# How is someone warned? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 6, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-someone-warned/288670 "2005-02-06T17:11:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-someone-warned/288670/1 "2005-02-06T17:11:12Z")
Do the mods e-mail you privately and smack you on the wrist? Or do they post a warning in a thread and trust you will see it? I particpated in a now-locked thread on revenge that crossed the line from “prank” to “criminal.” Upon locking, the mod said that everyone in the thread should be considered “warned.” Now, what if I got side-tracked and didn’t see the thread? Is there a final warning sent to your e-mail prior to banning? I’m not worried. I haven’t done anything egregious (that I know of 😉 ) and I was wondering if someone happened to miss all the posted warnings in threads and logged on only to find themselves suddenly banned. ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-someone-warned/288670/2 "2005-02-06T17:33:28Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Do the mods e-mail you privately and smack you on the wrist? Or do they post a warning in a thread and trust you will see it? Warnings are usually issued in the thread in which the infraction occured, with the reasonable assumption that those interested in the thread will return to read it. In more serious cases, warnings are issued both in the thread and by private email. In some cases, warnings may be issued only by email. For example, when we move a thread out of view and it wouldn’t be possible to issue a warning in the thread. > [@](#): > > I particpated in a now-locked thread on revenge that crossed the line from “prank” to “criminal.” Upon locking, the mod said that everyone in the thread should be considered “warned.” This means that those of you who participated in the thread have been warned, and the warning has been recorded for future reference. Referring to the warning would not be necessary, unless a repeat or similar offense takes place in the future. > [@](#): > > Now, what if I got side-tracked and didn’t see the thread? Is there a final warning sent to your e-mail prior to banning? It is likely in some cases that you miss a warning issued to you. It is rare that you are banned on the basis of a single warning. Usually, multiple warnings are issued. > [@](#): > > I’m not worried. I haven’t done anything egregious (that I know of 😉 ) and I was wondering if someone happened to miss all the posted warnings in threads and logged on only to find themselves suddenly banned. In the unlikely event that this happens, you are still free to email a mod and ask for an explanation. At which time, you will receive an email with an explanation. If we see merit in your request, we may reinstate you. However, it remains your responsibility to abide by the rules of this board, and you can and will be banned without warning if we deem it necessary. Although this usually happens only with returning socks and trolls. - **xash** General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![deena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8e7dd6/32.png) [@deena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deena)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-someone-warned/288670/3 "2005-02-06T17:40:25Z")
I know what a troll is, but what is a “sock”? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-someone-warned/288670/4 "2005-02-06T17:47:02Z")
> [@deena](#): > > I know what a troll is, but what is a “sock”? It’s short for “sock puppet”. It refers to someone registering another username to speak for them - like a sock puppet. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-someone-warned/288670/5 "2005-02-06T20:57:44Z")
Thanks for the explanation. From what I gather, unless one is a sock or a troll, one normally knows when one is on thin ice. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-someone-warned/288670/6 "2005-02-06T21:24:50Z")
> [@xash](#): > > This means that those of you who participated in the thread have been warned, and the warning has been recorded for future reference. A whole \*\*\*thread \*\*\*of people was warned? How does that work? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-someone-warned/288670/7 "2005-02-06T21:52:12Z")
And while we are on the topic: Is there some way of ascertaining how many warnings, if any, one has? I recall being slapped on the wrist on occasion, but never “warned.” Any way of checking, without putting a mod through unnecessary work? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-someone-warned/288670/8 "2005-02-06T21:53:01Z")
Maybe they can change “Charter Member” under your user name to “On Probation.” ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-someone-warned/288670/9 "2005-02-06T21:54:09Z")
> [@Aesiron](#): > > A whole \*\*\*thread \*\*\*of people was warned? How does that work? You know, I found the thread I was referring to, but it turns out that it wasn’t locked. I must be confusing it with another locked thread. But the mod did lock it down and warn everyone who participated in it. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-someone-warned/288670/10 "2005-02-07T00:41:09Z")
There’s no hard-and-fast process. The number of warnings depends on the severity of the offense, and not all offenses are equal. Some offenses do not merit any warnings at all. Spamming, trolling, sock puppetry, we’re not going to waste time with warnings – those jerks know what they’re doing. People who threaten violence against another member are not going to get “warnings.” The use of racial slurs, for instance, will result in pretty much immediate banning. Threatening to overthrow the government. In short, there are a number of offenses that are so egregious that we don’t feel any need for warnings. ---
**Author:** ![Iceland\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@Iceland\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iceland_Blue)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-someone-warned/288670/11 "2005-02-07T10:59:26Z")
Hey don’t New Hampshire dopers have the constitutional right to rise up and overthrow their government? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-someone-warned/288670/12 "2005-02-07T14:55:56Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#): > > Threatening to overthrow the government. In short, there are a number of offenses that are so egregious that we don’t feel any need for warnings. Are you now, or have you ever been, a member of the Communist Party? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2005, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-someone-warned/288670/13 "2005-02-07T21:17:43Z")
Consider yourself warned.