# Rico, was there a radical rewrite of board rules I missed? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 3, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139 "2006-04-03T20:30:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/1 "2006-04-03T20:30:17Z")
(Not a flamey pit, just a confused question. I’m putting \*\*Rico \*\*on the cool side of the Pit, as it were.) About the [What do drugs taste like?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=365689) thread. The Rules say: “You agree not to post material that in our opinion fosters or promotes activity that is illegal in the U.S.” I don’t understand how you thought the thread in question does that. I thought about it carefully before replying; I would not have replied to it had I thought it was a disallowed thread. Help us posters to better understand your reasoning, so we don’t prolong bad threads. It’s not asking anyone for information on how to score, use or otherwise perform illegal acts. In fact, the news that date rape drugs even have a flavor, as revealed by one poster, was informative and useful to me, and can be used to \*prevent \*an illegal act (namely, being dosed unknowingly). In your closing statement, you said: > [@](#): > > Taste is subjective. > > Discussion about illegal drugs in any form is not. > > Closed. > > \ So is this now the case, that \*any \*discussion of illegal drugs is not allowed? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/2 "2006-04-03T21:02:00Z")
It seems to me that **Rico** jumped the gun on that one. Discussion of illegal drugs, as far as I am aware, is permitted on the board. It’s discussion of illegal _activity_ that is banned, and that thread did not involve discussion of illegal activity per se. Certainly a query about how cops detect drugs by tasting them would seem to be permissible. As far as I know, it is perfectly OK to discuss the physiological effects of THC or heroin. However, threads on “How do I build a better bong” or “How do I shoot up”? would be closed. This said, threads about illegal drugs are prone to attracting posts about either how to use them or how to use them without detection, so the mods are very understandably leery of them. But IMO a warning shot across the bows by \*\*Rico \*\* would have been better than closing it. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/3 "2006-04-03T21:03:44Z")
I don’t get it either – the guidelines say that discussion of effects is allowed. How is taste substantially different from effects? > [@Posting Guidelines](#): > > Illegal (in the USA) Drugs - You are allowed discussion of the effects of drugs, but do not discuss where to buy them. Limited discussion of past use of drugs is OK, discussion of current use is not. Please include a disclaimer that the drug is illegal in the US. So it’s okay to say that MDMA is a vasoconstrictive stimulant that has the effect of creating subjective feelings of profound empathy and general well-being, but we can’t say “It tastes bitter, vaguely metallic, and generally nasty?” What? ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/4 "2006-04-03T21:10:16Z")
I was also surprised at the closing. For all we know he was a writer doing research. I heard someone theother day refer to the “obvious smell of cocaine” and I had absolutely no idea what they were talking about. It didn’t sound like it was promoting illicit drug use to me. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/5 "2006-04-03T21:12:51Z")
The only thing I can see is you guys forgot the “Drugs are bad, mmmmkay?” disclaimer. ---
**Author:** ![Nancarrow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c37758/32.png) [@Nancarrow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nancarrow)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/6 "2006-04-03T21:14:01Z")
Heh. I was wondering how long it would take Rico to get pitted for that one. I was puzzled by his exact worditude. Was he saying that from now on, objective posts are out? 😕 Or that subjective, but not objective, posts are OK in GQ? **GQ** of all places! Maybe we didn’t include a disclaimer. Hey everybody: **Drug use is illegal in the US!** Just in case you’re from Io. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/7 "2006-04-03T21:32:28Z")
Add my voice to the those critical of this ruling. That thread should be reopened, and \*\*Rico \*\* gets a warning. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/8 "2006-04-03T21:39:06Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > Add my voice to the those critical of this ruling. That thread should be reopened, and \*\*Rico \*\* gets a warning. 😉 And a pinch! A HARD PINCH! ---
**Author:** ![The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_King\_of\_Soup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_King_of_Soup)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/9 "2006-04-03T21:49:37Z")
What you folks are failing to consider is the tens of millions of people who currently refrain from sliding headfirst into a vicious hell of illegal drug use only because they’re _afraid it will taste like okra_. Once we disabuse them of that fear, what hope will there be for them, or their future victims? I would love to know what flavors, if any, blotter acid came in, but I’ve zero interest in experiencing its effects. I think the thread was legit and interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/10 "2006-04-03T21:57:29Z")
If it tastes like okra, I’ll abstain. ---
**Author:** ![tiny\_ham](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a183cd/32.png) [@tiny\_ham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tiny_ham)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/11 "2006-04-03T21:58:13Z")
> [@The King of Soup](#): > > What you folks are failing to consider is the tens of millions of people who currently refrain from sliding headfirst into a vicious hell of illegal drug use only because they’re _afraid it will taste like okra_. Sweet Jimmy Crack Corn, if that were the case, I’d be 100% clean the rest of my life. ---
**Author:** ![Unregistered\_Bull](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3da27b/32.png) [@Unregistered\_Bull](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unregistered_Bull)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/12 "2006-04-03T22:04:25Z")
Breaded and fried okra or pickled okra? ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/13 "2006-04-03T22:07:50Z")
> [@tiny ham](#): > > Sweet Jimmy Crack Corn, if that were the case, I’d be 100% clean the rest of my life. _Crack_ corn? And druggy okra? Man, the produce section is looking more and more sinister! ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/14 "2006-04-03T22:51:04Z")
_Rico? Rico’s not here!_ ---
**Author:** ![rayh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/15 "2006-04-03T23:11:04Z")
> [@John Mace](#): > > _Rico? Rico’s not here!_ Yeah, Rico’s, like, gone to score, like man. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/16 "2006-04-03T23:32:00Z")
In my opinion Rico jumped the gun on my closed thread as well. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=363091](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=363091) > [@](#): > > Note: I’m not going to in any way test/put this info to use. > How long does cocaine (that is ready for use) stay good for? Weeks? Months? What about LSD? Originally posted by Rico: > [@](#): > > Based on the above, this thread is closed. Please do not discuss use or possession of illegal drugs. I fail to see how my question promotes drug use or possession at all I simply wanted to know how long they last, because I’ve always wondered how big the impetus due to any possible expiration date of illegal drugs when they are smuggled into another country. I’d be interested to hear what you have to say regarding your position that my thread promotes drug use, if nothing else Rico. ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/17 "2006-04-03T23:33:12Z")
“impetus to ship them quickly that should read”… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/18 "2006-04-03T23:45:00Z")
> [@rayh](#): > > Rico’s, like, gone to score, like man. I scored, all right. I scored a pizza… I did not see it as a thread determining how law enforcement of other officials were able to detect illegal drugs by their taste (although that was brought up later in the thread). > [@Shalmanese](#): > > What do various types of drugs actually taste like? bitter? sweet? Does it depend on the filler?..mainly illegal drugs. My rationale for closing was the last part. Where illegal drugs were mentioned. **Shalmanese** , if you are really interested in the subject, might I suggest an OP such as: “How do law enforcement officials tell illicit drugs apart by simply tasting them? What are they tasting for?” I think that would turn my Mod radar off. And I’ll agree on one point. Discussion of illegal drugs in not verboten here. Discussion of illegal drug use is. > [@SDMB User Agreement](#): > > You agree, through your use of this service, that you will not use the SDMB to post any material that [is] violative of U.S. law. Tasting illegal drugs (law enforcement personell excepted) is a violation of U.S. law. I don’t think I jumped the gun at all. Most of you know I’m willing to take a lump and re-open a thread if a misunderstanding has been cleared up. This, IMNSHO, is not one of those times. Sorry. _On preview_: **Pool** , as I said above, it’s all in the way you present your OP. If you would have stated you were interested in the transport and storage capablities, I might have thought twice about it. Unfortunately, we Mods are not mind readers. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/19 "2006-04-03T23:51:53Z")
That’s one amazingly stupid rationalization you’ve got going there, **Rico**. Incidentally, law enforcement officers don’t taste drugs to figure out if they are drugs. That’s why they have labratories. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139/20 "2006-04-03T23:59:54Z")
But I _like_ okra. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rico-was-there-a-radical-rewrite-of-board-rules-i-missed/351139.md?page=2)