Alright, listen up; this apparently needs to be said.

This here is what we call "The Internet". It's one of the most magnificent inventions of the twentieth century, and allows people from all over the world to share conversation and information. A site like Rum and Monkey can be viewed by tens of thousands of people every single day; you can post a MASSAGE? here and have it read by them. It's like powerful magic. But it's not real life.

Writing something on the Web is the same as publishing it. Rum and Monkey has been read more often than an average bestselling book; this is cool, but also dangerous. Let me spell it out, clearly:

You have the right to say whatever you like about yourself in public. You can air out your dirty laundry; describe the hot sex you wish you were having; whatever. If that's what you seriously want the outside world to read about you, that's fine.

what you don't have the right to do is air other peoples' dirty laundry. Even if they air theirs first - unless they're posting something directly on a discussion board, which carries with it an implicit request for replies, you should ask their permission before you comment publicly about something. It's called <i>respecting other peoples' privacy</i>. Otherwise, if you have something you'd like to say, you should do it <i>privately</i>. Instant MASSAGE?, send an email, even a PM here at the forums.

An example is the person who was harrassing Karlee some time ago. This was a complete violation of privacy; he or she should have sent her a private MASSAGE? instead; worked things out behind closed doors. If nothing else, there are two sides to every story, and there are actually laws protecting what you can and can't say about someone. Defamation and libel are not things to play with, and the Internet is not the playground.

Are we clear?

*salute* Yessir.

Absolutely.

Aye.

This is indeed an interesting day.

Did something happen I'm not aware of?

Nope.

Yes sir Ben sir!

Sounds good to me.

It's common sense.

I agree

Ben is being forceful. Must agree.

*salutes*

*nodnod*

Does this also include posting pictures when someone explicitly asks that they not be posted?

Pro tip: Posting in all caps generally negates your statement.

So, no.

I was meaning to enforce it without all the bother of bolding.

hmmmm... I smell trouble with the law.

thanks Ben - it's good advice.

You are indeed correct.

This site is a community, and in a community people must respect each other.

*salutes and agrees*

*nods*

Hey guys, I heard Sushi's a homo. Pass it on.

HAHA, POINTING OUT THAT I'M WELSH IS AGAINST THE RULES NOW.

^_^

stfu sheep-fucker.