Maybe a week ban for the first offence,  then two weeks for the second then a month for the third.  Then when they come back, the next time they get banned for 3 months...  A lifetime ban is harsh though.  It's easy to get wound up by people and to get angry and say things in the heat of the moment.

Being banned was a bit like being smacked in the face. Total shock, but, in my case, justified. I agree with people who say that if you are dsgraceful most of the time you should be removed for good, but if people fall out over an argument, they should be allowed back. So, thank you Lori.

ahhh...  but these things are subjective.    I have seen people say that FM X is an obvious WUM, and not agreed.   I have lost count of the number of times I have seen an FM called a Troll when weren't really a troll...   just someone who's point of view differed.

There are people I would love to see back, but you can't have one rule for one.. and another for others.   More of my friends have deregged from here because they just couldn't handle a 'banned & then back with new ID person' saturating the forum board than ones I have lost to being banned.

I could handle 3 strikes...  I could even handle the third one being six months.   But if they reoffend (within a 12 mth period) then it should be lifetime.

Oh.. & ..  agree that persistent reporters should get their knuckles rapped as well.

yeah....thats quite good

Give folk a chance. If they persist in using the same behaviour which got them banned in the first place - they should be jettisoned. Can't keep shitting in the same nest 

Another thing that does not seem compatible with the concept of fair play is that when someone receives gaga banishment they are not allowed to be mentioned 


So we can't talk about it?
1984 revisited.

So they must become Nonpersons?
n. A person whose existence is systematically ignored or concealed, especially one whose removal from the attention and memory of the public is sought for reasons of ideological or political deviation. 

Democracy requires dialogue.  Whether it is big pond stuff in Egypt or little puddle stuff in here.

And where goodwill exists, solutions can be found, surely? 

Nobody can do that. I was banned from here and allowed back. While I was banned I couldn't create a new ID it's an IP ban. The only way to come back if you're banned is to register and post on another computer. There are ways around it but most people won't have the technical know-how to do it.

The people who you keep seeing coming back with new names (one person in particular who keeps coming back pretending to be 'new' for example) haven't been banned, they just changed their display names or created a new account with a different email address.

What about a proxy?....

Or an iphone....

One forum I was on years ago never banned anyone...we just gave fixed term exclusions (a bit like school).  Posters were sent an email saying they'd been suspended for however long and what for....normally that was an end to it after a weeklong suspension...now and then we'd have to do more lenghty suspensions...and for the really long ones mostly the poster never came back....

Let 'em all in 

And a scale of offending.

I for one have never reported anyone on here or any forum what prompted me for doing this thread was it came to my attention another forum was giving amnesty to those who have been banned, it made me think if the rules were fair to ban someone for life, it has been interesting reading everyone elses point of view, thank you to all who has contributed to this thread

That would work but how many people know how? There are ways to do it but most people on here (and other forums) would need someone to show them how to do it.  Croc's point about the phone works too but another ban and that's another point of access gone. The main thing is people who cause trouble are very easily identifiable. They never change their posting habits and are banned again as soon as they're spotted.

There are too many people out there who really need to get a life instead of putting time and resources into finding ways to troll internet forums without being caught, just in my opinion of course.

Its the easiest thing to do and anyone with Google can do it....

You're missing the point. It wouldn't even occur to most people to do it. They've never even heard of it.

It don't half slow your PC down as well.....

but we know people do do it...

or maybe it only slows your pc down when you have two different browsers open for 2 different ID;s and one is using a proxy....

But that was many years ago....

I do think a lifetime ban is too harsh for anyone, but that suspensions should occur according to the level of transgression,.

I also think that people who spend a lot of time  with their fingers hovering over the report button should be told to put a sock in it

 the report button should be told to put a sock in it

Lol Kaytee that did make me laugh but I agree

I can't imagine that would be a problem anymore. Loads of sites can detect proxy software now though and won't register anyone using it.

I think  a lifetime ban is too harsh
 3 strikes and out is great - with either a month, three month or six month ban depending on why they have been banned in the  first place.
if it is just a heated moment and a dodgy pic then perhaps a week

I don't think any kind of set blanket ban or degree of strikes before lifetime ban is a good idea at all. There are some scenarios where a lifetime ban is appropriate i.e. someone spamming the forum with juvenile nonsense and insulting everyone etc. Sometimes people fall out and have a go at each other and often a word with all involved is enough to diffuse it (we've all seen Lori do exactly that more than once). All bans should be based on the actions of the people in question not on the number of times they have or haven't 'offended' imo. I would say just leave it to the mods, this place is well run and very relaxed so they've obviously got it all under control.

I don't know how you can say insulting' everone' as a blanket term - if someone is insulting (and I mean OTT insulting) to just one forum member it can be enough for a lifetime ban IMO.  

If someone wants to vent their spleen in one pre meditated vile rant - that's enough IMO. We can all bitch and snap but sometimes it goes beyond that.

Under control?  I suppose that is a viewpoint. 
Have they got it right?  There are some who would think so I am sure. 

An equally valid point of view is that the reluctance to accept any discussion is a sign of insecurity and an unwillingness to accept the opportunity to do things better.

The point of the OP was surely that there may be a better way to do things. 

The cry of "I'm alright Jack therefore and we don't need to change a thing because I am content" may be a valid point of view for those who are content, but surely there is an equally good case for some discussion about alternatives?

Foxfest I agree there is a case that things could be done differently I believe none of us are perfect and make mistakes and say things we later regret, but how can you show you are willing to change if you dont get the chance to prove it by being banned for life ... that is why I think it is a harsh penalty.

don't agree with the banning for life thing.............

I agree lifetime bans are harsh without a measure of apology in place for the banned member. Some folk come here to make trouble, others are a menace to forums looking to make trouble. Most forums i used to visit regarding BB are no longer in existence, and would hate to see this happen to this place place as it seems so friendly. At the end of the day its up to the members to contact the mods and air their opinions with them to get things changed.

Yes I agree ...........we've all said things that on reflection we wish we could take back.

However, I have seen threads that were crafted to make a very deliberate attempt to hurt and humiliate.That's very different to an ill considered response. The former deserves a lifetime ban IMO .............cos that's just plain nasty.

I don't agree with lifetime bans but temporary bans should be imposed even just to jolt people into sense perhaps.


As adults, we should have the common sense to know if something we have posted will be offensive  - I know there are grey areas here - some people would take offence to something that others wouldn't - but in some cases it's surely glaringly obvious especially if it's being taken to a personal level.


I agree with you Marge that everyone deserves a second chance.

Jonesy  everyone has been very civil in this thread and given their true opinions the mods may take some of our opinions on board ..that would be nice..

 I agree with you Marge that everyone deserves a second chance.

Thank you Miss S I truely believe this too

REF Soozy plain nasty.

I agree Soozy there have been some nasty posts on here some get banned some dont..

Jonesy  everyone has been very civil in this thread and given their true opinions the mods may take some of our opinions on board ..that would be nice..

I hope so Marguerita. There seem to be a lot of old members who no longer post here. An amnesty would be good in these hard times. Old faces,new topics, a breath of fresh air to this forum.

 ,new topics, a breath of fresh air to this forum.

Yes Jonesy it would be lovely to see some of the old members  here again..

There are a lot of faces missing .......................I really don't think they've all been banned though! Some simply didn't make the changeover and have obviously found other places.

IMO - this place is very easy going - it's not like Ch4BB Forums. If posters have been banned ...............there must be good reason. This really isn't an unreasonable forum IMO.

I agree. I have said as much right here that there are some situations in which a lifetime ban is not only appropriate, but necessary.

Fox, speaking as someone who has been banned I can hardly be accused of having an 'I'm alright Jack' attitude . Discussion about the rights and wrongs of banning and the lengths of bans are always constructive but really, quite pointless. The mods have rules and when they're broken they do what it says in the book. I think we're lucky that Lori is a reasonable person and not just a faceless mod/robot which is not the case on most forums, that was my point.

I'm gonna say this and then I;m logging out for the night.

There are people here who disagree with each other from time to time and have their spats ........................sometimes it gets heated but - that's just how it is and generally there are no hatd feelings.

Then ............there are really nasty feckers who have a superiority complex and feel that they have the right to say nasty, horrible stuffand then wonder why they have a lifetime ban.

I think there is more behind this thread than meets the eyes TBH ..............don't like it,

 I think there is more behind this thread than meets the eyes TBH .. and dont like it.

 Soozy I suppose by that you mean me what is wrong with the thread that you object to there has been no nasty posts in here just opinions on banning for life, I have seen you in controversial threads giving it all and not batting an eyelid, I am sorry you feel this way but that is your opinion which you are entitled to...

My ban lasted a week, maybe two - I can't remember now, but it was over the Christmas week anyways but Lori let me post Christmas day & Boxing day

My sin was to post a women with no top on, I would have not been impressed with a lifetime ban
However I think if a Racist or the like then a lifetime ban may be appropriate, otherwise I think the punishment should fit the crime