[SaltyLemonZest]

I've been explicitly told by the HN moderators that my opinions on policing - which are well within the American mainstream and probably a touch left of center - are so controversial they constitute flamebait and I shouldn't discuss them here.

[dang]

That doesn't sound very likely. People make up all sorts of stories about what moderators supposedly said or did. The tell is that they're invariably linkless. If they came with the relevant links, readers could see what actually happened and make up their own minds.

[SaltyLemonZest]

I generally err on the side of not providing links to other comment threads so as not to give the impression I'm calling for a pileon. I'd happily link it, but my old profile https://news.ycombinator.com/threads?id=SpicyLemonZest no longer shows the comment thread. It was on a post about federal police in Portland from last week which I'm not sure how to find.

[allenbrunson]

it could be you can't see that thread anymore because a lot of it was flagged dead. if you turn on showdead in your profile, threads like that will be visible.

it could be you are talking about the one that starts here:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23867618

dang gets around to taking notice right about here:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23868001

dang says: "We've rate limited your account again for perpetuating flamewars on this site."

you said: "I've been explicitly told by the HN moderators that my opinions on policing - which are well within the American mainstream and probably a touch left of center - are so controversial they constitute flamebait and I shouldn't discuss them here."

that does not to me sound at all like a good-faith representation of what dang said.

[SaltyLemonZest]

I disagree, but unfortunately I won't be able to engage without expressing the views that I've been told perpetuate flamewars.

[pvg]

You can just link the moderator comment in which you were 'explicitly told' the things you say you were explicitly told.