# New Rules? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [March 10, 2000, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules/989 "2000-03-10T02:23:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Falcon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/49beb7/32.png) [@Falcon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falcon)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules/989/1 "2000-03-10T02:23:00Z")
In this thread: [http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000777.html](http://boards.straightdope.com/ubb/Forum5/HTML/000777.html) Lynn has posted a link to the new rules. To repeat DB, > [@](#): > > **The Chicago Reader, Inc., also reserves the right to reveal your identity (or whatever information we know about you) in the event of a complaint or legal action arising from any message posted by you.** IIRC, this is the only thing that’s new. I’m now very curious as to why this rule was added, in a GQ type of way. What legal bases are you covering with this one? Just thought I would ask the question here, since Lynn suggested it might get answered quicker. Also, why have no other mods posted about the new rules? * * * Winner, SDMB’s Biggest Chat Addict “Only two things that’ll soothe my soul - cold beer and remote control.” ---
**Author:** ![SoulFrost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f07891/32.png) [@SoulFrost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SoulFrost)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules/989/2 "2000-03-10T04:33:00Z")
> [@](#): > > The Chicago Reader, Inc., also reserves the right to reveal your identity (or whatever information we know about you) in the event of a complaint… New rule? Ok…the legal thing I can understand, but under what circumstances would you release information when a complaint is filed? If someone came to you and said “SoulFrost is a big meanie head!” I’m sure you wouldn’t release my info, but what kinds of complaints are we talking about here? Or does this maybe have something to do with the DoS attacks from a couple of weeks ago? -David ---
**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:** [March 10, 2000, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules/989/3 "2000-03-10T05:11:00Z")
Actually, that’s been in the agreement since early days. THIS is the part that’s new: > [@](#): > > Vandalism of the site through inappropriate use of HTML or other code is grounds for immediate banning. Vandals will be reported to their Internet services provider. In extreme cases we may refer site vandalism to the police. . . > > One last thing. This message board allows us to selectively ban individual users, and to delete all postings by a particular screen name in a single operation. Please remember that you are our guest here, and that we must reserve the right to exclude you at our whim, for any or no reason whatsoever. By registering and using the board you acknowledge this right and agree to abide by our rules and to submit to their interpretation and enforcement by our moderators and editors. These are all, unfortunately, necessary changes. your humble TubaDiva Administrator The Straight Dope ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules/989/4 "2000-03-10T07:15:00Z")
> [@](#): > > By registering and using the board you acknowledge this right and agree to abide by our rules and to submit to their interpretation and enforcement by our moderators and editors. I’m hoping this particular “necessary change” wasn’t directed at me. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Watson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Dr.Watson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Watson)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules/989/5 "2000-03-10T08:10:00Z")
Geez. A guy threatens to moon a troll a single time and ye start parachutin’ lawyers in . . . Actually, it looks less like a change than an explanation from here. I was under the impression that everyone with a brain understood that they were here at the sufferance of the host. Dr. Watson “Power intoxicates men. It is never voluntarily surrendered. It must be taken from them.” – James F. Byrnes ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules/989/6 "2000-03-10T17:02:00Z")
The reason I was worried is because I recently started a thread in which I questioned a moderator’s decision to close another thread. My thread was then shut down and moved to the BBQ Pit, even though I said nothing worse than that I felt the first moderator “overreacted”. I’m hoping that the language of the above telling us “to abide” and “to submit” does not mean we cannot even question the moderators’ actions. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules/989/7 "2000-03-10T17:14:00Z")
Not to worry, Nemo. We question the mods all the time around here; they seem to take it in stride. They’re a good bunch - not uptight at all, as far as I can tell. I’m not sure what the deal was with your specific thread, but I can’t imagine any of the mods here closing a thread just because their judgment was questioned. * * * Enough of voting for the _lesser_ of evils - vote Cthulhu 2000! ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2000, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules/989/8 "2000-03-10T17:25:00Z")
{{Actually, it looks less like a change than an explanation from here. I was under the impression that everyone with a brain understood that they were here at the sufferance of the host.}} Well, the crucial clause is “with a brain”. I’m sure that you can come up with several handles who appear to post without using any brain. Yes, it’s more of an explanation than a new rule. Lynn For the Straight Dope ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules/989/9 "2000-03-11T06:01:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by SoulFrost: > If someone came to you and said “SoulFrost is a big meanie head!” I’m sure you wouldn’t release my info, but what kinds of complaints are we talking about here? How about “SoulFrost is a big poopie head!” I think that would warrant revealing your particulars. ---
**Author:** ![Nickrz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bbce88/32.png) [@Nickrz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nickrz)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2000, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-rules/989/10 "2000-03-11T06:29:00Z")
Nemo - Rest your weary head. This rule change had nothing to do with your questioning my decision to close the money laundering thread. I had/have no problem at all with your inquiry or opinion on that particular policy. ```auto Nickrz ```