What's the deal with...

... locking someone COMPLETELY out of the site when banned?

I know I could just use proxies to get around it, but it seems pretty pointless to stop you from viewing anything at all. No forum I know of does this, and second of all you didn't even provide any details on how you might contact the mod, in case you wish to complain about your ban.

We've had issues with people replacing their signatures with porn, thus making all their previous posts filled with porn.

Yeah, you have to understand that not everybody comes here and plays nice. What's more, if you want to complain about your ban, you can do so when you return. Unless you do something totally out of line, it won't be a long one.

Why can't you ban people by just turning off their option to post and have a sig?

Yeah, you have to understand that not everybody comes here and plays nice. What's more, if you want to complain about your ban, you can do so when you return. Unless you do something totally out of line, it won't be a long one.

"Oh, hey my ban was totally unjustified." - "Ah yeah, you're right. I'll unban yo--.. waaaiit a minute. You're not banned anymore!??!"

That's a horrible horrible logic, Wilmore. That's not how complaining works. You dont wait till after your penalty, you complain to prevent as much of it as possible.

To be fair Willy gives lots of people warnings and chances.

I'm not saying otherwise. There's even an example in this forum about someone unjustified banned, or at least had good reasons to complain - but he couldn't.

Quote from: Lord Wilmore on April 28, 2010, 03:59:52 PM

Yeah, you have to understand that not everybody comes here and plays nice. What's more, if you want to complain about your ban, you can do so when you return. Unless you do something totally out of line, it won't be a long one.

"Oh, hey my ban was totally unjustified." - "Ah yeah, you're right. I'll unban yo--.. waaaiit a minute. You're not banned anymore!??!"

That's a horrible horrible logic, Wilmore. That's not how complaining works. You dont wait till after your penalty, you complain to prevent as much of it as possible.

Because this is not a democracy, but a privately owned website and you don't have rights. If you don't like it, go somewhere else.

Quote from: parsec on April 29, 2010, 06:42:44 AM

Quote from: Catchpa on April 29, 2010, 06:18:02 AM

Quote from: Lord Wilmore on April 28, 2010, 03:59:52 PM

Yeah, you have to understand that not everybody comes here and plays nice. What's more, if you want to complain about your ban, you can do so when you return. Unless you do something totally out of line, it won't be a long one.

"Oh, hey my ban was totally unjustified." - "Ah yeah, you're right. I'll unban yo--.. waaaiit a minute. You're not banned anymore!??!"

That's a horrible horrible logic, Wilmore. That's not how complaining works. You dont wait till after your penalty, you complain to prevent as much of it as possible.

Because this is not a democracy, but a privately owned website and you don't have rights. If you don't like it, go somewhere else.

theflatearthsociety.org  >> The Flat Earth Society >> Suggestions & Concerns
For any suggestions or problems you may have related to the forums or site.

Why did you quote my reply?

How so?

I am suggesting that they change it, and concerned about how I believe it's not justified. You're not too bright, really.

Actually, it's you who's not bright. Just because you want it changed, it does not mean it will happen. You stated your suggestion or concern. They read it. It's entirely up to them to decide on it.

Quote from: parsec on April 29, 2010, 07:36:52 AM

You stated your suggestion or concern. They read it. It's entirely up to them to decide on it.

That's correct. I still don't yet see why you've actually posted in this thread.

So what? I don't have to justify my actions before you.

Quote from: Eddy Baby on April 29, 2010, 07:39:21 AM

Quote from: parsec on April 29, 2010, 07:36:52 AM

You stated your suggestion or concern. They read it. It's entirely up to them to decide on it.

That's correct. I still don't yet see why you've actually posted in this thread.

So what? I don't have to justify my actions before you.

Well, you I suggest you keep quiet in my thread now. No more off-topic from you.

(Don't argue that it's not off topic. That's off topic as well, and if you want to argue about it. You should PM me instead.)

Quote from: parsec on April 29, 2010, 07:40:11 AM

Quote from: Eddy Baby on April 29, 2010, 07:39:21 AM

Quote from: parsec on April 29, 2010, 07:36:52 AM

You stated your suggestion or concern. They read it. It's entirely up to them to decide on it.

That's correct. I still don't yet see why you've actually posted in this thread.

So what? I don't have to justify my actions before you.

Well, you I suggest you keep quiet in my thread now. No more off-topic from you.

(Don't argue that it's not off topic. That's off topic as well, and if you want to argue about it. You should PM me instead.)

Just because you started a thread, does not make it yours. People can still post in it. If you do not like the issues raised against your logic, you can delete this nonsensical thread.

Why can't you ban people by just turning off their option to post and have a sig?

Quote from: Lord Wilmore on April 28, 2010, 03:59:52 PM

Yeah, you have to understand that not everybody comes here and plays nice. What's more, if you want to complain about your ban, you can do so when you return. Unless you do something totally out of line, it won't be a long one.

"Oh, hey my ban was totally unjustified." - "Ah yeah, you're right. I'll unban yo--.. waaaiit a minute. You're not banned anymore!??!"

That's a horrible horrible logic, Wilmore. That's not how complaining works. You dont wait till after your penalty, you complain to prevent as much of it as possible.

Our goal is not to facilitate moaning. First off, if your ban is unjustified, odds are the members are going to pick up on it. You've probably seen enough threads in here to know that this is true.


Secondly, though most sites may not lock you out of the forum when banned, I guarantee you that most sites don't have the kind of review process we do. We have a strict and clear set of guidelines for the enforcement of the rules, and moderators cannot issue bans which do not match the appropriate punishment as given in the guidelines. Furthermore, all bans are logged in the mod board, along with the length and reason for the ban, so we're always aware of the action other mods make. We constantly review each others decisions and whether they conform wth the guidelines or not, and you simply don't get this kind of scrutiny and accountability on most forums.


If the members aren't saying anything, and the mods aren't saying anything, then your ban is almost certainly justified, in which case you have no reason or cause to complain. If I feel a ban is uncalled for or of inordinate length, I will say so in the mod board, and frankly nothing other than the support of a majority in the mod board is going to see your ban lifted or reduced. If you want access to the PM system just so you can let off steam, then I suggest taking up kick-boxing or Karate. I certainly do not intend to have running arguments via PM with every member we ban.

It's not every member you ban. Not everyone will complain about it, and I assure you that if I would've complained about mine I'd have found my way.

By the way, other members can't pick up on your ban when there's no public announcement about it, and the offending post(s) are deleted.

Why is viewing the forum still prohibited when banned?

It's not every member you ban.

Exactly! Think about it.

By the way, other members can't pick up on your ban when there's no public announcement about it, and the offending post(s) are deleted.

They would if you'd mattered.

Why is viewing the forum still prohibited when banned?

Because that's how the moderating staff of this website had decided.

Why can't you ban people by just turning off their option to post and have a sig?

I don't believe it is within the forum software.  I would manually add this to the code but I don't have the power, and Daniel plans on upgrading at some point anyways.

I was banned without warning for 'using a proxy'. I'd done nothing of the sort, and I straightened it out via IRC. I wasn't told how long my ban was; the information I was given was 'proxy.'.

So? It's not up to the moderating stuff to familiarize every single member with the rules of the site. Not knowing them does not make you not subject to them.

This is a load of irony.

Also, dongs.

Why is viewing the forum still prohibited when banned?

It is because (1) there is no rule against banning members completely from the forums and (2) Daniel has not expressed any disagreements with it. As parsec said, this is generally how we moderate.

I understand why you brought this up, but I am afraid to say that this method has worked well for the Flat Earth Society so far. It is more or less a tradition. Other message boards may run differently; however, the FES is not the same as the other message boards, and we do not necessarily conform to the same standards. As Wilmore said, we have our own set of guidelines agreed upon by the administration.

How come when I was a mod these excuses wouldn't fly, but now they're being flung around left and right?

Fuck it, why do I bother...

How come when I was a mod these excuses wouldn't fly, but now they're being flung around left and right?

Fuck it, why do I bother...

cause you were a lousy mod who placed his ego in front of enforcing the rules.

Quote from: Eddy Baby on April 29, 2010, 12:27:34 PM

I was banned without warning for 'using a proxy'. I'd done nothing of the sort, and I straightened it out via IRC. I wasn't told how long my ban was; the information I was given was 'proxy.'.

The problem I have.

What happened to you should not have happened, and was a bit of a fluke. Someone obviously thought they were banning a proxy, and banned the wrong IP or something.


I'll try and think of some kind of 'middle way', but ultimately I'm constrained by the software and the number of idiots we get at this forum. I don't like it, but that's the way it is.

I guarantee you that most sites don't have the kind of review process we do.

You're not in a position to make such a guarantee.

We have a strict and clear set of guidelines for the enforcement of the rules, and moderators cannot issue bans which do not match the appropriate punishment as given in the guidelines.

Lets see those guidelines.

If the members aren't saying anything, and the mods aren't saying anything, then your ban is almost certainly justified, in which case you have no reason or cause to complain.

Sounds like guilt by default. That's a winning system! :thumbsup:

I have enough experience of internet forums to make a fair assessment, and if you have a problem with the specific phrasing used, you can take it elsewhere. This board is for genuine issues.


As for your 'guilty by default' comment, there is an impartial review process in place, and members are welcome to raise any genuine concerns in this board. Aside from being given the right to decide if you're guilty, I'm not sure how much fairer and remain practical.

I have enough experience of internet forums to make a fair assessment

No you don't. Unless you're a mod on most sites. Bombastic statements don't impress.

As for your 'guilty by default' comment, there is an impartial review process in place, and members are welcome to raise any genuine concerns in this board.

This has nothing to do with your statement "If the members aren't saying anything, and the mods aren't saying anything, then your ban is almost certainly justified".

Members cannot raise genuine concerns once banned. There is a good chance that regular members will not know that a member has been banned, so won't say anything. And mods rarely say anything due to the high levels of incompetence in the system already.

Status quo is established.

There is no review process. Impartial or otherwise.

For example, I raised a thread about my last ban. It was filled with spam by other members and then closed. By you. You ended with a threat; "further offences in the near future will result in a significantly larger ban"

Perhaps you should add to the rules that raising queries about bans is a bannable offence.

Quote from: Lord Wilmore on April 30, 2010, 06:43:25 AM

I have enough experience of internet forums to make a fair assessment

No you don't. Unless you're a mod on most sites. Bombastic statements don't impress.

Quote from: Lord Wilmore on April 30, 2010, 06:43:25 AM

As for your 'guilty by default' comment, there is an impartial review process in place, and members are welcome to raise any genuine concerns in this board.

This has nothing to do with your statement "If the members aren't saying anything, and the mods aren't saying anything, then your ban is almost certainly justified".

Members cannot raise genuine concerns once banned. There is a good chance that regular members will not know that a member has been banned, so won't say anything. And mods rarely say anything due to the high levels of incompetence in the system already.

Status quo is established.

There is no review process. Impartial or otherwise.

For example, I raised a thread about my last ban. It was filled with spam by other members and then closed. By you. You ended with a threat; "further offences in the near future will result in a significantly larger ban"

Perhaps you should add to the rules that raising queries about bans is a bannable offence.

They can email us or contact us via .net as much of the moderation team here is also moderators or members there.  Other options include contacting Daniel, contacting us via aim, facebook, and contacting us through other members.

They can email us or contact us via .net as much of the moderation team here is also moderators or members there.

The .net site has nothing to do with this one.

Plus it's a graveyard filled with spam.

Can't issues be resolved within the forum?