I keep getting reports about this thread.
So I've been thinking about my approach to it. I agree with Omega Dragon above wherein just by deleting content doesn't make the sentiment disappear. I have deleted content before because of reports and I will continue to do so. Recently, I deleted someone's sig image that portrayed a line of "mugshots" of battered women.
I am also a very strong proponent of freedom of speech. In my own home, no topic is taboo. No language is forbidden. Yes, even for my 11 year old child. However, if I am writing a paper for school, I take the audience and school's criteria into consideration when I write. I do not consider this an affront to my rights of free speech. I consider it an exercise in following directions.
Here on the forums, I try to foster as much free speech as I can within the parameters of our terms of use. I do consider it my job to make sue no one feels like they are being stalked or harassed. I take it very seriously when I receive reports where the reporter feels threatened in some way.
I also take it very seriously when content crosses a line that could cause potential legal issues for the site. Engaging in outright hate speech is one of those fine lines where different jurisdictions are handling such content in different ways. I am a strong proponent of free speech, but I am an equally strong proponent of taking responsibility for your words and actions. There are consequences on this forum for engaging in certain types of speech. People can say what they want in the end, but they must be prepared to accept the consequences offered by the terms which includes deletion of material considered wantonly offensive, warning points and banning.
This thread has gotten well away from the original topic, and that is the justification for one of the reports at the moment. So while we're all here receiving alerts, I would like to solicit your opinions on handling threads like this in the future.