Do we need to be more sensible about certain issues here before it goes far?

[Xal0lex]

Should we start to look at the UNOFFICIAL rules...

Why do many people consider the rules unofficial? Only the list is unofficial, but the rules are quite official.

Unofficial list of (official) Bitcointalk.org rules, guidelines, FAQ

[cryptohunter]

Should we start to look at the UNOFFICIAL rules...

Why do many people consider the rules unofficial? Only the list is unofficial, but the rules are quite official.

Unofficial list of (official) Bitcointalk.org rules, guidelines, FAQ

Fair enough but then

"NOTE: This is meant to serve as a reference/educational/informational thread, NOT a rock solid list of rules."

So we can say the rules are a guide not thrashed out in such detail they can be black and white and held to in a robotic/automated manner.
These allow for human intervention.

But you have made a point here which I see is correct.

Clearly break or be in contempt of  these rules and you will find they are official.

I feel some are deliberately broad to allow for scope for sensible decision and allow for context.

[hilariousetc]

Calling them unofficial has always been silly to me. Rules probably aren't rules if they're not official. They're just something someone made up and people are always going to complain that they're not official when they fall foul of them. Maybe we should call them standards or guidelines instead of rules, but again it's just semantics. I think they're probably only unofficial because they were mostly generated by the community and not theymos, and when BadBear was here he was even against a rule-set because he believed people would then just try find loopholes around them (as people do, but I don't think that's an excuse not to have them). There needs to be some rules (or standards if you don't want to call them that) otherwise things just delve into chaos.

"NOTE: This is meant to serve as a reference/educational/informational thread, NOT a rock solid list of rules."

So we can say the rules are a guide not thrashed out in such detail they can be black and white and held to in a robotic/automated manner.
These allow for human intervention.

But you have made a point here which I see is correct.

Clearly break or be in contempt of  these rules and you will find they are official.

I feel some are deliberately broad to allow for scope for sensible decision and allow for context.

Are any rules or laws rock solid with no room for leeway? If the speed limit is 30mph and you're caught doing 31 or 32, technically you've broke the law, but the cop could either let you off if he wasn't an arsehole, or by the letter of the law he could give you a ticket if he was. Morality isn't always black and white either. Is it ok to steal? Most would say no. Is it ok to steal to feed your starving children? Maybe. Is there any distinction between stealing from huge corporation or a mom and pop store to feed your starving children? Cases can always be taken on a case by case basis but people are always going to complain when they feel someone else has been given special treatment for essentially the same 'crime'.

[cryptohunter]

Are any rules or laws rock solid with no room for leeway? If the speed limit is 30mph and you're caught doing 31 or 32, technically you've broke the law, but the cop could either let you off if he wasn't an arsehole, or by the letter of the law he could give you a ticket if he was. Morality isn't always black and white either. Is it ok to steal? Most would say no. Is it ok to steal to feed your starving children? Maybe. Is there any distinction between stealing from huge corporation or a mom and pop store to feed your starving children? Cases can always be taken on a case by case basis but people are always going to complain when they feel someone else has been given special treatment for essentially the same 'crime'.

Perhaps the laws of physics in some cases...

Being a human and doing your best to be fair is a lot tougher than being a robot of course.  I will still try my best though. I believe in giving benefit of the doubt really... Until the threshold of being fair is blatantly being abused.