So what exactly are the rules about discussing other chess sites?

Don't rub it in!

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It's permissible to say "I played this game on (site name)" and give a link, or to say "My name on (site name) is (user name)", or similar passing references.  Discussion, advertising, and comparison (even positive comparison) is not permitted.

Let us preserve this for eternity.

max is there any bacon left?

By "positive comparison," I'm assuming you're referring to comparisons of chess.com with other sites where chess.com comes up on top (I've also heard other mods say things to the same effect). The thing is, though, the thread never even mentioned chess.com. There was no comparison of chess.com with them, or chess.com with anything. So even if you add comparisons with chess.com to the list of things you're not allowed to do when you mention other sites, there's still no reason to lock the thread.

The other thread was posted to criticise another site.  Even if the original post doesn't directly mention chess.com, the positive comparison is implied, and a post like that will inevitably lead to comments that  discuss the relative merits of the different sites.

If you want to post about something chess.com does well, feel free to do so.  If you want to post about something chess.com does poorly and could do better, that's fine too.  If you want chess.com to implement a feature you saw on another site, you can post that too - but by describing the feature, rather than saying "please copy [insert competitor site name here]!"

Feedback about chess.com - positive or negative - is welcome (although you must do penance for any negative feedback by staring at @jdcannon's profile picture for five minutes), but if you want to discuss the relative merits of the different sites, Reddit would be a good place for that conversation.

Note: I didn't make the rules.  However, I understand why Erik doesn't want his site to be used to advertise competitors or to have arguments over which site is best (a rather subjective matter, anyway).

We'll have to raid imbacon's fridge. 

max,let's roll!

It's gonna get ugly.  @Imbacon isn't going to give up his hoard so easy

Can't get more people,won't be enough to split!

He's assured me there enough to feed china there. 

Well let's just tell everybody they're invited!

Now all we need is for our resident interviewer Ryan to get his address and fridge lock combo. 

And a few other places as well.

Looks like Harry's in as well.  We've got magnum force on our side now. 

Have a nice day. Don'y mess with Harry, the outriding outsider.

It was brought to my attention that a planned raid on my bacon supply was being discussed?  

If you value your life, you will not attempt this foolish act.

Im just sayin...

Thanks for the warning, but you are only saying that, aren't you?