# Rules you'd make if you were king **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 15, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220 "2014-07-15T21:18:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2014, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/61 "2014-07-30T04:19:54Z")
I had thought there was one, but people link to videos all the time with no warning note. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/62 "2014-07-31T16:46:01Z")
Well, I did have to dig to find that, so most posters are probably unaware it’s there. We made a big deal of it when we wrote that, but that was a while back, and it’s apparently dropped off people’s radar. Because if it is only a guideline and not a rule, then you get people whining why they are being hassled for not breaking any rules. Or something. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/63 "2014-07-31T18:29:53Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Death penalty for every infraction. And I’m not using the term as a euphemism. I mean someone will come to your house and cap your ass. I think maybe you’ve been in Bangkok too long… ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2014, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/64 "2014-07-31T18:31:29Z")
> [@Darth\_Panda](#): > > No use of the letter L on Tuesdays. I see you were careful to post that on a Wednesday. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2014, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/65 "2014-08-01T02:49:21Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I think maybe you’ve been in Bangkok too long… Don’t make me go talk to a motorcycle taxi driver! ---
**Author:** ![Find\_Friends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@Find\_Friends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Find_Friends)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/66 "2014-08-06T17:17:49Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > I wouldn’t allow any threads to be closed, ever. Locked threads are annoying. Move them to the Pit if they don’t fit in any of the other forums or if they generally suck. If an OP gets banned and people make fun of him, good. Banned posters deserve ridicule and abuse. Right. Take the recent mega-troll, treat. \*\* Please!\*\* ---
**Author:** ![Revenant\_Threshold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@Revenant\_Threshold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revenant_Threshold)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/67 "2014-08-06T17:33:15Z")
Technical support, rather than technical oh-shit-emergency-fix-it, maybe. Honestly I think I’d withdraw the “no insulting mods for mod behaviour” rule, though a trial period would probably be better. ATMB excepted. This is probably more of a meta example, but I’d like to see more board-led openness. That’s probably the wrong word (it might not even be a word), but it seems like the only time we have discussion of what’s going on with the board is when a poster has a problem or a thought to suggest. Some kind of regular, anonymous survey of poster opinions on general board subjects might be useful, in theory. Maybe there already is such a thing and I’m just not on the mailing list! ---
**Author:** ![orangeapples](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7993a0/32.png) [@orangeapples](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orangeapples)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/68 "2014-08-06T20:03:47Z")
> [@Revenant\_Threshold](#): > > Technical support, rather than technical oh-shit-emergency-fix-it, maybe. > > Honestly I think I’d withdraw the “no insulting mods for mod behaviour” rule, though a trial period would probably be better. ATMB excepted. > > This is probably more of a meta example, but I’d like to see more board-led openness. That’s probably the wrong word (it might not even be a word), but it seems like the only time we have discussion of what’s going on with the board is when a poster has a problem or a thought to suggest. Some kind of regular, anonymous survey of poster opinions on general board subjects might be useful, in theory. Maybe there already is such a thing and I’m just not on the mailing list! First rule of board-led openness club, don’t talk about board-led openness club with **Revenant Threshold**. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/69 "2014-08-20T14:57:07Z")
I’d simplify and condense all of the board’s rules, and post them in one thread, not scattered about the board and often buried as they are now. For example … **SDMB registration agreement** > **[SDMB registration agreement as of 12/21/2014](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=650726)** > > The agreement below spells out the rules by which SDMB users are expected to abide. The purpose of the present revision is to add the language in bold: “If we tell you to refrain from behavior that we regard as uncivil, \*\*or that in our view... **SDMB general rules** (FAQ form) > **[FAQ - Rules for Posting at the Straight Dope Message Boards](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=384736)** > > This thread lists the Rules for posting on the SDMB. These are the Major Rules and the Important Ones: violations have serious consequences. First, be sure to read the Registration Agreement This post is basically a “table of contents” for this... **SDMB guidelines and etiquette** > **[FAQ - Guidelines and Etiquette on the SDMB](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=384745)** > > This thread lists the guidelines and etiquette on the Straight Dope Message Boards. Infraction of these guidelines is not as serious as rules violations, these basically reflect what we’d call “good manners.” Please read the companion threads FAQ -... **Comments on Cecil’s Columns/Staff Reports** > **[PLEASE READ: Forum Rules](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=335641)** > > If you’re new here (or even if you aren’t), please read the following threads before posting on the SDMB: FAQ - Rules for Posting at the Straight Dope Message Boards How and when do I report a post? What’s the policy on copyrights? How do I know... **General Questions** > **[Factual Questions Rules & FAQs](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=466202)** > > Please be aware of the general rules for the Straight Dope Message Boards, which applies to all forums: FAQ - Rules for Posting on the Straight Dope Message Boards includes how to report bad posts, copyright rules, forbidden topics, quoting other... **Great Debates** Liars, lying, and lies: [Liars, lying, and lies in Great Debates - Great Debates - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=448632) No direct personal insults or flaming: [No direct personal insults or "flaming" in great debates - Great Debates - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=220232) Descriptive thread titles: [PLEASE USE DESCRIPTIVE TITLES WHEN STARTING THREADS - Great Debates - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=106060) **Cafe Society** General rules: [\*\*\*\* Forum Rules: PLEASE READ! \*\*\*\* - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=343601) Game of Thrones rules: [Game of Thrones Peacekeeping Rules - MUST READ - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=719983) **Game Room** > **[\*\*\* Forum rules and FAQ: Read this first! UPDATED October 3rd, 2014 \*\*\*](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=456581)** > > What kinds of threads should go in this forum? Any threads which are about sports belong in this forum, as well as about games of any kind. Any games being held on the boards, such as Mafia games, should instead be in the Thread Games forum. ... **MPSIMS** > **[Forum Rules for MPSIMS - Please Read Before Posting](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=457052)** > > Welcome to Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share (MPSIMS). As the description reads on the main page, this is the forum for discussions ranging from frivolous chatter to deep thoughts; from harmless diversions to life-changing announcements.... **Marketplace** > **[Marketplace Rules](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=588475)** > > As posted by Ed Zotti on 12/7/2010 (updated 3/25/2011): Welcome to the Marketplace forum, where SDMB subscribers may promote commercial and other ventures they’re involved in. The following rules apply: Only subscribers can start threads. This... **BBQ Pit** General rules: [Revised Forum Rules for the BBQ Pit: read this before posting - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=507985) Lynn Bodoni’s Pit rules: [Pit rules - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=127729) What is Pit-worthy?: [What is Pit-worthy? - The BBQ Pit - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=527897) Restricted language: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=508858) Acceptable conduct in the Pit: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=497954](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=497954) Wishing death on other users: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=168963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=168963) Rules would not be in an FAQ-type format, but a straightforward list. I’d also drop the board’s case law-style rulemaking, with interpretations deeply buried in the subforums like rulings in a law library. For example, the ruling that misogynistic jokes and language are against the rules, as seen here: [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=689766](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=689766) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=688591](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=688591) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=690326](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=690326) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16249526&postcount=41](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=16249526&postcount=41) ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/70 "2014-08-20T15:52:27Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > I would make a separate sub-forum for Sports. You could then easily find the actual sports threads without wading through all the Dungeons and Dragons, card games, change the first and third letter of a word in English to make a word that means the opposite in Spanish, check out this totally awesome new video game, etc. threads. I have been saying for a long time that The Game Room should be split into two sub-forums… “Games We Play on the Board” and “Sports and Video/Board Games” ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/71 "2014-08-21T00:26:12Z")
I get rid of that damn parasite ad that I see on every page. I much prefer the ads with the girls with the really big racks. Please get rid of that parasite ad. (I know, you have no control, etc, etc.) Makes me want to get ad block. ---
**Author:** ![Biotop](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biotop/32/321_2.png) [@Biotop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biotop)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/72 "2014-08-21T05:51:23Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > I wouldn’t allow any threads to be closed, ever. Locked threads are annoying. Move them to the Pit if they don’t fit in any of the other forums or if they generally suck. If an OP gets banned and people make fun of him, good. Banned posters deserve ridicule and abuse. How about a forum entitled “The Trash Bin” in which threads would be sent for two days before they then vanished forever. Disable links in Spam threads and send them “to the Bin” where we could poke fun at them until they are gone. Instead of immediately closed threads, there’d be a limited time to comment and get your two cents in. As the minutes ticked away until the thread’s true death, folks would respond knowing whatever they posted was within hours of vanishing. Could be interesting to see the results. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/74 "2014-08-21T10:19:00Z")
reported. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2014, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/75 "2014-08-21T17:03:09Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > No keeping threads open that would otherwise be shut down just because others are having fun ripping into the OP. Cruelty is no reason to leave a thread open. Sure. I agree somewhat with the OP but would tighten it to: I’d add "no direct pitting of users " Their viewpoints, sure, but no personal insults anywhere. The PIT is stupid for that purpose. “users with less than five months/500 posts” can’t start PIT threads at all, unless they are paid members. Or hell- only paid members could start PIT threads. Year ago, I suggested no joke answers or whooshes in GQ, until at least the OP has gotten as correct and right a answer as possible. This is more or less the rule now. I’d like to add that OP must have some original content by the OP. No “what o you think about this?” Also the “this” must have a brief description or a fair use cut & paste. I agree with **Frederick the Porcine**.😛 ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/76 "2014-08-23T20:58:21Z")
> [@Sarahfeena](#): > > No rules, moderators stay out of the way as much as possible. On most moderated boards, the rules are stupid and arbitrarily enforced anyway. No enforced rules or no rules at all? If there are no rules that are enforced, then moderators are unnecessary. But navigating around trolls and spam might get tedious. If there are no written rules and the mods get to choose what they want to moderate, this place could get very quiet, especially if some mods don’t like answering ATMB questions. It could be an instaban to ask one. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/77 "2014-08-24T15:18:07Z")
Instant banning for anyone who quotes the entire OP (especially a really long one) in post #2. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2014, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/78 "2014-08-24T15:49:40Z")
My vote/concurral ( is that a word?): Rename Mundane and Pointless Consolidate stickies in a separate “forum”/named space. Sticky a cross-ref to there in each of the other forums. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/79 "2014-08-25T18:57:51Z")
I still like the idea of [ul][li]If you want a real response to a mod action, open a thread in ATMB, but if you just want to vent and swear, open a Pit thread but don’t expect any response.[/ul][/li]Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220/80 "2014-08-26T01:19:11Z")
That’s what I’ve been advocating for some time. Real issues for mod consideration in ATMB, following ATMB rules for decorum. Bitching and cursing and whining in the Pit with no expectation of any official notice or consideration, merely the opportunity to vent. Maybe considered structure on crosslinking. Posting one “hey, over here” in an ATMB thread is acceptable, but phrasing must remain polite and must explicitly state it is a Pit thread on the topic, so it can be ignored at discretion. Repeatedly pointing to the same Pit thread in a single thread is frowned upon. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rules-youd-make-if-you-were-king/693220.md?page=3)