diff --git a/xmodule/course_block.py b/xmodule/course_block.py
index a74abdb3f617..52422ffa3427 100644
--- a/xmodule/course_block.py
+++ b/xmodule/course_block.py
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ class EmailString(String):
     """
     Parse String with email validation
     """
+
     def from_json(self, value):
         if value:
             validate_email(value)
@@ -226,6 +227,7 @@ class ProctoringProvider(String):
     ProctoringProvider field, which includes validation of the provider
     and default that pulls from edx platform settings.
     """
+
     def from_json(self, value):
         """
         Return ProctoringProvider as full featured Python type. Perform validation on the provider
@@ -1457,15 +1459,18 @@ def get_discussion_blackout_datetimes(self):
     @property
     def forum_posts_allowed(self):
         """
-        Return whether forum posts are allowed by the discussion_blackouts
-        setting
+        Return whether forum posts are allowed by the discussion_blackouts setting
+        Checks if posting restrictions are enabled or if there's a currently ongoing blackout period.
         """
+
         blackouts = self.get_discussion_blackout_datetimes()
+        posting_restrictions = self.discussions_settings.get('posting_restrictions', 'disabled')
         now = datetime.now(utc)
-        for blackout in blackouts:
-            if blackout["start"] <= now <= blackout["end"]:
-                return False
-        return True
+
+        if posting_restrictions == 'enabled':
+            return False
+
+        return all(not (blackout["start"] <= now <= blackout["end"]) for blackout in blackouts)
 
     @property
     def number(self):
diff --git a/xmodule/modulestore/tests/factories.py b/xmodule/modulestore/tests/factories.py
index 9e0a2aa5cfd1..4467215fac4a 100644
--- a/xmodule/modulestore/tests/factories.py
+++ b/xmodule/modulestore/tests/factories.py
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ class XModuleFactoryLock(threading.local):
     after ensuring that a) the modulestore will be cleaned up, and b) that XModuleFactoryLock.disable
     will be called.
     """
+
     def __init__(self):
         super().__init__()
         self._enabled = False
@@ -123,6 +124,7 @@ def _create(cls, target_class, **kwargs):  # lint-amnesty, pylint: disable=argum
         run = kwargs.pop('run', name)
         user_id = kwargs.pop('user_id', ModuleStoreEnum.UserID.test)
         emit_signals = kwargs.pop('emit_signals', False)
+
         # By default course has enrollment_start in the future which means course is closed for enrollment.
         # We're setting the 'enrollment_start' field to None to reduce number of arguments needed to setup course.
         # Use the 'default_enrollment_start=True' kwarg to skip this and use the default enrollment_start date.
@@ -478,6 +480,7 @@ class StackTraceCounter:
     """
     A class that counts unique stack traces underneath a particular stack frame.
     """
+
     def __init__(self, stack_depth, include_arguments=True):
         """
         Arguments: