# Mods banning people when they seem to have offered another chance? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 19, 2012, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140 "2012-09-19T04:23:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/61 "2012-10-13T19:55:35Z")
Lazlo, If you are talking about the case of someone being banned for having two usernames, we’ve already explained that if the offense was actually inadvertent and the person has no other offenses, they can apply for reinstatement. Such requests are normally granted. If you are talking about some other case, I have no idea what it might be. Without more specifics, there’s no way to comment on it. We do ban people who appear to be spammers, socks, or trolls without warning. But when someone gets in touch with us via email or webmaster mail, we do evaluate whether or not we might have made a mistake. If we are convinced the offense was not deliberate, they may be allowed back in. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/62 "2012-10-13T19:59:55Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Has anyone ever been banned because they admitted to doing something wrong and the Mods called them a “proven” offender? I don’t think I’ve heard the term “proven offender” here. Could you give an example of what you mean by “doing something wrong”? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/63 "2012-10-13T20:02:14Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Has anyone ever been banned because they admitted to doing something wrong and the Mods called them a “proven” offender? We’ve occasionally banned trolls who publicly admitted they were trolling. If **Lazlo** is talking about someone admitting to having two usernames, well, yeah, we’ll ban someone for that. But I suspect that **Lazlo** isn’t actually giving us the full story. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/64 "2012-10-13T20:23:58Z")
When we find someone is using two names, usually we do ban both, while we contact the offender and explain that s/he can only have one name, so pick one, and we’ll merge the names, or we’ll unban the picked name and leave the other one banned. In cases like these, we assume that the offense was innocent, and the poster didn’t mean to break the rules. Now, if someone has been banned, and then comes back with a new name, and we discover this, then yes, that’s an instapermaban. The poster knows full well that s/he was banned, and is trying to get around it. I suppose that spammers would claim that they didn’t read the Terms of Service before posting their spam, and that they innocently offended. However, I find it impossible to believe that someone is ignorant enough to think that it’s really OK to post spam. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/65 "2012-10-13T23:25:55Z")
> [@Lazlo Hapsburg](#): > > I decided it would be best to just withdraw from this discussion because most people know that no matter what they may say, you can virtually never win an argument with moderators or administrators. > > They will wrap themselves up in incredible layers of “we are virtually the best ever and the nicest ever and no one is as good as us.” But then they will resort to what I consider to be “dirty tricks”. > > However, the level of baloney has just risen to such heights that I find I cannot remain silent any longer. > > Let me give you an example of one of your so-called “dirty tricks”. > > 1. A poster unknowingly breaks some rule. > > 2. A moderator or administrator approaches them (just as pleasant as can be) and asks, “Did you do such and such”? If the poster foolishly co-operates with them and tells them the truth saying, “Why yes Sir, I did that. Is that a problem?” Then they are a “proven” offender and the mod can ban them with a clear conscience. > > IMO, that is a dirty trick because you are using a members innocent naivety against them. > > One of the moderators up thread said, " No Mod can simply ban a poster (other than a spammer or proven sockpuppet) on his or her own". > > Excuse me for laughing but when it is “proven” by an innocent admission out of the poster’s own mouth, it just stinks that is then used against them. At least that is my opinion. > > There is a reason why the criminal justice system has the Fifth Amendment so that the police and DA’s can’t trick people into saying things they can then use against them when they could never otherwise arrest or convict them. And thank goodness for that. > > I suppose you will all have a hundred reasons why I am completely mistaken about this and just don’t know what I’m talking about and why it is perfectly OK for you all to use whatever devices you want to have your way. > > I guess the bottom line is that it is your board and you can do whatever you want. > > My point is simply that it stinks. At least that is my opinion. > > I hope people are still permitted to post contrary opinions here. Although I would not be surprised if that was taken away from us one day “for the good of the board”, of course. You said essentially the same thing in the other thread. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15584854&postcount=55](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15584854&postcount=55) You’re long on accusations but short on actual information. Provide the name of your friend who was banned for such actions and we’ll investigate the circumstance. As I said in the other thread-------if we were in error, we’ll reinstate the person and I’ll personally apologize for our error. Your move. ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/66 "2012-10-14T01:48:21Z")
Join date, April 2012. Seems odd that so much resentment has built up in such a short amount of time. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/67 "2012-10-14T02:35:57Z")
> [@the lone cashew](#): > > Join date, April 2012. Seems odd that so much resentment has built up in such a short amount of time. We banned his “friend.” ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/68 "2012-10-14T02:55:15Z")
I’m disturbed and offended to learn of the sock puppets **.999…** and **1** which, through extensive and labor-intensive investigations, have been _proven_ – PROVEN! – to be the same (as discussed and repeatedly proven in a recent GQ thread). I demand they both be banned immediately! ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/69 "2012-10-14T04:57:39Z")
> [@kidchameleon](#): > > Has anyone ever been banned because they admitted to doing something wrong and the Mods called them a “proven” offender? Might have happened where someone was a general nuisance and that was the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak, but usually no. If someone’s confessional about something and strives to do better, we usually agree that’s what they should do and we go forward. For example, we’ve had people admit to multiple screen names. If they 'fess up we don’t ban them for it, even though it states clearly in the registration agreement that we will ban multiple screen names from the board. If you tell us, we merge up the names into one screen name and that’s the end of it. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/70 "2012-10-14T12:02:17Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > You said essentially the same thing in the other thread. > > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15584854&postcount=55](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=15584854&postcount=55) > > You’re long on accusations but short on actual information. > > Provide the name of your friend who was banned for such actions and we’ll investigate the circumstance. > > As I said in the other thread-------if we were in error, we’ll reinstate the person and I’ll personally apologize for our error. > > Your move. My move? I sent you a private message two days ago but you never replied to me. I’m sorry but I see that as being “Your Move”. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/71 "2012-10-14T12:09:41Z")
Sorry. I missed the edit cutoff time period. So I’m re-submmitting my post with some changes. My move? I sent you two private messages on Oct. 12 approx 4:30 pm (Board time) but you never replied to me. I can’t see how that makes it my move. I see that as being “Your Move”. I decided to communicate with you privately because you seemed like a very reasonable individual. However I must say that I have had some private communications with a few of the mods and admins (E.G. TubaDiva & Marley) and others and they have always been very polite, and friendly to me in private. But it sure seems different in public. I have no idea why. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/72 "2012-10-14T14:48:59Z")
> [@Lazlo Hapsburg](#): > > Sorry. I missed the edit cutoff time period. So I’m re-submmitting my post with some changes. > > My move? > > I sent you two private messages on Oct. 12 approx 4:30 pm (Board time) but you never replied to me. > > I can’t see how that makes it my move. I see that as being “Your Move”. > > I decided to communicate with you privately because you seemed like a very reasonable individual. > > However I must say that I have had some private communications with a few of the mods and admins (E.G. TubaDiva & Marley) and others and they have always been very polite, and friendly to me in private. But it sure seems different in public. > > I have no idea why. I think I’m reasonable. I got your messages. I didn’t see where they required an answer. You explained that your friend was banned about 5-6 years ago. You also contended that he never was warned and never acted like a jerk. How can I(we) possibly respond to your accusations without knowing the screen name(s) of your friend. I’ve said twice publically that we’ll investigate and see what happened. I just need the screen name… ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/73 "2012-10-14T16:06:43Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > I think I’m reasonable. I got your messages. I didn’t see where they required an answer. > > You explained that your friend was banned about 5-6 years ago. You also contended that he never was warned and never acted like a jerk. > > How can I(we) possibly respond to your accusations without knowing the screen name(s) of your friend. I’ve said twice publically that we’ll investigate and see what happened. I just need the screen name… As an aside, I think there is value to responding to PMs and emails if only to acknowledge that you received it. There are probably some that are obvious in not needing a response, but messages that part of some larger discussion certainly warrant at least a minimal response. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/74 "2012-10-14T16:19:30Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > As an aside, I think there is value to responding to PMs and emails if only to acknowledge that you received it. There are probably some that are obvious in not needing a response, but messages that part of some larger discussion certainly warrant at least a minimal response. I think you’re correct. I probably should have. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/75 "2012-10-14T17:00:10Z")
> [@Lazlo Hapsburg](#): > > My move? > > I sent you a private message two days ago but you never replied to me. > > I’m sorry but I see that as being “Your Move”. Send me a PM giving the usernames of the individual you are complaining about. Your move. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/76 "2012-10-14T18:48:11Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Send me a PM giving the usernames of the individual you are complaining about. > > Your move. I have decided to continue this discussion in private with a staff member whom I trust and I have so notified that staff member. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/77 "2012-10-14T21:15:37Z")
> [@Lazlo Hapsburg](#): > > I have decided to continue this discussion in private with a staff member whom I trust and I have so notified that staff member. I don’t think the results of that conversation should be private. There was a public accusation that a member was treated badly by staff and banned for no reason. I think we should have the screen name of that person so we can judge for ourselves how fair or unfair their punishment was. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/78 "2012-10-14T23:29:28Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I don’t think the results of that conversation should be private. There was a public accusation that a member was treated badly by staff and banned for no reason. I think we should have the screen name of that person so we can judge for ourselves how fair or unfair their punishment was. Trust me–I’d make it public, but that name isn’t forthcoming… ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/79 "2012-10-14T23:33:32Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Trust me–I’d make it public, but that name isn’t forthcoming… Perhaps you are not the “trusted” staff member that Lazlo will confide in. It would be nice, should that “trusted” staff member actually exist and receive a name, that it be shared with the rest of us. ---
**Author:** ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2012, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140/80 "2012-10-14T23:43:24Z")
> [@Musicat](#): > > Ah, yes. Attack of the micro-zombies. Wait while I get out my micro-garlic. Micro-zombies aren’t affected by micro-garlic That’s micro-vampires silly [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mods-banning-people-when-they-seem-to-have-offered-another-chance/635140.md?page=5)