[Overpaid Slacker]

Nostatic made a comment "But the only person here with any real legal exposure is Wayne"
If I was less lazy, I'd go back and find it, but someone recently posted a link to an article about a suit by Pets Warehouse (or similar name) against not only the host/moderator of a board, but the persons that posted the "offensive", "libelous" material on such board. So any post could be a hook for a law suit. Not that you'd be liable, but bear in mind that legal exposure vis-a-vis liability is one thing, but exposure to legal costs (ie having to secure counsel and go through the hoops of getting the court to say that you're not liable) is another, and it's still expensive. A lot of exonerated defendants are bankrupt.

Although Superman makes a good point, the fact that editing is ad hoc doesn't result in some kind of "automatic" liability. This is true even if the interference appears to be inconsistent, or -- the worst sin known to pop culture -- hypocritical. Wayne can fully explain and justify selective editing/interference/removal (pornography vs. vulgarity vs. politics vs. personal threats etc...) however, by the time he'd have to explain any distinctions, he'd already be being sued, so it's not that different a position to be in (he's *already* laying out the ducats for the defense -- see above), even assuming the explanation is reasonable.

So sterilize content completely or keep it reasonable. I'd incline to reasonability; therefore I'm still curious to hear from the grown-ups why the thread was deleted in the first place.

If in fact the thread had to be pulled due to the fact that some completely craven jackass threatened litigation because he didn't have the stones to come into this forum and debate/respond or even face the people who "insulted" -- or merely disagreed with -- him, then he can kiss my freckled a$$ and slink back to the circus in that car.

The foregoing opinions are solely my own and not to be attributed to any other person, living or dead, whether I bear resemblence to such person or not.

JP