# Question on quoting posters **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 1, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260 "2005-04-01T16:59:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2005, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/1 "2005-04-01T16:59:35Z")
I know you’re not supposed to mis-quote someone, but occasionally I have seen stuff like this: > [@Poster 1](#): > > I believe (long-winded discussion making several points) > [@Poster2](#): > > > [@Poster 1](#): > > > > blah blah blah > > Your facts are stupid! And so are you! (or something to that effect) Is this legit? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2005, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/2 "2005-04-01T17:04:42Z")
In the pit, maybe. My understanding is that actually changing the content of somebody else’s post is a v. big no-no, even if it’s obvious that you’ve changed their words unless it’s an obvious joke post or a pitting. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/3 "2005-04-01T17:08:01Z")
We don’t even like “joke” posts like that, there’s too much room for abuse, which unfortunately some have tried to take advantage of in the past. That’s why we take this so seriously. If you see evidence of someone twisting someone else’s words, bring it to our attention. It’s really important. Either quote accurately or not at all, please. your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/4 "2005-04-01T17:29:00Z")
Ok, I’ve seen it once or twice in the Pit, and didn’t know if that was OK, or not. If I see it again, I’ll report it. **TubaDiva** : I didn’t participate in most of the threads re you-know-what, not even the welcome back thread. I’d like to take this opportunity to welcome you back. You’ve often answered my questions, and you always do it quickly, thanks for everything. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2005, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/5 "2005-04-01T18:45:40Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > … Naw, ain’t gonna do it. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ring](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Ring](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ring)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/6 "2005-04-02T04:50:43Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > We don’t even like “joke” posts like that, there’s too much room for abuse, which unfortunately some have tried to take advantage of in the past. That’s why we take this so seriously. > > If you see evidence of someone twisting someone else’s words, bring it to our attention. It’s really important. > > Either quote accurately or not at all, please. > > your humble TubaDiva If I’m just responding to small part of a long post do I still have to include the whole thing? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/7 "2005-04-02T05:04:07Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Either quote accurately or not at all, please. Seems to me what **Anaamika** is talking about is when you see something like this: > [@FecesThrower](#): > > \ **FecesThrower** , you are an idiot! where the quoted post had content, but that content has been replaced by an editorial comment, obviously not a misquotation. I’ve seen this in the old days of usenet. Does this fall under the “quote accurately” rule? ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/8 "2005-04-02T05:44:15Z")
Regarding posting quotes, how do I get the nested quotes like in the OP, so I can show the whole train of thought that I’m responding to? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/9 "2005-04-02T07:52:06Z")
> [@featherlou](#): > > Regarding posting quotes, how do I get the nested quotes like in the OP, so I can show the whole train of thought that I’m responding to? \ \ “Text of nested quote” \ “text of your response.” \ ---
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/10 "2005-04-02T08:46:06Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > \ \ “Text of nested quote” \ “text of your response.” \ > > > [@featherlou](#): > > > > Regarding posting quotes, how do I get the nested quotes like in the OP, so I can show the whole train of thought that I’m responding to? To elaborate somewhat on **FinnAgain** ’s perfectly accurate response - there’s no way that I personally know of to get nested quotes automatically - you have to hand code either the internal or the external quote (assuming you start out by “replying with quote” to one of the quotes you want) – as **FinnAgain** suggested (only of course replacing the \<\> symbols with ; but you knew that, right?). For example – in this case I responded to **your** post (not **FinnAgain** ’s!), then cut-n-pasted **Finn** ’s response and hand-coded a starting [quote] tag before it and a closing [/quote] tag after the closing tag of your quote. Dani ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/11 "2005-04-02T14:20:24Z")
> [@](#): > > If I’m just responding to small part of a long post do I still have to include the whole thing? No, and in fact, it’s usually very distracting when someone quotes a whole long post. Consider quoting here to be very much the same as when you were writing a paper in high school or college and had to quote from some other material. You would only quote the part that was relevant to you, and you would use . . . to indicate that material was left out. We’ve tended to allow \< snip \> or \< material deleted \> when a LOT of material is left out, but it’s the same principle. An editorial comment like \< drivel deleted \> is rude and insulting, and so may be used in the Pit but probably not elsewhere, although I suppose it depends on the context, to some extent. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/12 "2005-04-02T18:54:29Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > An editorial comment like \< drivel deleted \> is rude and insulting, and so may be used in the Pit but probably not elsewhere, although I suppose it depends on the context, to some extent. In fact, it’s not a good thing to do, not even in the Pit, which is where people can be more disputational, that’s the point of the forum in large part, but that sort of thing extends towards abuse, and that’s right out. To sum up: All quotes should be confined to what is relevant. Quotes should mention only the cite or site or point that needs to be made, without twisting or altering the original statement or intent and without editorializing or passing judgment on the material being quoted. Removal of text should be indicated with \ or . . . to show that material has been taken away from the original statement. Do not use this to change the meaning of an original statement. If you see an abuse of this policy, please send an email to the moderator(s) of the affected forum. Sometimes stuff gets past us. your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/13 "2005-04-02T19:43:31Z")
So, do NOT do the following: > [@TubaDiva](#): > > Quotes should . . . be made, . . . twisting or altering the original statement . . . and . . . passing judgment on the material being quoted. > > Removal of text should . . . show that material has been taken . . . from the original statement. . . . se this to change the meaning of an original statement. > > If you see . . . this policy, . . . stuff gets past us. ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/14 "2005-04-02T19:48:35Z")
~kicks dirt~ Mods get to have all the fun! ~pouts~ ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/15 "2005-04-02T21:25:18Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > In fact, it’s not a good thing to do, not even in the Pit, which is where people can be more disputational, that’s the point of the forum in large part, but that sort of thing extends towards abuse, and that’s right out. OK, thanks for the info. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/16 "2005-04-02T23:44:11Z")
> [@FinnAgain](#): > > \ \ “Text of nested quote” \ “text of your response.” \\< > > > [@Noone Special](#): > > > > To elaborate somewhat on **FinnAgain** ’s perfectly accurate response - there’s no way that I personally know of to get nested quotes automatically - you have to hand code either the internal or the external quote (assuming you start out by “replying with quote” to one of the quotes you want) – as **FinnAgain** suggested (only of course replacing the \<\> symbols with ; but you knew that, right?). > > > > For example – in this case I responded to **your** post (not **FinnAgain** ’s!), then cut-n-pasted **Finn** ’s response and hand-coded a starting [quote] tag before it and a closing [/quote] tag after the closing tag of your quote. > > > > Dani Okay, let’s try this puppy out… Woohoo! Works beautifully! Thanks much. ---
**Author:** ![Thunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a8b319/32.png) [@Thunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thunder)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-on-quoting-posters/297260/17 "2005-04-03T08:31:27Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > So, do NOT do the following: What is this, 60 Minutes? 😃