Posted by so on June 15, 2005, at 22:28:31
In reply to Re: Posting hypotheticals » so, posted by gardenergirl on June 15, 2005, at 21:27:36
> I did not link my hypothetical to a previous or similar post
Paragraphs sometimes are used to group similar ideas.
GG wrote: "Yet the statements are there in your question. If someone were to post "Is it okay if ..."
Here's how I'm parsing this. John Doe says "If Johnny Jr. keeps driving like that, he's going to kill somebody." Someone hears that, and says "John Doe said he's going to kill somebody." Well, yes, John Doe did say "he's going to kill somebody." But the meaning of the phrase is entirely different when separated from the original sentence. The relational meanings among the words is lost, the meaning conveyed in punctuation is lost and the context is lost.
> I'm simply asking what are the limits of asking "can I post ____?" If _________ includes a statement that if posted as a statement and not a question, might be deemed uncivil.
>
> ggThe limits I set for myself, in my limited experience with the matter here, have been to be vague in whatever meaning I might include in "can I post ______" so that it can't be construed as a suggestion that I really think "_______", but to be specific in stating the context from which the question arose and in defining what aspect of the characterization about which I was requesting an assessment of propriety.
Some members here advocate addressing this sort of request for clarification to the administrator so we can all learn from the answer, but if my experience with the matter is helpful, it's free for the reading.
poster:so
thread:507180
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20050614/msgs/513464.html