With your stated aim of "debate, discuss, challenge, argue, get some research seeds etc" then obviously that is what HC is all about.
HOWEVER (and this is not directed at you specifically), with the proviso posts should be objective and add something to the forum discussions.
Insofar as "If I post an alternative view, I am getting asked to leave the forum or that they will ask hotcopper to permanently ban me." all I can say is that it is through their own behaviour that members themselves ask to get banned - all the mods. do is attend to the technicalities. Other members have no say in the decision making process.
