# "Special" rules **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 26, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933 "2012-09-26T21:45:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/1 "2012-09-26T21:45:03Z")
Is there a list of all the users who have special rules applied to them and if so, where is it? Are there any users who have secret special rules applied to them? Just a yes or no answer to the latter would be nice. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/2 "2012-09-26T21:55:33Z")
In IMHO right now, there is a locked thread. The mod who closed it warned the OP that she had been instructed to start no more than one thread per week. That would count as a special rule, and until the mod noted it in the warning, it was a “secret” special rule. I’m guessing there are other posters who’ve had restrictions put on them as a last step before suspension or banning. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/3 "2012-09-26T21:55:37Z")
It doesn’t seem to be a secret, but [I just started another thread about pretty much the same thing.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=666804) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/4 "2012-09-26T22:01:24Z")
According to the Board Charter, I’m supposed to get a pig every month. And “two comely maidens of virtue true”. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/5 "2012-09-26T22:10:31Z")
I was supposed to get a chicken in every one of my pots. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/6 "2012-09-26T22:15:20Z")
Well, we have plenty of rules and we have lots of _special_ posters… ---
**Author:** ![colonial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@colonial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colonial)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/7 "2012-09-26T22:18:16Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > According to the Board Charter, I’m supposed to get a pig every month. And “two comely maidens of virtue true”. I hacked your account and the maidens have been going to me. Dunno bout the pigs-- you should still be getting them. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/8 "2012-09-26T22:18:49Z")
However there are no special secret rules. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/9 "2012-09-26T22:21:34Z")
I have no problem with “special rules” for certain posters. There have been a fair number of otherwise decent posters that do/did contribute here but had some rather irritating posting habits that on occasion totally ruined a thread. I’d much rather have the special rules than the mods going “whatcha gonna do?” for months or even years before said person gets banned. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/10 "2012-09-26T22:22:09Z")
> [@colonial](#): > > I hacked your account and the maidens have been going to me. > > Dunno bout the pigs-- you should still be getting them. Um, I really think you need to have your eyesight checked – and perhaps your sense of smell. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/11 "2012-09-26T22:24:43Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > However there are no special secret rules. Are you saying, “There are special rules and there are secret rules, but there are no special secret rules?” Is there Double Secret Probation? PuhhhLEASE say yes, Mod Wormer! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![colonial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/34f0e0/32.png) [@colonial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colonial)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/12 "2012-09-26T22:44:56Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Um, I really think you need to have your eyesight checked – and perhaps your sense of smell. Eyesight checked and in good order. Sense of smell not an issue. Say, one of my maidens told me you flashed her, and she thinks it’s funny that someone like you with a two-inch nob could think of himself as “husky”. You gotta problem, all right. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/13 "2012-09-26T22:46:44Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > According to the Board Charter, I’m supposed to get a pig every month. And “two comely maidens of virtue true”. I can supply you two hookerbots who will superficially fit the comely maiden requirement, but Rhymers do not deal in swine. Family tradition. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/14 "2012-09-26T23:15:02Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > In IMHO right now, there is a locked thread. The mod who closed it warned the OP that she had been instructed to start no more than one thread per week. > > That would count as a special rule, and until the mod noted it in the warning, it was a “secret” special rule. > > I’m guessing there are other posters who’ve had restrictions put on them as a last step before suspension or banning. That was exactly why I started the thread although I assumed it wasn’t a secret rule, just that I wasn’t aware of it. ---
**Author:** ![Simple\_Linctus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Simple\_Linctus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simple_Linctus)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/15 "2012-09-26T23:17:55Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > I have no problem with “special rules” for certain posters. There have been a fair number of otherwise decent posters that do/did contribute here but had some rather irritating posting habits that on occasion totally ruined a thread. I’d much rather have the special rules than the mods going “whatcha gonna do?” for months or even years before said person gets banned. Equally I want to be clear I have no complaint with the idea of posters having special rules. I would prefer if the poster who started this thread were allowed to make more threads as although they are silly they are also fun but I don’t have any objection to the principle nor to a slightly modified version of the rule. Also I don’t want to second guess mods so even though I don’t like the special rule I don’t actually want it overturned as such as I would rather the mods had some teeth. But I WOULD like to know about special rules. While in the case of thread creation it is not terribly relevant there are other cases where it would make a difference. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/16 "2012-09-26T23:25:22Z")
**Smapti** , I think you misunderstood. When they said that you were supposed to get the maidens, they didn’t mean you’d be the one _receiving_ them, but that you were supposed to be _procuring_ them. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/17 "2012-09-26T23:25:26Z")
> [@Simple\_Linctus](#): > > . > > But I WOULD like to know about special rules. While in the case of thread creation it is not terribly relevant there are other cases where it would make a difference. Me too for that matter. Lets say it’s one new thread per day for Bob. I happen to see Bob has posted two this day. As a regular poster I drop into one, note that Bob has exceeded that, and say this new thread has been reported. Then the mods do whatever. Us regular posters kinda need to know these special rules to help the mods out. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/18 "2012-09-26T23:48:39Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Me too for that matter. Lets say it’s one new thread per day for Bob. > > I happen to see Bob has posted two this day. As a regular poster I drop into one, note that Bob has exceeded that, and say this new thread has been reported. Then the mods do whatever. > > Us regular posters kinda need to know these special rules to help the mods out. Also helps if the newer board members know what’s a general policy and what’s specific to a particular poster due to that person’s history. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiendish_astronaut/32/3295_2.png) [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiendish_Astronaut)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2012, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/special-rules/635933/19 "2012-09-28T05:53:40Z")
I’ve been instructed to include the letter M in every post I make or face an automatic ban.