Rule #6: PMs - Clarification/Explanation Needed

[Tattoo Bradley]

Rule #6- This forum has a Personal Message(PM) function. This is for the express purpose of transmitting personal information such as real names, addresses or other sensitive information. This is not a Private Message system as nothing transmitted electronically is ever completely private. Any report of the Personal Message function, or Social Groups function, being used to, or attempting to, circumvent our rules must be treated the same as any post on the open forum.

This rule has bothered me since the new set of rules appeared on the forum. It seems to be a rather indirect and elusive disclaimer allowing snooping of personal* messages.

Under previous ownership/management PMs were only read by:
A. The sender
B. The reciepient
C. A mod/owner IF the PM was forwarded/reported to us. We did not EVER intercept any messages.

At this time are the owner and/or moderators reading, or have they read, PMs sent between two persons without those persons permission/reporting of the messages?

The rule states that PM = Personal Message (as opposed to private.) This is correct, VBulletin defines PM as personal message. However, the rule also goes on to explain that the purpose of the PM system is

::snip::for the express purpose of transmitting personal information ::snip::

Is personal* information not senstive and private**?

Steve,
Please expound and completely clarify this new rule/disclaimer.

*

Main Entry: 1per·son·al
Pronunciation: \ˈpərs-nəl, ˈpər-sə-nəl\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French personel, from Late Latin personalis, from Latin persona
Date: 14th century
1 : of, relating to, or affecting a particular person : private, individual <personal ambition> <personal financial gain>
2 a : done in person without the intervention of another; also : proceeding from a single person b : carried on between individuals directly <a personal interview>
3 : relating to the person or body
4 : relating to an individual or an individual's character, conduct, motives, or private affairs often in an offensive manner <a personal insult>
5 a : being rational and self-conscious <personal, responsive government is still possible — John Fischer> b : having the qualities of a person rather than a thing or abstraction <a personal devil>
6 : of, relating to, or constituting personal property <a personal estate>
7 : denoting grammatical person
8 : intended for private use or use by one person <a personal stereo>

**

Main Entry: 1pri·vate
Pronunciation: \ˈprī-vət\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English privat, from Anglo-French, from Latin privatus, from past participle of privare to deprive, release, from privus private, individual; probably akin to Latin pro for, in front of — more at for
Date: 14th century
1 a : intended for or restricted to the use of a particular person, group, or class <a private park> b : belonging to or concerning an individual person, company, or interest <a private house> c (1) : restricted to the individual or arising independently of others <private opinion> (2) : carried on by the individual independently of the usual institutions <a doctor in private practice>; also : being educated by independent study or a tutor or in a private school <private students> d : not general in effect <a private statute> e : of, relating to, or receiving hospital service in which the patient has more privileges than a semiprivate or ward patient
2 a (1) : not holding public office or employment <a private citizen> (2) : not related to one's official position : personal <private correspondence> b : being a private
3 a : withdrawn from company or observation <a private retreat> b : not known or intended to be known publicly : secret c : preferring to keep personal affairs to oneself : valuing privacy highly d : unsuitable for public use or display
4 : not having shares that can be freely traded on the open market <a private company>