Illegal activity rule

[Rutherford The Brave]

Frankly, I'm going to put this out that I think this rule is being clouded by people's beliefs.

Someone asks what pot is like and a few people bitch and moan and others answer the question. Yet the thread gets closed because it's bordering on that issue when in reality it is just people explaining things. I really don't care if you don't like pot or drugs but don't close threads because you feel uncomfortable about there being a pot thread. It is what it is, and this is frustrating because no one is getting their answers answered because we are promoting illegal behavior. No one is doing that, we as a group are explaining to others what our expierences are without being to graphic.

[Nexus]

Well, I haven't actually seen any of what you're talking about first hand, but I completely agree.

As long as it remains as an intelligent discussion with legitimate issues raised, I don't see the big problem.

[ThisIsTomP]

Talking about illegal substances on a board should be completely prohibited. Whether intellectual or not. Sure, threads aren't promoting it, but simply, it shouldn't be allowed. Besides, if someone wants to know what pot is like, they should go try it.

[[[chickaroo92]]]

It shouldn't be allowed to be discussed, period. In fact, one should be discouraged into trying whatever it is.

[Wonder.]

Talking about illegal substances on a board should be completely prohibited. Whether intellectual or not. Sure, threads aren't promoting it, but simply, it shouldn't be allowed. Besides, if someone wants to know what pot is like, they should go try it.

So the whole drugs and meds board should be deleted? And also, they shouldn't go try it. That's terrible advice.

On topic, ... I forgot the original post. I'll edit in a sec.

EDIT: On topic, I totally agree with you. This should be noted somewhere useful...

[DarkHorses]

People sharing their experiences isn't always a good thing, though. If they said "my experience wasn't bad, I didn't have any negative side effects and it didn't affect me at all" then that's borderline promoting illegal activity. Talking about drugs shouldn't be allowed unless you're discouraging someone from using them.

[Ender]

People sharing their experiences isn't always a good thing, though. If they said "my experience wasn't bad, I didn't have any negative side effects and it didn't affect me at all" then that's borderline promoting illegal activity. Talking about drugs shouldn't be allowed unless you're discouraging someone from using them.

^^^This.

You CANNOT promote any illegal drug taking, and we find this a very serious offense. Come and learn about drugs and medication but don't promote.

[The Batman]

You can talk about drug use, your experience, and what you believe to be the affects of it, but if it gets to the point of people saying "you should try it" or something to that extent it's breaking rules. Most drug threads are locked before they get to that so no one will get an infraction or anything.

[Rutherford The Brave]

Talking about illegal substances on a board should be completely prohibited. Whether intellectual or not. Sure, threads aren't promoting it, but simply, it shouldn't be allowed. Besides, if someone wants to know what pot is like, they should go try it.

];999085']It shouldn't be allowed to be discussed, period. In fact, one should be discouraged into trying whatever it is.

People sharing their experiences isn't always a good thing, though. If they said "my experience wasn't bad, I didn't have any negative side effects and it didn't affect me at all" then that's borderline promoting illegal activity. Talking about drugs shouldn't be allowed unless you're discouraging someone from using them.

^^^This.

This is the problem everyone bitches and moans so things get clouded. So things get closed. I don't see how anyone is learning anything because everyones like. "Ew dont do drugs!." I feel like you shouldn't be able to talk like that in threads.

[CaptainObvious]

Frankly, I'm going to put this out that I think this rule is being clouded by people's beliefs.

Someone asks what pot is like and a few people bitch and moan and others answer the question. Yet the thread gets closed because it's bordering on that issue when in reality it is just people explaining things. I really don't care if you don't like pot or drugs but don't close threads because you feel uncomfortable about there being a pot thread. It is what it is, and this is frustrating because no one is getting their answers answered because we are promoting illegal behavior. No one is doing that, we as a group are explaining to others what our expierences are without being to graphic.

I definitely understand where you're coming from, and I have seen the tendency you speak of. All I can say is that I think we do a fairly good job with those threads, and as a personal thing I always pay close attention to that forum and its locks to ensure we are only locking threads in there that really go towards promoting illegal use. The thread that I assume prompted this one was definitely one of those, if you read it.

And trust me, I say this as someone who is far from dogmatically anti-drug.

[Sith Lord 13]

I suppose we need to lock the topics dealing with homosexuality too, seeing as it's illegal in some countries.

[Rutherford The Brave]

I suppose we need to lock the topics dealing with homosexuality too, seeing as it's illegal in some countries.

You got a point.

[The Batman]

I suppose we need to lock the topics dealing with homosexuality too, seeing as it's illegal in some countries.
VT is not and won't be a website that promotes illegal drug use, if someone does it then it's their choice and should be made off site. It's not just illegal drugs it's either it's also illegally downloading copyrighted material that isn't allowed here. You'll find that VT isn't the only website like this either. A lot of sites have a rule like this. Also to address what you're trying to say, marijuana for non-medical purposes is illegal in most of the countries that the VT users come from, homosexuality isn't. And even then we're not going around telling everyone they are going gay.

[Rutherford The Brave]

VT is not and won't be a website that promotes illegal drug use, if someone does it then it's their choice and should be made off site. It's not just illegal drugs it's either it's also illegally downloading copyrighted material that isn't allowed here. You'll find that VT isn't the only website like this either. A lot of sites have a rule like this. Also to address what you're trying to say, marijuana for non-medical purposes is illegal in most of the countries that the VT users come from, homosexuality isn't. And even then we're not going around telling everyone they are going gay.

All I am saying is that I do not appreciate the fact that lines of rules are blurred by moderators opinions. No one gets anything answered when its always getting closed because most of you don't want to hear it.

[Obscene Eyedeas]

First of all we follow the rules not our own opinions. i see where you are coming from but we do not promote illegal activities. we will lock the thread if people begin encouraging/promoting usage of a drug as the rules state. opinion implies that we lock only threads that we personally disagree with. we disallow many illegal activities and are vigilant in upholding the rule but we do take time to read through threads to see if they are appropriate or not. if inappropriate we will lock it, if not post away

[The Batman]

All I am saying is that I do not appreciate the fact that lines of rules are blurred by moderators opinions. No one gets anything answered when its always getting closed because most of you don't want to hear it.

Not really since drug threads are hardly locked and when they are, as said above, it's to stop it from heading down the "promoting illegal activity" path which doesn't happen much. If it was that we don't want to hear it we would lock any thread having to do with drug use. I understand how it might seem like we're judging those threads based on how we feel personally but if you go back and look at it, you'll see what I'm talking about.

[Cloud]

First of all we follow the rules not our own opinions. i see where you are coming from but we do not promote illegal activities. we will lock the thread if people begin encouraging/promoting usage of a drug as the rules state. opinion implies that we lock only threads that we personally disagree with. we disallow many illegal activities and are vigilant in upholding the rule but we do take time to read through threads to see if they are appropriate or not. if inappropriate we will lock it, if not post away

Gregs right
it is the moderators own opinion of what is considered promoting or not
they may enforce the rule still but not as someone else would as what they may see as promoting
another may not

[Paladino]

To be honest promoting illegal drug useage is saying to someone "go try it" not talking about your own experiences of it. We should be allowed to share our experiences because it might help others decided whether to try it or not. Asking what its like and then people answering isnt promoting useage of it. Weed shouldnt even be classed as a drug, drugs is when you mix it in with other shit to make it have effects on you, weed is just a plant.

[The Batman]

To be honest promoting illegal drug useage is saying to someone "go try it" not talking about your own experiences of it. We should be allowed to share our experiences because it might help others decided whether to try it or not. Asking what its like and then people answering isnt promoting useage of it. Weed shouldnt even be classed as a drug, drugs is when you mix it in with other shit to make it have effects on you, weed is just a plant.

You can talk about drug use, your experience, and what you believe to be the affects of it, but if it gets to the point of people saying "you should try it" or something to that extent it's breaking rules. Most drug threads are locked before they get to that so no one will get an infraction or anything.
I already said you could talk about your experience with it.

[Rutherford The Brave]

I already said you could talk about your experience with it.

All Im saying is that it's hard for me to see people go unanswered and to have threads with useless information like don't do it blah blah pot is so bad blah blah. I think stuff like that should be excluded from threads of this nature.

[The Batman]

All Im saying is that it's hard for me to see people go unanswered and to have threads with useless information like don't do it blah blah pot is so bad blah blah. I think stuff like that should be excluded from threads of this nature.

They have a right to post their opinion on it just as much as you do and then you have the right to call them out on it and get them to prove it.

[Rutherford The Brave]

They have a right to post their opinion on it just as much as you do and then you have the right to call them out on it and get them to prove it.

Explain to me how thats helpful.

[The Batman]

Explain to me how thats helpful.

Encouraging someone not to do something illegal can save them potential jail time and/or embarrassment if they get caught.

[Rutherford The Brave]

Yeah but bitching about how bad drugs are is not encouraging them not to do anything

[Underground_Network]

I like how a thread about marijuana sparks such a hearty debate...

While a thread about screwing one's own dog (illegal and MUCH MORE IMMORAL than smoking pot) can stay open for awhile.

The biggest reason: People have diverse opinions on marijuana.

99% of VTers think screwing a dog is gross/immoral/disturbing/etc.

The diversity of opinion on the illegality of marijuana is what's causing all of this tension and tendency toward heated debate.

There will be no winner in this war on pot. People are going to continue making threads about it and there will be people neutral to pot, people against pot, people for pot, etc. It's not like any other drug. Any other drug can be proven to be negative. Pot is illegal, yes, but it is used for medicinal purposes. Can the same be said for cocaine? For LSD? For PCP (on humans)?

[CaptainObvious]

OK really, what exactly are you all complaining about here? As far as I can see, there's one single locked thread in the drugs forum at the moment. It was a justified lock. And seriously guys, I say this as someone who reads more or less every lock in that forum, have gotten threads there unlocked in the past when I felt it wasn't justified, and am wholeheartedly pro-legalization.

We have to have the rule. I can't really speak for anyone other than myself, but I know I do my best to be fair about it, and I'm sure that's true for the rest of the staff. What more do you want?

[Rutherford The Brave]

OK really, what exactly are you all complaining about here? As far as I can see, there's one single locked thread in the drugs forum at the moment. It was a justified lock. And seriously guys, I say this as someone who reads more or less every lock in that forum, have gotten threads there unlocked in the past when I felt it wasn't justified, and am wholeheartedly pro-legalization.

We have to have the rule. I can't really speak for anyone other than myself, but I know I do my best to be fair about it, and I'm sure that's true for the rest of the staff. What more do you want?

I stated it before I don't want people to be able to say don't do this don't do that just because they hate the idea of things. Its not helpful to anyone for people to always post Pot is bad for you in a smug tone of voice. I'm being completly serious, this shit is fucking annoying. No one learns anything because the majority of threads are plagued with these kind of posts. So here's mu ultimatum, either we get rid of all drug related threads or we handle this issue.

[Ender]

I stated it before I don't want people to be able to say don't do this don't do that just because they hate the idea of things. Its not helpful to anyone for people to always post Pot is bad for you in a smug tone of voice. I'm being completly serious, this shit is fucking annoying. No one learns anything because the majority of threads are plagued with these kind of posts. So here's mu ultimatum, either we get rid of all drug related threads or we handle this issue.

People have the right to post their opinion. Just like in p101, they post their opinion, then a bunch of people who disagree contradict it... not that hard.

[The Batman]

I stated it before I don't want people to be able to say don't do this don't do that just because they hate the idea of things. Its not helpful to anyone for people to always post Pot is bad for you in a smug tone of voice. I'm being completly serious, this shit is fucking annoying. No one learns anything because the majority of threads are plagued with these kind of posts. So here's mu ultimatum, either we get rid of all drug related threads or we handle this issue.

Greg you aren't really in a position to give an ultimatum, Like I said if you see any misinformation you can challenge it and post what perceive to be the truth.

[Rutherford The Brave]

People have the right to post their opinion. Just like in p101, they post their opinion, then a bunch of people who disagree contradict it... not that hard.

I don't give a rat's ass if it's their opinion its not helpful. Isn't the purpose of this site to be helpful, rather then a whining fest? Because thats what Im getting from this site lately.

[The Batman]

I don't give a rat's ass if it's their opinion its not helpful. Isn't the purpose of this site to be helpful, rather then a whining fest? Because thats what Im getting from this site lately.

Greg do me a favor and calm down I get why you're upset and it can be frustrating at times but this is something that you can help stop yourself. If you feel someone has posted wrong information(makes my third time saying this) you can just as easily post the right information so that they can be educated.

[CaptainObvious]

I stated it before I don't want people to be able to say don't do this don't do that just because they hate the idea of things. Its not helpful to anyone for people to always post Pot is bad for you in a smug tone of voice. I'm being completly serious, this shit is fucking annoying. No one learns anything because the majority of threads are plagued with these kind of posts. So here's mu ultimatum, either we get rid of all drug related threads or we handle this issue.

I'm sorry that you're annoyed. Feel free to correct people's misinformation. Unfortunately, the foundational fact that people are allowed to tell people not to do drugs - but not allowed to tell them to do drugs - is not going to change. That's just the way the law is. Contradicting misinformation employed by those who recommend against it - for example, contradicting someone who says "don't do weed because you'll go crazy and get lung cancer" - is and will always be allowed. Outright recommending it is not. The distinction is simple, and it is employed fairly consistently.

I don't give a rat's ass if it's their opinion its not helpful. Isn't the purpose of this site to be helpful, rather then a whining fest? Because thats what Im getting from this site lately.

Yes. So on that note, take your own advice. You have identified several problems (misinformation, etc.) that you can help fix yourself, and one (subjectivity) that I have assured you I (and I'm sure others) do my (our) best to mitigate. So let's stop whining, and go help.

[Rutherford The Brave]

I didn't quite get the best out of this but for the sake of me not getting angry and not into any further trouble because of my past, Ithink this should be closed.

[The Batman]

I'll take care of that then. :locked: