Reply #68: your understanding of respect may be at variance with the definition of the term

[Bryan Sacks]

Your understanding of "respectfully" is sharply at variance with my own. If you were a mod, would you feel "respected" by that comment?

Respect has to do with matters other than those of fact. The passage quoted is a claim of fact. It is either true or not. If it is true, then there is not disrespect done to anyone by stating it. In fact, many would say that respect for persons REQUIRES calling their behavior by its proper name. Otherwise, you do them a disrespect by altering reality (Kant, for instance, would hold this kind of view).

You seem to be implying that saying something that reflects badly on the local authorities is disrespectful to them. That's not so. It is a question of whether the criticism is appropriate or not.

Having said all of this, Hamden's claim is false (strictly speaking). "(A)nything and everything" cannot literally be said. But Hamden was quite clearly exaggerating to make a salient point: namely, that there appears to be favoritism toward those who share the point of view held by the proprietor of this board. Whether the use of exaggeration is disrespectful can be debated (you may be right that it is).