[@Grimhildr]

[quote=@Grimhildr]
<Snipped quote by SleepingSilence>

people are free to act however they want, wherever they want. you can't police people's words and behaviour because it's a little controversial. that's fascism, yo. also, i'd hardly call it harassment. harassment is repeated offenses, and them not stopping even when you've explicitly said the words "please stop" or "i want you to stop". people aren't defending it, they're ignoring it instead of getting into potential shit by getting all wound up at the person. it's not that hard to just not type a response, so it doesn't really require moderation if it's an issue easily ignored by the user.

<Snipped quote by Inkarnate>

this. i have had run ins with wayyyy too many modal letting their emotions lead them, or warning someone over a tiny little thing just because one of their friends got their feelings hurt. most of the time, half of these incidents aren't even that serious. harsh words are often thrown around lightly, and the intent behind them is just as light.
[/quote]

Freedom of speech does not exactly work on the internet. You can be banned, if you do something that pisses mods off. It's not fascism. Not even close. :P No mods don't need to ban after every spat between people, (as like I said people have bad days and can make up.) or ban because they happen to be friends with a mod. (aka how I was banned from a forum. After it essentially being a guy harassing me on and off the site, and my ban was because I told him to please stop. >.>) But like repeated harassment of somebody or multiple people. I'm talking clear harassment...it's usually pretty clear...it's not like someone said a general offensive statement. Or something questionable or subtle in the slightest. It doesn't really matter how little the user feels/cares when they're abusing the rules...they're still doing it...maybe people that throw those harsh words at others need to learn to pick they'll battles or question even for a second if that's how they want to be seen online. Everyone deals with bullshit in real life, others probably more so. :D And yeah, still have never treated someone like shit because I feel like it...<.< People shouldn't have to tell them to "stop", everyone should know how the world works. We all live on earth, least last time I checked.

I don't think what I'm saying is particularly controversial...I also would argue ignoring harassment, is letting it happen, but I'm not exactly saying they should be punished. But I certainly find it a positive human trait, to stand up for people even if total strangers or even people that have mistreated you in the past. 

Just saying ignore people who are purposely abusing rules, because free speech. Doesn't work on a forum and never should be the case and doesn't understand what freedom of speech is meant for, it's not censoring people for giving a different opinion. It's not "emotional" for a mod to react to blatant and repeated rule breaking, it's supposed to be their jobs.

I think it gets to a point where it gets clear, what a particular person is doing. I've seen so many mods (not specific forum mind.) bullshit me on things that the blind could see as an unprovoked personal attack is "just too hard to punish." because people will complain or this and that...But I'd argue, the fact you have people that don't like you, just means you're doing something right. And just saying "live and let live" probably doesn't make people interested in joining that community, even if it's a small percentage of people causing problems.