# Old timers: Tell me about the Great Banning... **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [December 13, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269 "2013-12-13T20:39:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/1 "2013-12-13T20:39:03Z")
It is spoken of here sometimes in hushed tones, or sometimes ruefully, or sometimes with hearty laughter like with happy veterans telling war stories, bonding from shared hardship and survival. I’d like to know where/when/what you or your loved ones were doing when you first realized the event occurred and your immediate reactions. Oral history, as it were, now that time has passed. Your first impressions, concerns, fear, maybe panic. I would be happy to look up old ABTM posts immediately after the event, but I don’t even its basic chronology. I’m sure they’re quite interesting. Eventually all the Survivors of the Great Banning will be gone, leaving nary a sock behind. I am asking out of personal interest, but more importantly, for future generations. Leo ---
**Author:** ![sevenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@sevenwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sevenwood)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/2 "2013-12-13T20:42:58Z")
Let me be the first to say … huh? ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/3 "2013-12-13T20:51:11Z")
Once upon a time, beloved and hapless administrator **Marley** banned everyone, for a brief period. I must not have attempted to log on, because I didn’t notice. Much ribbing of **Marley** ensued, and continues to this day. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/4 "2013-12-13T20:51:14Z")
> [@sevenwood](#): > > Let me be the first to say … huh? Minutes after **Marley23** became an Administrator, he managed to ban _everyone_, members, mods and admins. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/5 "2013-12-13T20:56:39Z")
Old timers? Dude, it was only two years ago; you’ve been here longer than that. I for one wasn’t aware of it until it was over. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/6 "2013-12-13T21:04:05Z")
Here is the “Marley23 is now an Administrator” thread > **[Welcome our new administrator Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=623315)** > > I am happy to announce that \*\*Marley23 \*\* is now an administrator. Please congratulate him … if congratulations for an increased workload and more agita are the things to do. 🙂 (He gets a bigger hat too. Maybe with a plume on it.) The Great Banning happened in the time between post #60 and post #61. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/7 "2013-12-13T21:04:29Z")
[The thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=623315) September 7, 2011. A day that will live in something. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/8 "2013-12-13T21:11:15Z")
And of course, it must have a name. [What should we call the recent super-ban?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=623616&highlight=23skidoo) ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/9 "2013-12-13T21:13:24Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > The Great Banning happened in the time between post #60 and post #61. 😃 Post 64: > [@Welcome our new administrator Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-our-new-administrator-marley23/595456/64): > > Epic. Simply epic. Board history. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/10 "2013-12-13T21:14:31Z")
> [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](#): > > Old timers? Dude, it was only two years ago; you’ve been here longer than that. > > I for one wasn’t aware of it until it was over. 🙂 You know, I wondered about that. Like when there was an earthquake in NYC everyone was talking about one morning, and I slept brought it. But, still in all, and nonetheless, and irregardless, it must have been a blast for those involved. I’m trying to imagine what I would have done and found myself banned. I don’t even know how you find out, and yes, I know there’s one easy way to find out, but I’m not doing that. Did I miss a true vision of Marley, who is really [Jophiel](http://en.academic.ru/pictures/enwiki/67/CaedmonManuscriptPage46Illust.jpg),? at least as how I understand/envision him. To others the angel looks like [this](http://tammara.deviantart.com/art/Jophiel-362647200) or this [this], so one can never tell. **Last link removed because it leads directly to image not safe for work; it needs to be at least two clicks, Leo.** ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/11 "2013-12-13T21:19:28Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > [The thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=623315) > > September 7, 2011. A day that will live in something. Wow, it happened on my birthday. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/12 "2013-12-13T21:40:26Z")
Ah yes, I remember it like it was 828 days ago. Hard to believe it’s been 829. ---
**Author:** ![Frazzled](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frazzled/32/3368_2.png) [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/13 "2013-12-13T21:54:09Z")
I tried to log in and noticed I was banned. My first thought, honestly, was that the SDMB had been shut down. It’s no secret the newspapers are struggling and there’s only so much funding that can be applied to a message board. I was bummed because I always enjoyed reading the site. I know everybody jokes about Marley being the great banninator - but has that actually been confirmed? ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/14 "2013-12-13T22:10:17Z")
From the thread cited above, according to Marley, “we” were still “looking into it.” And somebody named Jerry was called out. Who was he? What did he do, supposedly? I read that thread with such pleasure, savoring every post because I knew the spoiler. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/15 "2013-12-13T22:15:21Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Minutes after **Marley23** became an Administrator, he managed to ban _everyone_, members, mods and admins. Cool! ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/16 "2013-12-13T22:36:52Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > From the thread cited above, according to Marley, “we” were still “looking into it.” And somebody named Jerry was called out. Who was he? What did he do, supposedly? > > I read that thread with such pleasure, savoring every post because I knew the spoiler. Jerry is the technical guy who is responsible maintaining the message board. He fixes things, gets blamed for things, and occasionally posts. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/17 "2013-12-13T22:39:56Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > Minutes after **Marley23** became an Administrator, he managed to ban _everyone_, members, mods and admins. I had a twitchy co-worker like that once: Twitchy COW: “What’s the big red button on the side of the panel?” **Sane COW** : “That is the emergency shutdown.” Twitchy COW: “Does it work?” **Sane COW** : “Presumably. I think it gets tested when…” Twitchy COW: _Pushes Button_ - bells and whistles sound, mass chaos ensues. **Sane COW** : “WTF!” Twitchy COW: “I was just curious if it worked.” ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/18 "2013-12-13T22:41:00Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Jerry is the technical guy who is responsible maintaining the message board. He fixes things, gets blamed for things, and occasionally posts. Sounds like a good sub-meme, along with tired hamsters. Blame Jerry. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/19 "2013-12-13T22:41:36Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Jerry is the technical guy who is responsible maintaining the message board. He fixes things, gets blamed for things, and occasionally posts. Aye, his username is **jdavis**. I think he’s a paid employee of the over-arching newspaper. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269/20 "2013-12-13T23:07:06Z")
**Marley** has accepted responsibility, and certainly no one else is stepping up to accept credit, so … [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-timers-tell-me-about-the-great-banning/676269.md?page=2)