StackExchange banned a quote by Noam Chomsky! But flying Ukrainian flag is ok...

mod-hypocrisy.md

Conversation with Super User moderators Super User Moderators's user avatar Super User Moderators Mod yesterday Hello,

We're writing in reference to your Super User account:

https://superuser.com/users/218939/guest271314

We have received reports that contents of your profile may be in violation of the Code of Conduct.

As a result we have reset your profile to the default setting. We kindly request that you do not change your profile back to the previous one without first consulting with us.

If there has been any misunderstanding regarding the previous profile contents, please feel free to reach out to us and provide clarification by responding to this message, or by utilizing the Contact Us button at the bottom of the page.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Regards,

Super User Moderation Team

guest271314's user avatar guest271314 22 hours ago what are you people talking about? the quote of noam chomsky?

Super User Moderators's user avatar Super User Moderators Mod 16 hours ago Yup

Regards, Super User Moderation Team

guest271314's user avatar guest271314 2 hours ago You need to explain your reasoning in detail. So I and the whole world can have your explaination for banning a quote my Noam Chomsky on the record Explain in detail, for the record, exactly how you concluded quoting Noam Chomsky is a violation of CoC.

Clearly you folks are not out of the office.

Hello,

Thank you for contacting us. We have looked into this situation and are happy to address your concerns.

We have reviewed the edits made to your profile, and found that the quote that was removed does indeed violate our Code of Conduct. We do not allow statements of direct support for figures associated with mass violence such as Goebbels and Stalin, as it contributes to an atmosphere of intimidation and falls under the bullying and harassment policy in our CoC. Positioning these figures in a favorable light could have a negative impact on individuals, especially those who belong to historically marginalized and underrepresented groups.

Highlighting sections of the policy, below:

_"We believe knowledge-sharing happens when people feel safe collaborating and that historically marginalized and underrepresented groups are disproportionately impacted by online abuse. We are committed to building and serving a diverse community of people who have labored to create the repository of information on Stack Exchange.

To ensure that all users feel safe and welcome, we do not allow behaviors or content that cause or contribute to an atmosphere that excludes, marginalizes, or dehumanizes individuals or communities on the basis of their actual or perceived ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, or held religious beliefs. We also don't allow promoting, encouraging, or threatening acts of violence.

Conduct that falls under this category includes, but is not limited to, the below definitions:

• Bullying and Harassment - severe, repeated, or persistent unsolicited conduct, misuse of power or tools, or attacks that target specific users or groups of people in a manner that causes harm. Content that contributes to a hostile or threatening environment, denies a person's expressed gender identity, or invalidates a person's individual experiences in a manner that causes harm.
• Extremism – promoting or supporting violent actors, hateful organizations, or groups organized under a common name, sign, or symbol that promotes an ideology of bigotry and discrimination, heavily advocates for violence against others or are tied to activities such as homicide, drug trafficking, kidnapping, acts of mass violence, and spree killing."_

We hope this clears up some of the confusion regarding the changes to your profile. As always if there is anything else we can help with, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best,
bigbird -- Stack Exchange Trust & Safety Team

On Wed, 26 Nov at 5:26 PM , <[email protected]> wrote:
Hello,

Thanks for reaching out to us. Your ticket has been escalated to our Trust & Safety team. Please note that responses may be slow through the end of the November US holiday period. Response speeds will return again starting on December 1, 2025.

Thanks,
Stack Exchange Community Support Team

---

Your Ticket ID: 165569

On Wed, 26 Nov at 3:34 PM , guest271314 <[email protected]> wrote:
Free text follows:

You folks need to explain, in detail, exactly how my quote of Noam Chomsky on my profile allegedly violated your code of conduct, for the record.

We do not allow statements of direct support for figures associated with mass violence such as Goebbels and Stalin

Wow. In no way did the quote "support" Stalin or Goebbels. The quote was literally a justification for free speech made by noting the lack of consistency those figures had for free speech regarding views they didn't like.