we want to educate our clients, but eduction can only result when all sides of issues are discussed and understood. We don't give ourselves enough credit for being about to separate the chaff from the wheat, and if we don't give ourselves credit, why should our clients believe anything we say? I am open to all opinions. I have a good mind. I can take what I trust and leave the rest.
Keep telling us what you think, Laura. It's one reason I come here.
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Permalink Reply by Bert Davich on
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Laura, I went to the 'censor' site and I wouldn't worry about it. She seems like a nice person that wants to editorialize her perspective to a compliant 'well behaved' audience. There are those who 'reach out' and speak with, and those who 'send out' and speak to.
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Unfortunately, the account provided of the 'reiki debate' or whatever we want to call it is not very accurate. And, more unfortunately, there is no way for you to look it up and make up your own mind about it, because it was deleted.
There is now a new discussion concerned specifically with skepticism and energy work. It is already developing in interesting ways. I won't delete it.
-CM
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