# sig files and board rules

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sig-files-and-board-rules/245152>\
**Category:** About This Message Board\
**Created:** [May 14, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sig-files-and-board-rules/245152 "2004-05-14T19:08:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@dook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dook)\
**Post date:** [May 14, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sig-files-and-board-rules/245152/1 "2004-05-14T19:08:51Z")

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Hi, I’m having a hard time locating a post that outlines what you can and can’t put in your sig file.

I’ve noticed that some sig files contain a political one-liner such as these:

> [@](#):
>
> AMERICA: LAND OF THE FREE! (Some restrictions may apply. Void where prohibited.)
> 
> “Unchecked right-wing media power means that in the United States today, no issue can be honestly debated and no election can be fairly decided.” – David Brock, former conservative journalist and “right-wing hitman,” author of Blinded by the Right: The Conscience of an Ex-Conservative
> 
> Democracy is the cruellest form of government, for it gives the people exactly what they deserve.
> 
> They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty nor security.
> 
> Summing up the 2004 election year:  
> “ It was a crazy time when you had to choose between a madman and a fool.”  
> -Jester by James Paterson & Andrew Gross

These are just a few. Please note that while I disagree with some of them, I’m not complaining about any of these sigs.

Until today, mine ran as follows:  
“Guns don’t kill people. Abortion clinics kill people.”

I was told by a mod that it was inappropriate :smack: and:

> [@](#):
>
> If you want to make your opinions known on abortion, go to Great Debates and open or post to a thread about abortion.

😕  
well… does that apply to every sig that contains a statement of opinion? Or is there a rule that didn’t show up in my search proclaiming “no abortion sigs” or whatever, or did I just catch somebody on a bad day? ☹

I’m only asking, because I’ve got a list of sig files that I use, and all of them are political in nature… I’m trying to find a clear line drawn in the sand so I’ll know not to cross it. The best I can find right now is “Don’t be a jerk.”, and I’m pretty sure my sig didn’t fall into the category, so I’m a little stumped.

Thanks,  
Alcatraz