Are we permitted to discuss specific items that are not our own entries?

[Ariax]

There are a couple I'd like to comment on (favorably), but I want to be sure that's within the rules.

[Will Cooper]

No.

Edit to add:

Voting Rules FAQ wrote:

Can I discuss the items on the messageboards?

You may not discuss specific entries on the messageboards during the voting period. If you see any messageboard posts that discuss specific entries, please flag them as "Breaks other guidelines."

[RtFM]

On the voting page, above every pair of entries on which you are voting, you will see this text:

Quote:

Can I discuss the items on the messageboards?

You may not discuss specific entries on the messageboards during the voting period. If you see any messageboard posts that discuss specific entries, please flag them as "Breaks other guidelines."

It may in fact be ideal to read all of the rules presented in that space.

[Ariax]

Thanks, somehow I missed that rule. Glad you illuminated it for me.

[Mikko Kallio]

How specific is "specific", by the way? Are we allowed to discuss common themes, for example? Such as saying something like "Man, I've seen at least a dozen items with dragonflies this year!" (I haven't, just an example :p )

[LazarX]

Put it plain and simple. Do not discuss ANY ITEM/FEAT/CLASS/MONSTER/WHATEVER THAT'S BEING VOTED ON. UNTIL WE GET THE OKAY TO DO SO which will be after voting for the particular round is done. There's really no exceptions to that direct mandate.

[Mikko Kallio]

Take it easy, we are allowed to ask questions. To put it plain and simple, the FAQ only mentions discussing specific items. "You may not discuss specific entries on the messageboards during the voting period. If you see any messageboard posts that discuss specific entries, please flag them as "Breaks other guidelines."

And I asked how specific is specific. I've seen posts discussing the flaws of items, along the lines of "I've seen lots of items with bad formatting / name missing from the body text / etc."

It is a valid question.

[LazarX]

It's still better not to do it at all. It's a very grey area in engaging such discussions, and it goes very much against the intent of not creating prejudicial talk during the judgement process.

If there's a point of such cosmic significance to be made, it'll keep. Otherwise it probably wasn't worth the trouble to bring it up.