Yes undeniably Ynet has every right to censor and stop talkbacks... Just like any private venue can ban loitering and such... But our issue is when it leaves Ynet's hands and is up for banning and arresting of talk backers by agitated politicians. That is where the democracy card comes into play. Effectively what the politicians are saying is "we want to outlaw any opinions we do not agree with" the message they are sending out, is one of totalitarianism... For a democracy to prosper and grow strong, a healthy dose of criticism and disagreement is needed... banning them merely wipes the problems under the carpet. The problem with our electorate system is, that they have no one to accountable for, those that elected them agree with whatever views they may hold. Silencing the people and removing objective criticism... at any end! Gives politicians a free reign and discards the will of the people.

is a good talkback to the talkbackers hahaha

The more they try to restrict, the more they push people towards extreme reactions. Let people's voices be heard, and they'll be satisfied. mpaths.com

In other words the fascist secular leftists can poison the public with their demonic political new age garbage, but can't stand that there are a majority out here that haven't swallowed the poison. Further proof that it is the left that are the great violators of human rights, freedom of expression, and morality.

- for the most part - much better than people express themselves in some forums! And Tommy Lapid! I'm no teenager!! LOL

speaking on behalf of all religous maniacs i could not have expressed it better myself

The fact that the goverment wants to control it is no suprise. It is parellel to burning books. Of course burning books hasn't been necessary because the goverment licenses publishers for quite some time now. The whole freedom of speech and power to the people under the guise of Democracy has always been smoke in mirrrors. We have no power and when we get a little they freak out and take it away. Sort of like the US war on terror taking over the internet. Anyone knows the internet cannot be used for a terrorist attack its all about control and money (taxes). Create a problem and offer a solution, but take something in the process. How can they lead the sheep if they are thinking for themselves. How can they effect apathy on the intelligent people if the intelligent people start seeing that, no they are not alone in their view point. Heaven forbid we actually had a goverment that did something intelligent people could agree with so that the talkbacks were kinder. Look at the Rabim propaganda and how it was resoponded too by the people. Was this because talkbacks allowed people to unite against repeated articles that sought to maipulate and silence them. Doubt it. Ruling is not the same when you dont control the media. Recomend everyone see the movie "Face in the crowd" It illustrates the power of media.

Read today's Haaretz report on the stabbing of a Jew by an Arab. Haaretz uses the word "nationalistic motive", referring to the attack and carefully avoiding the word "terrorist" on the the report. " Israeli stabbed in Sharon; police suspect nationalistic motive" http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/924525.html They stopped posting critical talkbacks for quite a while, so the reaction must have been ballistic. Arutz Sheva reported the police suspected a man who had been working for the victim.

Many of the habitue talbalkers in YNET often comment about their kids and grandchildren. Tommy seems to have trouble believing that Am Israel is mostly rightwing and doesn't hate religion that much

Nowadays, the press is insidiously used more to form the public opinion, than to inform it. Hence the necessity of talkback, to counterbalance this vicious effect and avoid this kind of "mind-formatting", mainly by leftist implicit side-effect. A healthy sign anyway : Talkbacks as a whole always reflect a very consistent, coherent, and strong resistance to biased articles. Real democracy should stand contradiction, debate, and free speech. For instance, go figure why there is no talkback in Iran ? Talkback curbing attempts must be interpreted as obvious signs of political weakness.

Their comrade Stalin told them to shut everyone up. They listen. Until bolsheviks are hit on the heads with lead pipes that the way their dictatorship will operate. Freedom now!

This would be because those of us who stem from the USA have a clear idea of what true democracy is... And we use it! We believe in freedom of expression... Israeli's believe in freedom of expression too... but they mindframe consists of freedom to honk and blast music! How utterly pathetic is that?!?! Its sad how freedom of expression to the leftist Israeli consists of allowing a bunch of loud and obscene gays to march despite the demand of most of Jerusalem to stop it... Yet for some "crazy north American settler" to voice his dissent... G-d forbids!! "What right does he have to open his mouth?" I have lived here for 5 years; I have every right to open my mouth... In fact this country was founded by a bunch of loud mouth Europeans settlers...

No one delights in the 'Big Brother' syndrome like the Left. I too have been vastly amused & apalled at the enraged grunting and gibbering that flows out of the Left these days when presented with contrary opinions or an opposing stance. If not percieved as being 'thoughtful' or 'compassionate' in sufficient degree, you are informed that you are the worst kind of cruel, oppressive, fascist beast roaming the street. There's no shortage of self-righteous certitude among the Left. The computer been a truly insightful tool for taking a real look behind the Liberal smile.

The majority of "articles" on ynet seem to be biased and it pleases me greatly to see that the other talkbacks tend to see it as well. The bottom line is that most of the time the TBs make a better read then the article I still read the article first but some TBs are priceless....putting forth thoughts that I never would have considered if it wasnt for the TBs. I even read attilas posts...lmao If someone rants, states erroneous "facts", acts racist, or incites, the TBs usually tear them apart..... If someone says something dumb....so what? They simply show that they are dumb to the world.... censoring is for the lily livered thought police......not for any true democrat

Talk Backs are the only part of democracy and freedom of speech left in the press. If did not have a right to talkback none us us would read the left wing press and most likely these newsites would go broke. Quite frankly would ynet be responsible for any harm to us talkbackers if we were forced to give our name in this crazy world. Or would MK Hassoon be responsible. In any event most of us would get around the problem anyway. http://ralphsrant1.blogspot.com/

You say :".. (some) write dumb responses ". And some like Terry from Eilat, Mrs Hartman from Atlanta, Rivkah, Linda Rivera, DR from Florida, and quite a few more write interesting, thought-out, SHARPLY intelligent, thought-provoking talkbacks -- sometimes DECORATED with a joke or loving words. NOT all citizens of a state are equally intelligent -- so please ignore the "dumb" talkbacks, and enjoy the rest. BTW you can't have a perfect world on planet Earth -- there will always be DISTURBING elements.

it just goes to show that the thought police are already active in trying to control the talkbacks I try to not slander, or denigrate other people. And most of the time I state facts based on personal experience....that doesnt seem to matter to the politically correct thought police though..... I dont encourage murder, I dont incite to violence, I just state the obvious And I vehemently support Israel, and the jews right to continue surviving but maybe thats the bit that they are scared of?

I love the talkbacks. They are like an instant letter to the editor. Sure, there are some loony people posting incoherent talkbacks, and some talkbacks are hateful and hurtful; but there are also plenty of very good talkbacks representing widely divergent viewpoints. What could be more democratic than the talkbacks? And sometimes the talkbacks are better than the article. I also love some of the very clever nom de plumes. I think my favorite is "Sheikh yur Butay" Makes me laugh every time I see it.

I live in Los Angeles. Give me your phone numbers and I promise I will call you and tell you where to find me.

Biggest problem with talkback is that there is to much truth being publicised for all to read and the lefties cant get behind your screen to brainwash you. Though they did manage to brainwash many Israelis for many decades. But the truth is coming out and they dont like it. And yes some censors on Ynet cant take some truths either. With the rise of internet more people are aware of the facts and can no longer be so easily fooled as they were a decade plus ago.

Aside from thumping your chest and making you feel better, what do you think your talkbacks accomplish? Nothing. Nobody cares. You're not representative of anything... And your opinions stated here have zero impact. Is it fun? Yeah, it is... But stop taking yourselves so seriously... Nobody else does :-) By the way, for those who can read hebrew, go look at the talkbacks on the Hebrew sites. Totally different tone...

So, just what world do these politicians live in anyway. Lapid thinks all talkbackers are teenagers? For his information I am 65 going on 66.

To#52 Jack, Could you not get Chloe to bypass their mainframe and have it re-inserted at the hemispheric level? You may have to cut off the Censors fingers in that special room at CTU. The clock IS TICKING Dammit!!!!

TB FROM LITTLE MISS MUFFETT? Her tbs sound like she hates tb'rs; but then, she is one, so she shouldn't appear to hate herself.

Take a look at Haaretz Talkback. Over a period of time, the talkbackers begin to describe themselves. MOST appear to be middle age and higher and professional. The critics of talkbackers are afraid of them.