Banning

[Game And Guy]

This is a question more of curiosity. How does banning work in this forum? I've been gone for a long while, and I see all of these users who were around a year or two ago who have been banned. I try to check out their posts if it indicates why, but nothing really says anything about what they did (thought the posts may have been deleted). I'm not asking why the got banned though, I'm asking how it happens and who does it. Is it a strike system? Do users get a warning for their actions? If so, I'm guessing if they don't change their actions, they get banned? What is the policy or process on getting unbanned? Is it even possible to get unbanned? If you get forum banned, do you get banned from the IRC as well? Can bans be temporary, as in an hour ban or a twenty four hour ban?

This is a lot of questions, but I just want to know. I've been here (kinda) for three years and I have to say I'm still kinda confused on how this forum works. Thank you to anyone who answers!

[Foolio]

Everything is basically at staff discretion. There are no hard rules, but we try to be fair, and give warnings if appropriate. Otherwise it's on a case by case basis really.

[Sakonosolo]

I don't think I've seen anyone ever get unbanned. Maybe if they requested to be banned for a certain amount of time (or that April Fools thing) but never for actual bans. There is a strike system somewhat with warnings but like Foolio said, there's no set limit before you get banned, it's all up to the mods/admins.

[Purple Hermit]

There are short term bans that last for a specific amount of time that have been used occassionally and there's permabans which won't be revoked. And while there have been some requests to see why certain people are banned, unless the evidence is public, we try to keep it a private matter for all parties involved.

[Neeragon]

Hmm, thanks for the info, im new so its very useful to know rules

[Don Quichotte De Flamingo]

There are also infraction-points you might get, but iam not sure when or if even these are still in use.

[Game And Guy]

Thanks for all the answers!

@Foolio:

Everything is basically at staff discretion.

By that, do you mean there is no staff discussion on the topic of banning a certain user? It is up to a single staff member?

@Purple:

And while there have been some requests to see why certain people are banned, unless the evidence is public, we try to keep it a private matter for all parties involved.

Ah, yes. Understandable.

@Don:

There are also infraction-points you might get, but iam not sure when or if even these are still in use.

That's an interesting note. Might anyone know?

[Purple Hermit]

@Game:

Thanks for all the answers!

By that, do you mean there is no staff discussion on the topic of banning a certain user? It is up to a single staff member?

Ah, yes. Understandable.

That's an interesting note. Might anyone know?

Bannings will tend to be discussed before they're enacted unless it's so clearly a bannable offense (i.e. spam bots, grossly inflammatory users, etc) and infractions are mainly used for indecent posting or things that aren't bannable but definitely require a stricter warning

[Game And Guy]

Ah. That's make sense. Thank you for the answers!

[Yamakoki]

so wait shouldnt there be a check and balance to check a mod just in case he/she did so unfairly? what if the person he/she banned wasnt doing something major that was ban worthy but the mod thought it was? 0-0 or if the mod became corrupt? is there some sort of court system here for stuff like that?

[Crossword]

We mods do discuss bannings amongst ourselves. There have been times when, after further discussion and reflection, bannings have been reduced in length or overturned outright if we feel that we had jumped the gun or come down too harshly. We don't mash the ban button willy-nilly mind you, we only do it if we feel that the community is truly better off without the banned individual, and they are of course welcome to contact us for further clarification or to make their case for themselves if they wish.