Old vs. new FBI forum rules

I’m talking about this specific thing. I know those of you who just joined this forum can't see how things used to be written, but maybe some old-timers out there remember. And the mods, from what I gather, have access to the archives and can see how everything looked before.
So, honestly, these new rules hit me right in the gut. Good grief, why on earth did you feel the need to go and change everything?😢

I don't know them all by heart right now, but I distinctly remember that in the previous version, there was this wonderfully chaotic little loophole regarding what wasn't allowed on the FBI boards which wasn't quite strictly forbidden, which meant things like grammar and spelling were handled loosely, and it even mentioned how trolling and lively chat were actually encouraged... stuff like that.😬

Those rules were just wonderful. They felt human. You could tell the mods were people too, and even though things were a bit silly sometimes, everyone knew where they stood. It was one of those places where, as soon as you logged on, you felt right at home. It created such a cozy vibe, at least for me.
There was even a part about how you weren't supposed to think twice before hitting post, which is exactly when I felt most like myself here.😍

And those rules stayed exactly like that for years(!) without anyone ever having an issue with them.
It’s hard to believe the other moderators haven't read them either, right?
🤔
😱
😈

FBI mods... please, bring back the old rules.🙂 You used to hand out badges for trolling despite the rules, and they were just so charmingly written.

Oh, and since I seem to be having a run of misunderstandings lately, let me be crystal clear so there's no confusion: I am truly not trying to troll with this thread, I'm not joking around, and I genuinely miss the way things used to be.

I find myself once again contemplating the enigma that is Nina Williams. It is quite a curious thing, isn't it? One moment she is a figure of such calculated precision, and the next, she seems caught in a whirlwind of her own making. I suppose I tend to overanalyze these things—an occupational hazard, I suppose—but there is something undeniably striking about her presence. She carries herself with a certain gravity that demands attention, even if that attention is somewhat unearned by virtue of her rather... intense temperament. I often wonder if she realizes how much space she occupies in the collective consciousness of those who follow these matters. It’s a bit much, really, though I can certainly see the appeal for some. Chloe Green61 says:
Well, I must say, these new regulations caught me completely off guard—it felt like a direct hit to the chest. Honestly, Chloe Green61, where on earth were you when this was happening? You really should have been there to help me navigate this mess.😢

I have no soul left in me. I am nothing more than a wicked, crazed, utterly livid bitch, sent straight from the deepest pits of hell for the sole purpose of cleansing this forum. 🙂

I mean, let’s be perfectly serious for a moment—I simply updated the existing regulations. I didn't go rogue and invent them out of thin air, nor did I unilaterally implement them myself. 😁

The updated rules have officially been expanded to include a few much-needed restrictions. We’re now explicitly banning any commentary regarding moderation decisions made by the FBI, and there's a newfound emphasis on maintaining actual coherence and clarity in posts. Furthermore, we are strictly prohibiting the reposting of deleted content, and we will no longer be entertaining follow-up requests to delete specific threads or individual posts once they are live. Most importantly, we're putting an end to those lazy "I didn't bother reading the thread, but here's my half-baked opinion anyway" interruptions. Honestly, I find myself wondering—how many times a day do you people actually consult the rulebook before deciding you simply dislike the way something is written? It’s quite baffling, really. 🤔 I don’t mean to come across as arrogant, but let’s be honest: the whole point of a set of regulations isn't to be "charming." It’s not some breezy piece of beach read or lighthearted chick lit designed to win over an audience or make them swoon. Rules exist to be rules, not to be pleasant. 😁
All of this extra stuff—all the bits they’ve added lately—was already being handled informally, you know? It was basically just common practice, tucked away in some unofficial folder or handled under the table. Now, they’ve finally gone ahead and formalized it, putting it right there in the official rulebook. It isn't that the rules were suddenly invented out of thin air; it's just that for years, those guidelines were practically nonexistent or constantly shifting under our feet. They've been tweaking them incessantly for ages, but now, finally, everything is officially documented.
Furthermore, let's be clear: trolling and excessive "chatting" have never been welcome here, nor were they ever part of the original rules. 😕

Look, let me be clear: the rules haven't actually changed. We simply updated the post to include the details you’re already well aware of and that are already being enforced. To be perfectly honest, I am struggling to grasp the underlying logic or even the motivation behind this appeal of yours. 😁

Honestly, nothing’s really changed. The rules and the core principles are exactly the same—they just reworded everything and called it a day. Nothing new was actually added.

Nobody’s getting a warning just for missing a capital letter, but man, some people write absolute gibberish. It’s getting ridiculous. I bet the next 10 replies will be totally unreadable.

As long as everyone stays respectful toward each other, we're good. Mutual respect is key.

I’d much rather have rules that are clear and punchy. It beats having people nitpicking every tiny little detail in the fine print later on. These guidelines aren't just here to make the mods' lives easier; they're here to make sure we all have a high-quality experience hanging out here.

Chloe Green61 said:I honestly can't wrap my head around how many times a day you have to go back and read the rules just because you aren't a fan of the writing style—it's truly beyond me! 🤔

Before I jump into posting on this new PDF thread, I’m going to make sure I sit down and actually read through all the rules first. If anyone decides to tack on any new updates to the old guidelines, you can bet I'll be reading those too! I know, I know—you might see that massive update with all the caps lock in the pinned topic and think, "Why on earth is she being so cautious about the rules?" But honestly, it was just such a struggle to resist adding that little "~RELOADED~" tag to my title!
Oh, Bob, please don't do this to me! I really don't need the extra headache of having to explain to the mods why I'm actually sitting here reading through all the rules.😠

I really don't want to come across as arrogant, or like I'm trying to brag, but...

Look, I really don't want to get into any accusations of being arrogant because that’s honestly not what I'm about at all! I'd much rather steer clear of that kind of negativity and just keep things moving forward, so let's just move on, shall we?

I mean, let’s be honest, the whole point of the rules isn't actually to make them sound all sweet and charming!

I mean, honestly, things can't be all that bad if she happens to be, you know, incredibly charming on top of everything else!

I mean, honestly, it isn't exactly "chick lit," so there is absolutely no requirement for it to chase after trends or try too hard to win everyone over! 😁

I have to say, I really can't get on board with that perspective! It just makes sense that I’d want to enjoy myself here, especially if I'm going to be spending my time posting and engaging with everyone!

Everything that’s been added lately was actually already being done behind the scenes—we were basically just winging it—but now, finally, it’s all been officially written down in the rulebook! It’s funny because those rules hadn't even been properly documented for years, and honestly, they’ve been shifting around constantly as we went along.

I'm not really trying to make a point about those additives, because honestly, I don't have anything against them! My heart just stays with the old ways, like how much better everything felt back when Geška was around—man, I truly miss those days.

Moving forward, let's just say that trolling and chatty nonsense have never really been part of the vibe here, nor were they ever written into our original community guidelines! 😕

I can't quite recall the exact wording off the top of my head, but I'm pretty sure it went something along those lines! Honestly, I'm positive about that.

So, here’s the deal: the rules haven't actually changed! We just took the post and added all that extra info you already know about and that's already being put into practice. To be perfectly honest, I'm having a little bit of a hard time wrapping my head around the actual purpose or the motivation behind this appeal you're making. 😁

Well, here we go... I'm just trying to explain my side of things, and honestly, I'm not even sure if I'm making sense! But, look, you're the one actually signing off on these changes, while I'm just the person starting this thread, so it's pretty hard for us to be totally on the same page here.😬

I mean, seriously, I know this is such a long shot—like, trying to get back to how things used to be feels almost impossible at this point—but I just felt like I had to at least try.😢

dustyranger64 said:It’s much better to have rules that are clear and concise rather than having to hunt for microscopic loopholes later on; after all, those rules aren't just there to make life easier for the mods, they're there to ensure a high-quality experience for everyone on the forum.

Has anyone actually complained about that specific error before? I don't think anyone has, so please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong! So, basically, either people didn't notice it, or they actually liked it the way it was.

Anyway, thanks for at least attempting to answer me, even if I feel a little overwhelmed dealing with you guys on this particular topic! It's a shame, really, because you're all such great people otherwise.

Emily Kim67 said:there was also some mention about how trolling and chat banter are actually encouraged... or something along those lines.😬

🤣
That was never mentioned anywhere, Emily—you might want to go see an eye doctor soon.😁

And those rules have been sitting right there for years(!), and they never bothered anyone.

The reality is that things have been added or tweaked constantly over the years, though it’s hard to notice because, shockingly, very few people actually bother reading the fine print. 😬 😉

Look, even if I am just your average blonde girl now, 🥳 I felt compelled to weigh in.😁

slywolf45 said:🤣
This was definitely never mentioned before, Nina—you should probably head over to the eye doctor ASAP!😁

Oh man, just wait until I actually track down what was written there.
Or maybe I won't find it at all, haha!

They’ve been constantly adding bits and pieces and tweaking things for years now, though honestly, hardly anyone ever notices because, let's be real, almost nobody actually bothers to read the fine print in the rules. 😬 😉

Well, even if I am just a regular blonde girl now, 🥳 I just couldn't help myself from jumping in here.😁

Come on, you really ought to be taking my side here! It would be just perfect if Auntie showed up too, wearing the exact same slippers, since we've both spent so much time obsessing over the rules only for everything to stay exactly the same anyway.
🙂
Total traitor to your own PDF:

😍

🤣

Nina, you have to see this—the weather is absolutely perfect for hitting the pool... 😍

Emily Kim67, everything that was part of the old rules remained untouched 😁. Literally. Every single sentence stayed exactly as it was. We simply added the necessary updates on top of them. Honestly, I'm not even sure when you last bothered to read the rules 😬
.
The word "reloaded" was included in the title specifically to grab everyone's attention and remind them about the guidelines—it's meant to make life easier for both us moderators and all of you, helping create a community filled with flowers and unicorns rather than one fueled by angry rants 😁.

Yeah, thanks for at least attempting to reply, but goodness, I don't know what to say to you people regarding this. It's a shame; you're actually decent folks otherwise.

I am still struggling to grasp your point: are you complaining because the rules aren't written in a "cute" way, or because trolling and chatty banter are no longer officially encouraged?
I shall say this one more time 🧐: the original rules, prior to last night's edit, have not been touched. We merely formalized the standards that were already being enforced on this subforum anyway, but weren't technically written down . There are no new rules.
As for whether the tone is "friendly" enough—no subforum really has "cute" rules, because, in my estimation, the objective is to explain things as clearly and concisely as possible. I suspect that dustyranger64 and I aren't exactly the types of people suited for drafting whimsical regulations 😳, and frankly, I think people would take them far less seriously if they were written as some sort of joke; besides, people barely follow them as it stands
.

Emily Kim67 said:Before I post on a new thread, I read the rules. If they updated the old ones, I check those too. You say the caps lock in the sticky thread looks wild, but then you wonder why I’m reading the rules? Well, honestly, it was hard to avoid that ~RELOADED~ in the title.
Bob, don't do this to me! Now I have to explain to a moderator why I actually read the rules.😠

We aren't on the same page. It looks wild because it's the only way to grab the attention of the old-timers who effectively "don't see" the rules thread.
I don't know any other way that's "gentle" but still works.

Emily Kim67 said:But hey, it isn't even that bad if the vibe is, you know, friendly.

I mostly agree.
But look, we don't have the budget for professional editors specializing in "friendliness," and being cute isn't the primary, secondary, or even tertiary function of the rules. Their job is to be taken seriously. Not to go—"pwease if it's not too much trouble, don't be mean, it's just a baby."

Emily Kim67 said:Has anyone actually complained about that mistake? I don't think so—correct me if I'm wrong. So, either people didn't get it or they liked it.

If I showed you everything people complain about, you wouldn't believe it even if your own mother handed you a notarized affidavit.

Emily Kim67 said:Now I totally disagree. Of course I have to like them if I'm planning to post there.

No, you don't *have* to like them. They just need to not drive you away. There's nothing in those rules that would stop a decent, polite person from posting on Microsoft.

slywolf45 said:🤣

Nina, seriously, you have no idea how gorgeous the weather is for a dip in the pool! 😍

I honestly don't know what to tell you, because it feels like it's practically pouring rain on my head here!
Don't try to drag me into a chat right now.😲
I was being completely sincere, even if it sounds a little hard to believe at this point. And I just know the first moderator running around in purple or red will come along and shut this whole thread down.

And who knows, maybe Google will come knocking about some copyright issues?
A girl can dream, right?

Chloe Green61 said:Nina, everything that was written in the old rules until last night remains completely untouched 😁 Literally! Every single sentence. They just added the extra stuff that needed adding. I honestly don't know when you last checked the rulebook 😬

Oh, come on, don't tell me that, because it's just not true!😠 Maybe you guys shook my confidence a little regarding what I remembered about trolling and chat etiquette, but I am 100% certain—I'd bet my life on it—that there was definitely something about "unwanted behavior" requiring people to think twice before they act.

I'm still not quite following: are you complaining because the rules aren't written in a friendly way, or because someone removed trolling and chatting from the "welcome" list?

Maybe Wylie can explain it to you, because I have a funny feeling she actually understands perfectly and is just playing dumb. Such a little troublemaker! :

I will say this one more time 🧐 : the old rules, prior to last night's edit, haven't been touched. We simply added those rules that were already being enforced on the subforum anyway, even if they weren't formally listed in the guidelines.

😕Wait, as a mod, can you actually see what that post looked like before? Someone once explained to me that's how the system works.
And if you can, please take a look at all the bullet points that were under the red section labeled "what isn't preferred/allowed" (I'm not sure of the exact wording, but the key is what was under the red text).

There are no new rules.

Oh, I know there aren't "new" ones, it's the "rephrased" ones that are bothering me! And since those rephrased versions are newer than the original ones (see how much smarter I'm sounding?), I just called them "new."

I don't think dustyranger64 and I are really the types to draft rules with a friendly touch 😳, and I feel like people would take them way less seriously if they were written in such a jokey style—besides, people don't follow them strictly enough as it is.

You just shouldn't have messed with the "old" ones. They were perfectly fine.

dustyranger64 said:I really think you've got a point there.
Honestly, though, we don't have the budget to hire specialized "politeness consultants" just to soften things up, and being super sweet isn't exactly the main goal—or even a secondary one—of the rules. Their whole purpose is to make sure everyone takes the guidelines seriously, rather than just going, "Oh please, if it's not too much trouble, let's try not to be mean, okay?"

🤷Personally, I always felt the old way of doing things worked pretty well too.

Nah, they don't have to like them. They might just choose not to reject them. There isn't anything in those rules that would stop a decent, well-mannered person from wanting to hang out on Microsoft.

Oh, they absolutely have to! I mean, I definitely know what needs to happen for me to actually sit down and write on PDF. It's not like anyone is holding a gun to my head forcing me to post on this forum or any other. I write wherever I feel like it, trust me on that!

Emily Kim67 said:🤷I honestly think the old one was pretty great too!

🙄 Someone clearly has way too much free time on their hands.

Emily Kim67 said:Look, they have to. I mean, I guess I should probably know what’s supposed to happen if I want to be posting on PDF, right? Nobody’s actually holding a gun to my head making me write on this forum. I post exactly where I feel like posting, trust me on that one!

Exactly. Nobody’s forcing anyone here to post anything. You don't have to go around complaining about every little thing you don't like!

End of day. Done!

Emily Kim67 said:Oh, please, don't try telling me otherwise when I know it's true.😠 Perhaps I was slightly shaken by what I thought I remembered regarding the forum culture and all the trolling, but I am one hundred percent certain—I would bet my life on it—that there was definitely something written about being "unwelcome" unless you think twice before becoming a member.

I feel you might be taking this a bit too seriously, 😕

The rules were simply rephrased because we needed to incorporate those few new ones that have actually been in effect for quite some time now but weren't officially documented; we’ve already listed them. As for your distress over the fact that the post looks different and the rules seem less approachable or "heartwarming"—honestly, I’m at a loss as to how I could possibly assist you with that, and I find it quite baffling that this is coming from you. Rules are rules, and their core essence remains identical.
If they bother you that much, then perhaps just don't read them.
If you aren't willing to join the forum simply because the rules—which you likely already know by heart anyway, as does most of the community—are written in a somewhat blunt tone and are currently sitting in a thread that very few people actually visit, then don't join; I truly don't know what else to say to you. 🤷 I hope you can see the absurdity of complaining about the unfriendly wording of subforum rules when, in their fundamental nature, nothing has changed.

I believe we have exhausted this particular topic. 🤷

The rules are excellent 🙏 They’re actually so thorough and cover everything so well that I might just copy-paste them as an addendum to my own subforum's guidelines 😍
I don't see anything unpleasant about the writing style at all. And honestly, there isn't anything groundbreaking here—it just puts what we already practice into writing, which experience suggests is probably a good idea.

Thank you all, colleagues; I spent a good half hour polishing up the accessibility and formatting of 😍 and barely managed to squeeze in a viewing of the series before becoming 😳
Please, feel free to take the rules for yourselves.

Chloe Green61 said:We had to go ahead and rework the rules because we needed to officially include those new guidelines that have actually been in effect for quite a while now—we've already listed them out earlier! I totally get that it’s a bit frustrating for you since the layout looks different and the tone feels a lot less warm and fuzzy than what you were used to, but honestly, I’m just not quite sure how or why I could step in and change things back for you.

I honestly can’t even wrap my head around how we managed to pull that off, but goodness, it really is just wonderful!😬
I wouldn't say the new rules are unpleasant or bad or anything like that! They’re actually quite good, really. Just because I personally felt like the old ones suited me a little better doesn't mean these new ones are terrible, and I certainly haven't gone around saying they're so awful that we need to start picking sides and getting into a massive standoff!

I honestly can't quite wrap my head around why you’d be coming at me with something like this!

I really hope this is just another little misunderstanding—honestly, it’s probably my own fault this time! It almost feels like I’m coming across as if I'm holding a grudge against you all, but I promise that isn't the case at all; I am light-years away from being resentful, and if anything, I actually find you guys quite dear!😛

Rules are rules, after all—at the end of the day, they all basically boil down to the exact same thing!
Honestly, if reading their posts is getting under your skin like that, why even bother looking at them? Just turn a blind eye and move on!
If you’re really going to let a few clunky rules—which you probably already know by heart anyway, just like everyone else here—stop you from joining the conversation, then honestly, what can I even say to you? It's such a shame when things are written in such an unfriendly tone and tucked away in a thread that hardly anyone clicks on, but if that's enough to keep you from posting, then I guess there isn't much more I can do to help! 🤷 I really hope you can see how totally ridiculous it is when people start complaining about the subforum rules being written in such an unfriendly way, especially since the actual substance of those rules hasn't changed one bit!

I honestly feel like we’ve pretty much exhausted this whole topic, haven't we? It feels like there isn't much left for us to say! 🤷

I was just thinking about that hilarious story Kishonov told once, where he joked about how nobody would even bother proofreading his work anymore because everyone would be left guessing whether he actually made a typo or if he was just pulling our leg!
Man, those old rules felt so outdated, like they were straight out of a history book! We used to have this super laid-back, joking vibe where the guidelines were just... well, a little broken. Honestly, looking back at that error, you could easily convince yourself it was either a total accident or something done on purpose—and honestly, the whole thing worked perfectly either way!

I feel like I’m struggling to get my point across today, though I suppose that might be because I just finished working a grueling double shift at the hospital... so please bear with me! This is my absolute last attempt at explaining this, but let me be clear: it wasn't some tiny, outdated little PC that was the problem here, it was more about how that spunky waitress at the diner was being incredibly wasteful with everything, if you know what I mean!

Emily Kim67 said:It’s honestly hilarious how much we just don't get each other.😬
The new rules aren't "mean" or "bad" or whatever else you're implying. They're fine. Just because I preferred the old way doesn't mean the new way is inherently terrible—and I certainly haven't said anything so extreme that we need to start throwing punches.

I am genuinely sitting here trying to decipher what you’re actually complaining about or where exactly the logic is failing, but goodness knows I can't manage it. 🤣 It’s all a bit much for someone with a philosophy degree 😁

I don't know, I give up. 😁 Honestly, 😁

slywolf45 said:Over the years, things have been added and tweaked constantly, but hardly anyone notices. Why? Because, let’s face it, almost nobody actually reads the rules. 😬 😉

I read them when I first joined; it never crossed my mind that this was some sacred text I needed to obsessively re-read just to make sure I hadn't missed a single comma. 🤷
Take AT&T, for example—they sent me a text recently about updating their terms of service.
When you send someone information—and I'm not saying everyone needs to send a Paul—but... look at the example below. 😉

dustyranger64 said:You two are talking past each other. It looks aggressive because it’s the only way to grab the attention of those old-school forum regulars who effectively "choose" not to see rule updates.
I can't think of any other way that’s both subtle and actually works.

Just start a new thread saying, "Hey guys, here's the update." 🤔
That would put a new timestamp on the right, and those of us who pay attention to the little notification icons would notice that something moved.

When I first saw THIS thread, my first thought was, "What kind of rules is this person talking about? Which kid changed what? I didn't see anything," 🤔, because honestly, I don't go digging through ancient threads or try to memorize exactly how a topic looked before it was marked as "read" just so I can spot the difference. 🤷

And I think we can all agree that I'm the type of user who follows the news and sticks to the rules. 🤷

Just hit reply on the thread and write, "Here are the changes," if anyone feels like doing it. It's clean, it's simple, and every user gets a clear timestamp of when the last reply happened.

Because seeing "Reloaded" without a date tells me the last post was from "July 5, 2009, at 3:56 AM," and I'll just assume it has nothing to do with me.

As for the actual wording, it seems perfectly fine to me. 👍 Aside from the minor gripe about the bullet points, the word "excessive" really saves it. 😬

My 2 cents...

Rules are rules. I read them when I first signed up, and I just went through them again. If Chloe Green61 hadn't explicitly pointed out those added sections in her post here, I wouldn't have even noticed—mostly because this stuff has been common knowledge for ages. Nothing new there. Sorry, but I don't really see the point of this thread 🤷

Ash, I decided to type "reloaded" using tildes because even I found it a bit much to write out in all caps—you know, like, HEY LOOK AT THESE NEW RULES OR WHATEVER. I figured this way they might actually be visible, or at least catch someone's eye. But honestly, if they don't, it doesn't really matter, since those extra rules are already being enforced anyway 🙂