A note to our members

[jasondbaker]

Dear members, over the past year a small group of local individuals have been airing out their legal disputes in our forum.  In some cases these individuals have registered multiple accounts in violation of our terms of service.  We apologize for their behavior.  They are not representative of the hundreds of local divers across Minnesota. Minnesota divers are decent, honest, good natured, and hard working people. The purpose of mnscuba is to promote education, communication, and cooperation within our regional dive community.  We are more committed to this purpose than ever before.

We have taken steps to remove members who have violated our terms of service.  Some of these former members wrap themselves in the Constitution and feel that they are the protectors of our First Amendment rights.  We strongly share their respect for the First Amendment.  Yet even Free Speech has its limits.  I cannot shout "fire" in a movie theater without committing a crime.  I cannot speak a false claim that knowingly harms the reputation of another person.  I cannot stand in a dive shop and shout profanities at customers without risking my removal from the property. In the same way a person cannot come into our home and disrupt the conversations of our friends.  When you do that you violate our free speech and we exercise our constitutional rights by giving you the boot.

Thank you for making mnscuba a great place! Happy Holidays!