I thought bracketing text was the way for the quoter to add text to a quote, and clearly denote it as written by the quoter, not quotee. No?
Is it necessary to clarify like the italicized note following?
“[bracketed text – comment by septimus]”
On a separate matter, I did not think that the rule against editing quoted text applied when the quotee is not an SDMB Member or Guest, especially when the quotee is an abstraction like “Dictionary,” and doubly especially when the quote is obviously intended to be humorous. Am I also wrong on this matter?
I think the edit was made in good faith, but you might run up against the “but you may not add editorial comments” clause. Though that doesn’t seem to be what you were warned for.
Seems to me that was clearly editorializing, rather than simply a “snip.” You were characterizing the argument as being based on a misconception. Such a comment should have gone outside the quote box.
The rule applies to other posters, not offboard individuals or sources. However, if you deliberately altered what a source said in order to misrepresent it, it could fall afoul of some other rule such as trolling or “being a jerk.” In general, if you are trying to be humorous you should make this clear.
Following is the post for which I was Noted for misquoting “Dictionary” — it’s from the same thread where I was Warned for another quote. Note that I did include a smiley-face. I wasn’t intending to “troll;” if I’m jerkish it’s not deliberate.
I do not believe it is possible to read my quote from “Dictionary” (which isn’t included when I click Quote) without realizing it is a misquote.
(BTW, do Moderators have the a nested-quote capability which Guests lack?)
I would think the fake quote from the dictionary should be acceptable as an unattributed parody quote. I mean, it’s not like you linked an actual dictionary.
Bone’s warning is correct. You editorialized inside your brackets. That is specifically verboten.
Yes, it is against the rules, but it almost never a Warnable offense, unless the poster has a history of such actions. It’s a very minor infraction, one that is easily corrected with a simple reminder, aka Mod Note.
It’s an esoteric rule whose violation in most cases causes no actual harm. A Warning seems too much for such.