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I'm finding that the automated system of banning people when they receive warnings is being abused by moderators. I have been banned three times in succession for being in threads where parties were handed blanket warnings to address the tone of the conversation. While thats all well and good for most and serves to preemptively make sure the thread stays civil it bans me. I've been banned several times since the implementation of this system for things I haven't even done. Sitting down at my computer and realizing that I can't even log in is sometimes bewildering and typically very frustrating. The uneven and poor moderation this website experiences is enough to deal with already, but being banned by a poorly conceived automated system because another poster posted something that struck a political/personal nerve (despite being allowed under the forum rules) is another thing altogether.

I'm not sure what I really am asking aside from the simple request of either being banned outright since it's clear that I'm going to be spending half my time banned for little cause anyway or to have the system removed and or be removed from it.

Have you conisidered "taking the hint?" I was warned initially, but have modified my posts.

I didn't know there was an automated system for banning people.

How does it work?

Troy wrote:Have you conisidered "taking the hint?" I was warned initially, but have modified my posts.

But what if Frazzled is wrong about something?

Troy wrote:Have you conisidered "taking the hint?" I was warned initially, but have modified my posts.

That doesn't help much when the hint is "stop posting", thats the only way to really take being banned when I'm not violating any rules and am often tertiary to the conversation that gets me banned. Holding a political opinion that I share in a political thread shouldn't target me for banning because frazzled or mannahein don't like an entire thread because they disagree with something in it politically.

I didn't know there was an automated system for banning people.

How does it work?

If I receive a warning for any reason I am banned for 3 days. This includes thread wide blanket warnings (the kind I keep getting banned for).

Post less in political threads?

Troy wrote:Post less in political threads?

I don't think thats the intention of the system.

I suppose a better solution would be to PM/email an admin directly if you think one or more of the mods are abusing their powers.

Troy wrote:Post less in political threads?

It would be like telling a fish to stop breathing water and give good old air a chance.

Ma55ter_fett wrote:I suppose a better solution would be to PM/email an admin directly if you think one or more of the mods are abusing their powers.

I've never recieved a response and my complaint is more purely within the system itself. For a while at least I know frazzled was abusing it without realizing it. Apparently the mods themselves aren't informed of who is under this system. I could be wrong though.

You're like the Dakka version of a sex offender

Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:You're like the Dakka version of a sex offender

Must... Avoid.. Obvious... Joke.


Stop trying to get me warnbanned.

Have you contacted anyone by PM since you were allowed back on Shuma?
(No need to disclose contents if you have BTW)

Just seems that talking to the mods would be more profitable.
Not saying the issue ought not be discussed. TBH Never new there were such a thing.

Are they Autobahnbots?




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ps knew for new

I have attempted to contact the site admins, though not since learning what was causing my repeated bannings. The problem is with the system itself, not my individual case.

ShumaGorath wrote:If I receive a warning for any reason I am banned for 3 days.

And that is triggered by the number of warnings you have had in the past. It's not something that the system just springs on people... you have to work for it.

If you're getting to the point where the system starts suspending you, it's because you're not paying attention to your previous warnings.

This includes thread wide blanket warnings (the kind I keep getting banned for).

No it doesn't. It requires the user to receive a specific warning. The fact that the thread receives a public warning in no way affects whether or not you (or any other poster in the thread) also receives an individual one if a mod feels it's warranted.

ShumaGorath wrote:

Troy wrote:Post less in political threads?

I don't think thats the intention of the system.

The intention of the warning and suspension system is to encourage you to change your behaviour in a way that better fits the rules of the site. If not posting in certain types of threads is the only way that you can control your own behaviour, then that would pretty much exactly be the point of the system.

You wouldn't be the first who has chosen to stop posting in certain threads or certain areas of the site due to accepting that their behaviour in such threads tends to wind up with them running afoul of the mods. It's certainly a more mature response to the problem than just continuing with the same behaviour and complaining when you (surprise!) keep getting slapped for it.

Is there a way for a specific user to track their own warnings and suspensions short of asking a moderator?

And that is triggered by the number of warnings you have had in the past. It's not something that the system just springs on people... you have to work for it.

If you're getting to the point where the system starts suspending you, it's because you're not paying attention to your previous warnings.

Warnings like "I'm handing out a warning to everyone in this thread in the hopes that it stays civil". Sure is something I need to learn, 'postin in threads and following the rules and all.

No it doesn't.

Yes. It does.

It requires the user to receive a specific warning.

Oddly, thats the same kind of warning given when they just warn everyone on the page. Maybe you should discuss the best way to hand out "blanket warnings".

The fact that the thread receives a public warning in no way affects whether or not you (or any other poster in the thread) also receives an individual one if a mod feels it's warranted.

Except when in most cases they do both.

The intention of the warning and suspension system is to encourage you to change your behaviour in a way that better fits the rules of the site.

So I get banned for being warned about posting things that are not actually against the rules, but could be edging that way? Great system. This sort of brings to light my initial complaint, that the system is geared towards just encouraging people not to post at all when they suspect that they aren't the mods friends. That level of meta consideration is a bad sign for a community.

If not posting in certain types of threads is the only way that you can control your own behaviour, then that would pretty much exactly be the point of the system.

That would work if this site had a functioning set of mods who themselves don't participate in the very same threads and post the very same way, often times themselves flagrantly violating rules. I'm careful not to violate forum rules and a good half of my warnings (and most of my 3 day bannings) have been directly influenced by the fact that frazzled or mannahein (the only ones that seem to warn me) are on the other side of certain topics. This most recent time I was banned, I was banned because Fraz started a topic about palestine then warned everyone in the thread because he didn't want the thread to be derailed into a discussion about palestine. Thats absurd.

You wouldn't be the first who has chosen to stop posting in certain threads or certain areas of the site due to accepting that their behaviour in such threads tends to wind up with them running afoul of the mods. It's certainly a more mature response to the problem than just continuing with the same behaviour and complaining when you (surprise!) keep getting slapped for it.

I would accept that if this site didn't maintain poor modship that is unevenly handed out and visibly targeted at specific users. I mean, it's not much of a (surprise!) when it happens, but a level of expectance doesn't invalidate a level of disappointment in the failings of the figures of authority maintaining that system.

WarOne wrote:Is there a way for a specific user to track their own warnings and suspensions short of asking a moderator?

I would also like to know this, as this thread has now made me paranoid that I have built up a collection of warnings I know nothing about, and hence cannot learn from.

So its pretty much a stacking effect.
For each warning you get there are additional effects added to it now?

I guess it could work.
I +1 warones post too.


2 warnings i can rememberso far, for quoting someones post and it contained something offensive to someone (which i was actually quoting them and saying to keep language down lol)

quick edit: To follow on from my last part, i actually ended up arguing with the MoD that warned me for it and got a 2nd one lol.

1. I've pretty much quit posting in the OT forum, so that won't be an issue any more.

2. Shuma's "red triangles of death" were given for direct posts. Often these are done in line with warnings to other posters at the same time, or general warnings to quiet down a thread.

Its not difficult. Abide by Rule #1: Be polite. That includes slants and other sideways attacks at other posters. If you can't control yourself, put the other posters on Ignore, or don't post in political threads.

2. Shuma's "red triangles of death" were given for direct posts. Often these are done in line with warnings to other posters at the same time, or general warnings to quiet down a thread.

Direct posts like the one where I stated that you took one side of a contentious issue, ignored the shaky foundation of your own opinions, and made jokes to deflect disagreement and banned me for pointing it out? I mean, at the time I was mostly focussing on the fact that you held stoically to your opinion on the issue and essentially plugged your ears to dissenting facts. When you actually banned me I was kind of surprised.

Did you ban me because I made a joke about you banning me? Not sure where I broke a rule, is it against the rules to be portentous?



I'm not sure whats worse though, that or the fact that after you banned me you then proceeded to ask me if I supported the killing of israeli children, knowing full well that I couldn't respond. Thats low.

While normally we don't dicuss these things publicly per policy, you have opened the door, so I shall reply in kind.

Red triangles of death are automatic. I didn't suspend you, nor known until after that you were suspended. Had you however replied that yes, thats what you were saying I would have permanently banned you. In actuality we've rarely banned anyone, but that occurred in the past.

Frazzled wrote:While normally we don't dicuss these things publicly per policy, you have opened the door, so I shall reply in kind.

Red triangles of death are automatic. I didn't suspend you, nor known until after that you were suspended. Had you however replied that yes, thats what you were saying I would have permanently banned you. In actuality we've rarely banned anyone, but that occurred in the past.

Forgive me for being less then sympathetic when you find out that I was banned and proceed to then not remove the post questioning my inclinations towards killing children. Even now you ignore the entirety of the history of my posting and everything I posted in that thread and pretend that it was somehow a legitimate question. As if I could ask you the same without you banning me for breaking rules. You even locked the thread shortly after so that I wouldn't of been able to respond regardless. This is the double standard I'm talking about that makes this autobanning system a bad idea.

ShumaGorath wrote:

Frazzled wrote:While normally we don't dicuss these things publicly per policy, you have opened the door, so I shall reply in kind.

Red triangles of death are automatic. I didn't suspend you, nor known until after that you were suspended. Had you however replied that yes, thats what you were saying I would have permanently banned you. In actuality we've rarely banned anyone, but that occurred in the past.

Forgive me for being less then sympathetic when you find out that I was banned and proceed to then not remove the post questioning my inclinations towards killing children.

Why should I? You never answered it. Frankly you still haven't.

In wasn't even aware this system existed. I take all of these suspensions personal, actually. I guess I shouldn't

I still can't believe I was banned for contributing to the general consensus in the pony thread Whatever. What's done is done.

Frazzled wrote:

ShumaGorath wrote:

Frazzled wrote:While normally we don't dicuss these things publicly per policy, you have opened the door, so I shall reply in kind.

Red triangles of death are automatic. I didn't suspend you, nor known until after that you were suspended. Had you however replied that yes, thats what you were saying I would have permanently banned you. In actuality we've rarely banned anyone, but that occurred in the past.

Forgive me for being less then sympathetic when you find out that I was banned and proceed to then not remove the post questioning my inclinations towards killing children.

Why should I? You never answered it. Frankly you still haven't.

Because it's a leading question. Thats like me asking you if you still beat your wife. The answer doesn't matter, just the accusation. It's exactly the kind of thing you've warned me for in the past. Of course I don't advocate killing children. Nothing in the history of my posting has ever implied the answer could be yes, and frankly going by what we've posted I'm significantly more of a humanitarian then you. Yet you asked the question, made it so I couldn't respond, and continue to imply that the answer is somehow yes.

Samus_aran115 wrote:In wasn't even aware this system existed. I take all of these suspensions personal, actually. I guess I shouldn't

I still can't believe I was banned for contributing to the general consensus in the pony thread Whatever. What's done is done.

I intentionally didn't look at that thread. Even Frazzled feared what lies there.

Samus_aran115 wrote:In wasn't even aware this system existed. I take all of these suspensions personal, actually. I guess I shouldn't

I still can't believe I was banned for contributing to the general consensus in the pony thread Whatever. What's done is done.

So thats where you went...

That guy with a strikingly similar name to you had me fooled till I saw you post again...

I do need to query to see if those roll off over time.

I've never been banned or suspended. I know how to refrain from being TOO offensive.

I dont think something like this should be left up to a program though.

Banning or suspending should have a human behind it. Someone that can weigh in all of the factors involved.

I disagree with any "autobanning" program here. The first time I'm banned by something like that, I"m gone...permanantly. (not that anyone would mind, probably. In fact....CELEBRATION!)

Frazzled wrote:

Samus_aran115 wrote:In wasn't even aware this system existed. I take all of these suspensions personal, actually. I guess I shouldn't

I still can't believe I was banned for contributing to the general consensus in the pony thread Whatever. What's done is done.

I intentionally didn't look at that thread. Even Frazzled feared what lies there.

It was a metaphorical 'honey pot' I should have known.


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Battle Brother Lucifer wrote:

Samus_aran115 wrote:In wasn't even aware this system existed. I take all of these suspensions personal, actually. I guess I shouldn't

I still can't believe I was banned for contributing to the general consensus in the pony thread Whatever. What's done is done.

So thats where you went...

That guy with a strikingly similar name to you had me fooled till I saw you post again...

253? This was a couple weeks ago, but I believe he started posting while I was away.

I don't mind him, terribly. He's making a lot of threads, but at least he stays in the OT forum

Avatar 720 wrote:I would also like to know this, as this thread has now made me paranoid that I have built up a collection of warnings I know nothing about, and hence cannot learn from.

You won't have received warnings that you don't know about, as users receive a PM when they are warned. Not much point in a warning if there is no way for the user to know they have received it.


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Deadshane1 wrote:I dont think something like this should be left up to a program though.

Banning or suspending should have a human behind it. Someone that can weigh in all of the factors involved.

I think you have misunderstood how the system works. The warning is issued by a moderator. All the 'automatic' part does is track how many warnings you have received, and start suspending you if you have received too many.

It's exactly what would happen without the automated system, just without the mod having to go into your profile and apply the suspension manually.


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ShumaGorath wrote:Warnings like "I'm handing out a warning to everyone in this thread in the hopes that it stays civil". Sure is something I need to learn, 'postin in threads and following the rules and all.

A blanket warning in a thread does not contribute to your warning count. That requires a moderator to specifically apply a warning to your account... in which case you receive a PM telling you about it.

Of course, if you have passed the threashold and are being suspended for each warning, you're not going to see the PM until you get back. That's something that Lego had on his list of things to address, but making life easier for serial rules-breakers is obviously not a high priority.