# To all the Powers That Be here. **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [October 1, 2005, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-powers-that-be-here/324330 "2005-10-01T13:38:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-powers-that-be-here/324330/1 "2005-10-01T13:38:45Z")
Regarding the last words on [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=337142) thread. Thank you. So much. I didn’t realize or really know that the misquoting thing was a very serious issue. I mean, I figured it probably could or would be controversial, but didn’t know it was as bad as **Cajun Man** said. People being harshly reprimanded and even banned over it? Wow. I should consider myself lucky then. I only got my thread closed. So thank you for being understanding, and knowing how I meant the thread. I really appreciate the light warning. So again, thank you for not coming down hard on me for it. I’ll try to use the space between my two ears a bit better from now on. 🙂 ---
**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:** [October 1, 2005, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-powers-that-be-here/324330/2 "2005-10-01T14:04:56Z")
Not to worry, we did know what you were intending. We discussed among the moderators whether a thread that was clearly a joke might be an exception, and we decided against it (although the vote wasn’t unanimous.) The problem with misquotes is that we have had some very severe cases of people quoting others out of context, or mis-stating, or even doctoring a quote. These happened in very intense debates or Pit-flamings, and were like pouring kerosene on a fire. We therefore had to take a pretty hard stance against mis-quoting other members (or nonmembers, for that matter.) Our main concern with allowing “misquotes” in your thread is that, at some future date, some jackass will then misquote someone in a Pit threads and point to your thread and say, “See? They can do it, why can’t I?” and starting a shit-storm. So, we all regret the necessity for the decision, because it would have been fun, but we pretty much agreed it wouldn’t be a good idea from a broader perspective. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-powers-that-be-here/324330/3 "2005-10-01T14:43:50Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > Our main concern with allowing “misquotes” in your thread is that, at some future date, some jackass will then misquote someone in a Pit threads and point to your thread and say, “See? They can do it, why can’t I?” and starting a shit-storm. Can **C K Dexter Haven** use the “s” word outside of the Pit? ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-powers-that-be-here/324330/4 "2005-10-01T15:17:15Z")
Yeah. **C.K. Dexter Haven** …That’s understandable. I also wanted to say thanks for getting back to me on it as well. For a bit there I saw it dropping more and more but was just patient and it paid off. It wasn’t forgotten about and bumped when the “verdict” was reached. So good job. ---
**Author:** ![Shadez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Shadez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shadez)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-powers-that-be-here/324330/5 "2005-10-01T15:46:25Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Can **C K Dexter Haven** use the “s” word outside of the Pit? If you’re bored, do a search across all boards except BBQ Pit. Thread titles only. Occurences of ‘fucking’ in title. You’ll be surprised 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lorinada](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b5e925/32.png) [@lorinada](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorinada)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-powers-that-be-here/324330/6 "2005-10-01T16:22:15Z")
Well, I for one, thought it was “teh funny” but I can understand why it had to be nipped in the bud. Even “getting” the joke, I still found myself scrolling up thinking “where did **tomndebb** say that?” ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2005, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-powers-that-be-here/324330/7 "2005-10-01T17:41:47Z")
Why not just remove the poster’s names from the quote? The thread might actually have worked better that way, since then any poster could’ve come in taking credit for the quote and even had some fun providing the context. (not that I wasn’t enjoying the thread as it was). ---
**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:** [October 1, 2005, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-powers-that-be-here/324330/8 "2005-10-01T22:02:23Z")
We don’t censor language, not in any forum. However, we tend to get antsy about excessive use of non-polite language in any forum. We just sort of assume that, if the topic is supposed to be polite discussion (as in, say, CoCC) then profanity will be used less often than if the topic is violent discussion (as in, say, the Pit.) But we’re not prohibiting any particular words or phrases, in any forum. Never have. We prohibit insults in some forums, of course, however they’re phrased. ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-powers-that-be-here/324330/9 "2005-10-02T01:40:46Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Can **C K Dexter Haven** use the “s” word outside of the Pit? I think the [answer is](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=156526) (among other gems): > [@MEBuckner](#): > > He seems quite capable of swearing to _me_. > > Question asked and answered! ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-powers-that-be-here/324330/10 "2005-10-02T13:49:05Z")
> [@Moe](#): > > Why not just remove the poster’s names from the quote? > > The thread might actually have worked better that way, since then any poster could’ve come in taking credit for the quote and even had some fun providing the context. (not that I wasn’t enjoying the thread as it was). This is a really good idea…however, before I begin it again, mods/admins, would that work all right? Would it be allowed it I and anyone else didn’t attribute any quotes to any names? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-powers-that-be-here/324330/11 "2005-10-02T17:15:21Z")
[**misquoting**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=2171051&postcount=9) > [@](#): > > 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. > > Be aware that for legal reasons we do not edit posts, except to rectify coding errors or remove unacceptable links - changes that do not require editorial judgment on our part. We will delete offensive posts on request if we feel deletion is warranted, or delete the thread if removal of the offending post would render the thread meaningless. > > We appreciate your cooperation. Not attributing the quote to any individual would be okay. **Cajun Man** for the SDMB ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-powers-that-be-here/324330/12 "2005-10-03T13:00:32Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > We don’t censor language, not in any forum. However, we tend to get antsy about excessive use of non-polite language in any forum. We just sort of assume that, if the topic is supposed to be polite discussion (as in, say, CoCC) then profanity will be used less often than if the topic is violent discussion (as in, say, the Pit.) But we’re not prohibiting any particular words or phrases, in any forum. Never have. > > We prohibit insults in some forums, of course, however they’re phrased. I whooshed a Moderator. I whooshed a Moderator. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rufus\_Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-powers-that-be-here/324330/13 "2005-10-03T14:28:01Z")
> [@Idle Thoughts](#): > > This is a really good idea…however, before I begin it again, mods/admins, would that work all right? Would it be allowed it I and anyone else didn’t attribute any quotes to any names? It has been done, and quite successfully, in this thread from April fool’s day. > **[The Backward Thread](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=309834)** > > Ok, I’m giving up on this one. Four pages of that is waaaay more than the OP was looking for! :eek: Enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-all-the-powers-that-be-here/324330/14 "2005-10-03T21:43:21Z")
Thanks for clearing that up **Cajun Man**. And thank YOU for the link **Rufus Xaiver**. 🙂