Reply #97: Some problems with this.

[The Stranger]

The first of the new criteria is incredibly nebulous and subject to abuse. What one person may consider "inflammatory" another poster may consider anodyne. Further, it is subject to abuse in that those who do not want a topic discussed may silence it by becoming "inflammed" or issuing inflammatory posts to get the post locked. A better approach is to recognize that, generally, offense comes easy to the self-righteous, and any poster has the option to use the ignore function or avoid topics with which they disagree or find disagreeable.

The second of the new criteria turns the General Discussion Board into the Latest Breaking News Board, which defeats the purpose for having a general discussion board entirely. News groups are available elsewhere, even on this site, so turning general discussion into a news board takes away substantially from the value of the site.

The third of the new criteria is redundant of the DU Rules established and already in place. Having re-stated criteria may give a moderator the sense that they should operate as censors, robbing the site and the posters of free speech, free conscience and free debate, something which no moderator is empowered to be or do.