Soc.Culture.Jewish Newsgroups Frequently Asked Questions and Answers URL: www.scjfaq.org/faq/01-06.html

www.scjfaq.org/faq

Question 1.6:
I notice that some of these newsgroups are moderated. Isn't moderation censorship?

It depends on your definition of censorship. The Merriam-Webster dictionary (at www.m-w.com) defines censorship as follows:

Main Entry: cen·sor·ship
Pronunciation: 'sen(t)-s&r-"ship
Function: noun
Date: circa 1591
1 a : the institution, system, or practice of censoring b : the actions or practices of censors; especially : censorial control exercised repressively
2 : the office, power, or term of a Roman censor
3 : exclusion from consciousness by the psychic censor

"Censor" is defined as:

Main Entry: ²censor
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): cen·sored; cen·sor·ing /'sen(t)-s&-ri[ng], 'sen(t)s-ri[ng]/
Date: 1882
: to examine in order to suppress or delete anything considered objectionable

Hence, under this broad definition, moderation can be viewed as a form of censorship: objectionable material is not permitted in the particular venue. However, there are some arguments against calling moderation censorship:

• Censorship usually implies removable of objectionable material by the government. When done by a private enterprise, such as the editor of a magizine, it is viewed more as editorial control.

• Although the particular moderated group may be "censored", USENET as a whole is not censored, as for each moderated group there is a suitable unmoderated forum to which the material can be posted. These are listed below:

  • mod: soc.culture.jewish.moderated
    unmod: soc.culture.jewish

  • mod: soc.culture.jewish.parenting
    unmod: soc.culture.jewish or misc.kids

  • mod: soc.culture.jewish.holocaust
    unmod: soc.culture.jewish, alt.revisionism, soc.history

  • mod: rec.food.cuisine.jewish
    unmod: other rec.food newsgroups, soc.culture.jewish

  • mod: rec.humor.jewish
    unmod: alt.humor.jewish

  • mod: soc.geneology.jewish
    unmod: soc.roots, soc.culture.jewish

  • mod: alt.religion.judaism.orthodox
    unmod: soc.culture.jewish

Do people prefer a moderated newsgroup? Some do and some don't. It is only recently that moderated spinoffs from soc.culture.jewish have developed. This is due to the increased traffic on Usenet, and the changing nature of the Usenet audience from the early academic focus.

Many on S.C.J feel that part of its appeal and taam (flavor/tang/spice) comes from the freewheeling unmoderated approach which brings together posters from all parts of the spectrum. However, many have tired from the intrusion into the group by others with specific agendas to push that are decidedly non- or anti-Jewish.

The FAQ is a collection of documents that is an attempt to answer questions that are continually asked on the soc.culture.jewish family of newsgroups. It was written by cooperating laypeople from the various Judaic movements. You should not make any assumption as to accuracy and/or authoritativeness of the answers provided herein. In all cases, it is always best to consult a competent authority--your local rabbi is a good place to start.

Hopefully, the FAQ will provide the answer to your questions. If it doesn't, please drop Email to questions@scjfaq.org. The FAQ maintainer will endeavor to direct your query to an appropriate individual that can answer it. If you would like to be part of the group to which the maintainer directs questions, please drop a note to the FAQ maintainer at maintainer@scjfaq.org.

© (c) 1993-2004 Daniel P. Faigin <maintainer@scjfaq.org>