We will not however tolerate excessive posting promoting drug use or other illegal activities.
Of course posting about drug use is not illegal. If it were then the High Times magazine would have been shut down by now. Countless movies would have never been made. Freedom of expression and freedom of speech guarantee this as a legal right.
Of course you have every right to ban any form of expression or speech on your forum, I'm just pointing out that if you are doing it for legal reasons then you need not worry about it. Only if people were conspiring to commit an illegal act should you worry, ie: setting up drug deals or piracy transactions. Simply discussing or even advocating is perfectly legal in the US and most other countries.
Also, the
No posting about illegal activities rule is very blanketing. Technically I couldn't mention the fact I like to speed when I drive or that I placed a bet on the Super Bowl (I didn't, just an example) or that I paid for a lap dance at the super bowl party (illegal in my part of the world for some stupid reason). If you simply want to stop 420Dude's advocating drugs then just make a rule that says "No Advocating Of Illegal Drug Use" and leave it at that.
And oh yeah, you should also remember that not all your users live in the US so what's illegal in the US might not be in other countries. You might wanna post a link to all the laws in your country or state so people can be informed of what illegal activites thet can't talk about. ;-)
I know people will think I'm being anal here but with rules you gotta be clear and not allow them to be open to ambiguity. I've participated on forums with MUCH tighter posting rules and had no problem with it, I just think the wording should be clearer. With statements like
This includes image posting I wonder if pictures like this: :quickdraw: :smack: :whack: :ak47: and :destroy: break any rules as they seem to advocate violance. Obviously a bit of sarcasim there but I think I made my point.
- Mike
