# A proposed policy on the reasons for banning members **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 19, 2019, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525 "2019-09-19T21:11:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/21 "2019-09-20T05:11:31Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > If TPTB wanted to make this board a democracy… Not my intention. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/22 "2019-09-20T06:15:21Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Having had ban powers on other sites, I can say that a quiet banning has the powerful effect of denying a person the attention that spurred the behavior in the first place. It’s pretty much a mod version of Don’t Feed the Trolls. > > A person who gets banned and sees their banning get announced is encouraged to do it again and again via socks. A person who is quietly banned without comment gets bored and finds something else to do eventually. I can see that as a general policy in cases where the sock is caught quickly. But if somebody manages to get several hundred posts out before they’re banned, people are going to notice the banning and wonder. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/23 "2019-09-20T06:20:28Z")
For all the problems I have with the moderation of this board, not knowing if a silently banned person was a sock, or a troll, or a spammer is not one of them. As to the motivation of the OP - if I were a mod, that would raise all kinds of flags - you need to know why some trock was banned so you don’t fall afoul of the same modding? How about “follow the #1 rule, and you’ll be just fine”? Basing your behaviour on not being \*quite \*as bad as banned posters isn’t very encouraging. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/24 "2019-09-20T06:22:33Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I can see that as a general policy in cases where the sock is caught quickly. But if somebody manages to get several hundred posts out before they’re banned, people are going to notice the banning and wonder. How come lots of us _didn’t_ wonder at all, then? It’s because we \*know \*silent ban = sock or spammer, because that’s what the mods \*always \*say if they make any comment. And that’s what the FAQ says. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/25 "2019-09-20T14:13:17Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > As to the motivation of the OP - if I were a mod, that would raise all kinds of flags - you need to know why some trock was banned so you don’t fall afoul of the same modding? How about “follow the #1 rule, and you’ll be just fine”? Basing your behaviour on not being \*quite \*as bad as banned posters isn’t very encouraging. That was the thing: it seemed that this recent member had followed the rules, yet was still banned. I didn’t realize that he or she was banned for being a sock. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/26 "2019-09-20T14:14:19Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > How come lots of us _didn’t_ wonder at all, then? > > It’s because we \*know \*silent ban = sock or spammer, because that’s what the mods \*always \*say if they make any comment. Being new, I wouldn’t know from history. > [@MrDibble](#): > > And that’s what the FAQ says. That’s on me. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/27 "2019-09-20T14:35:23Z")
2 years is not new. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/28 "2019-09-20T14:40:58Z")
On more than one occasion we have seen banned long time members comes back under new names, participate for weeks or even months then get caught/banned. In that case, absolutely **do** tell the reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/29 "2019-09-20T14:41:20Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > 2 years is not new. I’ve only been here since March. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/30 "2019-09-20T14:43:28Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > So was he a sock? I guess that’s the likeliest explanation but I was surprised. Kirkrapine never seemed like a sock to me; he didn’t seem to come here with any grudges and he didn’t refer to old board issues. If he was a sock, he was really on top of his game. Or you might be slightly off yours. He couldn’t have been a more obvious sock if he’d called himself Hanes McCottoncrew and used a picture of Lamb Chop as his avatar. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/31 "2019-09-20T14:43:45Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > I’ve only been here since March. “Join Date: Aug 2017” :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/32 "2019-09-20T14:47:11Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > “Join Date: Aug 2017” :dubious: March 22, 2019: > [@Max\_S](#): > > I would like to introduce myself to the board. My name is Max and for the past couple years I have been an infrequent reader of Cecil’s columns. I sort of knew there was a message board, but until I read his parting note I never really took notice. It looks like I registered an account in '17 but forgot it existed. ~Max ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/33 "2019-09-20T15:05:32Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > For all the problems I have with the moderation of this board, not knowing if a silently banned person was a sock, or a troll, or a spammer is not one of them. > > As to the motivation of the OP - if I were a mod, that would raise all kinds of flags - you need to know why some trock was banned so you don’t fall afoul of the same modding? How about “follow the #1 rule, and you’ll be just fine”? Basing your behaviour on not being \*quite \*as bad as banned posters isn’t very encouraging. It’s not a big deal to wonder about it. I think it’s reasonable to wonder, and mods are glad to let folks know. Typically we request that this be done via PM for reasons already stated. We try to be pretty transparent in mod actions so in instances where we are less so it can stand out for relatively new posters. No harm, no foul. > [@AK84](#): > > On more than one occasion we have seen banned long time members comes back under new names, participate for weeks or even months then get caught/banned. In that case, absolutely **do** tell the reasons. One reason why we don’t is because there are a host of tools that we utilize and we don’t want to reveal them because it could make them less useful in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/34 "2019-09-20T15:11:28Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > It’s not a big deal to wonder about it. I think it’s reasonable to wonder, and mods are glad to let folks know. Typically we request that this be done via PM for reasons already stated. We try to be pretty transparent in mod actions so in instances where we are less so it can stand out for relatively new posters. No harm, no foul. > > One reason why we don’t is because there are a host of tools that we utilize and we don’t want to reveal them because it could make them less useful in the future. Can you fit the word “banned” into the FAQ entry so it matches a text search? ~Max ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/35 "2019-09-20T15:12:48Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > If you don’t trust the mods, why would you trust their stated reasons? First off, I don’t disagree with the policy. I’m not sure the policy of not revealing socks and trolls works, but it has a bit of logic to it, and the burden is small to have to ask if you actually care. And, even then, most of the time, it’s fairly obvious why someone was banned by checking their posting history. That said, I think this logic is backwards. The whole entire point of wanting those in authority to disclose their reasons is so you don’t have to trust them. You can instead verify what they have said. That’s not to say that the people aren’t trustworthy. Even the best people make mistakes, for one reason or another. Again, I’m not arguing with the policy here, as I think it as worst a minor inconvenience. I’m arguing against the idea you’ve presented that it’s pointless to hear reasons for decisions. ---
**Author:** ![Bone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bone/32/407_2.png) [@Bone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bone)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/36 "2019-09-20T15:16:04Z")
> [@Max\_S](#): > > Can you fit the word “banned” into the FAQ entry so it matches a text search? > > ~Max Sure, I updated question 21. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/37 "2019-09-20T19:56:25Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > How come lots of us _didn’t_ wonder at all, then? There’s a big difference between believing something is true and knowing something is true. Unfortunately there are many people who don’t understand that difference and act as if their beliefs are proven facts. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/38 "2019-09-20T19:59:09Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Or you might be slightly off yours. He couldn’t have been a more obvious sock if he’d called himself Hanes McCottoncrew and used a picture of Lamb Chop as his avatar. As I’ve said, I didn’t see it. And I still don’t know which former poster he is. Any advice pointing to threads which would give me the evidence you saw would be appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/39 "2019-09-20T20:11:37Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > There’s a big difference between believing something is true and knowing something is true. Not on the internet, there isn’t. > [@](#): > > Unfortunately there are many people who don’t understand that difference and act as if their beliefs are proven facts. There’s more meanings to “know” besides factual certainty. “We _know_” = “we are familiar with the explanation”. Because it’s the same explanation they give. Every. Fucking. Time. Someone starts a “Why, Oh why was Trocky McTrockface banned?” thread. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_S](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/46a35a/32.png) [@Max\_S](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_S)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2019, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525/40 "2019-09-20T22:08:50Z")
> [@Bone](#): > > Sure, I updated question 21. Thanks! I hope that prevents the next person from making a fool of themselves as I have here. I don’t think it would hurt to silently put the reason on the member profile if a member has made significant contributions before being found out as a sock. But as everyone says this is unusual, I am also fine messaging the moderators in the future. Thank you everyone, ~Max [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-proposed-policy-on-the-reasons-for-banning-members/840525.md?page=3)