Yes, that was weird. I'm pretty sure the unspoken explanation had to do with being able to get more advertisers or better relations with their advertisers if their site had no links to pictures of naked women.

My point is that sites beyond a certain size need to have a system of moderated comments or the comments cease to function. The individual decisions of the moderator (and the moderator's bosses) shouldn't factor in here -- what do you suggest as a superior alternative? Community moderation in the style of Hacker News and reddit?