# This is \_not\_ a criticism of his banning... **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 23, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020 "2009-07-23T17:55:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/1 "2009-07-23T17:55:19Z")
…which was entirely reasonable. But I will rather miss [KGS](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=525561). [Dude was nuts](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=524981), but I’ve always liked him quite a lot anyway. Good luck in the future if you’re still watching out there. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/2 "2009-07-23T18:47:43Z")
Hmm no “Banned” tag under his user name (still says “Charter Member”)… ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/3 "2009-07-23T18:48:47Z")
I was curious about that, too, **John DiFool**. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/4 "2009-07-23T18:49:47Z")
Maybe he’s only banned in his world, not ours. ---
**Author:** ![Gfactor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@Gfactor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gfactor)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/5 "2009-07-23T18:50:40Z")
I’m not sure what’s up with that. I’ve asked the admins to check it out. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/6 "2009-07-23T18:53:43Z")
Oy vey, KGS’s meltdown was painful to read. Hope he gets help. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/7 "2009-07-23T19:02:58Z")
Meltdown? He started out melted down. It certainly wasn’t _improving_ his mental health to post here, at any rate. ---
**Author:** ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/8 "2009-07-23T19:05:13Z")
After reading that thread, I can’t see how he could remain on the boards. What Dripping and Frank said to him did not warrant the threats he leveled at them. Having seen that, if there had been no consequences, how would anyone feel safe disagreeing with him or saying something remotely controversial to him? Sure, they were wild, probably unenforceable threats, but no one enjoys being threatened with legal action (nor being accused of being a child molester) for disagreeing with someone in the Pit, and there is a chance, however slight, that he would sic a lawyer on you. KGS could not handle being here. He was getting all the wrong kinds of attention, and the SDMB was becoming just another entity in his life that he was having a fucked up, dysfunctional relationship with. I’m glad the mods did the right thing and stopped him from continuing with that relationship, which was going nowhere good. I feel truly sorry for him and hope he gets well. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/9 "2009-07-23T20:15:20Z")
I genuinely hope he gets the help he needs, because _damn_ does he need it. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/10 "2009-07-23T20:34:22Z")
Generally we don’t allow discussion of banned members, since the person in question is unable to respond to any remarks made. Since these comments are all supportive and wishing **KGS** well, however, I’m going to leave it open (and move it to ATMB, which is a better home for it, I think). twickster, MPSIMS moderator ---
**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:** [July 23, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/11 "2009-07-23T21:00:13Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Since these comments are all supportive … I’m going to leave it open Glad I saw that comment before I posted. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/12 "2009-07-23T21:00:29Z")
I’ll also miss him. I wonder how he’ll end up? How much of what he said about his family was true? I wish he had a blog. ---
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/13 "2009-07-24T01:33:47Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Generally we don’t allow discussion of banned members, since the person in question is unable to respond to any remarks made. It totally didn’t register to me that I was breaking that rule. Sorry about that. :o ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/14 "2009-07-24T02:52:47Z")
I didn’t post in his melt-down thread (didn’t want to be accused of being a child molester; I have a ‘history’ and it really, really would have gotten to me to even be accused of it by someone who is clearly unhinged), but I, too, really, truly hope he gets the help he needs. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/15 "2009-07-24T03:31:00Z")
I didn’t _think_ he’d take my advice. I’m not a doctor, but… as I’ve said, I’ve _seen_ that kind of behavior way too many times. KGS, if you’re reading this… try to stay healthy. Try to find someone who can hold a mirror up to you, just some kind of objective check to see if you are doing as well as you think you are. Nathaniel does _not_ count. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/16 "2009-07-24T04:20:12Z")
I can think of at least 10 posters more annoying and disruptive than **KGS**. ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 9:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/17 "2009-07-24T09:57:31Z")
Yes, but they didn’t threaten legal action against the forum, which is what got him banned. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/18 "2009-07-24T12:44:14Z")
> [@Risha](#): > > It totally didn’t register to me that I was breaking that rule. Sorry about that. :o Not a problem – as I said, since the thread is about wishing a troubled person well, I think we can let it go this time. > [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Glad I saw that comment before I posted. 🙂 Glad you understood my point. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/19 "2009-07-24T13:18:07Z")
> [@twickster](#): > > Generally we don’t allow discussion of banned members, since the person in question is unable to respond to any remarks made. Since these comments are all supportive and wishing **KGS** well, however, I’m going to leave it open (and move it to ATMB, which is a better home for it, I think). > > twickster, MPSIMS moderator Correct me if I’m wrong – my understanding is that **criticism** (including mocking, etc.) of a banned member was prohibited – but that: [ul] [li]a request to know the reasons for a bannination,[/li][li]wishing someone well who was “mercy-banned” such as after a meltdown,[/li][li]discussion of the board policies that led to a banning (as opposed to the banning itself)[/li][/ul] were in general acceptable topics (though staff generally prefers to respond to the first by PM or e-mail unless there is general curiosity among much of the membership). ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2009, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020/20 "2009-07-24T13:36:27Z")
> [@Polycarp](#): > > Correct me if I’m wrong – my understanding is that **criticism** (including mocking, etc.) of a banned member was prohibited – but that: > [ul] > [li]a request to know the reasons for a bannination,[/li][li]wishing someone well who was “mercy-banned” such as after a meltdown,[/li][li]discussion of the board policies that led to a banning (as opposed to the banning itself)[/li][/ul] > were in general acceptable topics (though staff generally prefers to respond to the first by PM or e-mail unless there is general curiosity among much of the membership). Requests for an explanation should _always_ be handled through a PM or email to a mod or administrator if there is no announcement in ATMB. (Usually the person in question is a sock, whom we prefer not to give addl. publicity to.) “Wishing someone well” is, as we can see through the continued existence of this thread, acceptable. It is also highly unusual – most people who have misbehaved to the point at which their bannings become necessary aren’t those with deep reservoirs of good will or sympathy. (Far more of the people we ban are straight-up assholes, as opposed to those who are clearly struggling with psychological issues.) Discussion of board policies is, of course, a legitimate thread – and is different from a discussion of the banned member, which is what I said is generally not allowed. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-_not_-a-criticism-of-his-banning/504020.md?page=2)