cessante ratione legis cessat ipsa lex and
consuetudo pro lege servatur are the two laws of looking at the rules here.
Per the first phrase, there is a whole host of precedent that our decisions hang on. You have a list of the official rules and the supplementary rules found in E&MU, FA, ED, ect. On top of that there are a host of things that are traditionally infracted that are not outlawed directly; however, the rules have been flexed and molded by 6 or so years of interpretation. The vagueness of the wording encourages that practice.
Per the second phrase, there is a corps of the rules that are not enforced anymore. For one reason or another the rule has become outdated. We do not hand out points for discussing religion or politics. Until late 2011, handing out infractions for discussing mod actions, points, PMs, warnings, etc fell out of vouge if it was done respectfully or in passing. While I do not know of any anti-RYL sites to try to join, I have not seen evidence of people going out of there way to enforce this rule since 2007.
Instead of worrying about the rules consider a few things:
- How does the action measure up to the Wednesbury unreasonableness standard?
- Would the Average RYLer* be offended by the post?
- Would the Average RYLer be triggered by the post? §
- How would this action be seen if you did it off the internet?
- Does this action disparage a person, group of persons, or a community?
- Does this action contribute to recovery oriented community?
- Would the action be done by a vrais troll?
If a post or comment passes my 7 tests I doubt you will be infracted for it.
* The Average RYLer is an imaginary creature of the same line of thinking as a
reasonable person in jurisprudence.
§ This applies more to the general boards and the general rooms of chat. In support spaces triggering material is expected and the right to post it should not be infringed or doubted based on this question. Another way of thinking about this is: "Would a post place the Average RYLer in an unreasonable emotional position?" Think of suicide notes, lying about your death and pictures of self harm.