# So, NO altering of quotes, even if just for purely humorous effect, is allowed either? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 7, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195 "2018-03-07T18:50:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/1 "2018-03-07T18:50:40Z")
[Mod note](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=20831798&postcount=17580) Just want clarification (since it was just a note-hey I got a note! I’m somebody now!). I am well aware of the various discussions here about said issue, but in those it was invariably seen as an attack on the original quote/position, a deliberate often snide or subtle distortion of the other person’s position. I merely exagerrated said figure for comic effect-in the Pit, too, note (and if the original quotee had any objection he didn’t raise it-he might even presumably chuckle a bit under his breath at my alteration). Is that verboten now too, as in zero tolerance for ANY such change no matter what the intent might have been or how the original quoted person might feel? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/2 "2018-03-07T18:53:38Z")
I don’t think there’s ever been a question about this - no altering of quotes except for deletion or emphasis. It’s a pretty easy rule to implement and moderate. Changing words is pretty much the definition of altering a quote, regardless of intent. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/3 "2018-03-07T18:56:28Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Is that verboten now too, as in zero tolerance for ANY such change no matter what the intent might have been or how the original quoted person might feel? [If by “now” you mean “for the past 12 years,” yeah.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7697048&postcount=11) > [@CK Dexter Haven](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/4 "2018-03-07T19:08:28Z")
Y’all should remove the “in order to cast him/her in a bad light” part, then. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/5 "2018-03-07T19:42:49Z")
I think this was a relatively harmless instance, since 1) it was not intended as an attack on the quotee (typically of the “you really meant something else” variety) and 2) it was very clear what the original quote was and what the revision was. That said, if the mods want a bright line on this, I can’t fault them. For the most part poster complaints about the rules are that they’re too ambiguous, not that they’re not subjective enough. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/6 "2018-03-07T20:14:07Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > I am well aware of the various discussions here about said issue, but in those it was invariably seen as an attack on the original quote/position, a deliberate often snide or subtle distortion of the other person’s position. I merely exagerrated said figure for comic effect… I think alterations of this sort should be allowed. We’re a comedic group, and we should be allowed to alter quotes for purely comedic (i.e., not as an ‘attack’ or ‘distortion of a position’) reasons. Making the same joke while at the same time abiding by the ‘bright line’ rules can make it cumbersome. Like **John DiFool** , I understand why the rule is there. But there are times when I feel like saying, ‘Lighten up, Francis!’ IMO. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/7 "2018-03-07T20:19:24Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I think alterations of this sort should be allowed. We’re a comedic group, and we should be allowed to alter quotes for purely comedic (i.e., not as an ‘attack’ or ‘distortion of a position’) reasons. Making the same joke while at the same time abiding by the ‘bright line’ rules can make it cumbersome. > > Like **John DiFool** , \*\*I understand why the rule is there. \*\* But there are times when I feel like saying, ‘Lighten up, Francis!’ IMO. FTFY _amusing alteration of bolded text goes here_ That’s what I’ve done on occasion. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/8 "2018-03-07T20:25:20Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > Y’all should remove the “in order to cast him/her in a bad light” part, then. Yes. ---
**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:** [March 7, 2018, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/9 "2018-03-07T20:38:39Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I think alterations of this sort should be allowed. We’re a comedic group, and we should be allowed to alter quotes for purely comedic (i.e., not as an ‘attack’ or ‘distortion of a position’) reasons. Making the same joke while at the same time abiding by the ‘bright line’ rules can make it cumbersome. > > Like **John DiFool** , I understand why the rule is there. But there are times when I feel like saying, ‘Lighten up, Francis!’ IMO. This is one of those rules that resulted when a poster decided to “spoil it for the rest of us” by threatening legal action because someone changed his quote. Since then we’ve taken a zero-tolerance approach to such alterations. We feel that maintaining a bright line is more important than making a joke a little easier. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/10 "2018-03-07T20:40:12Z")
As long as I have been here it has been one of the cast iron, clear as day rules of the board, that you do not ever modify another persons quote in any shape or fashion whatsoever. I’m surprised to see this question even being asked to be honest. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I think alterations of this sort should be allowed. We’re a comedic group, and we should be allowed to alter quotes for purely comedic (i.e., not as an ‘attack’ or ‘distortion of a position’) reasons. It would be abused, as sure as night follows day. The usual people will try to push the boundaries and then there will be drama over what changes were ok and what weren’t. Why even bother to go near that rabbit hole when the rule is already is so well known and accepted? ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/11 "2018-03-07T20:43:19Z")
> [@Fotheringay-Phipps](#): > > I think this was a relatively harmless instance, since 1) it was not intended as an attack on the quotee (typically of the “you really meant something else” variety) and 2) it was very clear what the original quote was and what the revision was. > > That said, if the mods want a bright line on this, I can’t fault them. For the most part poster complaints about the rules are that they’re too ambiguous, not that they’re not subjective enough. Not being privy to **Miller** ’s thoughts, my WAG would be that it got a moderator response because it IS a bright line, but that it got _only_ a note because it was about as harmless an instance as one could come up with of crossing this particular line. Seems reasonable to me. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/12 "2018-03-07T20:49:34Z")
When I’ve wanted to make fun of something/make a joke/be funny/etc., I’ll quote the target post accurately with no alteration (as per the rules), and then immediately after it, post the funny thing I want to post. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/13 "2018-03-07T20:51:02Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > This is one of those rules that resulted when a poster decided to “spoil it for the rest of us” by threatening legal action because someone changed his quote. Since then we’ve taken a zero-tolerance approach to such alterations. Thank you for the explanation. ISTR that altering quotes to some degree was permitted when I joined. When did the zero-tolerance approach take effect? Also: [ul][li]Is it permitted to highlight text within the quote box?[/li][li]Is it permitted to elide text within a quote in order to shorten it without changing the meaning? (e.g., ‘[A] poster decided to “spoil it for the rest of us”… Since then we’ve taken a zero-tolerance approach to such alterations.’)[/ul][/li] In my observations over the years, those things _are_ permitted and are often useful or necessary in a discussion. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/14 "2018-03-07T20:52:04Z")
I think it’s a great rule. There are other message boards I frequent where this is allowed, and it’s common to have ones words altered in a quote. Followed by something like “Fixed it for you.” It’s incredibly infuriating. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/15 "2018-03-07T20:57:26Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > As long as I have been here it has been one of the cast iron, clear as day rules of the board, that you do not ever modify another persons quote in any shape or fashion whatsoever. I’m surprised to see this question even being asked to be honest. > > It would be abused, as sure as night follows day. The usual people will try to push the boundaries and then there will be drama over what changes were ok and what weren’t. Why even bother to go near that rabbit hole when the rule is already is so well known and accepted? Let’s change that last sentence to Why even bother to go near that asshole when the rule is already is so well known and accepted? Certainly more Pit-worthy without breaking the rule concerning altering the text within the quote box … ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/16 "2018-03-07T21:06:03Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > When I’ve wanted to make fun of something/make a joke/be funny/etc., I’ll quote the target post accurately with no alteration (as per the rules), and then immediately after it, post the funny thing I want to post. Indeed. This particular case is even less sympathetic because the joke is pretty lame. As bright-line rules go, I’m just fine with this one. If you want to challenge or enhance something written by someone else, work with what you’re given and add your contribution. How are we supposed to evolve comedically as a group if we’re able to pretend the past was something else? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/17 "2018-03-07T21:06:05Z")
I like the bright line with regard to the box. If you want to do FTFY satire, it doesn’t dilute it to quote the original in the box, and mess around with it outside the box, such as the way running coach suggested. ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/18 "2018-03-07T21:09:08Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Thank you for the explanation. ISTR that altering quotes to some degree was permitted when I joined. When did the zero-tolerance approach take effect? > > Also: > [ul][li]Is it permitted to highlight text within the quote box?[/li][li]Is it permitted to elide text within a quote in order to shorten it without changing the meaning? (e.g., ‘[A] poster decided to “spoil it for the rest of us”… Since then we’ve taken a zero-tolerance approach to such alterations.’)[/ul][/li] > In my observations over the years, those things _are_ permitted and are often useful or necessary in a discussion. I had a PM discussion with \*\*Tomndebb \*\*a while back about this specific thing. Tom clarified the rule for me, and perhaps, I should share it. _The rules regarding the use of the Quote tags focus on removal or modification of text. However, they also note that " Normal editorial rules apply." Had he changed a font size, bolding, or underscore that you had used to make a point, he would have been out of line. However, simply bolding or underscoring a passage to call attention to it, when it does not really change your statement, has been permitted since the rule was instituted. It is pretty obvious that he was simply calling attention to that portion of your post and was not attempting to change your meaning._ ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/19 "2018-03-07T21:14:24Z")
I think if you add highlighting to draw attention to it, it is good form to say “[my bold]” or whatever after the quote. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2018, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195/20 "2018-03-07T21:27:18Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I think if you add highlighting to draw attention to it, it is good form to say “[my bold]” or whatever after the quote. [Bolding Mine.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=843944) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-no-altering-of-quotes-even-if-just-for-purely-humorous-effect-is-allowed-either/810195.md?page=2)