i asked https://serverfault.com/questions/505802/rsync-not-removing-single-quotes-around-array-of-strings-filter-list  on ServerFault, but it was closed as off-topic without explanation.  

i am trying to automate a safe way to move files from multiple machines that came to our business with an acquisition.  i specifically mention safe because i know these machines are heavily infected with malware and cannot have them boot up on our HIPAA protected LAN.  i posted the question to ServerFault because that is the site where i found the most relevant existing answers to my questions.  A very similar question about mutt on ServerFault is referenced, but that is not closed.  

Maybe a better solution would be to tag the question with SuperUser, StackOverflow or some other means so that i can continue to do my JOB until at such time that it definitively belongs on another site.  

I do not know any sysadmins who consider simple bash scripting software development.