I am sorry for falsely quoting Martin Milner, TooTs, and Gary Kelly earlier today. It was meant to be funny but apparently to some it wasn’t. Sorry.
I chuckled.
I thought it was funny. Oh, well…
I admit that I did as well, but perhaps it’s because I understood the meaning behind it…or maybe I didn’t and I just chuckled for no reason. At any rate, I did chuckle as well. 
Well, I’m glad that some people got it. 
Besides just deleting the offending quote, Dale had what I would call a hissy fit, threatened to delete my entire account and log in ability, and demanded that I make a public apology immediately (although I obviously misunderstood in making it its own thread–he wanted me to apologise in the thread where I had quoted people. Oops!).
I must have missed that. So now you’ll have to tell me what you said.
I’ve been deliberately misquoted a couple of times. I don’t mind being made the butt of a joke if it’s good natured and funny, which it was. I thought that if someone really thought I’d said the (silly) things I’d been credited with they could easily check back through the thread and would see that a subtle rearrangement of words had taken place. (If someone deliberately misrepresents me that is another matter. Although you generally know it when you see it, it is obviously much harder to prove.)
The trouble with this trick is that while many find it funny once or twice it has a very limited life span. All it takes is for one victim to take offence and complain and you are in trouble you can’t really get out of. So no moderator who notices it can let it go.
Well, I took the user names of the three pro-death penalty posters mentioned and made a fake quote that said the five year old girl who kicked her teacher deserved to be hanged. I also used the ‘b word’. I didn’t think it was offensive in any way at all since the story was obviously a fake anyway, and I thought Martin would find it funny. Shows how much I know!
The further it is from something actually said, the more likely someone will complain I think.
As I said, if one person objects they have a right to complain and the moderator has to act. But unless everybody finds it funny, it will come back to bite you. It’s a very high risk way to get a laugh.
Yep. 
It may seem like Dale overreacted, but consider: I’m part of several online communities, and on just about any other board I can think of falsely quoting someone like that would get you permanently banned instantly.
It’s not that you meant any harm by doing it; I think we all know you didn’t. It’s just something that can’t be allowed in a public forum.
I’m glad you’re still here. I think that you’re still here shows that you are a valued part of the community.
–James
Ahh…but you didn’t see the PM Dale sent me. Hehe…I almost felt as though my head was being bitten off. If Dale doesn’t mind, I will share it. But I’d rather not just up and share private messages because they’re that–private. I felt it was harsh, to say the least.
It’s not that you meant any harm by doing it; I think we all know you didn’t. It’s just something that can’t be allowed in a public forum.
I’m glad you’re still here. I think that you’re still here shows that you are a valued part of the community.
Of course I didn’t mean harm and I’m glad I’m still here, too.
But see, Wombat has said he has fabricated quotes in humour. And he and I are certainly not the only ones who’ve done it. It’s not that uncommon or difficult.
I couldn’t really be banned anyway. My screename, sure. But not me. I have an ISP that’s ‘rotating’ or whatever they call it, so I could sign on on another name without much problem. Also, the computers at the library and school couldn’t all be banned, either.
Don’t get me wrong–I still don’t want banned if it can be helped. And deep down, I know that Dale still loves me.
I wouldn’t post the PM, Cran, or even ask to get it OK’d…Dale’s got enough to deal with from this board without having to worry about whether his PMs will get published in the future. He’s had to deal with some pretty rough characters here before, and I seem to remember a couple threats of lawsuits from irate members in years past. (my apologies if my memory is incorrect, it wouldn’t be the first time)
BTW, I’ve picked out some coins for you, but it’ll probably be cheaper to send them from the states when I go back (briefly!) in May - even the sixpence to FC cost about $2 to send over!
I wouldn’t do that if I were you.
No, I didn’t do it. It’s been done to me. I didn’t complain and the misquotes were too subtle for someone to pick up unless you compared them with my original post. It was done to me as part of a bit of back and forth ribbing. I imagine Dale would not have been impressed with those who did it if I had complained.
It’s your business of course but I’d just take note of the trouble and move on I think. These things can be hurtful but it’s best to let go.
Point(s) well taken. I would never threaten a lawsuit over something so silly. Dale has, historically and generally, been quite good and nice and generous to me.
I am prepared to say and am saying that I made too big a deal out of the situation of him making too big a deal out the other situation, which lead to this situation.
BTW, I’ve picked out some coins for you, but it’ll probably be cheaper to send them from the states when I go back (briefly!) in May - even the sixpence to FC cost about $2 to send over!
Don’t worry! Whenever is fine.
Yes, I am letting it go. As if now. This very second. In a few minutes. Well, later. Tomorrow, mabey.
Sigh. Someday I’ll learn to check the boards on weekends.
Hiya Cran,
I didn’t get a chance to read the “mis-quotes”, the whole thing was removed before I had a chance to read it and object to it, or indeed have any reaction to it. That is more upsetting than fake quotes, which as mentioned, can easily be verified.
I probably would have found it funny! I’d be happy for you to PM me the “offending” post, for my giggle collection. 
Here’s the hissy-fit PM I sent Cranberry.
Cranberry,
Fabricating a quote like you did today is absolutely unacceptable. I insist you extend a public apology on the board to those you pretended to quote and to those who were offended.
I’m more than a little angry. Deal with this right now or I’m deleting your log in. You know better than this.
Dale
It’s been interesting to read Cranberry’s response to it here on the forum. For future reference, anybody who has a problem with me is really free to convey that to me personally. Or you can not communicate with me about it and then out me about it publicly. Whatever you think is the right thing to do.
I understand that some may see this as an over-reaction, because it probably was. Anybody who gave it a minute’s thought would have recognized that the quote was fabricated. But, at the risk of using a slippery slope argument, falsely quoting people is unfair and needs to be taken care of.
The content of the false quote probably bothered me for personal reasons and that’s probably why I reacted strongly.
And, as I’ve said myself, editing and deleting posts is somewhat problematic and I try to do as little as I can. I confess to growing a bit
weary of the censorship argument and, quite honestly, I don’t understand how anyone could argue that this board is over-moderated or that I am heavy-handed.
Don’t worry Dale. I think everyone thinks the forums are very well run with a very minumum of moderating. I know I have been surprised at the high level of civilized behavior I have found here and that, undoubtedly, is because you react to things in the way you do. I think Cranberry was doing something that seemed funny, did not intend to do harm, and didn’t really think about the possible ramifications----something I know I have done before. I think you had no choice but to respond strongly because it is your job to think of the forums as a whole and what it could lead to if we began to think it was okay to make up quotes from people. When there is a conflict naturally people can feel upset and hurt, but I think Cranberry understands now why you had to react as you did. My feeling is that everyone appreciates Cranberry’s participation in the forums and that everyone fully supports your efforts to keep the forums civilized while maintaining the highest level of free speech possible in this situation.
ditto