Use the "sarcasm" emoji, please

[central scrutinizer]

I just served on a jury and rejected the alerted post. I actually believed that the poster was being sarcastic but it was offensive if not.

[hlthe2b]

1. If it wasn't clearly sarcastic... then perhaps you should not have given the benefit-of-the-doubt....

It might be a hard lesson, but an important-- one that will be remembered in the future. We don't need misunderstandings to cause disruption especially right now when most are feeling a lot of stress. Thus, the sarcasm emoticon or including text indicating one is being sarcastic or tongue-in-cheek is not merely helpful but respectful to the community.

[central scrutinizer]

2. I rejected the post

For the reasons you gave.

[chouchou]

3. Personally, I don't assume that someone (on this forum) would be offensive.

I'm probably in error sometimes.

[central scrutinizer]

4. Trolls, bots and disrupters

That haven’t been tombstoned yet

[chouchou]

5. I understand.

[Skittles]

6. people are too easily offended

outside of obvious trolls, I have NEVER alerted - ever

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Same Here

In fact, I've only alerted a few times ever & those were obvious trolls violating TOS.
I had 100% confidence a jury would hide the post.
The slightest ambiguity, I would not alert.
In fact, the post to which the OP is referring came before MIRT, and I thought it was obvious sarcasm.
I do agree it would have been useful to add a sarcasm tag, but I never would have voted to hide it.

[Skittles]

9. we have more in common than date and time joined and age

hey are you FROM Illinois? I am an Illinois native

[ProfessorGAC]

10. Chicago Exurbs

Born & raised in Joliet, SSW of Chicago.
We still live in the Chicago market but in a different city since 1980.
We're around 50 miles from downtown.
Even all 4 universities I attended were in or around Chicago.
Traveled all over the world for my job, but lived 35 to 50 miles from Chicago my whole life! So, I'm a parochial homebody who's seen everything?

[malthaussen]

8. Problem is, stylistically, if you label your sarcasm, it isn't working.

It's a conundrum.

-- Mal

[Hekate]

11. All the more reason to alert, then