# Highlighting a relevant part of a quote is NOT selective quoting **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 7, 2023, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highlighting-a-relevant-part-of-a-quote-is-not-selective-quoting/994225 "2023-12-07T08:46:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2023, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highlighting-a-relevant-part-of-a-quote-is-not-selective-quoting/994225/41 "2023-12-08T13:16:56Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > At least I hope it was his comment and not mine that was the problem. Good heavens, i hope my moderation was not ambiguous. Your comment was fine. His was creepy. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2023, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highlighting-a-relevant-part-of-a-quote-is-not-selective-quoting/994225/42 "2023-12-08T16:08:39Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > This board has a tendency to evaluate posts and post-specific actions, as noted in the OP, in a fairly narrow and legalistic fashion, but the reality is that some posters should not be given the benefit of the doubt and should be kept on a much shorter leash. Thing is that those with such context have plenty of clearly egregious posts to get slapped for. No need to yank the leash when they are within bounds. Their yank will come when it is deserved. Standards are standards. Repeat offenders deserve greater punishment but not different laws. Most of us cannot be arsed to know who has a track record of what others than those who we each _personally_ find annoying. _Mods know_ who has many warnings already. Keep it clean other than that. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2023, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highlighting-a-relevant-part-of-a-quote-is-not-selective-quoting/994225/43 "2023-12-08T16:48:58Z")
Completely agree. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2023, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highlighting-a-relevant-part-of-a-quote-is-not-selective-quoting/994225/44 "2023-12-08T18:08:05Z")
Yeah, which is why my preferred path would have been to use the lengthy Pit thread already established for the purpose, rather than trying to police the behavior in the original thread. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2023, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highlighting-a-relevant-part-of-a-quote-is-not-selective-quoting/994225/45 "2023-12-08T18:13:21Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Standards are standards. Repeat offenders deserve greater punishment but not different laws. I love this line, actually. A good thing to keep in mind. Regarding the OP, I disagree that the post was offensive, and I think you changed the meaning when you selectively quoted it. All of that is irrelevant to whether later posts by DG (or earlier posts) cross some line. That post didn’t, but your post did change the meaning. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2023, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highlighting-a-relevant-part-of-a-quote-is-not-selective-quoting/994225/46 "2023-12-08T18:18:12Z")
When I have highlighted a quote to show exactly what I was referring to, I always put “Emphasis added” under it. I have never received any blowback for that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/highlighting-a-relevant-part-of-a-quote-is-not-selective-quoting/994225.md?page=2)