about banned members

[mamajama]

I have a few questions if you don't mind indulging me a little . I'm curious how this works. If someone is banned do they just dissappear? Is their name removed? What about their posts? Is there an announcement of any kind or is it just done and that's it? How do we know if a member is banned? I ask because I've noticed some threads where there has been confusion as to whether or not a member was banned or just isn't around and it concerns me because some of us form some strong ties on this board and to just have someone dissapear, well, it can be a bit unsettling (I'm aware that we shouldn't talk about specifics and this isn't really about specific situations, I'm talking general here). I may well be missing something so I look forward to being enlightened. Thanks in advance.

[Cynthia Mosher]

It depends on what caused the banning. Posts only disappear if it's a spammer or someone posting porn. There is no announcement just as there is no announcement of members having been warned or alerted or otherwise acted on for behavior on the boards. It's a private matter and really no one's business unless the banned or warned member chooses to tell others. In the case of members having "strong ties" with one another I'd think they would still be able to communicate off the board. I can't see us putting up some sort of list to check to see who has been banned.

Regarding banning in general: Banning occurs in cases of repeat warnings for behavior against the UA and usually only after a suspension and again warnings following suspension. We have outlined our general board policy enforcement on the Rules page if you'd like to check that out.

There are exceptions. Members that demonstrate an ongoing focus of expressing their dislike of MDC, their dissatisfaction with the atmosphere and the members here, and criticism and issue with the administration and moderation of MDC, and general "stirring the pot" will be shown the door. Complaints can be made about issues and concerns in an appropriate manner but when it takes over a person's general presence here and is presented with a negative and adversarial intent then it becomes excessive and inappropriate. We won't allow that to continue and yes, we will ban members for such behavior.

[Francy]

is it always permanent? (i'm guessing it is, given the option of suspension, but wanted to be sure.)

thank you for the clarification.

[Cynthia Mosher]

We always leave the door of communication open. A member that has been suspended or banned can talk to me about it, we can come to an understanding, with an agreement to not repeat the behaviors that led to the ban, and possibly be allowed to rejoin as a member. It really depends on the individual and the issues that were present.

[Starr]

Off topic- But I have a question that has been concerning me for a while...

I will try to make this as vague as possible while still getting the point across. I have noticed that a frequent member on this board has not posted or been online in quite a while. I know prior to the members absence "they" were going through some difficult decisions and choices. I am genuinly concerned whether or not for some reason "they" are not able to get online or may have been banned. I don't see this member doing anything that would compromise their getting banned, but am concerned of their absence since it is very out of character. I don't want to overreact but am wondering how we would know if something were wrong or how to tell if they had been banned to explain their absence.

[mamajama]

Thanks for the quick response Cynthia. I appreciate it. If someone were banned and wanted back in how would they contact you? I guess there's probably a "contact the administrator" option??
Starr's question is one I've been trying to articulate as well.

[Ruthla]

So what happens to a banned member's post on an active thread? Do their posts "disapear" or do the posts remain? If they remain, how does it look? Does it say "anonymous" where the user name should be? "banned" where "new member" "member" "senior member" or senior title should be?

[mamadawg]

I've noticed that some banned people don't show up as "Banned", but still as "Senior Member" (or whatever). But then some people do show up as "Banned". Why the difference?

I've been curious about that for a long time. Never knew where to ask it.

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by Starr

Off topic- But I have a question that has been concerning me for a while...

I will try to make this as vague as possible while still getting the point across. I have noticed that a frequent member on this board has not posted or been online in quite a while. I know prior to the members absence "they" were going through some difficult decisions and choices. I am genuinly concerned whether or not for some reason "they" are not able to get online or may have been banned. I don't see this member doing anything that would compromise their getting banned, but am concerned of their absence since it is very out of character. I don't want to overreact but am wondering how we would know if something were wrong or how to tell if they had been banned to explain their absence.

Sometimes people just don't post for a bit..sometimes it worries people. You might try emailing the person through the website, if it doesn't work I am sure one of the mods would be ok with emailing from the addy that was registered with just to see if they are ok. We can't really give it out though.

It can be worrying sometimes.

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by mamadawg

I've noticed that some banned people don't show up as "Banned", but still as "Senior Member" (or whatever). But then some people do show up as "Banned". Why the difference?

I've been curious about that for a long time. Never knew where to ask it.

They might not actually be banned. :LOL I have seen people claim to be banned here that were not before. They might just think they were banned and were only suspended or something...I dunno.

[tracymom]

Originally Posted by Cynthia Mosher

In the case of members having "strong ties" with one another I'd think they would still be able to communicate off the board.

The only problem that I see with that assumption is that some people (myself included) are very cautious on the Internet. You can get quite involved with people's stories and lives without ever sharing your real names and email addresses, limiting communications to PMs and such. I have several such online friends. Some of them I "see" in chat rooms or other places, but some I don't, and I would have no idea how to contact them outside of this board.

And I second mamadawg's question about the label; I have wondered that myself. It would seem to be straightforward to change the title from Sr. Member to Banned and that way people would at least know somebody wasn't ignoring their PMs or something.

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

So what happens to a banned member's post on an active thread? Do their posts "disapear" or do the posts remain? If they remain, how does it look? Does it say "anonymous" where the user name should be? "banned" where "new member" "member" "senior member" or senior title should be?

Ya it usually will say "Banned" where Senior Member, Member or Title would be.

If they have requested their membership to be removed it says "Guest" in this area, they are not banned.

[tracymom]

Originally Posted by abimommy

Ya it usually will say "Banned" where Senior Member, Member or Title would be.

If they have requested their membership to be removed it says "Guest" in this area, they are not banned.

The thing that puzzles me though, is I know at least one person who told me she can't access the boards at all, and banned is not under her name. She was frustrated because she got emails saying she had PMs but she couldn't access them. That's what made me think not all banned people had the "title."

[Calidris]

Originally Posted by mamadawg

I've noticed that some banned people don't show up as "Banned", but still as "Senior Member" (or whatever). But then some people do show up as "Banned". Why the difference?

Perfect example of this, in the smilie thread right here in Q&S Cynthia said both Veganmamma and Willowmom were banned. Under Willowsmom's name it says banned (like a title), but Veganmamma's is:

veganmamma
Senior Member

Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Yikes, living w/ my ILs!
Posts: 4,572

as if she were still an active member.
So, what's the deal?

[JessicaS]

Originally Posted by tracymom

The thing that puzzles me though, is I know at least one person who told me she can't access the boards at all, and banned is not under her name. She was frustrated because she got emails saying she had PMs but she couldn't access them. That's what made me think not all banned people had the "title."

It doesn't work that way. When we put someone on "banned" it appears automatically. We don't place it as a title.

There are different options as far as that sort of thing goes. People can be placed in a group where they can still read the boards but not post. In such a situation it wouldn't say "banned" under their username.

[mamajama]

Would someone be banned if they told everyone why they were suspended or warned?

[sophmama]

What happens if they log in with a new member name, as in they create a new account?

[UrbanPlanter]

It doesn't say "banned" under willowsmom's name anymore.

I know of another member who is most likely totally banned and it doesn't say "banned" under her name, either.

I'm so curious why the word banned is not always displayed; or are these people not really banned, but have some freaky problem with their computer that it doesn't let them have access to MDC?

[sophmama]

I noticed the same thing about willowsmom. I was trying to figure out what happened with her and started searching through her posts and saw the banned thing and then it was gone. Maybe this isn't public info?

[lotusdebi]

Is it a matter of semantics?

They're not "banned," they're just "suspended indefinitely?"