The policy to not remove anything worked when the forum was small. Now that we have thousands of posts a day, we can't afford 50% of them being junk. The moderators are now instructed to be less tolerant of low-value posts.
Some guidelines:
1. Free speech - you can say anything as long as it is relevant and presented in a calm and polite manner. Swearing, SHOUTING etc. make your post more likely to be removed.
2. No zero value posts or threads, like "SELL SELL SELL"
3. No pointless or uninteresting threads.
4. No referral code spam
5. No NSFW content
A step in a wrong direction. Now moderators will decide which posts have "low value", which posts are "uninteresting" or "pointless". In practice moderators will delete everything they don't like. The words "free speech" above are thus an obvious lie.
I agree with most of what @unemployed has mentioned, which is also repeated in numerous other posts in this thread, on the principle of terms being vague or non-specific and solely subject to individual interpretation. Words like "pointless" or especially "uninteresting" are completely subjective and therefore subject to any particular moderators personal feelings, mood, or selective scrutiny.
Also some rule categories are mixed within the same numbered points for example:
1. Free speech - you can say anything as long as it is...
<-- Mixed in other rules that are unrelated to the concept of Free Speech. 2. No zero value posts or threads
, like "SELL SELL SELL" <-- Strike out, ought to be grouped with/covered by 4.3. No pointless or uninteresting threads. <-- Covered by 2.4. No referral code
s spam;
<-- except in signature (for example)5. No NSFW content <-- Covered by 1, if drafted correctly (currently 1 includes like minded rules mixed in with "Free Speech" making it a contradiction in terms).=========== Partial Proposed Revisions ===========
I'm not going to propose a rewrite for each of these 1-5, but just add on here for clarity. I believe my post makes the intended point about being more succinct in the rulemaking, not lengthier but specific.
1. Free
Speech -
Every member has an equal right to express their opinion regardless of forum rank without being subject to removal, harassment, or other derogatory statements.2. No zero value posts or threads
. - , like "SELL SELL SELL" If the post does not add value to the topic, or is off topic, then it is considered spam.3. ... Remove, this is covered thoroughly by 2. People know, or will learn, when their post does not "Add Value" and this is not as subjective as "uninteresting" currently stated in the existing 3 (which has no relevance).4.
No referral codes except in signature. As stated above.5.
No NSFW content Too subjective and non-specific. Replace with rules that over rule all others, i.e., Hate speech of any kind, harassment of other members or coins/projects, spamming incl. cross referral selling, will NOT be tolerated and members posting in this manner may be subject to immediate ban.