Spurned by the topic in site feedback re: users getting warned erroneously, I think that a lot of rules - specifically forum rules - could use clarification or adjusting. (Am I allowed to make this kind of suggestion? D: )

Many of them were written 'back in the day' when the forums were very active, and threads moved quickly. Unfortunately that isn't the case anymore; it can take quite a while for threads to reach the third page, months in some cases, most notably the art market. One thing that has always struck me as odd is that in that particular forum, you are not allowed to make another thread unless your original thread is locked and past the third page (looking now, I think it's the same for the advertising forums too, even though it did not used to be). Even when the forums moved quickly, I thought that was strange. Now that it can take months for your thread to hit the third page, I honestly find it kind of crazy that this is still the rule. I know for the advertising forums it used to be 'you can make a new thread when your old one is locked or is past the third page', not both. That I find quite reasonable, but both? That seems a bit excessive right now!

I understand that these rules were probably put in place to prevent spamming, but again, the forums move so, so slowly now. You could have locked a thread three weeks ago and it only be just barely on the second page. I don't think that, at that point, recreating a thread would really be on par with spamming. I think a lot of us would have forgotten about making a thread at that point.

Anyway, these are just my thoughts! I've always been kind of scared to bring up the topic of rules but since I saw staff mentioning that they were looking into clarifying rules, I thought I would bring it up now. D: If this is not allowed I offer my apologies!

Rules do need to be both clearly written and reasonable. You don't want people getting punished for acts that would seem reasonable to any typical person. You also don't want to make people afraid to post.

When you add in rules about necroing and repeat threads in really slow forums it can get really confusing or frustrating.

It is probably well past time for staff to review forum rules. Look at what they want to accomplish/prevent with the rules and be very clear in their own minds what rules are really needed.

No need to be scared! c:

A lot of the rules do need further clarification and it looks like staff has something planned for sorting that issue out.

I've had to fill tickets to get some things figured out with staff because the official site rules are kinda vague, even for a longtime user. Thankfully, the UAs are very patient and helpful with explaining things.

I definitely agree that forum rules in particular could use an update. We have at least one guaranteed dead forum that could easily be removed, or put somewhere as a subforum (Web Design, for those wondering, even the minimod hasn't logged in for 3 months) and several more that are inching toward inactivity (Roleplaying, Entertainment). An update to the rules wouldn't guarantee a surge of new activity, but simplifying and clarifying the rules would at least pave the road for it.

Anything that could spur some activity in the forums has my vote.