The Falcons say they don’t practice censorship – really!
I’ve gotten several complaints from readers who claimed their critical posts were deleted from the message boards at AtlantaFalcons.com and they were then blocked from reading the boards. Here, from an AJC.com poster who goes by the screen name of Falcons Censor Critics/Crybabies!, is this:
“You know, Mark and Atlanta, I criticized Coach [Mike] Smith and the coaching staff as well as the entire team for the abysmal performance against the Patriots on their message board. It seems the FALCONS BRASS and ARTHUR BLANK don’t like criticism. I was banned from their site and not even allowed to read their message board as a result….NO CURSING just telling the brutal truth. If you are not a cheerleader , even in a terrible loss, they whine about the criticism.
“HEY, COACH SMITH AND ARTHUR BLANK, GROW UP!! If you can’t take criticism you’re in the wrong business. Watch out, Mark Bradley, King Arthur can’t stand criticism.”
In the interest of clarification, I called Reggie Roberts, the Falcons’ vice president of communications, and asked if the Falcons had gotten heavy-handed in the wake of their loss to New England. He checked and called back a half-hour later, saying this:
“We monitor and moderate our boards for language and content, and people have to accept certain conditions before they can post on our boards saying they won’t indulge in profanity or name-calling or baiting. We’re not in the business of banning criticism unless someone runs afoul of the rules to which he has already agreed.
“We had some instances this week of people impersonating other people and making personal attacks on other posters. But if someone wants to say [offensive coordinator] Mike Mularkey isn’t very good or to criticize [running back] Michael Turner, we won’t have a problem with that.”
I know Reggie’s words won’t satisfy some among you, but I should also say that we at AJC.com monitor and moderate our boards for language and content, and we do ban repeat offenders. I should also note that our policy for what’s acceptable might be considered more liberal than other message boards’.
But I should also note a rather basic human trait: Nobody likes to be criticized. Especially after a loss in the rain.
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279 comments Add your comment
Richard Dawson
September 30th, 2009
4:38 pm
“i know for a fact that georgiadawg, i think thats the one, will ban you under half a second for critizing the bulldogs.” I think that’s the site I got banned from after my first post, and it was a very innocent post, but I certainly do criticize the dawgs when warranted. If you want to censor posts so the forum is to your liking, goodbye and good riddance. I’m not interested in reading one-sided, censored conversation anywhere and don’t understand who would be interested in that.
311
September 30th, 2009
4:40 pm
Why does everyone crap their pants if they’re first on a message board?!! Who cares?
311
September 30th, 2009
4:41 pm
Oh yeah! 51st!!!
DON'TKISS THE RINGS
September 30th, 2009
4:42 pm
Hey Falcons… STOP KISSING THE RINGS !!!
Joe Schmoe
September 30th, 2009
4:43 pm
I would like to see a registration process to event comment on the blogs, with a verified email address. The falcons with the the vick supporters, the Tech blogs with rouge UGA fans spewing, and the UGA blogs with rouge Tech fans spewing. It is getting a little old. What do you think Mark? Could you put in a good word?
AlternateReality
September 30th, 2009
4:48 pm
Regarding registration you don’t need to give away the poster’s email address. I could see that leading to problems. But, some sort of AJC ID that shows everyone that the same person (FLACCO, Vick Supporter, etc) just posted 10 times under different names would be nice.
BirdieFalcon
September 30th, 2009
4:51 pm
The UGA and the Falcons site are very similar when it comes to censorship, negative posts are acceptable but profanity, offensive statements towards other posters, and threats are usually followed by being blacklisted from the site and 90 percent of the people like that on those two particular sites deserve to be kicked out. This is a non issue the Falcons are trying to get prepared to play the 49ers in 2 weeks, that’s the real issue here.
Jo JO Yo
September 30th, 2009
4:51 pm
Matty Ice and Company are not that effective against a top NFL team are they? Stay up in the owners box Blank.
falconidae
September 30th, 2009
4:53 pm
So, (R) = sore loser , is that your name on the AF board? IS this you?:
“I signed up and was quickly same day banned for making a post Roddy White was traded…i didnt know it was a violation.”
As I said, no one is banned w/o breaking the rules.
Tandy
September 30th, 2009
4:57 pm
This is ridiculous. They do not ban people for criticizing the team. If they did – half the people on the board would be banned. I’m on that board every single day. Why don’t you people go over there and read about 3 or 4 pages in the Talk About The Falcons section then shut up – you don’t know what you are talking about. Criticism happens every day – all day long over there. From Roddy can’t catch to Turner is tippy toes to the coaching staff stinks. The only time people get banned is when they cross the line into vulgarity or personally attack or stalk another poster. Period. Go to the board – then shut up!
Tandy
September 30th, 2009
5:03 pm
I like guys!
Reality
September 30th, 2009
5:04 pm
My name is “Critics not allowed” and I like to go on the Falcon message boards and curse and stir the pot. I like to pretend I am a fan of Mike Vick and then start a racial discussion.
But the reality of the situation is that my mom makes me turn off my computer at midnight and go to bed. Sometimes I sneak back down in my Mom’s basement and post more curse words and Vick posts like a rebel.
I can’t believe that actually banned me from doing that even though they make the rules and I should abide by them. I will email Mark Bradley and 680 The Fan and tell them that the Falcons won’t allow critics.
Sorry Mom, I am turning off my computer and coming up for dinner now!
bobbybutler did it
September 30th, 2009
5:04 pm
The Falcons deleted my post. waaaaaay! Shut up and get a real life. It amazes me every time I get on one of these blogs about how little of a brain some people have.
falcon
September 30th, 2009
5:05 pm
Michael Turner does not appear to be hitting the hole nearly as quickly as last year. Is he carrying more weight around this year? I would like to see Snelling get more reps at RB. The play calling was very suspect. No screens to the RB’s and no attempts to Gonzalez in the 1st half.
Anyone else notice, every time they showed a replay of John Abraham trying to rush Brady, Matt Light had a handful of jersey? But not a single holding penalty against the beloved Patriots.
Worst officiating crew in the NFL. Calling a fumble and recovery by NE on the pass that Ryan had clearly thrown and Coach Smith sucessfully challenged? Pathetic!
The interference call on Jenkins was also BS. How many times have we seen Randy Moss used the same tactic that 81 was flagged for? The League office is happy IMO. They didn’t want to see the Pats drop 2 in a row.
Sid
September 30th, 2009
5:06 pm
Bill King’s blog sends me an e-mail which,I suppose,verifies my e-mail. I’m not an internet expert so I don’t know for sure.
King Arthur had better be careful or he will lose some of his fan base. By the way, who is he pushing in the wheelchair these days?
I’m rooting for the Falcons and that’s the _ _ _ m truth. Oops! I’ll see if that gets banned.
Falcons Ace
September 30th, 2009
5:08 pm
Critics of the Falcons are not banned from the forums, no matter how rididculous, inane, and over the top some of their posts are. The only critics that ever got banned were any of them that decided they needed to spam the board with 10-15 threads a day with their same garbage.
In fact, if anything, they need to moderate that site more. You’d think after the Patriots game that we were winless, the worst team in the NFL in every facet of the game, we’d been blown out 70-0, and that the sky was falling. Try reading that board right after a loss without every shred of common sense and rational thought in your body not wanting to revolt. Painful.
Of course, you put down the trolls for who they are, and you get banned or a suspension. Some really moronic Saints fan(Michael Turnover is his current name) made the mistake of registering with his full name. He didn’t like the fact I found his public Myspace profile and was making a fool out of him and –>I<– was banned for it. Such a shame.
Tandy
September 30th, 2009
5:13 pm
Whoever thought they were funny with the I like guys – you are right. I’m a woman and I’ve been married over 30 years – thank goodness I like guys – because he is one.
Pete
September 30th, 2009
5:16 pm
Enter your comments here
Man, I post all kind of critisism and NEVER get tossed.
Watch your language posters !!!
Stay clean………..no profanity.
ATLJBO
September 30th, 2009
5:19 pm
Whats up Mark
But yea…Yall are tripping ..lol
psack
September 30th, 2009
5:19 pm
What else is new??? The Georgia Bulldog moderator banned me for making critical remarks about Willie Martinez……some folks are sensitive we don’t have REAL MEN moderators we now have WOMEN moderators that seems to be really “sensitive”
anyway I don’t condone personal attacks against non-football players and coaches–but the rules have to apply EQUALLY to all not just the folks you don’t like
FALCONS SORRY
September 30th, 2009
5:23 pm
SORRY CRY BABY FALCONS! YOU ARE A BUNCH OF IGNORANT HATERS WHO CAN NOT STAND TO HEAR THE TROOF! YOU JUST WANT TO TRY TO SHUT UP ANY BODY WHO SAY WHAT THE WHOLE REST OF THE WORLD CAN ALREADY SEE ABOUT WHAT A SORRY JOB YOU ALL ARE DOING IN THE POST VICK YEARS! YOUR WHOLE WEB SITE NEED TOC CRASH AND BURN JUST LIKE THE DEVIL THAT OWN IT! AUTHUR BLANK! YOU ARE THE DEVIL IN A CHEAP SUIT THAT THINK HE KNOW EVER LITTLE THING AND YOU RUN THE WHOLE WORLD AND NO BODY CAN DISAGREE WITH! EVER BODY SAW WAHT A SNAKE YOU ARE BLANK BY HOW YOU TREAT THE MAN WHO MADE THE WHOLE SORRY FALCONS FRANCHISE AND PUT ATL ON THE PRO FOOTBALL MAP FOR GOOD! WHEN MV7 COME BACK TO THE ATL ON PEARL HARBOR DAY IN DECEMBER HE IS GOING TO GIVE YOU THE RUDEST WAKE UP CALL YOU EVER HAD IN YOUR LIFE BLANK! YOU WONT BE ABLE TO HIDE THE LESSON THAT IS GOING TO BE LAID DOWN WHEN YOUR FORMER FRANCHISE PLAYER COME TO CLASS TO AND THIS WHOLE TOWN TO SCHOOL! VENGENCE WILL BE SERVE THAT DAY AND IT WILL AN ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET! BLANK YOU AND THE BODY GUARD CROOKS SECRET POLICE YOU GOT WORKING FOR YOU WONT COME UP TO ME OR ANY OTHER SMART FOOTBALL FAN THAT KNOW WHAT UP AND REAL SUPPORTER OF #7 THE MAN ON THE STREET BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU WILL GET THE TASTE SLAPPED OUT OF YOUR MOUF!
Tom
September 30th, 2009
5:24 pm
spam queue?
Is that a poor man’s barbe queue?
Jerry
September 30th, 2009
5:25 pm
DOB lets everthing go and says nothing, personally I wish there was no such thing as freedom of speech. Some have abused the privilage
Tom
September 30th, 2009
5:30 pm
Jerry, there is no “freedom of speech” issue on these or any other privately-owned and -operated blogs and message boards. They all have terms of service and anyone/everyone posts on them at the sole pleasure and discretion of those who have their finger on the button.
Okefenokee Dawg
September 30th, 2009
5:31 pm
Gee Mark, I didn’t know we could call you an idiot and not get banned. I’ve never called you an idiot on the blog even though I thought it many, many times. How many times can we call you an idiot before we will be banned? Heck, I’ll never call you an idiot even though you are many, many times. That would be impolite.
Mark's wrong!...well...
September 30th, 2009
5:40 pm
Mark, you’re an idiot. You also love to stir the soup. And you’re unfireable. You made it.
Darrin "The Vent King"
September 30th, 2009
5:52 pm
I agree with Tandy 100%- this is total b.s. twist of the facts saying those that are being banned are being banned because they are just criticizing as I am there on that board everyday too. THAT IS SO WRONG! Those posters that were banned or deleted were “trolling”, i.e. making spiteful overly negative criticisms over and over in a very childish manner baiting other posters. I’m on that board everyday and most of those that were banned were insulting other posters AFTER rebuttals to those so-called criticisms in a REAL immature way and they know it. The same thing that goes on here in this blog. They claim they have the right to criticize, yet when someone criticizes there claims due to disagreeing with them they go all 3rd grade on other posters in that forum and its not only stupid, but extremely childish. They deserved to be banned. They were banned and/or deleted for the same reasons you all do the same here. Making the same threads over and over baiting other posters. Go over there and read them, its beyond childish and I for one hope they continue to be banned. That message board has rules and when those posters sign up, they know what they are and they break em anyway, that’s why they got kicked to the curb. Atlantafalcons.com’s message board is no different than ANY other. SO PLEASE stop trying to make a story out of nothing. They have been doing that forever and every other football team’s board does the same thing. As a matter of fact, the ajc does the same thing and in most cases it is very warranted. You have some real small minded “e-thugs” over there hiding behind anonymity acting like real morons and I’m not going to name names, but I see one of them has responded to this blog already and he is one of the main ones. The only time they post is to get on there and rip the team even in victory so don’t blame it on the loss. They are there whether we win or lose doing the same thing over and over. KEEP BANNING THOSE LOSERS!!!
Darrin "The Vent King"
September 30th, 2009
6:04 pm
I GUARANTEE those losers calling in to the ajc claiming they were banned for “criticizing” are the same ones trolling- don’t believe the hype MB. I also bet they are some of the same ones here on this ajc doing the exact same thing…
Shadyman
September 30th, 2009
6:06 pm
RIDICULOUS!
Mark, yeah..I’m going to need you to go ahead and try harder for a topic next time.
I did check into the boards today after I heard about this on 680.
Mike Vick Curse
September 30th, 2009
6:10 pm
MARK
The Falcons don’t practice sensorship?
I know that is a lie because (D3) right here on this website sensors anyone who doesn’t support Matt Ryan and if you criticize him, he bans you.
He has his/her “click” of bloggers who socialize during and after games, I know that is true because D3 stated on his blog requesting that Sarah B (1-member of his posse) that he will get her phone number so the rest of the posse can hang out.
Therefore I know there is sensorship. I really don’t go on that blog anymore. Although you and I disagree on many topics, I have to give it to you, you don’t play favorites.
Glitchy
September 30th, 2009
6:12 pm
Bradley, you are the most asinine, ingnorant, bulldog-loving, moron……..hey wait, what happened? I’ve been abducteed by aliens…….. DAMN.
Ryan
September 30th, 2009
6:13 pm
OGBarbershop.com has no moderation and is an offshoot Falcons board, but we allow everybody to register and allow you to talk about anything. No moderation, any topics go, just for all you ‘freedom of speech’ marks.
dawes
September 30th, 2009
6:15 pm
all yoyr people you can.t say any good about the falcon then don.t say nothing your heard the old saying if you won.t someome to say something good about you then say something good about them
DeeCee
September 30th, 2009
6:22 pm
Well, Mark – you clearly got pwned by someone banned from the Falcons boards with an axe to grind. I post daily at the AF message boards, and I frequently criticize the team. Mark, did you get all the facts before posting a huge picture of Arthur Blank and putting a salacious headline above it? Did you think maybe the Falcons can provide you this guy’s username history at the AF boards to show you WHY he was banned? Or maybe you could simply point and click your way over to the Falcons message board and see that over half of the topics there are critical of the team. Instead, you got totally played by some childish loser with a clear victim mentality. Congrats.
SENSOR MATT RYAN FROM THE FIELD....BECAUSE
September 30th, 2009
6:22 pm
He sucks
SENSOR MATT RYAN FROM THE FIELD....BECAUSE
September 30th, 2009
6:23 pm
dawes
If that was the case, the blogs would be empty
AFMB Member
September 30th, 2009
6:29 pm
I’m a regular on those boards and this is not true about any so-called censorship. Those people who are whining to the AJC (to persons like you, Bradley) mostly likely got banned for loading up the boards multiple, repetitive postings, attacks on other posters by fake “fans” who pretend to be Falcons fans and generally being board nuisances. You can criticize the Falcons all you like, but if you break the Code of Conduct, then be prepared to deal with the consequences. Do your research before you take the word of a buncha whiney nancy-boys.
Dave
September 30th, 2009
6:33 pm
Sensor? You are just stupid.
William
September 30th, 2009
6:38 pm
I think it is stupid to ban anyone from blogging if they are not using racist.I do come on the falcons blog from time to time and give my opinion if I think something wasn’t right or wrong.This is really silly to ban anyone from making negative comments if it not to over the top bad or hateful.I also think some of the writers should be ban with some of the topic they write for us to blog and everyone know what players they use to get everyone to say anything.I knew this would come soon but why now.I have read some post that you couldn’t believe anyone would write about this particular person and everyone know who I am talking about.I hope you writer do the right thing and us falcons fans or falcons haters will as well.
kevykev21
September 30th, 2009
6:46 pm
The comment below was posted here by DeeCee, and needs to be posted again….therefore I bump it:
Well, Mark – you clearly got pwned by someone banned from the Falcons boards with an axe to grind. I post daily at the AF message boards, and I frequently criticize the team. Mark, did you get all the facts before posting a huge picture of Arthur Blank and putting a salacious headline above it? Did you think maybe the Falcons can provide you this guy’s username history at the AF boards to show you WHY he was banned? Or maybe you could simply point and click your way over to the Falcons message board and see that over half of the topics there are critical of the team. Instead, you got totally played by some childish loser with a clear victim mentality. Congrats.
Ted Striker
September 30th, 2009
6:52 pm
I was once banned from Wal-Mart.
karaka
September 30th, 2009
6:59 pm
Isn’t part of a journalists job to do some homework? Why don’t you visit the boards yourself and see how much negative crap is on it. The people who get/got banned probably spammed the boards with a bunch of attention-seeking threads with no real intent other than to get a rise out of people. They are losers. If you wrote the above article, Mark, you must really believe it…..maybe it was YOU posting on there and you got banned???
SC
September 30th, 2009
7:00 pm
Right on to David and AFMB Member. AJC blog responses are heavily polluted with trolls. And the trolls get to use a different name with every post.
So Mark, is *graffiti* the same as free speech?
WARBUCKS
September 30th, 2009
7:13 pm
THE FALCONS WILL HAVE A 6-10 RECORD… YOU MARK MY WORDS… REV. HAL LIVES!
Zach
September 30th, 2009
7:15 pm
I am really surprised how much people struggle with grammar. Its pretty embarrassing. People cannot even spell the word censor when it’s in the title of the article. Same with “FALCONS SORRY” wow. I wont comment there because I might get “sensored”.
Mark quick question,
What is your impression of the officiating crew on Sunday? Their calls did not completely change the game, but they did change the momentum quite considerably. I know that Coach Smith laughed at the fact that he had to throw the challenge flag in the first half on the Ryan pass, but that was the worst call I’ve ever seen.
nativefalcon
September 30th, 2009
7:26 pm
Mark:
Try coming to the message boards during a game and during the week, instead of listening to some people that were whining crybabies because they got banned. They obviously didn’t read the code of conduct, the Mods are very even handed. I’ve seen them ban racists, people trying to post really disgusting crap. Anf people there that are just there to TROLL.I wish you had come there during the Vick Dog fighting days. You would actually feel sorry for us. And there’s lots of criticism on the board. Just depends if were winning or losing. I would try looking at it for bit before writing a article just from some crybabies. Another word for crybaby is TROLL, do we have the right to have to listen to people bad mouth our team? I don’t want to hear it personally. And I’ve thought the Mods have done a great job compared to the ones at the AJC.
WARBUCKS
September 30th, 2009
7:28 pm
MIKE VICK WILL BE VICKTORIOUS AGAINST THE FALCONS!
Darrin "The Vent King"
September 30th, 2009
7:32 pm
As a matter of fact Bradley, if you would have done some better research (and you’re one of the few journalists I don’t have a problem with at the ajc) you would know that a new feature at the Falcon’s message boards is now allowing other members to vote overly negative spiteful comments down and when it reaches a certain plateau those posters are dealt with. So in essence, its the other posters in the forum who are the ones getting those idiots booted out of there and not the Falcons. What you are saying then is borderline slander and I can not believe you printed this story this way. I, for one, think you all at the ajc should follow suit. It was shameful how long it took you all here at the ajc to start monitoring your own blogs back when the Vick “dog-gate” thing went down. Think back to those days and you’ll have an example of the type posters that are getting sent away and I for one am glad they are doing that. Some of those types are STILL here- just take a look at your own blog.
Grammar Check
September 30th, 2009
7:35 pm
Zach
I wont comment there because I might get “sensored”.
“I’m not a grammar major like you, but I believe you meant to spell won’t instead of wont”.
Now go see the principal
Brian F.
September 30th, 2009
7:36 pm
Enter your comments here WHO CARES !!!