MAPS Forum Rules & Guidelines

[any major dude]

All rules are subject to moderator discussion. If you have a problem with a mod's action, please contact them or another mod via message. Do not post threads complaining about a mod's action.

Bluelight uses an infraction points system. Breaking a rule can result in an infraction. Usually warnings are given for first or minor offenses. Enough infractions will cause a temporary ban, with each subsequent ban lasting longer.

RULES:

All of the usual rules from the Bluelight User Agreement (BLUA) still apply, of course.

1. Be polite. Seems simple, but this is the internet & people can get quite heated if they disagree. We encourage healthy debate, but do so in a respectful fashion.
   
2. Accuracy is important. This is a research oriented forum. Be honest about the limitations of your knowledge or expertise on a given subject. Don't fabricate or guess if you're uncertain about something.
   
3. No posts regarding personal drug use, drug sources, synthesis, availability, quality, price, etc. This is not the place for that type of activity, regardless of legality of the substance in question.
   
4. No substance identification threads. If you don't know what drug you have, we certainly can't divine that via a message board. And generally speaking, you shouldn't purchase or ingest drugs of questionable identity.
   
5. No "What should I take?" or "What should I buy?" posts. Psychedelics affect different people differently. If you are going to trip, do your own research first. There is plenty of info elsewhere on Bluelight & the rest of the web that can help you make that decision. Likewise, we are not here to help you solve a medical problem that is unique to you. Some of us may be doctors, but this isn't the proper venue to be making diagnoses or recommending therapies.

Content & Style (Guidelines for Harmonious Posting):

• This is a research-oriented forum. General discussion of psychedelics, tripping, drug ingestion techniques, etc go in the Psychedelic Drugs forum (PD). Trip Reports go in the Trip Reports forum (TR).
  
• n=1≠research. While there is an important feedback loop between anecdote & research, do not present your personal experience as absolute truth.
  
• Appropriate topics include current news, books, reviews, factual questions about research into psychedelics or cannabis, fundraising, anything in the MAPS Bulletin, questions or comments on past or future conferences/presentations, and questions about pretty much anything MAPS or other psychedelic research organizations are doing. Students who have written class papers on psychedelic topics are encouraged to share their work here. General drug policy discussions (prohibition vs. legalization) are not encouraged unless they specifically relate to research.
  
• Posted comments should be presented at a level appropriate for a classroom or a professional meeting. This means:
  
  (A) Assume a skeptical audience. Provide argumentation and evidence, rather than simply asserting your beliefs. Clearly state the central point you are trying to make early in your message. Provide definitions and/or examples when using unusual terminology or advanced concepts. Please link to the literature whenever possible.
  (B) By the same token, please provide an introduction, summary, or discussion of all references or URLs posted to the list. Don't just post web addresses and say, "check this out."
  (C) Although original content is preferred, relevant cross-posts from other sources are welcome (especially when an introduction explaining the relevance is included).​
• For purposes of legal safety, refrain from posting messages containing confessions of personal illegal drug use or related activities. Generally, reports on collections of personal experiences from a large subject number are preferred over n=1 studies.