Tell HN: Please reconsider your flagging practices.

This is inspired by the ongoing discussion regarding Osama bin Laden's death. (Found here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2504770) That thread is already cluttered enough, however, and I believe this issue is broad enough to warrant its own post.

I believe that a number of people need to reconsider their qualifications for content that should be flagged, especially when that content is clearly interesting and substantive. Furthermore, should you feel the need to flag a piece of content, please refrain from remarking on your subsequent flagging in the thread itself. The oft-quoted line is: "Off-Topic: Most stories about politics, or crime, or sports, unless they're evidence of some interesting new phenomenon. Videos of pratfalls or disasters, or cute animal pictures. If they'd cover it on TV news, it's probably off-topic." However, it seems that people tend to ignore the words "most" and "probably" when deciding whether or not a topic should be flagged.

In the case of the Osama piece: Yes, the story was about politics and crime. Yes, they will cover it on TV news. It is, however, a clear exception, as the topic has vast implications for both our national security moving forward and is related to many past discussions (such as those re: TSA screenings). It is obvious that, due to this article, substantive discussion will occur.

Should you still not feel the article worthy of HN, please do flag it. However, please do not mention that you have flagged it, nor argue for your actions. People will make up their own minds, and your comment will only further degrade the conversation.

Thanks!