This board [ i]is* someone else’s toy that I’m being allowed to play with afterall.
Its owner, or its designated representatives, have the full right to tell me to leave their toy alone upon any whim. Generally it seems that they give a pretty wide berth, especially to those who have shown that they have something of value to offer. One poster got away with repeated bloody motherfucking flames in GD for a long stretch (and then again) because he brought so much knowledge and intelligence along with his potty mouth. Another usually made for a dedicated opposition and a sincere provacateur for many months of the year until fabrication crossed the line. My guess is that the Mods tried hard to not ban these posters but were finally left with no choice. You need some posters who are able to intelligently provoke but you can’t totally ignore offenses.
And really, I would hope that most of us have other toys and real life to play with too.
I think what is suggested in the OP is just about what happens. Invariably someone on the brink of being banned will experience a “witch trial” - they will be cast into the Pit and if the BBQ doesn’t burn them they’re not a witch. But it hardly ever happens - no matter how many kind hearted Dopers tell the Pittee he is wrong on this one the culprit proceeds to make the worst of a bad situation. Hundreds of people sit with mouths agape thinking “apologise or shut up but don’t carry on with this crap”. Too many times they carry on despite prescient interjections.
It should be pointed out that if I understand correctly the OP, this recourse would be extended to “prolific posters”. This would set up a separate court for what in other places would be called “regs”, regular posters. IMHO, this would create more problems than it solves given the continued expounding of the only SDMB cliche more annoying than “bring pie” and “cat breath”… das Clique.
We’ve seen enough of the “post count = value” bullshit, no? This could make post count the difference between “banned-hard” and “Survey SAYS!”. Ack… Thpttt…
Give the mods and admins some credit. They do a tough, largely thankless job (see the Pit-a-Mod thread contest). For a frickin’ coffee mug. Let’s also not forget that “Why was so-and-so banned?” threads can also lead to some fugly meltdowns and flamewars between those on either side of the banned party’s Christmas card list. These have IIRC lead to additional bannings, if only indirectly.
So, in the words of the Beatles, “Let it be”. Oh, and skip the “Let it be - Naked” thing.
People are warned and then continue to push the rules and then wonder why they get banned. It’s difficult sometimes for me to understand how dense some people can be. If my boss tells me that if he sees me poke another customer with a stick he’s going to fire me, well then, I don’t poke any more customers (with sticks, anyway:)). When a mod tells you to stop being a jerk, well…stop doing it. How hard is that to understand?
I think the mods and admin do a great job in keeping things on track here. Reading back over what lead up most bannings, it’s usually perfectly obvious (to me, at least) why the person got banned.
I think that out of sight, out of mind applies here. If someone simply stopped posting, how long would it really take for anyone to notice? And if it’s someone who was on the hellbenth path to banning anyway, chances are there won’t be many people wondering where the heck they disappeared to - rather, they’d be glad the person’s not still around, disrupting things.
And that came about simply because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut on other boards. Which, of course, would be the case if a person had that label under their name or not. I think it’s obvious that particular situation was a special case, especially since that post was referring to the supposed removing of all evidence.
Part of me would like to see this no-banned-tag plan implemented–purely because it has a potential to generate a multi-page wreck over something like “<High-profile poster> has been disappeared!” ending in a lot of sheepish looks when said disappeared finally chimes in saying, “Er, folks, I was actually on vacation the last few weeks.”
I don’t think that part should get a vote in practical matters, though.
“Like Una said, the warning and banning process are somewhat arbitrary; like porn, you know an offense when you see it.”
'least that’s how I read it.
Anyway, put me in the “It’s good that “jerk” is vaguely defined”, the “The proposed process would be fun to watch and all, but wouldn’t much contribute to the harmony of the board” and the “It’s not your message board so why do you feel like you have a say?” categories.
Whenever I look at an old thread I am amazed at how many people are BANNED. Maybe we should have a separate forum here only open to BANNED posters where they can bitch and insult each other to their hearts content. Of course, if any of them start acting courteous we’ll have to terminate their posting privileges even there.
for a long stretch (and then again) because he brought so much knowledge and intelligence along with his potty mouth. Another usually made for a dedicated opposition and a sincere provacateur for many months of the year until fabrication crossed the line. My guess is that the Mods tried hard to not ban these posters but were finally left with no choice. You need some posters who are able to intelligently provoke but you can’t totally ignore offenses.
I’m somewhat arbitrary? “Like porn, you know an offense when you say it?” What did I do this time? 