# Are we allowed to call for revolution on this board? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 8, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495 "2006-02-08T03:06:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/1 "2006-02-08T03:06:43Z")
No, I’m serious. Really. If I wanted to post a thread arguing **seriously** for armed political class-war revolt against the United States government, and trying to recruit volunteers for a revolutionary army, is there any SDMB forum in which the rules would allow for that? ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/2 "2006-02-08T03:19:34Z")
Whilst waiting for **TubaDiva** to arrive, I’m going to say not. Such a thing would be against U.S. law, to put it mildly. I _think_ that it is illegal to advocate overthrow of the government (the generic government), and entering into a conspiracy to commit violence definitely is. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/3 "2006-02-08T03:20:54Z")
[ > [@](#): > > You agree not to post material that in our opinion fosters or promotes activity that is illegal in the U.S. > > … > > The board is not intended to furnish you with a forum for promoting your personal agenda. ]([http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/rules.php?)](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/rules.php?)) I think that about covers it, don’t you? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/4 "2006-02-08T03:32:02Z")
> [@Q.E.D.](#): > > [url=http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/rules.php?] > I think that about covers it, don’t you? Not really. Since the SDMB is an **international** forum, why do the rules specifically bar material that “fosters or promotes activity that is illegal in the U.S.?” And of course, **any** revolution anywhere is illegal, by definition – but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing. Suppose I wanted to argue for revolution in North Korea? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/5 "2006-02-08T03:35:30Z")
The SDMB follows US law, because its host, the Chicago Reader, is in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/6 "2006-02-08T03:36:51Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Since the SDMB is an **international** forum, why do the rules specifically bar material that “fosters or promotes activity that is illegal in the U.S.?” Because the Chicago Reader is based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and is subject to U.S. jurisdiction. Now North Korea would be an interesting sidebar. Certainly you could advocate revolution, but I think we would frown on your attempting to raise an army. Perhaps you’d need to get it cleared by a mod, as if it were a Secret Santa thread. Please note, I’m winging it here. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/7 "2006-02-08T03:47:04Z")
Of course there is a great gulf between advocacy and observing that something is a good idea, except for it’s illegality. Or, one might argue that violent revolution is not/should not be illegal in the US and expatiate on the merits and benefits of that position. Further one could appeal to the justice and rightness of such a policy, without specifying one’s own adherence to justice and righteousness. If a reader chooses to make that assumption they should be entitled to do so without any prejudice to the author. I think. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/8 "2006-02-08T03:57:05Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I _think_ that it is illegal to advocate overthrow of the government… Found it! It is still illegal. > [@](#): > > Whoever knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or > teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of > overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States or > the government of any State, Territory, District or Possession > thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein, by > force or violence, or by the assassination of any officer of any > such government; or > Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any > such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates, > sells, distributes, or publicly displays any written or printed > matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity, > desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any > government in the United States by force or violence, or attempts > to do so; or > Whoever organizes or helps or attempts to organize any society, > group, or assembly of persons who teach, advocate, or encourage the > overthrow or destruction of any such government by force or > violence; or becomes or is a member of, or affiliates with, any > such society, group, or assembly of persons, knowing the purposes > thereof - It’ll get you 20 years. And to add insult to injury, you’re not eligible to be a U.S. government employee for five years after your conviction. From [here](http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/18/parts/i/chapters/115/sections/section_2385.html). ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/9 "2006-02-08T04:04:02Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > It’ll get you 20 years. And to add insult to injury, you’re not eligible to be a U.S. government employee for five years after your conviction. But of course, once the five years are up… ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/10 "2006-02-08T04:04:38Z")
> [@Sevastopol](#): > > I think. I think two of your examples would be walking a very fine line, and anyone who tried it would be trying it at their own risk. A debate about whether violent revolution _should_ be illegal in the U.S. would be acceptable, I should think. ---
**Author:** ![Sevastopol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cdc98d/32.png) [@Sevastopol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevastopol)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/11 "2006-02-08T04:15:44Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I think two of your examples would be walking a very fine line, and anyone who tried it would be trying it at their own risk. > > A debate about whether violent revolution _should_ be illegal in the U.S. would be acceptable, I should think. Thanks for the clarification. It’ll doing well to be mindful of the benefits of a position clearly stated, at the outset. ---
**Author:** ![JustAnotherGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/58f4c7/32.png) [@JustAnotherGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustAnotherGeek)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/12 "2006-02-08T04:27:08Z")
…and here, I thought that **BrainGlutton** wanted to oust the mods and take over all duties himself. Not sure that the mods would put up too much of a fight… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/13 "2006-02-08T04:27:45Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > No, I’m serious. Really. If I wanted to post a thread arguing **seriously** for armed political class-war revolt against the United States government, and trying to recruit volunteers for a revolutionary army, is there any SDMB forum in which the rules would allow for that? I have to ask: _do you_ want to post a thread arguing seriously for armed revolt against the United States government? Or is this purely hypothetical? ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/14 "2006-02-08T05:56:47Z")
Just to sum up the official Moderator position: \*We do not permit posts that encourage activities that are illegal in the U.S. Yes, we have many non-US posters, but our host server is in the U.S. and there’s no way that we can stay on top of every law in every country where we have posters. Our understanding of laws regarding the internet restricts such things to the server country, at least so far. \*Urging violence or the overthrow of the government is illegal in the U.S. \*A discussion on whether such law should be overturned would be acceptable: that’s a discssion of law, and how to legally bring about changes in laws, and discussion of laws is not an illegal activity. \*A reminder of the Board Rules: > [@](#): > > From time to time we may acquire nonconfidential but sensitive information about you, some of which you may have posted yourself to our board. We won’t disclose or repeat such information except as (a) reasonable and necessary to manage our business, or (b) required by law, or © consistent with good citizenship, e.g., to prevent or report a crime or to respond to inquiries from law enforcement. ---
**Author:** ![Regardie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Regardie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regardie)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/15 "2006-02-08T06:20:39Z")
Is that really so? Didn’t Abraham Lincoln advocate overthrowing the government if it became not-so-nice? Why aren’t many communists arrested then? Just asking, I love the government and want to keep it the way it is. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/16 "2006-02-08T06:45:38Z")
This isn’t the place for the debate about the law: you can open a thread in the Great Debates forum if you’d like. This is a place for discussion about the Message Board rules. It does raise the interesting question of whether a discussion of how to get together to overthrow the Canadian or South Korean governments would be acceptable. My initial instinct is that, legality issue aside, advocating violence is NOT a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/17 "2006-02-08T09:56:42Z")
What they said. The revolution will not be televised . . . on webcam. Getcher own board if you want a soapbox. TubaDiva Well you know we all want to change the world. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/18 "2006-02-08T12:54:07Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > The revolution will not be televised . . . on webcam. > [@](#): > > The Revolution will not only be televised, the revolution will _be_ the television show! – Reverend Ivan Stang ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/19 "2006-02-08T13:07:55Z")
Funny how a country founded by violent revolution would outlaw it… Anyway, it’s probably a good rule, seeing how the US’s sense of humor got blown up with the WTC… ---
**Author:** ![Nature\_s\_Call](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nature_s_call/32/19006_2.png) [@Nature\_s\_Call](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nature_s_Call)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2006, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495/20 "2006-02-08T13:13:21Z")
So there it is, folks: The evil plan to overthrow the US thwarted by board policy. Phew 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-we-allowed-to-call-for-revolution-on-this-board/343495.md?page=2)