# The boundaries of political commentary **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [January 10, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816 "2017-01-10T15:29:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/1 "2017-01-10T15:29:50Z")
First, an explanation about how the Trivial Dominoes thread works in Thread Games. A poster reads the last post, finds a single isolated reference term in the post, and then builds a new piece of trivia, using any chosen word in any context. For example, if one post uses uses “oil well”, the follow-up might use “well-wishers”. Here’s an actual recent example: > [@](#): > > Space: 1999 was available on French CBC, but I thought that the translation left something to be desired. “Cosmos: Mille Neuf Cent Quatre-Vingt-Dix-Neuf” just wasn’t as punchy. The follow-up plays on the word “French”, in a compleely different context: > [@](#): > > French 75 is an alcoholic punch that combines cognac and champagne. It also contains simple syrup and lemon juice. Some recipes, such as the one linked, use gin as the base. Within the scope of this thread, there is no way in hell that the second post about an alcoholic beverage is a “political commentary” on the French language in Canada or the competency of the translators. OK. So along comes this sequence: > [@](#): > > In 1984, Brian Mulroney led the Progressive Conservative Party to the largest majority in history in Canada’s federal Parliament, winning 211 seats out of 282 in the House of Commons, a gain of 111 seats. > In the 1993 election under his successor, widely seen as a plebiscite on the Mulroney government, the PC Party won 2 seats. Followed by: > [@](#): > > Progressive Conservative is an oxymoron. Followed by: > [@](#): > > Moderator Note > This thread is not the place for political commentary. Drop it. So, I used a 5-word post to make a dry lexical interpretation of a dictionary word, and that somehow becomes a political commentary? What if the previous post had been “Mussolini’s fascists deposed King Zog of Albania for his progressive-conservative policies”, and I responded with “Progressive Conservative is an oxymoron.” By what standard would I have been Mod-noted warning me not to make political commentary? When in fact the previous post smacked of political interpretation, and all I had done was to take words out of it and divorce it from any political implications. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/2 "2017-01-10T16:08:06Z")
The mod was completely right. Your post was a political commentary by any possible interpretation and it was out of place in the thread. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2017, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/3 "2017-01-10T16:23:08Z")
“Progressive Conservative is an oxymoron” is not a piece of trivia. It’s a political commentary. “Trivia” is (are?) factually correct statements. Your statement was an opinion, and a political one at that. Good moderation. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/4 "2017-01-10T16:28:47Z")
Is a piece of trivia a trivium? Regards, Shodan PS - not a close call. The moderation was appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/5 "2017-01-10T16:39:48Z")
On the other hand, I think “Mussolini’s fascists deposed King Zog of Albania for his progressive-conservative policies” would have been a wonderful piece of trivia to match up with the Canada progressive-conservative post. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/6 "2017-01-10T17:29:26Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > “Progressive Conservative is an oxymoron” is not a piece of trivia. It’s a political commentary. “Trivia” is (are?) factually correct statements. Your statement was an opinion, and a political one at that. Good moderation. Hmm…it looks to me like linguistic commentary. Progressive means moving things forward; conservative means keeping things the way they are. Checking definitions on Google: > [@progressive](#): > > favoring or implementing social reform or new, liberal ideas > [@conservative](#): > > holding to traditional attitudes and values and cautious about change or innovation, typically in relation to politics or religion. Those two terms are pretty near opposites, and so the comment about “progressive conservative” seems accurate to me, not so much political commentary. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/7 "2017-01-10T18:07:30Z")
FWIW, I can see how “progressive-conservative” can be used non-oxymoronically. From a conservative’s point of view, actions like removing trade restrictions and lowering taxes would be considered progressive, in the sense of furthering economic progress. So stating that “progressive-conservative is an oxymoron” is not necessarily true, and is inappropriate in a trivia thread. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/8 "2017-01-10T18:21:58Z")
How **jtur88** doesn’t see his comment as political is completely beyond me. I guess it’s true, none so blind as those who will not see. The moderation was spot on. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2017, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/9 "2017-01-10T18:35:10Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > FWIW, I can see how “progressive-conservative” can be used non-oxymoronically. From a conservative’s point of view, actions like removing trade restrictions and lowering taxes would be considered progressive, in the sense of furthering economic progress. So stating that “progressive-conservative is an oxymoron” is not necessarily true, and is inappropriate in a trivia thread. I’m seeing as more about being cautious about implementing change but being in favor of that change. Example: Should the minimum wage be raised from 8/hr to 15/hr all at once or phase it in over 3-5 years? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/10 "2017-01-10T18:46:40Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Those two terms are pretty near opposites, and so the comment about “progressive conservative” seems accurate to me, not so much political commentary. Even if true linguistically, it’s not trivia, it’s just a statement. So it’s not a stretch to think there was some political commentary attached to it. > [@Shodan](#): > > Is a piece of trivia a trivium? Here’s some trivia: the word “trivia” can be used as both singular and plural. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/11 "2017-01-10T18:57:37Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Here’s some trivia: the word “trivia” can be used as both singular and plural. Don’t you mean “here’s a trivia”? 🙂 Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/12 "2017-01-10T18:59:50Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Those two terms are pretty near opposites, and so the comment about “progressive conservative” seems accurate to me, not so much political commentary. How is saying that two political terms are incompatible something other than political commentary? ---
**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:** [January 10, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/13 "2017-01-10T19:17:04Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Hmm…it looks to me like linguistic commentary. Progressive means moving things forward; conservative means keeping things the way they are. > > Checking definitions on Google: > > Those two terms are pretty near opposites, and so the comment about “progressive conservative” seems accurate to me, not so much political commentary. Linguistic and political are not mutually exclusive in this context. But since there is no rule against linguistic commentary, it wasn’t worth mentioning. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/14 "2017-01-10T19:17:58Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > I’m seeing as more about being cautious about implementing change but being in favor of that change. > > Example: Should the minimum wage be raised from 8/hr to 15/hr all at once or phase it in over 3-5 years? That’s closer to the reality of the actual former [Progressive Conservative Party of Canada](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_Conservative_Party_of_Canada) whose name was intended to invoke the inclusiveness and centrism of constructive progressivism combined with traditional values. Its original name in fact was the “Liberal-Conservative Party” and until it merged with more hard-right factions and became just the “Conservative Party”, its ideology was described as “liberal conservatism”. There’s no contradiction. Many of us are, for example, socially liberal and fiscally conservative. For another example, the final stage in the evolution of single-payer health care in Canada, the Canada Health Act, obviously a very progressive initiative, was passed unanimously with the support of the Progressive Conservatives who continued to support its principles after they came to power. The name “Progressive Conservative” continues to be used for many provincial conservative parties, for instance [the one in Ontario](http://www.ontariopc.com/OurParty/StandFor). The comment in question was a political jab that was silly and out of place and the moderation was appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2017, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/15 "2017-01-10T19:27:35Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > How is saying that two political terms are incompatible something other than political commentary? My guess is that the OP saw them as such generic textbook political terms that invoking them does not carry any more weight on specific policies than “jumbo shrimp,” at least to an American audience whose experience with the actual political party is quite attenuated. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2017, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/16 "2017-01-10T22:37:34Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > > [@jtur88](#): > > > > Progressive Conservative is an oxymoron. > > So, I used a 5-word post to make a dry lexical interpretation of a dictionary word, and that somehow becomes a political commentary? Yes, I too agree that it clearly appeared to be political commentary and as such the moderation was appropriate. I’ll note that you haven’t even attempted to give any other explanation. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2017, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/17 "2017-01-11T00:21:11Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Yes, I too agree that it clearly appeared to be political commentary and as such the moderation was appropriate. I’ll note that you haven’t even attempted to give any other explanation. No other explanation except that it’s a “dry lexical interpretation of a dictionary word”–in other words, his commentary was exactly what I suggested it was, in his mind. I don’t really have a dog in this fight, and noting him because it’s too easily interpreted as political commentary despite his intent is certainly reasonable; but it doesn’t read to me like he’s staking out any sort of political ground or making any value judgment about anyone, just riffing on two words that have opposing definitions. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/18 "2017-01-11T00:28:42Z")
In Canada, it is clearly political commentary. I used to hear it quite regularly from supporters of the New Democratic Party, and it was meant as a political slur, not as a interesting lexicological discussion. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2017, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/19 "2017-01-11T00:45:13Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > No other explanation except that it’s a “dry lexical interpretation of a dictionary word”–in other words, his commentary was exactly what I suggested it was, in his mind. > > I don’t really have a dog in this fight, and noting him because it’s too easily interpreted as political commentary despite his intent is certainly reasonable; but it doesn’t read to me like he’s staking out any sort of political ground or making any value judgment about anyone, just riffing on two words that have opposing definitions. Nonsense. The previous post, which the OP quoted, referred to Canada’s Progressive Conservative Party. So the OP knew that the term was being in the real world. To then say that it shouldn’t exist is a political opinion. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2017, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816/20 "2017-01-11T01:02:51Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > In Canada, it is clearly political commentary. I used to hear it quite regularly from supporters of the New Democratic Party, and it was meant as a political slur, not as a interesting lexicological discussion. > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Nonsense. The previous post, which the OP quoted, referred to Canada’s Progressive Conservative Party. So the OP knew that the term was being in the real world. To then say that it shouldn’t exist is a political opinion. Isn’t the point of the game supposed to be the non sequitur status of each post, connected only tangentially to the one before? At any rate, if that’s something that the New Democratic Party says a lot, that does put it more firmly in the “political commentary” realm, even if unintentional. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-boundaries-of-political-commentary/776816.md?page=2)