Babble Busted - By One Of It's Own Moderators

Babble is a Canadian message board that make the following claim:

From the registration screen:
rabble.ca is a public, progressive news and information source. As part of rabble, this message board (babble) was created to ensure that readers/participants could explore any issues of interest and concern. While all points of view are welcome here, repeated attempts to provoke conflict, bait or taunt will not be tolerated. Offenders generally receive warnings before being suspended. Continued abuse could result in eventual or immediate suspension of posting privileges. Posters using multiple identities can be banned outright. Continued participation on these boards is at the sole discretion of the moderator(s) and staff of this site.

And from the rabble.ca(babble's parent) page:

But it's our readers who make rabble thrive. Just check out our vibrant discussion forum — babble — to see what we mean. babble is an interactive space where rabble-rousers mix, mingle and mix it up, whether it's to comment on an article, post your own version of events, to follow breaking news or join in rule-breaking discussion.

Based on those descriptions, one could assume that anyone could participate in the discussion. Based on their use of the word "public" within the registration page, one could assume that it's either publicly funded or that any member of the public may participate. Provided that they don't break the rules. Oh wait... It's supposed to be "rule-breaking discussion" as outlined on the rabble page..

Damnit!

Now I'm all confused. Is it supposed to be rule-breaking or not?

Anyway, this post isn't about the rules. It's about that "All points of view are welcome here" bullshit that they're slinging. At this point I'd like to quote Babble's main moderator Michelle as she said:

This is an unapologetically left-wing discussion forum and the moderators are also left-wing. And we participate here, and put forth strong opinions when we feel like it. Do you go to right-wing discussion forums and tell the moderators of them that they shouldn't be allowed to post strong political opinions or participate in debate? Try it sometime and see what happens. I'm betting you'll be told to get stuffed.

emphasis in all quotes above is my own.

There you have it folks. All pretense is gone. The next time the CBC or CTV quote babble as being a great mainstream forum you'll know better.

Someone really has to look into that whole "public" thing as well. It'd be a bitch if the conservative government found out they were funding that garbage and suddenly cut the funding...

ps: We've got screen caps, google cache and source code just in case they decide to change things around a little.

h/t: AGWN