# Bannings. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 13, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851 "2003-12-13T23:29:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Will\_Repair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a698b9/32.png) [@Will\_Repair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Will_Repair)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/101 "2003-12-17T00:17:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ice Wolf \* > \*\*…but I think you’re merely substituting the existing system via email between banned poster and the administration for one that is essentially a free-for-all trial-by-messageboard. I think the present system works well enough. \*\* You are assuming, erronously, that the administrators answer email from a banned or warned poster. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/102 "2003-12-17T00:20:57Z")
Why is that an erroneous assumption? Are you an administrator here? It’s more likely they answer some or most than none. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/103 "2003-12-17T00:50:37Z")
I have a better system. No bannings at all- except for socks, trolls & spamers, and those who violated a specific rule (like “no personal attacks in GD” or “Don’t call anyone a troll”). “Don’t be a jerk” is so subjective- there seems to be rules that are secret. I was slightly chided for asking if somebody “was a sock”- seems like that’s against a “secret rule” somewhere (although maybe they have listed that rule now, who knows?). Under this new system- there would be “jerks” sure. So? Don’t read their postings, or have an “ignore” system. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/104 "2003-12-17T02:05:28Z")
You’ll never get enough states to vote in favour of it, nor can you offer them any incentive to do so. Oh, wait, I said that in 2sense’s Electoral College thread. Well, I stand by it. Just trade “states” for “administrators.” ---
**Author:** ![jackelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@jackelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackelope)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/105 "2003-12-17T02:46:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DrDeth \* > **I was slightly chided for asking if somebody “was a sock”- seems like that’s against a “secret rule” somewhere (although maybe they have listed that rule now, who knows?).** Well, I can’t find it now, but I know there’s a rule about “no accusations of trolling.” Maybe it extends to accusations of sockhood? Dunno. If I suspected someone was pulling something bannable, I’d probably use the “report this post” function. I don’t think I ever have, though. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Zagna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@El\_Zagna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Zagna)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/106 "2003-12-17T03:11:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elmwood \* > \*\*There’s already a forum where banned members can tell their side of the story. In fact, many have done so there. > > alt.fan.cecil-adams. \*\* Wow! I’m surprised that there would be such an active alternative to the SD. Who are those folks over there? Do they even know about the SDMB or do they just prefer an unmoderated forum? Looking over some of the posters’ names, I didn’t recognize any current or former SDMB posters. I’m doubly surprised that when people bitch about the way the SDMB is run that they aren’t encouraged to start posting in the Usenet group. Normally they are told that if they don’t like the SDMB policies that they can just start and administer their own board - something no one is ever likely to do just to get even with the SD. ---
**Author:** ![Henry\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d78d45/32.png) [@Henry\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henry_B)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/107 "2003-12-17T08:13:04Z")
Just curious.😕 When I try to look if I have any privet messages, I get: **Your administrator has disabled private messaging.** I have asked two times the administration: **Why?** but never got an answer. Is this partly banning? :rolleyes: Henry ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/108 "2003-12-17T10:46:24Z")
IANAM/A, but I don’t think that was ever turned on (or if it was enabled, it wasn’t enabled for very long). ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/109 "2003-12-17T12:25:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Henry B \* > \*\*Just curious.😕 > > When I try to look if I have any privet messages, I get: > > **Your administrator has disabled private messaging.** > > I have asked two times the administration: **Why?** > > but never got an answer. > Is this partly banning? :rolleyes: \*\* Yes. It’s the dreaded SDMB Soviet-Style “incremental ban”. First they take away editing privileges from…certain…members. The rest of us can edit our messages to our hearts content, and it doesn’t even leave behind the _Last edited by \_\_\_\_ on (date/time)_ stamp, so you’ll _never know!_ Second (clearly you’re at least in the second stage), they disable private messaging. Right now, I have over 34 private messages. Then they disable the ability to post polls (and the ability to see them) They block HTML for these poor souls. ( The rest of us can see this \ blinking \, for example. If you can just see the code…it’s time to worry) Following that, they won’t let you post more than once in 60 seconds or search more often than 30 seconds. All minor things, but taken together they make a psychologically uncomfortable atmosphere so they can start on the next stage. After that, they start disabling the abilities to use individual letters. I notice you didn’t use “C” or “U” or “J” or “F”. This is typical. The mods get great pleasure choosing the less popular letters so the poor victims of the SDMB-Soviet Style Incremental Ban are never…quite…sure if they mis-typed or if there’s a problem with the SDMB. And they switch the letters around. So next post, you might be able to use “C”,"U’,“J” and “F”, but won’t be able to use “Y” or “N” or “K”…or even worse (and **Coldfire** and **TVeblen** are notoriously cruel this way…) just as the victims start to think “Wait…there’s something wrong!”, they’ll suddenly allow _ALL_ the letters to work again. Eventually, the poster gets sick of it and just stops posting or, failing all else, they take away posting privileges but _DON’T_ put “banned” under their name. It’s like the poster becomes an Unperson, dragged off to some awful gulag _and no-one ever knows!_ It’s all very Hitchcockian. And, IMO, quite franky cruel. I’ve often argued against this (but very carefully, lest I become a victim myself) but at each turn have been blocked by the Politsdmburo. the shadowy cabal of mods and admins who run the place. Y’know how scary they are? They’re so damned scary that they made **MANHATTAN** (The toughest mod of them all) resign! Ever heard of a mod named **Nickrz**? _He_ talked a little too much… I’m sure I’m in trouble for spilling the beans, but dammit, the truth MUST be told! Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/110 "2003-12-17T12:26:36Z")
Crp! It took ovr a minut to post this! Boy m I in troubl now. nd I don’t hav “” or “”…OK tht didn’t work. Um. I’m missing two lttrs. Importnt ons. ND my PMs r gon. Thy work fst! Fnris ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/111 "2003-12-17T14:53:24Z")
you rock! ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/112 "2003-12-17T15:29:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by vanilla \* > \*\*Could a Mod ever get banned? > Wouldn’t they have to have a total melt down or some such? \*\* What happens is that a fellow Mod would walk into his/her study, lay a pistol on his/her desk and quietly say “I think you know what’s expected.” Then they all wait solemly in the outer hall until a single sharp _crack!_ of a gunshot is heard. Then one of them will take the motorcar to Cecil’s villa and respectfully inform the master that so-and-so Mod had the decencey to take the honorable way out. Full state funeral follows with all the attendent pomp. You don’t hear much from **Manhattan** anymore do you? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/113 "2003-12-17T16:48:18Z")
NOTHING can keep Manny down! ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/114 "2003-12-17T17:36:23Z")
Pssssst!!! **Fenris**! Over here! I think I found your missing letters! And what may be the Secret Arbitrary Rule Book of the Lord High Mods/Admins!! Just look inside this La, la, la, la… Um, no, I was just out for a bit of fresh air. No, really, Your Honorable Modship, I didn’t see any “Keep Out” sign – where? Oh. Er, ah, well… No! No, I would \*never[i/] _ **AAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaa…** _ ---
**Author:** ![sirtonyh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@sirtonyh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sirtonyh)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/115 "2003-12-17T17:52:37Z")
I’m going to stand up for the mod-squad here. This appears to be one of the most tolerant boards around. Political, religous or social opinions will not get a person banned here. Being a moron will. That elevates this board to a level that many, many other boards only dream of. (I had to post that considering I’ve just been banned from another board for the mere suggestion that being opposed to the war in Iraq is not anti-American) ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/116 "2003-12-17T17:54:39Z")
Actually, I’d say being a moron won’t get you banned. Being a moron and a jerk might, though. ---
**Author:** ![county](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce7236/32.png) [@county](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/county)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/117 "2003-12-17T18:01:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*Actually, I’d say being a moron won’t get you banned. Being a moron and a jerk might, though. \*\* Only being a jerk is required, you signed an agreement to that effect. You can always go out and register the user name “SDMB-sucks” if you get banned, everybody else seems to do that with an organization that they feel has wronged them ---
**Author:** ![Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@Sweet\_Sota\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sweet_Sota_Girl)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/118 "2003-12-17T19:00:59Z")
But **Fenris,** you’re forgetting that THERE IS NO CABAL!! oops… did I say that too loud? sorry ::shuffling away quietly so as not to attract attention to herself:: ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/119 "2003-12-17T19:04:32Z")
Well, I do know that when we get a thunderstorm I can’t get cabal. ---
**Author:** ![Henry\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d78d45/32.png) [@Henry\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henry_B)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2003, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851/120 "2003-12-18T11:32:35Z")
I do not know what is a joke and what is not. Anyhow, if even some % of what Fenris is writing, it is maybe reason to check up [iidb.org](http://iidb.org) It is not much better, but… Henry [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bannings/218851.md?page=7)