Rule Change (New Staff Power)

[emjay]

I think there is a benefit to it being declared from that perspective; to act as a deterrent/credible threat against those who knowingly and/or deliberately skirt the rules as a thing. You could never know for sure if someone was doing that but if there was someone who appears to be fully aware of the rules, fully aware that they're not breaking any of them technically, fully aware of the integrity of the staff in enforcing those rules, and reminding people of the fact/gloating every chance they get and/or trying to use those same rules that they are skirting against other people, then declaring this rule could pull the rug out from under them and let them know that being as big a pain in the arse as possible within the rules was not at option... get rid of the sense of safety/invincibility that such people have and maybe work where any number of smaller rules would always fail because of the rule-skirter's ability/tendency to be pedantic about the letter of the law.

Tiberius has already acknowledged that it's difficult often times to determine intent. Is someone deliberately being an ass, or are they not. It's irrelevant, and the creation of this option makes it no easier IMO nor does it affect those who think they can get away with skirting the rules.

I really think it will make a difference to the behaviour of certain people, whether the behaviour is deliberate or just an incidental side effect of their nature. Just knowing that rule's there will end the pedantic game of 'playing it by the rulebook'. I've seen theists do it and others more recently. And though it may not work against all personality types, it might against these sorts of people.