I've seen a bunch of people saying they can't give out rules because it's in violation of copyrights. Not like a whole codex, just people asking how a Falcon works or something like that. Why do they think it's illegal to explain the rules for a Falcon and then outline how it's used? IS it? I'd immagine that if you cited the page, etc of where you're getting it from that you should be able to explain it to a newbie or whoever, just so long as you don't go overboard.
It's a fine legal line and many people just don't want to even chance geting the board shut down.
Speaking for myself as one who likes to answer rules questions, a lot of the time it's my perception of whether the query-er has even purchased the rules.
A lot of times users ask questions because they don't want to buy the rulebook. Sometimes it's obvious, sometimes it's not. If it looks that way, I'll just site page numbers. If it's obviously an interpretation question I'm happy to help.
It just burns me when someone says "it's too expensive -- I don't want to buy a $40 rulebook" or whatever.
I know dang well it's expensive. I didn't want to pay that much either -- I'm not an idiot compared to this bozo's fiscal genius. But I didn't want to depend on my fellow gamers to spend their hard-earned money to answer rules questions I could figure out from reading myself.
It's like going into a restaurant and begging for food because you don't want to buy your own meal because it's too expensive.
Whar ah come from, that's called a "bum".
/rant