The four-paragraph limit in LBN.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

I do have a dog in this fight.

Once a month, on the first Friday of the month, I start a thread about the unemployment data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This morning's thread is at http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141474623 .

In my other LBN threads, those that quote newspaper articles, I observe the four-paragraph limit. I understand the need for the limit in those situations, as the quoted material is copyrighted. Those reporters don't work for free, and the news source needs advertising revenue to stay alive.

In the case of government reports, however, that material has been assembled and released into the wild by civil servants. You and I have already paid for it. The government is eager to see the material widely disseminated.

And that material is disseminated. I don't have to check Google News to know that the story of the unemployment figures is above the virtual fold.

What I suggest is that government material, because it is not copyrighted, receive a variance from the four-paragraph limit.

It's a big deal, and it should get more than four paragraphs. I don't mean to quote the entire thing, but just the stuff people want to see.

Full disclosure: this month's post has come in for a look-see because of the four-paragraph issue.

Thanks for letting me post this thing every month. Rules are rules, and I'll manage to comply with whatever the decision is.

mahatmakanejeeves

[Skinner]

1. Our copyright rules are enforced by the DU Administrators.

If we don't ask you to edit your post you're fine.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. Thank you. That thread is the highlight of the month for me.

It's my personal 20th Century Limited, in that it is the one thing that absolutely has to get through on time. I take particular pride in maintaining a non-partisan stance in that thread. I never suppress the news in case it's not so hot - like this month's. The numbers, good or bad, get posted; let the chips fall where they may.

I am grateful to DU for providing me with this opportunity.

Thank you again.

Best wishes.