Question about thread closure

[bifar]

I’m digging my own grave, seeing as this is my first OP and all, but I have a query about this thread, about drinking Absinthe:


http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=121437


Now, as Absinthe isn’t illegal in the UK, doesn’t that mean that it would be okay for UK dopers to discuss it on this thread? Just wondering about what happens when the laws aren’t the same all over the world. I’m not asking for it to be re-opened or anything.

Mucho cheersy

[Mangetout]

No, because this is a US-administered board (with a high proportion of US members), besides drinking absinthe is dangerous, so it would probably fall on the 'encouraging people to do stupid things for which the board management might be held responsible' front, even if it were legal.

It wouldn't be possible to open a thread that only UK dopers could read.

[bifar]

Ah okay. Thanks for the quick reply.

[Tristan]

For the record, the illegal status of Absinthe is regarded by most folks as on par with the laws against riding donkeys backwards in yellow pants.

And I've seen threads about hallucinagens, marijuana, and even some admissions of *gasp* underage drinking. I'm not sure how this gets nailed, and other haven't.

Absinthe is no more dangerous than any other alcoholic beverage. The wormwood content of modern absinthe is much smaller than the percentages of the past, thus leading to a lower thujone content.

this is all for naught, of course, but I was curious of there was anything else the mods may wish to say. I've stated my defence.


note: I'm not asking the thread to be opened. I'm not Kanute, I know the routine.

[Mangetout]

(I should add, in case it isn't completely obvious, that I am not a figure of authority of any kind here at the SDMB).

[Mangetout]

I don't think there would be a problem with a GD thread debating whether absinthe should or should not be legal; I reckon they'd even tolerate a GQ thread about the effects of thujone on the human system, but in my experience, it's frownded upon when a thread tends toward the 'how can I obtain x?' or 'should I try x?' (where x is illegal).

[Tristan]

True..... and, as far as I know, I wasn't trying to do that. I was just curious to the costs. I've found several places to buy it, but it is outrageously expensive. I was curious as to what the mark-up is.

And now to a GD thread, inspired by you... hehehe

[Mangetout]

Oops, I hope I was right that they'd tolerate a debate on it.

[Tristan]

I hope so too. No matter, won't be the first time I've gotten the hammer.

[Coldfire]

Mangetout nailed it. The thread was closed because it was just waiting for a response along the lines of "Hey, check out this website (www.bogusurl.com), it has absinthe for 20 bucks!", in which case the line would have been crossed.

A carefully worded Great Debate about the illegality of absinthe?
As long as no links or instructions to require the stuff are posted, I don't see how it would be different from a debate about marihuana, and we've allowed those before.

[Una Persson]

And, if you want to slum, there are other Boards where you can discuss Absinthe et al in more detail than here...

Absinthe itself is not regulated by the FDA, as it happens. Absinthe which does not contain thujone is legal in the US. But then, is it really "Absinthe" anymore...?

[Achernar]

This is an interesting idea I hadn't considered before. What about something which is legal in the USA, but illegal elsewhere? Would that be okay material?

[Mangetout]

phew!

[Mangetout]

Originally posted by Achernar
This is an interesting idea I hadn't considered before. What about something which is legal in the USA, but illegal elsewhere? Would that be okay material? Guns?

[Coldfire]

Originally posted by Achernar
This is an interesting idea I hadn't considered before. What about something which is legal in the USA, but illegal elsewhere? Would that be okay material? Seeing as the Board is physically located in the state of Illinois, those local laws prevail.

Gun ownership would be an example. In many states of the US, guns can be owned by individuals. In Holland, it is illegal to sell guns to unlicensed individuals.

Two scenarios: Someone posts a link to a Texas based website of a fully licensed gun store. Someone posts a link to a Dutch website of an Amsterdam gun dealer that sells to anyone willing to pay.The first one stays, and the second will get deleted, even if selling guns is legal in the US.

Now, of course we're not privy to all legal frameworks worldwide, so YMMV here. It is not unthinkable that a link to something that's legal in the US, but illegal in -say- the UK remains on the boards.

[Achernar]

Okay thanks. I'm not trying to be nitpicky, but just trying to get guidelines for myself so as possibly to save the Mods some trouble in the future.

Guns is a good example. I was thinking abortion, but I don't know how long an abortion thread would stay in GQ. Come to think of it, the same might be said of gun ownership. :D

[UncleBeer]

Heh. To push the debate into further darkness, it has, since 1982, been illegal to purchase a handgun in Chicago, the home city of the Reader.

And everyone wonders why things at even this simple little board aren't entirely consistent. It shouldn't surprise anyone. Everything done here is a judgment call.

[samclem]

Unc

I would think that the Reader would allow a thread which posted a link to a gun store in Toledo.

They might be upset if someone published a link to a guy in Chicago selling guns within the City limits.

They might close down a thread which told about how to buy guns in Toledo and get them into Chicago without being detected.

Sam

[Tristan]

Meh. I've seen threads dedicated to drugs, in particular asking folks their drug experiences.

The thread was closed apparently under the fear that I was trolling for websites.

I know how to use google, however.

However, not only does there seem to be a lack of support for any such thread, there seems to be a lack of interest in the topic at all, as shown by my GD thread.

I still stand by my opinion that ignorance, not fact, closed that thread. A hard stand to take on a website whose motto is "fighting ignorance" but......

[Mangetout]

Originally posted by Tristan
Meh. I've seen threads dedicated to drugs, in particular asking folks their drug experiences.

The thread was closed apparently under the fear that I was trolling for websites.

I know how to use google, however.

However, not only does there seem to be a lack of support for any such thread, there seems to be a lack of interest in the topic at all, as shown by my GD thread.

I still stand by my opinion that ignorance, not fact, closed that thread. A hard stand to take on a website whose motto is "fighting ignorance" but...... Now, now Tristan, you quite clearly indicated that you were trying to obtain the stuff (perhaps you were not deliberately asking for links to sources, but that's almost certainly where the thread would have gone).

[Tristan]

So, based on a theoretical "what if" they can close threads? that's fuzzy logic at best.

And I'd already stated that I had found sources. Why would I need more?

[Mangetout]

I think maybe you should continue pursuit of this percieved injustice in the pit thread about it or by email to one or more of the mods; this forum isn't the place.

[Coldfire]

Originally posted by Tristan
So, based on a theoretical "what if" they can close threads? that's fuzzy logic at best.Yup, based on an expectation of where a thread may be headed, we can close a thread. And I'd already stated that I had found sources. Why would I need more? You were asking, among other things, about the price Dopers paid for their absinthe. That's one step away from "where did you get it?".

Hence, the thread was closed.

Further grievances can be posted in the Pit, where a thread on this very subject is already in progress.