Exactly how harsh are the chat rules?

[Broken_Wind]

Are the rules really this extreme where people are afraid to make the social game... well... social? and if so, what in particular is causing this?

Rules are essentially don't be an asshat.
If you arent antagonistic then you have nothing to worry about
If you try to give advice and someone takes it the wrong way, just shrug it off. then you have nothing to worry about

Ive never heard of anyone I know getting a suspension. You see it every once in a while on the forums, but often without being provided the full story.

[Amorzinho]

Kinda funny to see this post. About a week and a half ago i reported a person at my server that multiple times acted racist and homophobic at the /say chat. Took 2 days for the GM to give me a reply, "We gonna investigate the matter". I was not the only one to report neither the first, the person constantly talks proudly that people reported them before and nothing happened
Well, today the person is still at the same place, doing the exactly the same thing

Not saying that all the cases are like that, but i don't think that chat rules are that extreme