Discussing Illegal Activities

[frogus]

I am just wondering how far the GB rules go on discussing illegal activities?

I am wondering how come Ode is allowed to talk nearly non-stop about the draw he smokes ? (Please understand that I am not trying to get Ode to stop discussing the draw he smokes, just making conversation...) Is that because in some places it's legal? If that's the case, shouldn't the rule be that one can only not discuss things that are against the law everywhere?

Are you allowed to talk about 'harder' drugs than weed?

Etc?

[fable]

I'm moving this to GameBanshee Discussion.

[kopywrite]

So many different things are legal/illegal in different parts of the world though, no one would be able to talk about anything...I think common sense must play a part here rather than a blanket ban on anything vaguely iffy in the eyes of the law. Otherwise, there would have to be a team of lawyers constantly monitoring posted content.

Are you allowed to talk about 'harder' drugs than weed?

As you're no doubt aware, a recent UK medical examination of weed has declared that it is mostly harmless (apart from it making you enjoy Cheech & Chong movies ) whereas harder substances have been proven to be medically and socially harmful. I think there is a difference, infact that's one of the reasons weed's class B status is being softened in the UK, in order to stop people from thinking that if weed's safe to use then other things must be too.

[C Elegans]

I'd very much like to see Buck reply to this. Kopywrite is correct that different things are illegal in different countries, and following the rule of only discussing topics that are globally legal, would make it impossible to speak about anything at all. Critising the regime is illegal in some contries, for instance. Alcohol is illegal in some countries. And so on. However, the board is Buck's, and he is the US, so it must be up to Buck what laws he wishes us to follow.

@Kopywrite: Just a note about the UK research of weed, they didn't exactly say it was "mostly harmless", it is about as harmful as some other legal drugs like alcohol and cigarettes. Ie how harmful it is, is largely depending on dose and frequency of use.

Personally, I think Ode and others should be allowed to discuss weed, as long as I am allowed to point out the risks associated with it. In many countries today, people are extremely aware of the health risks associated with tobacco smoking, which is good. It's however not good if people believe smoking cannabis is less dangerous, on the contrary cannabis smokers take in about 4 times more tar and more cancerogenic substances that tobacco smokers do. The difference is of course than many tobacco smokers smoke several cigarettes a day, whereas many cannibis smokers only smoke occationaly. But in the same dose and frequency, cannabis would endanger your health more.
However, illegal activities don't go away because we don't discuss then, on the contrary, open debate is often the only way to get rid of such problems. But Buck is ultimately responsible for the content on this board, I even think he could be legally held responsible for the content of the board, so Buck must have thy final saying on what should be allowed here and not.

Buck?

[frogus]

I don't want this to get turned into a pro cannabis rally now, but thanks for your points CE

mostly harmless

LOL...sure I've heard that one before somewhere ...

Another point is this (although I am running the risk of seeming to be an awful, churlish, bad person )...A while back, me and sleep decided (after he discussed with other mods) that discussing grafitti was a bit dodgy, as it was against the law...but thinking again now, it seems like graff is one of the most harmless crimes there is (although I am not bothered, and don't want to appeal against your judgement sleepy ). So what exactly is the rule, or is it just down to Buck n' Da Modz discretion?

[BuckGB]

Hmm... this is a tough one. Since a majority of our audience lives in the United States, I think that "illegal activities" should be based off of US law. Many drugs (including marijuana) are obviously illegal in the US, so I'd rather not see them discussed, unless it is in a factual and unsoliciting way.

Keep in mind that this website is focused on role-playing games, and *only* role-playing games. Speak Your Mind allows for a lot of general discussion, but things like drug use (especially the promotion of) could offend some people, and potentially cause trouble if it goes too far. Let common sense be your guide.

[Ode to a Grasshopper]

Originally posted by C Elegans
Personally, I think Ode and others should be allowed to discuss weed, as long as I am allowed to point out the risks associated with it. In many countries today, people are extremely aware of the health risks associated with tobacco smoking, which is good. It's however not good if people believe smoking cannabis is less dangerous, on the contrary cannabis smokers take in about 4 times more tar and more cancerogenic substances that tobacco smokers do. The difference is of course than many tobacco smokers smoke several cigarettes a day, whereas many cannibis smokers only smoke occationaly. But in the same dose and frequency, cannabis would endanger your health more.

@CE-Please feel free to point out the associated risks of marijuana use, in spite of all our talk we don't actually indulge all that often and it'd make for some good debates , especially as the three of us are largely aware of the risks involved. I'd be most interested in seeing those figures you mentioned, it was my understanding that cannabis smokers actually took in far less tar and cancerogenic substances than cigarette smokers, with the smoke caused by cannabis causing no more damage than inhaling any carbon-based smoke.

Having a cousin who has problems with harder drugs I make it a point never to discuss anything harder than cannabis save to point out that hard drugs are in no way on the same level as cannabis, and Beldin, Eerhardt and I all agreed that, as some members of GB are young and impressionable that we would not discuss how to procure and/or grow cannabis either. We have not discussed how to procure the substance, and generally have avoided discussing the latter, though we do very rarely slip up.
Nonetheless, we do not discuss it outside of SYM, and neither do we recommend that people smoke cannabis if they do not wish to do so, just the same as we do not recommend that people drink, or perform any other kind of recreational activity if they do not wish to do so. We're pretty responsible, though we try not to appear that way.

EDIT-@Beldin-No worries, daddy-o.

[Beldin]

Originally posted by Ode to a Grasshopper
We're pretty responsible, though we try not to appear that way.

@Ode: Well spoken , little Jedi.


It's not like we're trying to "push" someone to consume anything.

I just think that the use of Cannabis IS a reality in the U.S. and all over the world. Omitting this fact from our fun in SYM won't change that. And, honestly - it helps us to "not to appear that way"....even if we ARE responsible enough... .

After all "Rolling Thunder" IS a kind of "Online Roleplaying Game" we're keeping up as a "sitcom" version of the "Darkflames" Storyline.
Always keep that in mind when reading our postings in "The Mobile Party Thread"!

No worries,

Beldin

[Eerhardt]

Originally posted by Beldin
After all "Rolling Thunder" IS a kind of "Online Roleplaying Game" we're keeping up as a "sitcom" version of the "Darkflames" Storyline.
Always keep that in mind when reading our postings in "The Mobile Party Thread"!

I concur with both Ode and Beldin here. Same goes for our overly large consumption of alcohol, by the way. In no way do we intend to promote the abuse of alcohol or weed. We do however, on occasion, point out some of the general misconceptions people have. You can always PM us if you feel we're crossing the line and we'll remove/edit our posts.
E.