What do you tell your members about your banned members?

[SoftWareRevue]

Sometimes it comes up.

A member is banned.

A member starts a thread and asks why the banned member is banned.

How do you respond?

[Scott]

I would deal with something like this through PM, it's not a topic I'd want the community to discuss openly. In the PM I'd explain that said member knows why they were banned and if they are unsure they should contact an admin directly.

Banning is only something I do at a last resort, but if someone is banned, we don't want a debate to start over it.

[Jan]

It seems a few forums I have browsed will publicly name and shame, others won't get into a discussion apart from "Little Johnny had a problem with the rules" *closed*, whilst others will just toss the thread. I think it all depends on the forum and the type of membership you attract.

I think we all know that "Little Johnny" won't confess to his friends the real reason, maybe give some paltry excuse that he was banned cos he cussed or something ;)

[SoftWareRevue]

I would deal with something like this through PM . . .Does that mean you would have tossed the thread and then PMd the thread starter?

I'd probably make a statement in the thread like, "Members are banned when they can't or won't follow forum guidelines." or something like that. And then close and/or toss it.

Some members are banned because they intentionally disregard the rules. While other members may be banned because they continually had a problem with understanding the rules. Sometimes, even good members just need a break.

I certainly wouldn't publicly state the reason for the ban, because sometimes moderators can have a hard time sorting out which group the member belongs to.

As Scott mentioned, "we don't want a debate to start over it."

I don't believe it helps any community to get in a public debate over the validity of banning a member. :rargue:

[Scott]

Does that mean you would have tossed the thread and then PMd the thread starter?

I would probably (depending on the circumstances) make a general comment like "We do not discuss these actions in public, if anyone has any questions they are welcome to PM me" and then close the thread.

I like to think this is a fair way to do it. If I was ever banned from somewhere, I wouldn't like it to be openly discussed.

[writespeak]

I'd probably make a statement in the thread like, "Members are banned when they can't or won't follow forum guidelines." or something like that. And then close and/or toss it.

I agree with that except that I'd like to add more information about banning without discussing the specific member. Something like:

Some members are banned because they intentionally disregard the rules. While other members may be banned because they continually had a problem with understanding the rules. Sometimes, even good members just need a break.

Depending on the questions and speculation raised, I might want to address those questions and speculation in a general way, with details such as that yes, members are typically warned before they are banned, bannings may be only for a few days, and no, we don't ban members because they disagreed with a mod. All without referring to the specific member, of course.

I certainly wouldn't publicly state the reason for the ban

I agree. :)

I don't believe it helps any community to get in a public debate over the validity of banning a member. :rargue:

I agree with that too. No debates, just non-member-specific information. If members start thinking that the ban was because the member ticked off a mod, for example, and that concern isn't addressed, it can leave a bad feeling in the forum. OTOH, if members see the mod team being somewhat open about the moderation process while protecting each member's privacy, it can help foster positive rather than negative feelings about the forum and how it operates.

Lois

[cyberturk]

i send an e-mail when i banned a member and send him the exact forum guideline.

if he started a new thread with a new nick name, i wouldn't reply him and delete the new account again. i don't give permision a member who banned from board to sign up with a new nickname. And it is written in all my forum's guidelines.

[SoftWareRevue]

. . . if he started a new thread with a new nick name, i wouldn't reply him and delete the new account again. . .But, what do you do if a different member starts a thread and asks why that member is banned?

[Tyler]

Depending on the member who got banned we handle the situation differently.

If it was a member who signed up just to spam his site or whatever the case may be, and then a member starts up the thread. We will keep the thread and even reply to an extent "Spamming is evil!" and may close the thread. Depends on my (and their's) mood frankly ;)

But...if it is a well respected or active member who got banned, then it gets a bit nasty. The first thing we would do is trash the thread. The less people notice, the best controversy we have to deal with in the short run. We would then PM the thread starter explaining a bit of the situation and why we can't disclose information on why they was banned etc.

All bannings are done via AWS, so we have documentation of everything for the future. But, it's nice not having any threads started over these any banned users...

[cyberturk]

But, what do you do if a different member starts a thread and asks why that member is banned?

in my fan forums these situation occurs more than once. Because most of the members are friends and when i need to ban one of them, most of them would be offended to our site.

When one of them comes with anger and opens a new thread that why he/she [his friend] was banned, i or any moderators comes and replies like that:

In our forums, all members accepted our Forum Guidlines.First of all please read Forum Guidlines AGAIN and send a pm to admins about this issue

then lock the thread.

Because i dont believe that a member who opens a thread like that, couldn't understand or realize the cause of this. And i send him the pm related about Forum Guidline.

My forum is 1,5 years old. My forum guidlines have changed and grow. In first months i have big troubles because of it's weakness. But now, if i banned a member, i am sure there is a Forum Guidline and i can send him.

Not: sorry for my english, i can understand but i couldn't write it excellent.

[sirius]

It seems a few forums I have browsed will publicly name and shame, others won't get into a discussion apart from "Little Johnny had a problem with the rules" *closed*, whilst others will just toss the thread. I think it all depends on the forum and the type of membership you attract.

I think we all know that "Little Johnny" won't confess to his friends the real reason, maybe give some paltry excuse that he was banned cos he cussed or something ;)

Jan hits the nail on the head. If you're dealing in a forum that attracts mostly minors, it's probably best to try the name and shame approach. Some of the board I frequent will simply close the thread and/or toss it, which I believe is the right idea.

Moderation is between the user and the mods and not the community as a whole. If someone is interested in finding out why someone else was banned, they should contact the person that was banned.

Sirius

[Jan]

Jan hits the nail on the head. If you're dealing in a forum that attracts mostly minors, it's probably best to try the name and shame approach.
It wasn't my nail :p These are just some observations I have come across in various forums that I might need to visit in researching members on the forums I moderate. Most seem to handle it in varying ways.

[dojo]

He'll have the thread deleted and will get a warning. I will tell him privately about this matter. I have it in the guidelines: theya are not permitted to question our actions (staff), should they have questions, we have the PM system for this.

[Wheels]

On our forum, we had members go to another forum and spew about their ban. I usually avoid going to the other forum and posting as it would fan the flames. We also had a member that was banned on another forum and came to ours to put the forum they was banned down. That member got banned and his thread was tossed.

[HostFrog]

On our forum, we had members go to another forum and spew about their ban.

I think that is a litle off balance. However you have the right idea but not fueling the fire.

[TheDPQ]

I've stopped doing the 'name and shame' method. Its interesting now that i think about it. Before i thought it was my duty to inform the members and let them know whats going on. Now i feel its none of their business, cackle a bit, and just email the banned user.

Perhaps it is becaused more grief then good. Its a simple matter of that they did not follow the guidelines, were warned, and is now gone. No big production needed, and you shouldn't have to explain yourself to your users.

IF someone privately pm/emails/contacts me i may explain in more detail but otherwise, its a pretty standard answer.

[HostFrog]

I don't think any member should be flammed about that. Alot of the times bans are indeed done for the correct reason. However, there are times when a ban really should be stepped back and looked at. :(

[TheDPQ]

However, there are times when a ban really should be stepped back and looked at. :(

Thats what an appeal is for. Its also good to have a process that lets an admin review an appeal and accept it to be re-reviewed or not. Sometimes a mod is too close to the subject.

[eXe_]

I'll explain to them why the person was banned, and whether it's a permanent ban or temporary. I'll also tell them that this (http://www.alienhub.com/****you.html) is the page all banned members view.

[Scott]

I'll explain to them why the person was banned, and whether it's a permanent ban or temporary. I'll also tell them that this (http://www.alienhub.com/****you.html) is the page all banned members view.
I managed to guess the blanked out characters in that link, and I really don't see what directing anyone to that page accomplishes. Probably just gets banned members wound up and more likely to find ways to post.

Sure, I bet a few people find that hilarious...but is it that civilised?

...Or maybe I've got no sense of humour :think:

[UKJosh]

I would probably (depending on the circumstances) make a general comment like "We do not discuss these actions in public, if anyone has any questions they are welcome to PM me" and then close the thread.

I like to think this is a fair way to do it. If I was ever banned from somewhere, I wouldn't like it to be openly discussed.

Scott If your the person you think you are then please make sudden contact via the messaging system as i have a couple of appologies to make.

Thanks.

Also,
id would say something like

"The member has not followed or refuses to follow the forum guidelines, hence his banning
-- Admin"
and close the topic.

[Scott]

Scott If your the person you think you are then please make sudden contact via the messaging system as i have a couple of appologies to make.


Eh, I'm the person I think I am. I think :confused:

[adb22791]

How do you respond?

Well, I'm a bit late, but I'll add my $0.02. I think that I would want to close the thread off pretty quickly, as the issue could escalate and result in supporters of the banned member flaming staff, other users, even myself. It was part of one of my forums privacy policy that staff will never discuss other users information with other users. I think that all users have a right to privacy, and that discussing why a user was banned isn't exactly appropriate. However, I also think that once a user is unbanned they should be able to say why they were banned, if they want to.