On: What Does ‘Off the Record’ Really Mean?

[extralego]

Why are you implying that “having an agenda” is the accusation? The problem is having an unethical agenda. How is that not clear? Or, are you asserting that nobody has an ethical agenda?

[dang → extralego]

You've been making a habit of posting flamewar-style comments to HN. We eventually ban accounts that do that, because they lower discussion quality and encourage worse from others. Would you please read https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html and only post civilly and substantively from now on?

The idea is: if you have a substantive point to make, make it thoughtfully; if you don't, please don't comment until you do.

[Covzire → extralego]

Not the GP, but how would you define "unethical agenda" in the reporting context?

[extralego → Covzire]

Seriously?

“Not morally approvable; morally bad; not ethical.”

-Wiktionary

EDIT: The accusation was that the subjects all “have an agenda”. The subjects are not the reporters, so a dictionary definition is the exactly the right amount of specificity.

[vageli → extralego]

Since morals vary by social norms and culture, I'm not sure that's a great definition of unethical in the context of journalistic integrity.

[dhsbak → vageli]

Very true. But neither social norms or culture were defined. I think they make a fine point here.