Remember, an intense response from me doesn't necessarily reflect anger.  When I'm angry, I usually cuss. 

I guess, I'm calling for balance on this subject.  The balance between the desire to learn about new things and new ideas and the need to keep oneself comfortable by protecting oneself from "dangerous" thoughts.

I like filters not to get rid of ideas..but just to block posts from the folks who want to come on the board to flame, insult and otherwise be a menace.  There is a difference between that and someone who's ideas are different than mine.  The doofus who comes on and insults DB or us for having political discussions for instance would get the axe from me.  But if someone thinks I'm an idiot for something I said, that's cool. Most of the cool stuff I've learned has come from someone saying, "Hey Paul, quit bein' an idiot and look at it this way." 

The risk I take by filtering comes from me axing the idiot and him eventually coming up with something worthwhile to say and me missing out. But in the long run, that's the risk of self censorship.  No one should ever be allowed to take away our God given right to be stupid.  That's one of the basics.  If I choose to watch nuthin' but 700 club, and Barney Miller re-runs on TV...that's my loss.  I should not be FORCED to receive input. 

(Just so you know, I choose not to watch much TV because I only have one TV and it's in a common room and there's so much on TV I don't want my little kids seeing...it's just crazy.  So, I limit myself to The Simpsons, Everybody Loves Raymond, wildlife programming and CBS Morning News. The rest is Godzilla films, stuff we rent and whatever films we own.)

I do discuss unfiltered willingly because for the most part, the input here is thought provoking, interesting and if nothing else, opens the world up to me a bit.

So...Kevin...I respect your views.  You're certainly not on MY filter list.

PRH