This is a long post as it tries to address everything brought up in the thread so far.
@bean_dip: Small problems that escalate is a way to describe what happens when these unofficial policies come into play. It's also possible that small mistakes that escalate would describe it.
What seems like a small problem to the user, when escalated(Using a technical support term here), and taken up by staff oocly, can become massive issues for the users.
@Souricelle: As an example, Souri, you've complained about this type of thing before. On reddit. Of how you thought you were on the up and up robbing something from somewhere, and Cerberus escalated the issue, was frustrated as he did so, OOCly, and you felt singled out because of it. I can this post.
If there was an impetus for -EVERYONE- to review these small policies, and stop RP and wait for xhelp before they take action. You can prevent a lot of those issues, and a lot of staff having to intervene in problems.
Hell you could structure it like a Skippy's list for RP.
1. Joe Baka must not boost cars without talking to XHELP.
2. Joe Baka must not do obvious crime topside without checking with XHELP.
3. Joe Baka should still check with xhelp for non-obvious crime if it involves NPCs.
4. Joe Baka Must not tag rival ganger turf when NPC's to puppet are around without 5, checking with XHELP.
6. Joe Baka shouldn't attack lone gangers undisguised, and expect repercussions without talking to xhelp.
7. Joe Baka should take it up with xhelp before he tosses large objects like Televisions off the skywalk.
8. Joe Baka should never kill people on Green without talking to xhelp.
9. Joe Baka may be a badass, but he should negotiate his attempted escape with XHELP and get clearance to do so before breaking that grapple.
10. Joe Baka should negotiate with xhelp before tossing live or dead people off of skywalks.
11. Joe Baka should negotiate with xhelp before dragging a body through Green.
I think having a list of things, maybe not as acerbic or sarcastic as that one above, or even a solid rule listed to xhelp before for things, would prevent the feelings of unfairness or being singled out.
As another example and continuing on the feeling singled out angel, and also the one that inspired this thread. I have people I've talked to who literally don't know the policies surrounding vehicles after YEARS of gameplay, it's never come up for them. It didn't matter to them, so when it did come up, they didn't xhelp, they hired someone to boost a ride, from where it was parked in what appeared to be a really secluded location, and then that person, being inexperienced, made a mistake, didn't xhelp themselves before they started, and caught flak for that mistake. Only realizing and xhelping after they had got started. Then later, because the scene was moving and they didn't want to stop it, not being assertive enough. They got yanked to OOC to explain themselves, stopping 2 other players RP for about an hour, because they were relying on that person to continue, and didn't know how to proceed, said person being yanked out mid sentence. As well they were apprehensive not even knowing when that person would be back.
All of this could have been solved if there was a listed policy for when to XHELP in this regard. That first person could have checked if there was a GM to respond. That next person could check with that person to make sure they were on the up and up. And then point to the policies if they were confused.
Yes there is a degree of learning curve, however, if you are pulled into OOC by staff, and forced to explain yourself, basically cross examined. And told you have broken rules that are unstated anywhere but random forum threads, or from one member of staff to you/shouting. How would you feel?
It would also prevent conversations like, very briefly paraphrased,
"You just violated the rules!"
"But that's not in the rules?"
"It's in the rules because I say it's in the rules."
And provide GM's with an out to avoid coming off as too frustrated.
Having these in a place they are READILY visible, would essentially prevent a LOT of tenseness surrounding these situations OOCly. As well as provide an impetus for people to point to it, anyone in a situation, and say "Stop, we need to wait for xhelp before we do this, because it's on the policies list.
TL:dr, the learning curve is already pretty fucking high for this game, don't force people to learn and communicate what are essentially unstated meta-rules without having exact knowledge of what those rules entail, that's asking for mistakes to happen.
Further, this is one of the most complained about aspects of gameplay in Sindome. Having it around would prevent the need to escalate heavy handedly in some cases. Which is a good thing.
Finally, it benefits staff and players for it to be a thing, because it adds a level of transparency to ALL parties, not just those initiated into the rules.