The Org Rules & FAQ

[Ludens]

It's just for a short time when you're a junior member. It's to stop banned people from creating lots of new accounts, I think.

I understand it was instituted after an incident when the forum became flooded with members of some anti-guncontrol group. After the resulting flames had been extinguished it was decided not to allow new members immediate access to all the forums. Though the Entrance Hall policy was suspended for some time, the backroom has always stayed of limits to new members. So, basically its function is to protect the main forums by keeping all new members away until the forum staff have got to know them a little better. This can be rather a bother if you are new, I agree.

[Gregoshi]

Basically, the forums more likely to produce flame wars (or at least our milder version of it) are kept off limits to new members. The Monastery would be included in the restricted forum list because in some parts of the world "history" can still fire very strong emotions decades or centuries after the events. In addition to the reasons stated by Ludens, the short period you are a Junior Member gives you time to realize that the Org forums are friendlier than most other forums and bad behaviour that may be acceptable elsewhere is not tolerated here.

[IrishArmenian]

Much appreciated, thanks.