Snorri1234 wrote:It is really weird because I can't find anywhere in the rules that what DM did is against the rules.
I don't know if this was a matter of actually breaking a rule so much as an excuse being found.
Just so long as the guy who requested his home phone number be posted really did request that it be publicly distributed, then that shouldn't necessarily be against the rules.
But if that number was given to the recipient in a PM, then the obvious implication is that the message was intended for the recipient's eyes only, and without the sender explicitly stating he didn't mind or in fact desired his phone number be posted, the assumption should be to keep the information confidential, treating it as if it were one's own.
I don't know the substance of the original post made, but considering how smart DM is, I'm sure he reasoned it all through similarly, and if he didn't, then he was pushing the limits and drew a punishment. If there was no harm, then hopefully no foul. The guy who posted his number hasn't begun receiving text flirts all of a sudden, has he?
So, one would think that removing the information would be sufficient action enough, unless there's more to the story that hasn't been revealed to us here.
Also, is it possible the mods took 5 days to deliberate before taking action? Again, I'm completely in the dark about the source material for this latest catalyst to massive forum drama.
DM, all the best to you, but if you were consciously pushing your luck, you probably got what was coming. Take it like a man and don't do anything that will prevent you from coming back to the fora. You will achieve further heights of legend if you do, as you will forever stand as an example to other forum readers, since you can take it like a man without self-destructing.
The martyr's influence dims and is forgotten after a long enough period of time, but if you come back, you can continue to have influence and prestige. I'm sure you know all of that already. Plus, during this time in which you are exiled, your influence can still be felt with off-site fora, assuming that ever actually happens.
On the other hand, if this is truly a case of the mods looking for an excuse, come on guys... If it was a simply misunderstanding, and there was no damage to the guy who posted his number, what's the harm in just dropping the matter? I understand the slippery slope argument; if you let it go without any punishment whatsoever, then people will begin to think it's acceptable to put up personal info for a few hours, or days, then take it down and claim "misunderstanding". But if this is a new understanding of what can escape punishment and what cannot, this instance should be considered a "mulligan", and next time you should come down hard.
Whatever, it's too late now. The mods won't lift the exile until the prescribed time, I'm sure of that. Everyone just wait it out and use this time of exile for something new and exciting, rather than going rogue and ruining more fun.
And diddle, what does being back in the new year mean? A month? Two months? Six months?