# On banning threads in general **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 3, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584 "2010-02-03T21:09:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/1 "2010-02-03T21:09:01Z")
Note the words \*\*in general \*\* in the title. This is not about any specific banning. It’s about the announcement of any and all bannings. > [@Marley23](#): > > Announcements of bans and suspensions always get locked, but people are free to open a new thread to ask questions. [from here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=550621) Why is this done? It doesn’t make sense. IIRC, it used to be the rule that announcements were posted in ATMB, and any discussion would take place in The Pit. Back then the announcement was locked, to prevent any replies. The rules were changed to allow discussion here. But why do you still lock the announcement? Why should people start a new thread, instead of rersponding to the announcement. Why have two threads instead of one? It seems to me that you’re just carrying on a tradition that no longer makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/2 "2010-02-03T21:12:33Z")
It’s a little courtesy thing, done in part to discourage people from piling on to the person who was banned. Asking questions and weighing in about the banning is expected, but ‘I’m glad you got rid of that jerk’ is a little distasteful. I don’t know if it has any effect either way. I remember the mods discussed this a while ago. There weren’t too many firm opinions on it, pro or con, but the current policy was seen as minor, decent thing to do. ---
**Author:** ![Giles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giles/32/60_2.png) [@Giles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giles)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/3 "2010-02-03T21:13:35Z")
I suspect that the mods don’t want to be seen as starting a debate about a particular banning. If you want it debated, you have to start the debate. The announcement is just for information. ETA: The above was written before I saw **Marley23** ’s post. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/4 "2010-02-03T21:27:27Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > It’s a little courtesy thing, done in part to discourage people from piling on to the person who was banned. Asking questions and weighing in about the banning is expected, but ‘I’m glad you got rid of that jerk’ is a little distasteful. That made sense back in the days when discussion was banished to The Pit. The current rules do not prevent that from happening in any way. There is a currently active thread about a recent banning. People are not prevented from saying such things in that thread. The question really is, why ask people to start a new thread to say such things, when you could just let them reply to the announcement? ---
**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:** [February 3, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/5 "2010-02-03T21:31:53Z")
Because we got tired of reading “I’m glad that stupid fuckweasel is gone” and similar loving sentiments. It’s unsporting and unfair to slap at someone when they are incapable of defending themselves and especially in a forum that shouldn’t be so litigious but seems to be more often than not these days. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/6 "2010-02-03T21:35:06Z")
I think it would be nice if we had a read-only subforum of ATMB where mods posted all the official warnings, suspensions and bannings. All this stuff is already posted in public, but the patterns tend to be obscured to regular posters until a suspension or banning is handed down. Why not keep it all in one place where everyone can see it? Though this thread is not specifically about the **mswas** banning, I had no idea how many warnings he’d had recently until [this post by **Marley23**](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12073167&postcount=40). I’m sure I’m not the only one. If every time he’d been warned, a new post had appeared in said subforum, I don’t think anyone would have even blinked when he was finally banned. I think said subforum would improve poster-mod relations and make the board a more fair place for everyone. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/7 "2010-02-03T21:49:22Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Because we got tired of reading “I’m glad that stupid fuckweasel is gone” and similar loving sentiments. > > It’s unsporting and unfair to slap at someone when they are incapable of defending themselves and especially in a forum that shouldn’t be so litigious but seems to be more often than not these days. You seem to be answering a completely different question from what **Peter** is asking. You’re explaining why the discussions no longer take place in the Pit, but **Peter** ’s asking why people can’t reply directly to the announcement threads. I can’t see how following **Peter** ’s suggestion could possibly make insults towards banned posters any better or worse. All it would do it prevent ATMB from being so cluttered with threads about bannings. ---
**Author:** ![Sapo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ec9cab/32.png) [@Sapo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sapo)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/8 "2010-02-03T22:27:14Z")
So disallow it. “No good riddance comments on banning threads”. Done. Just as we cannot start a thread to pile on on banned members and we cannot do it on the “why was he banned” threads, say we cannot do it on the banning thread. It makes no sense that there be two threads for a banning, one with the announcement and one with the discussion. I know we are not about to run out of thread numbers to open more but it just sounds more elegant having one rather than two. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/9 "2010-02-03T22:56:40Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > I think it would be nice if we had a read-only subforum of ATMB where mods posted all the official warnings, suspensions and bannings. I really don’t like this idea. People sometimes overreact to warnings and I think publicizing them might exacerbate it. And we do sometimes see posters get goaded once the board knows they have a short fuse. While warnings are public, I’d prefer to give people some confidentiality in terms of how many they have. It’s not that onerous to announce how many they have if a suspension or ban becomes necessary. In the case of **mswas** , I gave the recent total [when he was suspended](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=529908&highlight=mswas) and [when he was banned](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=550608). I realize we don’t always do that, though. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/10 "2010-02-03T23:39:46Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I really don’t like this idea. People sometimes overreact to warnings and I think publicizing them might exacerbate it. And we do sometimes see posters get goaded once the board knows they have a short fuse. The same argument has been made for keeping warnings completely private, and only notifying offenders by email or PM. I think the same counter-argument applies here: keeping things above board helps everyone see where the lines are, and creates greater transparency and consistency in moderation. Personally, I think the pros outweigh the cons. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/11 "2010-02-04T02:04:42Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > The same argument has been made for keeping warnings completely private, and only notifying offenders by email or PM. I think the same counter-argument applies here: keeping things above board helps everyone see where the lines are, and creates greater transparency and consistency in moderation. Personally, I think the pros outweigh the cons. Then the complaint is that the evil nasty mods embarrass and humiliate people by making their transgressions public knowledge. That’s not how you make friends and build community. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/12 "2010-02-04T02:08:06Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Then the complaint is that the evil nasty mods embarrass and humiliate people by making their transgressions public knowledge. That’s not how you make friends and build community. :dubious: Has anyone actually ever said anything remotely like that? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/13 "2010-02-04T02:16:19Z")
> [@TubaDiva](#): > > Then the complaint is that the evil nasty mods embarrass and humiliate people by making their transgressions public knowledge. That’s not how you make friends and build community. I’d like to see a single example of such a complaint. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/14 "2010-02-04T03:45:10Z")
But then people open up new threads asking about said banned poster anyways, so what’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/15 "2010-02-04T11:14:08Z")
> [@Mbossa](#): > > You seem to be answering a completely different question from what **Peter** is asking. You’re explaining why the discussions no longer take place in the Pit, but **Peter** ’s asking why people can’t reply directly to the announcement threads. I can’t see how following **Peter** ’s suggestion could possibly make insults towards banned posters any better or worse. All it would do it prevent ATMB from being so cluttered with threads about bannings. This is exactly correct. Mods and admins, could you please answer the question I actually asked. Also, the idea of a subforum for warnings is a bit of a hijack. Please start your own thread if you want to discuss it. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/16 "2010-02-04T12:11:03Z")
> [@Giraffe](#): > > The same argument has been made for keeping warnings completely private, and only notifying offenders by email or PM. I think the same counter-argument applies here: keeping things above board helps everyone see where the lines are, and creates greater transparency and consistency in moderation. Personally, I think the pros outweigh the cons. Fair point. My view on it is that there’s no particular need to publish warnings for people who aren’t participating in the thread where the warning is given, but that’s not the only way to handle it. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/17 "2010-02-04T15:30:00Z")
As a mod, but speaking only for myself: I wouldn’t have a problem with all of the warnings I make being posted in a separate thread or forum, along with the warnings of other moderators. These actions aren’t secret – each one is announced in the thread in which the post that earned a warning was made – so as far as the effect on me and my reputation, no problem. What would concern me is that one possible effect would be to put the person getting the warning into the stocks on the public green. Some people do rack up warning after warning – most people do not. The huge majority of posters here never get any warnings at all, but a lot of people who get a warning get just that, “a” warning, they slip up, or lose their temper, or something, they get a warning, and they take the warning to heart and avoid future problems. Should those people be held up to public ridicule from the rubberneckers who weren’t involved in the original thread? (And please don’t dismiss the possibility of “public ridicule” out of hand – we have all seen people being taunted for things that happened elsewhere on the boards, in either the recent or the distant past, in unrelated threads. We as a group have very long memories and killer google-fu.) That’s the dynamic that would make me extremely nervous about creating a running list of warnings issued. ---
**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:** [February 4, 2010, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/18 "2010-02-04T16:18:56Z")
Also speaking only for myself: I see a very real possibility of posters using this as an excuse not to mend their ways in a timely fashion, i.e. “I see that Poster A has 5 warnings, so I really have nothing to worry about for another 4 warnings. I’m going to get a couple more shots in!” We have enough complaints about partisanship as it is-such a change would increase it dramatically, imho. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/19 "2010-02-04T18:43:53Z")
Marley, Twickster and Czarcasm, can I repeat my request to stop the hijack. It’s an interesting topic, but please do it in a different thread. I believe you have the ability to move posts to a different thread, am I right? Please use it. And could I have an answer for my OP. I believe I’ve stated it clearly. Mbossa in post 7 understood me at least. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2010, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584/20 "2010-02-04T19:19:17Z")
Didn’t I answer it in post #2, followed by **TubaDiva** in post #5? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-banning-threads-in-general/527584.md?page=2)