# More board etiquette: missing smilie on quote. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [November 22, 2002, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-board-etiquette-missing-smilie-on-quote/138104 "2002-11-22T05:20:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-board-etiquette-missing-smilie-on-quote/138104/1 "2002-11-22T05:20:09Z")
It occurred on the Rush vs Daschle thread [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=145310](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=145310) It started with a sorry attempt at humor: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GIGObuster \* > \*\*this is a warning to all thinking conservatives \* : > > You are next. > > - **december** , you should not worry. 🙂 \*\* Then, later, a moderator intervened: > [@](#): > > ## \*Originally posted by Gaudere \* quote: > > this is a warning to all thinking conservatives \* : > > … > > - december, you should not worry. > > * * * > > \*\ ***GIGOBuster** > > [Moderator Hat ON] > > GIGObuster, in this forum clearly implied insults do not get a free ride either. Cool it. > > [Moderator Hat OFF] \*\* Then I replied: > [@](#): > > Uh, I could swear I put a smilie in the line… . (checks up on the real “offending” post) yes indeed, I was just kidding, but just in case there is any misunderstanding; I have to say: Sorry december. …. And there it ended…. (Or so he thought). Then it hit me: Someone did another no-no: SDMB Posting guidelines FAQ: > [@](#): > > Falsely attributing a quote to another user, or modifying another’s post in order to cast him/her in a bad light, even if meant in jest, is grounds for revocation of your posting privileges. This does not apply to parodies to which no name is attached. The plot thickens . . . (sorry attemp at suspence) The reason this complaint is here rather than on the pit is because there could be an innocent explanation: Does the “report this link to a moderator” button automatically drops smilies? Or not so innocent ones: Did a moderator remove a smilie on purpose? (Silly evil music here) Or, did a user complaining about my post removed the smillie on purpose? (More music) People reading the moderator’s quote will assume (if I had nor replied) I was NOT doing it tongue in cheek, hence my concern. After all, I have a pseudo-anonymous reputation to maintain you know! 😉 I want to leave something clear too: I do not feel upset, but amused, I was actually thinking on creating a big parody on the pit and keep it fun, but I have no time. And I am curious to know if my concern about the rules is right. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-board-etiquette-missing-smilie-on-quote/138104/2 "2002-11-22T05:37:26Z")
Well, it is difficult to tell the difference between humor and adding-a-smilie-to-avert-the-mods sometimes. The implication that december was not a “thinking conservative” (i.e., he was non-thinking) seemed pretty clear to me, so I issued a warning. You can’t say things like “Gaudere, you are a cocksucker :)” or “GIGObuster, you are an idiot. :)” and not be warned just becuase you added a smilie…it must be pretty clear to the mod and the person referenced that the remark is not meant seriously in any way. I just want to avoid situations like posters posting to person X ,“You are a stupid asshole. 🙂 You like to fuck chickens. 🙂 Your mother sucked my cock yesterday :)” and thinking, “hee hee they can’t warn me since I used smilies!” If december knows that you meant no insult and I missed an in-joke, I apologize. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-board-etiquette-missing-smilie-on-quote/138104/3 "2002-11-22T05:44:17Z")
Yes, but I took that point already, the point is now if it was ok to remove the smilie to make the poster look bad. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-board-etiquette-missing-smilie-on-quote/138104/4 "2002-11-22T05:52:05Z")
I didn’t remove it to make you look bad, I removed it (like I removed “you are next”) becuase it was not a part of the post that I was warning about. If I warn about a post, I generally quote the part I am warning about, not any text before or after that did not affect my judgement. I added the “…” to show the parts I removed in the middle, but did not add “…” at the end of my quote since I clipped it at the end of a sentence, which seemed like a natural break to me. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-board-etiquette-missing-smilie-on-quote/138104/5 "2002-11-22T06:04:42Z")
I don’t think you did anything wrong, **Gaudere** , but are you aware that leaving the smiley off made **GIGObuster** look bad, whether that was your intention or not? ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-board-etiquette-missing-smilie-on-quote/138104/6 "2002-11-22T06:08:59Z")
Well, I understand. Again, my apprehension was because it gave others the wrong impression; it is amazing the number of times I see dopers NOT reading earlier posts in a thread, hence my concern. I hope there are no more misunderstandings like this. I have to say, in the end, that I still have the utmost respect for you and all the moderators in the SDMB that make this place a great one. ---
**Author:** ![Gaudere](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e495f1/32.png) [@Gaudere](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gaudere)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-board-etiquette-missing-smilie-on-quote/138104/7 "2002-11-22T06:16:34Z")
I did not mean to make GIGObuster look bad, and the next time I quote someone I will try to ensure that I include anything that may affect judgment of their statement in anyone’s eyes, rather than focussing on what affects their judgment in _my_ eyes. When I quoted GIGO I did not think I left anything out that would affect judgment of him, since I view “you are stupid” as being the same as “you are stupid :-)” _unless_ I am aware that in the second case that GIGO had a pre-existing relationship with the person referenced that would permit such comments. Which wouldn’t change whether there was a smilie or not. So it seems to be a miscommunication, one which I will be more careful about in the future, but I would rather not have to quote every letter of every post each time I quote. I think we can cut some slack for honest attempts to distill relevant portions of posts, and accept apologies when these are read other than is intended. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2002, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/more-board-etiquette-missing-smilie-on-quote/138104/8 "2002-11-22T06:24:24Z")
I don’t know if you were responding to me, but if so, I don’t think you did anything wrong, and I don’t think you need to do anything different next time, and I don’t think that any apology is necessary. I think you’re doing a great job. 🙂