Quote Originally Posted by Vnolan View Post
SE doesn't have to prove anything, it's their service. If it wasn't allowed the ads would be taken down. Like parsing, they can't officially endorse it, but as long as you keep the info to private channels they don't have a problem with it.
Parsing can be openly talked about without repercussion in any setting that does not allow harassment, and is such a complicated topic that it is a bad example to use.

Basically the rule with parsing is that "Third party applications that read data are not allowed", this means parsing is not allowed, but this is only on a technicality. The target of this rule is things like hunt trackers, botting tools, and market trackers, that would give players a fundamental advantage over other players. Yoshi P has publicly acknowledged the value of parsers in high end raiding scene across the entire MMO landscape, and has unofficially deemed parsers fine "so long as you keep it to yourself and don't harass people".

RMT is not allowed, period. thats what selling clears for real money is, it's a Real Money Transaction, and any mention of it ingame will get you banned. The ads however, do not endorse RMT, only the service, and therefore adhere to the terms of service. Programs like discord are completely allowed, and any mention of them is perfectly fine, and people will get away with it if they take it to private channels, in that sense you are right that talking about RMT in these channels is perfectly allowed. The catch is though, while you don't have to adhere to the ToS, you are also not protected by it if you use these channels, and SE will not listen to you if you get burned by your actions.