Let new users break posting rules the first time?

[carbonrich (Richard Hawkins)]

I understand the principle (and the function of likes, reactions and votes) AND I’m suggesting a tweak to support better UX.

I don’t think it’s more jarring to be prevented the second time when you have be informed the first time.

@Stephen

Think about how this would look from the other side and the confusion it would create. Thousands of first time posts which don’t comply. Users asking why X can do something they can’t. Would those post need to be labeled as the “freebie”, adding to the noise?

This and your last point read like catastrophising. We’re talking about a proportion (probably a significant minority) of first posts from new users being less than the character limit. There’s an obvious explanation in the unlikely event that anyone complains, plus it can be made as an option: forgive_first_post_limit etc.