I can. If people can go ballistic over minor political issues, imagine the vitriol we’d see if a crafty poster were fighting the lord high executioner for his very life! Lynn has a tough enough job. She doesn’t need more abuse.
Well, I guess we’re all infidels.
Everybody must get stoned.
A free-for-all, yes. This is a community of intelligent, witty, sincere people, indeed – but a look at some of the nastier, long-waged train wrecks here just in this forum, should tell you that the community also has human beings , each vociferous in their opinion, and sometimes as bloody-minded as the next guy. Trial-by-peers would need its own arena.
On the other hand, the board might be able to make a few bucks selling tickets …
S
Live at the SSSSSTRAIGHTTTT DOOOOOPPPEEEE!
I participated in a previous thread about this (as I am “under review” - i.e. have been warned).
A guy on the other thread said he had been banned and exchanged some e-mail traffic with the powers that be and was reinstated. Sounded reasonable to me. (You get a shot)
So, anyway, after attempting to “not be a jerk” I get fucking pitted. It’s like Roseane Roseannadana says “It” always something"
Could a Mod ever get banned?
Wouldn’t they have to have a total melt down or some such?
county, I don’t know your style and I’m definitely not taking sides here, but a number of posters in the other thread have encouraged and commended your courtesy during the debates.
At the very least, in this thread you say that you’re trying your best to “not be a jerk.” To me, that indicates retrospection, and that you care about being here. Good on you.
I second what Mr. B said, county. At least you’re trying. Good on you for that.
I think one mod has been banned (Melin?). It involved threats of legal action against the board, IIRC.
Gyan9, you seem to be under the impression that this is a democracy. That we all have ownership in this board and therefore we should be allowed a voice in how things are handled.
In a sense, this is true in that we are a community and the opinions of our members DO matter to our moderators. I actually DO know of a situation where a member was NOT banned because of the explanations/support of members concerning this person. That person did eventually get banned anyway, and I guess I have to say it was deserved. BUT…the member WAS given another chance due to the intervention of other members. Thus proving that our moderators are NOT
heartless power-hungry dictators.
However, this board is owned by the Chicago Reader and administered by a group of people to whom the CR has given the authority OF ownership.
If you disagree with a banning, I would suggest that you email all of the moderators and state your case. It may or may not change their decision, but it is the only appeal process that makes sense…given the fact that we as members are not privy to private communications between the banned person and the authorities.
Personally, I have to say that even when a banning made me sad…and even when I disagreed with a banning…I have always been able to see quite clearly WHY it happened. Usually I only wonder why someone HASN’T been banned…not why someone IS banned.
Never. If it was, then the current system wouldn’t be tolerated. Given the nature and purpose of this board, and that prolific posters are not spammers or trollers i.e. an obvious banning offence, most bans involve the “being a jerk” rule. And being a jerk, mostly is such a context-sensitive judgement that a process visible to the community feels warranted.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I would gladly pay real money to have my member status changed permanently to “asshat.” What a great word that is.
asshat
Like a hat made from ass?
a hat that looks like an ass?
your ass is on your head?
what does Apos mean anyway?
There once was young Apos from Kew
Who found an asshat in his stew.
Said the mod, “Do not shout
Or wave it about,
Or the rest will be wanting one too!”
But Apos, determined, stood pat.
He wanted that word, and that’s that!
Lynn finally gave in
Now Apos can grin
As he posts and talks through his asshat.
If we’re going to change anything about the banning process, the only thing I’d consider would be to not change member status to “BANNED.” I’d much rather people simply faded away, rather than call attention to it with such an obvious label.
With respect, I think a careful review of many past threads regarding bannings will show that many of them did turn into free-for-all’s.
( )added for clarity
Well, I believe there’s a Joey Hemlock who posts here…
On the board I admin, the policy is:
- Users are warned both privately and publically.
- Admins and mods don’t discuss the banning in public. We don’t want to add insult to injury.
- Users can discuss it, like on the SDMB.
- A banned user can ask to return, unless they tried to hack the board.
- There are general board guidelines. Like Una, the warning and banning process are somewhat arbitrary; like porn, you know an offense when you say it.
I disagree. If this was done, we’d have countless “What happened to…” threads, because people would wonder why december (for example) suddenly stopped posting.