Buying in-game items or money from other players, using real money?

[centauri5pirate]

I assume that this is not allowed, but I triple-checked the rules and ran a couple of searches in this forum and can't find any prohibition against it. The closest thing I can think of would be that it might be considered playing "out of roleplay" if someone asks for, say, $5 US dollars instead of $20,000,000 credits for a certain item or weapon when offering it for sale in system chat. But on the other hand, since OORP chat is not forbidden in private conversations, I don't see how it could be illegal if it's negotiated in a private channel. If a newbie to the server privately offers a veteran player real-life money for in-game credits, is that really punishable?

Has this ever come up in the past? Like I said, I did some searching, but I didn't find anything.

Call me crazy but it's called DISCOVERY Server for a reason. How about "DISCOVERING" new trade runs to finance a new ship or new weapons for a great loadout? How about "DISCOVERING" new minable fields for a decent profit?
Here's an idea, how about someone selling their hard-earned knowledge of the systems, jumpholes, and wrecks, cool weapons, uber armor, etc. and instead of keeping the money, have it directly deposited into the PayPal account for funding of better equipment for the server? That's the ticket laddie...selfless donations for the better of the community, not the lining of one's own pockets.
By the way, I have Lv 8 armor for fighters and bombers for sale. The cost is $5 U.S. dollars towards the equipment upkeep or the purchase of new equipment for the server. I'm sure we'd all appreciate it and you get your name in the donation list too!!
Here is the account:
Donation (PayPal) account remains: discoveryserver@gmail.com

I think my idea is a great one...please feel free to kudos or flame the hell out of me.

---

You ask me why Im weary, why I cant speak to you.
You blame me for my silence, say Its time I changed and grew.
But the war's still going on dear, and theres no end that I know...
And I cant say if were ever...
I cant say if were ever gonna be free.