This issue seems to be not about
main room policy, but about
kibitz policy.
Especially when there are many observers in a game, kibitz policy is more restrictive than room policy.
Policy regarding game chat (kibitz) is not necessarily the same as the policy of the rooms in which the games are played.It is unfortunate, but some help pages are not always up to date, and some pages may be inconsistent with each other.
For the record, following is what, at the time Kirby started this thread,
one of the help pages had about game kibitz. This was on the same newbie FAQ help page with and just below the Main Rooms Policy quoted by Kirby.
Quote:
Game Kibitz Policy
- Same as above but replace "help users" with "commenting on the game" and "questions from users" with "comments on the game".
- Note: All languages are welcome in game kibitz.
This is my current edit:
Quote:
Game Chat Policy - The "family-aimed" policy described in the first item of the Main Rooms Policy above applies to all public games.
- The "family-aimed" policy applies to players and observers.
- Chat by observers of games in progress should be restricted to discussion of that particular game.
- The more observers in a game, the more likely it is an admin will enforce this.
- Please remember that many observers hope to learn by watching a game, and by watching and possibly participating in the game chat. Off-topic discussion in game chat makes it harder for them to do that.
- Note: All languages are welcome in game chat
.
This is what
another help page says, and is relevant to the discussion:
Quote:
Observing a game on KGS can be almost as much fun as playing one yourself (and less of a commitment, if you are liable to be called away from your computer). KGS has many features to help with observing games. It is easy to observe games: in the main window, you just click on one or more of the games listed.
Some games are private. You cannot watch one of these, unless you are invited to join it.
You can chat while observing a game, but, try to keep your comments related to the game. In rated and free games, the players can not see your comments. However, in a Teaching game (indicated by a T to the left of the game in the main window) the teacher and pupil can see your remarks, so you should avoid chatting without their permission.
(Emphasis mine.)
A mention about the TOS and admin policy is relevant here:
The TOS are the top-level principles of KGS use. Admins have policies to enforce the TOS. While only WMS can change the TOS, admins discuss and change admin policy. By analogy, you can think of the TOS as a constitution, and admin policy as either laws or as agency regulations.
Note: As of the time I posted this, and made the help page edit, I had not yet discussed the edit with other KGS admins, but I believe it does accurately reflect game chat policy in effect for at least as long as I have been an admin.