Yes, I will “knock it off”, if I want to avoid you doing something, that in my estimation, would be rash.
Yes, I do realize that my opinion most likely means little to nothing to you as you make decisions concerning keeping peace as you see it on this board.
Did you really take notice of what was being communicated in the interplay of communications you are shutting down, or did you simply perceive disharmony, and then act to prevent it?
A growing trend now days is for those in power positions, no matter how minuscule, to be evermore proactive in order to attempt to head off discord. Both those on the left and those on the right are moving in this direction. People are being openly accused of thought crime for their points of view, as such thoughts are perceived to be precursors to discord. An untoward word or phrase, an inappropriate expression at the wrong time, and the heavy hand of authority comes down to head off what is perceived to be growing disharmony.
This type of exercise of power teaches, and ensures a low level of moral development in the subject population. It prevents them from developing the skills necessary to self-regulate in the absence of the power figure. It only teaches them to obey, under threat of force. Great stuff for authoritarian, totalitarian systems of governance.
Now, I feel sure that you think I am taking this way too far, and you should dismiss everything I say as some sort of raving, but realize this; everything starts as something small, then eventually grows into something big. How we deport ourselves on this little forum adds to the totality of what will be accepted as the social structure of America.
I find it ironic that people who regulate conservative forums ofttimes act as horrific authoritarians, little dictators of their tiny kingdoms, saying it is absolutely necessary in the interests of keeping order, all the while extolling the virtues of freedom, self-determination, and the moral superiority of the American form of governance. They never see the hypocrisy of their actions, and will ban anyone who dares to point it out.
I think this, in my opinion, this sort of misuse of the exercise of power, is the result of lack of time, skill and often just laziness, it being much quicker and easier to simply smack down dissent, unapproved behavior, or thought, than to communicate to reach understanding and accord.