I decided to end my status as a lurker in order to help answer a question that was asking about English usage of a specific phrase within the context of American culture and American government sub-culture [NOTE: the question was tagged with "american-english"]. To answer that question I found it necessary to address issues with the context described by the OP. Response to my answer was mixed. SO... I am asking:
What, if any, policy exists to guide such questions/answers in the future?
Here is the link to the relevant question and my answer.
Under my answer I joined the commentary/discussion of my answer and posted the following. I would ask those reading this to integrate these comments as part of my question. Thank you.
I myself was dubious on how to best answer this question but language does not live in a vacuum separate from the society that uses it. It would be (IMHO) grossly negligent to answer the OP's question without clarifying his understanding of the context & source of the phrase. Imagine for example if the OP was to walk away from this thread with the concept that "I love you" was (A) synonymous with "I appreciate you" and (B) was in common usage by government. The OP might decide that it would be good English to end every correspondence with government officials by saying "I love you".
As for my answer duplicating others', at least I actually provided a source for some of my knowledge (qv professional experience) which is required for such answers. I have been a lurker for awhile before this and I believe when an answer duplicates a non sourced answer the sourced answer should supercede the other. Am I incorrect?