I take your point, SO. I think most do. In my case with my recent thread (still ongoing), I posted it in breaking news because I had a suspicion that
the nature of the matter and the vastness of the potential harm implied a conspiracy or cover-up. I did not go into detail about that suspicion in my
OP, as we are restricted in how much we can say, but I hoped that mods would read between the lines so to speak, and realize the potential magnitude
of the problem, which is only now becoming apparent to the public at large.
Fortunately no moderator had any problem with my OP.
It wasn't until a little later that I was able to post evidence that there was indeed a cover-up or conspiracy (namely Florida dept of health
delaying release of info about toxic Chinese drywall for 3 months), so my original suspicions were justified.
So, if we as members feel there is a fair likelihood that the news item may relate to a cover-up/conspiracy, then aren't we justified in posting the
item on the breaking news forum? The problem is, a moderator might not see things the way we do and move it elsewhere. What happens, then, if we then
find evidence to support our original suspicions -- as I did? Can we request the thread be moved back to where it was to begin with? Or would this
request be rejected by the moderators?
I am fully in favor of moderators having the power to move threads that are clearly in the wrong forum, but on the other hand it seems to me that if
we might have to write up a justification for placing something in breaking news when its reason for being there maybe isn't entirely apparent, then
this will dissuade some members from posting what otherwise could be very useful information that could be of interest and benefit to other
members.
There is also the fact that breaking news is...errrmm... breaking news.
Sometimes we have to move fast to gather the information and get the links
and quotes up and posted, as you just never know -- some stories seem to disappear off the web pdq. Surely it's better to post in breaking news in
that case, even if there is not a rock-solid argument that a conspiracy will be established, rather than spend the time to dig and post so late that
the story has been pulled/buried by "whoever". (With the proviso that it strongly suggest a conspiracy and perhaps there are prior threads on the
same basic subject matter.)
Just my 2 kc. Many thanks for a great site.
Best regards,
Mike
[edit on 26/10/09 by JustMike]