The spin about the Internet is that it is the most democratic form of communication. You can say whatever moves you on any and every subject and presto it’s there for the world to read. Like it or not.

In this brave new world, legend has it, there are no censors.

Lovely concept. Total myth.

One of our client’s businesses is focused almost exclusively on the Internet. The company creates intellectual property, which is targeted at a specific community, and uses all manner of PR to drive traffic to its site and its offerings. When people see what they like, they buy on line. Direct, precise, and straightforward.

One of the ways the firm gets its message out is by writing a blog on web sites frequented by its core demographics. The sites agree to carry the CEO’s blog and in the process of informing and entertaining his audience, he builds his universe of prospective customers.

He is an outspoken and provocative guy, and that’s what the market wants and expects of his blog.

And then this theory turns to reality and a reader who disagrees with one or all of the blogs makes a holy stink and threatens to bring the wrath of hell down on the website that hosts it and the democracy of the Internet turns into a dictatorship. Fearing all manner of retribution (none of which is valid), the host site asks the blogger to censure his work or his blog will be dropped.

What to do? As PR professionals, cave in to the threat to keep the placement or insist that your client’s voice be an honest one or none at all?

I am facing a similar issue. With my new book about God and business coming out in January, most business and religious sites are embracing it and asking for stories on it, review copies and the like. But a few are concerned that it will upset some of their readers who have hardened opinions and refuse to allow new thinking into their worlds. They have decided to assume the role of censures even before any of their community has a chance to read what I have to say and voice an opinion of their own.

As PR professionals, you know where your clients’ messages are likely to resonate and where they will initiate a healthy and passionate debate. Most of the universities Ann Coulter speaks at detest her message but love the debate she generates. Fox News has no love for Hillary Clinton but would love to bag her for The Factor. It’s all part of the free for all that is the signature of an open and democratic society.

A wonderful free-for-all I am part of and embrace. A free-for-all I thought, until recently, was best exemplified on the Web.

Those naive days are over!