Rantzien has double-posted!

[Raistlin]

Care to elaborate? I would certainly concede that set in stone rules with very clear requirements may not always be the best thing, and certainly the member and situation should be taken into account any time a punishment is being doled out, but how is a very clear rule and easily understood ruler about not cluttering up threads needlessly a bad thing?

You can't get much clearer than don't double post. There's no wiggle room for someone to argue they weren't doing it or that they shouldn't be punished for it if it's deemed enough of a problem to actually punish a member. It's right there in black and white (and blue), clear as day: don't do this. Did you do this? Yes? Well, too bad for you.

My main point... well, I guess I actually have two main points. My two main points being:

1. It isn't a clear-cut, black-and-white rule, and so shouldn't be treated as such. Double-posts are freely allowed in some instances, such as bumping an inactive thread. Further, clear-cut rules aren't all they are cracked up to be, especially when they're not followed anyway; if someone wants to complain, there's plenty of opportunity there. The downside of more discretionary rules is also greatly exaggerated, as they work fine in a variety of other, far more significant areas. Rudeness and excessive swearing and abuse of quote pyramids are all judged by essentially subjective standards that allow for plenty of staff discretion, and EoFF has managed just fine. I really don't see a downside.

EDIT: We could, for instance, have a "no more than three swear words per post" rule instead of just "no excessive swearing," but I think you'll agree that that would be a bit silly and unnecessary. There are instances were ten swears in a row could be part of a joke, or an instance where just one or two swears is inappropriately rude and unacceptable. Clear cut is not automatically superior, especially when an issue actually requires discretion and considering the circumstances. Why does this issue require such an arbitrary line that isn't followed anyway?

2. Why is any given instance of a non-spam, non-duplicative double-post such a bad thing, anyway? Why is it always something a staff member has to bother editing? Most people here seem to accept it as an axiom, which is why I was curious to challenge it in this thread. The only remotely persuasive answer I see is aesthetics, and is it really that big of a deal if someone's sig appears two posts in a row? I understand a thread would look ridiculous if double-posting is taken to excess, but of course the staff would still step in then.