# Lack of moderation of quotes in McCain GBT thread **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 22, 2017, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873 "2017-07-22T11:04:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/21 "2017-07-22T20:28:48Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > I’ll defend anyone who deserves it. I’ve criticised Trump many times when it was right to do so. > [@kayaker](#): > > Hey, yeah. Like, you know, Hitler wasn’t _all_ bad, but all the Debbie Downers insist on pointing out the man’s shortcomings. > [@running\_coach](#): > > Name one thing he’s done that’s defensible. > [@kayaker](#): > > _Has_ he been falsely accused of anything? I tried a search, but all the hits I’m getting involve the man falsely accusing others (wiretap accusations, etc). **Moderating** Let’s not hijack this into a discussion about Trump himself. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/22 "2017-07-22T22:13:05Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Let’s not hijack this into a discussion about Trump himself. With all due respect I think **Quartz** ’s motivations are also not germane. I happen to agree he is wrong about his complaint, but putting him on the defensive by probing his political allegiances seems to be outside the scope AtMB. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/23 "2017-07-22T22:49:36Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > With all due respect I think **Quartz** ’s motivations are also not germane. I happen to agree he is wrong about his complaint, but putting him on the defensive by probing his political allegiances seems to be outside the scope AtMB. I think it becomes germane when a poster makes repeated ill-founded complaints that evidently have a political basis. In fact, **Quartz** has made these other recent complaints in ATMB about anti-Trump comments on the board. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=821619](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=821619) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=819322](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=819322) > **[Unhappy about lack of moderation](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=781432)** > > A while back I reported this thread which likened a performance at a Trump rally to the Hitler Youth. I am very disappointed to see that nothing has been done. Some of us have relatives who were alive at the time and remembered and related the real... That’s four threads in six months. I haven’t been able to find any other thread he has started in ATMB to complain about posts about any other politician (or any other figure). ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/24 "2017-07-22T22:59:11Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > One general rule of the Dope is that quotes are pretty much sacrosanct. So I’m writing about [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=831477) and two posts in particular: > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20357413&postcount=10](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20357413&postcount=10) > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20357445&postcount=13](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20357445&postcount=13) > > The first - apparently quoting Trump - appears to be an invention. A lie and a slur. The second is what Trump actually said, but is unattributed. Neither has so far attracted comment from the Mods. Both posts do nothing to fight ignorance. That thread will likely be updated in the future as McCain’s illness progresses and he dies. Which of those two posts do you think is likely to be remembered? Which one will be referenced? Left as is - I think the first should be stomped and the second attributed - is sending the wrong message to the readership. Since the second example was from me I will respond even though it’s been pretty much covered. Yes it was a quote from the president’s statement. I made the post without comment as to how elequent a statement it is simply because just before that someone had said that Trump had been silent. I thought it was pretty evident that it was a quote because I used these things " ". Since they are called quotation marks I figured it would be clear that they were marking a quotation. It also seemed to me that the context of the quote made it clear who was making the statement. We don’t have any hard and fast rule as to the format of how quotations must be posted. Possibly I could have made it clearer but in my opinion I broke no rule. Everyone seemed understand it as well. I’m not modding myself I’ll leave it to the other mods to decide. We have not discussed it but since no one chose to act on your report I’m going to assume for now they see it the same. As for the first one as others have said it’s not a bright line rule to misquote a non-poster. That’s not to say in all instances it would be ok. If someone presented a fake quote as fact from a famous person to make their argument stronger I would say that would be against the jerk or trolling rule. I saw no intent to deceive. In the case of your first example it is clearly meant as a joke and not against the rules of MPSIMS. Since I didn’t post that one this is my opinion as a mod. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/25 "2017-07-22T23:05:50Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > In fact, **Quartz** has made these other recent complaints in ATMB about anti-Trump comments on the board. > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=821619](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=821619) > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=819322](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=819322) > [Unhappy about lack of moderation - About This Message Board - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=781432) > > That’s four threads in six months. > > I haven’t been able to find any other thread he has started in ATMB to complain about posts about any other politician (or any other figure). While this is true, the question about whether it is permissible to modify quotes from off board public figures is the issue at hand. Whether it is Trump, Sanders, McCain, Taylor Swift, etc. is really not relevant to the rule. There is no rule against modifying quotes for satirical purposes of off board folks, therefore the complaint is without merit. So when Taylor Swift said, “Bone is really awesome and I’d love to do a private concert but our schedules didn’t line up.” that is totally not true and also totally not a SDMB rule violation. ---
**Author:** ![Crazyhorse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crazyhorse/32/31_2.png) [@Crazyhorse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crazyhorse)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/26 "2017-07-22T23:28:09Z")
The issue at hand having been resolved, I’m just chiming in to agree that it should be germane to discuss a poster’s motivation when a pattern has emerged in his complaints such as the one Colibri illustrated. Besides Colibri, I’m hearing a lot of people talking about this. > [@Donald Trump](#): > > An extremely credible source has called my office and told me that Quartz starts a lot of ATMB threads to complain about posts about me despite them not breaking any rules. He has never complained about the same moderation being consistently applied to any other subjects. Unfair! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/27 "2017-07-22T23:43:29Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > I haven’t been able to find any other thread he has started in ATMB to complain about posts about any other politician (or any other figure). I don’t believe I’ve started any such threads about other figures. Trump is a special case: he is POTUS, and the SDMB is an American board. I am not going to go through all umpteen thousand of my posts to find my defences of others, so I will just point out that I have both defended and attacked Thatcher in the thread about British Prime Ministers. One of the hardest things to do is to defend those with whom you disagree, but it’s necessary in a democracy. The Dope needs to put its generally pro-Democrat political allegiance and realise the harm it is doing to itself. You can fight ignorance or you can promote it. It’s your choice. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/28 "2017-07-22T23:48:35Z")
I find it interesting that the OP thought a mod was unaware of the quote rules. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/29 "2017-07-22T23:49:46Z")
> [@raventhief](#): > > I find it interesting that the OP thought a mod was unaware of the quote rules. Errare humanum est. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2017, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/30 "2017-07-22T23:55:59Z")
I don’t know which is worse, that the OP doesn’t get satire (instead calling it a lie and a slur) or that he expects all quotes everywhere on the board to be attributed (or maybe just Trump quotes/jokes?) ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/31 "2017-07-23T00:39:26Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Since the second example was from me I will respond even though it’s been pretty much covered. Yes it was a quote from the president’s statement. I made the post without comment as to how elequent a statement it is simply because just before that someone had said that Trump had been silent. I thought it was pretty evident that it was a quote because I used these things " ". Since they are called quotation marks I figured it would be clear that they were marking a quotation. It also seemed to me that the context of the quote made it clear who was making the statement. We don’t have any hard and fast rule as to the format of how quotations must be posted. Possibly I could have made it clearer but in my opinion I broke no rule. Everyone seemed understand it as well. I’m not modding myself I’ll leave it to the other mods to decide. We have not discussed it but since no one chose to act on your report I’m going to assume for now they see it the same. > > As for the first one as others have said it’s not a bright line rule to misquote a non-poster. That’s not to say in all instances it would be ok. If someone presented a fake quote as fact from a famous person to make their argument stronger I would say that would be against the jerk or trolling rule. I saw no intent to deceive. In the case of your first example it is clearly meant as a joke and not against the rules of MPSIMS. Since I didn’t post that one this is my opinion as a mod. For what it’s worth - and certainly not in support of Quartz’ campaign to stand up for Donald, which is basic and blatant - I had to stop and think before I realized you were offering an actual quote rather than a paraphrase of something or failed effort at solitaire. May I suggest that, at a minimum, including a link to the quote source would be best practice. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/32 "2017-07-23T11:52:27Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Name one thing he’s done that’s defensible. Appointed Gorsuch. It’s the only major thing Trump’s done that I endorse. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/33 "2017-07-23T11:55:52Z")
Of course, **december** was sanctioned for posting a quote from a President that was “false,” in that it turned out to be from another President. Neither President (on information and belief) were posters at the time. But that was totally different. Because of reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/34 "2017-07-23T12:13:23Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **kayaker** : > > Hey, yeah. Like, you know, Hitler wasn’t all bad, but all the Debbie Downers insist on pointing out the man’s shortcomings. I’ll give him credit: He _did_ personally kill the most evil man of the 20th century. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/35 "2017-07-23T12:14:15Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Of course, **december** was sanctioned for posting a quote from a President that was “false,” in that it turned out to be from another President. Neither President (on information and belief) were posters at the time. > > But that was totally different. Because of reasons. “Reasons” being that he was doing his level best to deceive people at the time, right? Keep hunting that snark. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/36 "2017-07-23T13:40:17Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Errare humanum est. While we are discussing rules, isn’t there one that requires posts be in English? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/37 "2017-07-23T14:10:10Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > While we are discussing rules, isn’t there one that requires posts be in English? I think we can consider that _de minimis non curat lex_. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/38 "2017-07-23T14:22:01Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I think we can consider that _de minimis non curat lex_. Can we agree on a definition [of “trifle”, though?](http://blogs.gonzaga.edu/gulawreview/files/2011/02/Nemerofsky.pdf) ETA: [Here’s the rule!!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7697021&postcount=8) ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/39 "2017-07-23T14:23:59Z")
> [@Merneith](#): > > For what it’s worth - and certainly not in support of Quartz’ campaign to stand up for Donald, which is basic and blatant - I had to stop and think before I realized you were offering an actual quote rather than a paraphrase of something or failed effort at solitaire. May I suggest that, at a minimum, including a link to the quote source would be best practice. Fair enough. As with just about everything I post I could have done it better. That’s not the same as breaking a rule or needing to be modderated. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2017, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873/40 "2017-07-23T14:39:33Z")
december was warned for being a jerk, not for abusing the quote function. If I call you a racial slur in a quote box, that doesn’t implicate the quote editing rule, does it? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lack-of-moderation-of-quotes-in-mccain-gbt-thread/791873.md?page=3)