AusBT comment policy

Is this site being censored? I have posted twice today with a legitimate question that seems to be unpalatable to Mr Flynn. On each occasion the question was removed. Why?

Happy to discuss here, but comments under the article in question deleted as they were off-topic and didn't relate to the subject of the article or this add value to any conversation on it.

Hi David,

Can you please provide us with the link to the policy that guides this, so that we can better understand. The posts that I have seen in the past that were removed, questioned AusBT (and may have been construed as not painting AusBT in a positive light - perhaps this is in the policy). 

Would be great to understand for all of us the guidelines, as it would appear that some posts are deleted, rather than answering without an objective and rational response.

Many thanks in advance.

http://www.ausbt.com.au/australian-business-traveller-comment-policy

So what you're claiming is that the content of a graphic attached to an article is off-topic? Is it not a pictorial representation that can be commented upon in the same way as the text? 

You got it in one. The article is the article - the image is just a photo atop it. Comments under an article about possible VIP channels at Sydney or Melbourne airports, being the case in point, are on topic if they discuss that subject.

But the graphic somehow isn't? You can publish anything that is "just a photo", however objectionable? I'd say the case in point is that the image is completely off-topic to the article!

Just to be clear, the image depicts a woman who is scantily clad and impossibly thin. In my opinion.

1. The image in question is atop this article:

New 'VIP passenger' channel for Sydney, Melbourne airports? 

2. It is indeed your opinion, Wilsoni. Others may differ. Mine certainly does, because this image – one of our generic library shots – was deliberately chosen because it conveys the essence of the article in a visually appealing way (and that doesn't mean the woman is appealing, but the image as a whole) and is also a bit tongue-in-cheek as to the whole 'VIP' thing.

OK, I get it. You're happy to portray women in a misogynistic way. If that's OK in your opinion...

Wow, thought police are actually coming for me.

I'm sorry, wilsoni, but your comment doesn't really pass the test — the article is about paid priority access at SYD and MEL, not about the unrealistic portrayal of the model in question; indeed, if you wanted to challenge the realism of the model portrayed, might I highlight that the rest of the graphic is also unrealistic, down to and including the bright and airy terminal (i.e. not SYD or MEL)?

You have every right to be unhappy with the "scantily clad and impossibly thin" model in the graphic, but you're just missing the point.

I find AUSBT is generally a happy place, a good exchange of intel from a somewhat niche area.... Your faux outrage is offending me and the moral highground you're taking is way off the mark! It probably wouldn't hurt to look up the definition if misogynistic. I get you're probably regurgitating buzz words from the media, but there is absolutely no way you can claim that image is misogynistic.

The image is very unrealistic. That maniac is pulling his rollaboard along carpet, when there's a perfectly good tiled floor next to him.

;-)

Here is a link to the published AusBT comment policy. And yes, in a future update to the site I hope this can be made available from any comment area as a pop-up.