Stevia post - invalid thread message?

[teelbee]

I was just in the process of replying to an interesting post on stevia as it relates to hypoglycemia.

When I clicked to post my reply, I got a message saying it was an invalid thread and to notify the webmaster.

I could still see the post's title in my browser, but when I click the link, I again the the invalid thread error message.

Now, the post seems to be gone all together.

Hopefully, that is due to some kind of technical glitch and not editorial bias regarding the subject.


???

[Maggie]

It was not an editorial bias, Teel. It did not fit the criteria for this section. As I explained to the submitter, it was 1. not a news item and 2. copyrighted. I invited this brand new member to re-post it to another forum if he desired and to put a link to the original item, rather than reprint it in full.

HTH explain what happened.

[teelbee]

Thanks for explaining, Maggie. I'm not sure I understand why it wasn't okay for the news forum, unless that forum is only for news from major publishing houses.

The quote was short enough that it might have fallen under the fair use convention? I thought it was okay to quote small passages from publications - or does that only apply to educational uses? It's been quite a while since I read up on copyright usage, so I may well be mistaken in my thinking on that point.

It's not that big a deal, I gues; but I am sorry the person didn't resubmit it - it was interesting to me and I did not copy it for further reference.

Terry

[Maggie]

Terry,

The reasons that it didn't meet the criteria for the news forum were various. Yes, we DO tend to look for news as reported in peer reviewed journals or recognized news outlets. This appears to have been (and I can only say "appears", since there was no reference link given) an answer on a bulletin board of some kind, the exact source not identified.

From the post, it appeared that each Q&A was copyrighted, but with no link, it was not possible to tell whether the copyright applied to each Q&A or to the site as a whole. If each Q&A were copyrighted, then this was more than "fair usage" would permit, since it was the exchange in its entirety.

I don't know why this person did not re-submit to another forum. I can only tell you that I now have seen many posts by persons who seem to have joined only for the purpose of posting some sole post and have never return again - apparently having no interest in becoming a member of the "community." This has been true whether the post was approved or declined or approved for another forum.

PM me anytime, if I can provide more info!