Happy Friday Knights and Centurions at the round table of BNR… or is it octagonal? Hard to tell. The lighting where you sit is a bit on the dramatically dim side.
I was pondering the question of the limits of quoting or citing comment posters. On this OP (https://breakingnewsandreligion.online/2019/12/13/he-is-planning-to-rig-the-impeachment-trial-mcconnell-vows-total-coordination-with-trump-on-senate-process/) Sir Tainley swiftly and justly zapped a comment I made referencing comments made by a notorious CP. Usually my disdain and disgust for the referenced poster’s typically repugnant comments it wouldn’t enter my mind to directly quote them. Yet, I was feeling feisty to make a point to Danahan and did that very thing, knowing the original comment had also been zapped. I had gone back to edit realizing it was probably way too spicy, in need of tempering and a large clove of garlic, but Sir T, being faster on the draw for a Friday then I am, beat me to it. I’m not here to beg for it back or a chance to edit or anything. After 30K comments and a small smattering of OP’s around here tossing one now and again in to the bug zapper is sort of invigorating… the smell of ozone from the spark I expect.
But it did get me wondering about the limits of quoting the content or sentiment of a CP that may have later been deleted or additional mod action taken. It’s no secret we have a few extremists here, some might even consider me such, but sometimes what they say has a relevance worth noting in other discussions.
I realize that the answer might include grey areas and mod discretion of course, but when the original mod action of the deleted quoted comment includes a statement to the effect, “Advocating murder (or violence) against democrats is forbidden here (CP name here) you know that-deleted” I think it might narrow the grey area a bit further. It leaves little mystery as to what was said that was deleted and, sure, it makes sense to reference the “why” mod action is taken. But does it leave the sentiments or very words of the poster untouchable, unreferenceable, unmentionable… especially if such posters are vocally adamant that they 100% believe everything the say/post? I recall in the old den a few entries questioning the reiterating of what someone was zapped for and should it be done in practice – that too remains an interesting question.
Just something to bat around for those of you that like digging beyond the letter of the rules in to the spirit of them.
Happy weekend all and have an adult beverage or two for me. I’m up to my eyeballs in holiday work – the end can’t come soon enough!
P.S. I would love for His Lordship, TUS, to consider the installation of an adjunct peanut gallery in the den -perhaps with acoustic isolation so as not to interfere with proceedings here. I’ve left a holiday gift card for Tim Horton’s and a membership renewal pledge in the executive washroom for such consideration. Sir Loki’s gingerbread house is in the kitchenette next to Kimarie’s Keurig that Al has pilfered yet another pumpkin spice latte from.