Member list and banned member number question

I was just having a look at the member list and I couldn't believe the amount of members listed as banned, how so many? Why are banned members still listed? And do they still count in the overall total of members listed on the main page?

Percentage wise it actually pretty small.

People are banned for a variety of reasons. The biggest reason is people that register an account for the sole purpose of spamming the board with whatever it is they are selling. Other members are banned for repeated violations of the Terms and Conditions. This number is actually quite small given the large number of users we have.

reply to post by FredT


Tell the truth..

It's coz some members just get too close to the truth and the ATS SWATSQUAD is called in to dispose of any security threats..

Why only last week I found out that................

..

sssttttzzzzzhsssssssssshhhsssss...


....
Move along!.

Once banned, the account is removed from the total number of registered members. Considering we have over 140,000 registered members the total number of the spammers and socially inept who have been banned (and most were pure spammers selling porn or whatever) is

Originally posted by Springer

That's amazing for a site this big and busy since the spammers tend to be attracted like moths to the flame.

I think this is because most companys realize that spamming the conspiracy theorist who most likely think there part of a larger conspiracy will get them no where.

I have been through a few posts of users who have been banned and it would seem that some were spammers, some had issues, and others had "altercations" with the wrong people.
It is to be expected i suppose that not everyone will be suited to this site and as such will post in such a way that they get banned.
Wether the banning was wrong or right is purely down to the opinion of the individuals who are reading the posts by the banned person and by the mod who banned them.
I would suggest that to clarify for some people that a forum is created for the banned members (well if they are banned then ex-members) the states the name of the banned person (username) and both the mod/person who banned them and a little about why they were banned.
It would help to clarify a few things for some new members especially as the terms and conditions on the sign-up page take a while to read let alone to remember when you are in full flow while posting.

The number of people banned compared the number of active members is quite small so it would appear the for the moment the site is gaining more members than it is losing.

reply to post by full997


That would be a tad bit rude don't you think? I mean people are banned for the reasons given above, those reasons are between the admin of this site and the banned member. Otherwise airing this dirty laundry would be inapropreate.

WUK ain't banned yet?

Originally posted by full997
I have been through a few posts of users who have been banned and it would seem that some were spammers, some had issues, and others had "altercations" with the wrong people.

As with everything in life its a mixed bag. As far as "altercations" with the "wrong" people each and every staff action from warns to bannings is usally the end product of length staff discussion on the issue at hand. It is exceedingly rare for a member to be banned outright but its the end product of a series of actions that the individual took. Some reasons may not be readily apparent by looking at thier post history. Remember that the u2u system and chat also follow our Terms and Conditions so issues cropping up there also can fall into this arena.

It is to be expected i suppose that not everyone will be suited to this site and as such will post in such a way that they get banned.

Yes you are corrent ATS is unique among wed discussion sites. It is not for everybody. For someone used to a site where they can attak and harras other posters etc. It can be a difficult transition in the beginning. However, as staff we always give new people the benifit of the doubt and staff action is always followed by a u2u with helpfull suggestions etc. Many of our best members got started out this wan and even a few of the staff did as well

Wether the banning was wrong or right is purely down to the opinion of the individuals who are reading the posts by the banned person and by the mod who banned them.

Just to be clear, Only Owners, admin, and SuperModerators can ban someone from the site on a permanant basis. However, such bans are only given out after lengthy staff discussion on the matter and after discussions with the member in question.

I would suggest that to clarify for some people that a forum is created for the banned members (well if they are banned then ex-members) the states the name of the banned person (username) and both the mod/person who banned them

I have been and am a member/staff for over 4 years now and can tell you that such a thread would simply serve as a drama focal point and require more attention from the staff than any other forum.

The number of people banned compared the number of active members is quite small so it would appear the for the moment the site is gaining more members than it is losing.

As Springer (one of the 3 site owners) pointed out it is growing quite a bit. And the percentage of members who have been banned is really small. Its a rare event that a member gets to that points.

reply to post by Lysergic


hmm aparently not yet. Im sure you will be the first to know if I am disavowed from this site

i kinda miss that guy marduk, he was brutal towards others lol but i liked reading his posts about acient civilizations

Thanks FredT for the clarification, and i can see your point about the drama that a forum about banned members would create.

I was lurking around this site for quite a while before i decided to become a member (the science and tech forum swung it, oh and skunk works) and there are a few members that i miss posts from.
The thing with some people is that genius and insanity are two sides of the same coin, so whilst a member may make an absolutely awesome post in one forum at say 1pm on a Monday, by 5pm the same day they could make a post that is contradictory to the the terms and conditions of membership.

A male member for example (lets call him Bob) could at 1pm make a great post about thrust vectoring nozzels and their true effectivness on manuverability of aircracft - at 3pm Bob could have an argument with his girlfriend - at 3:30pm Bob comes on the site to help him relax a bit and upon seeing a post that he completely disagrees with could go on a rant and tirade that would make Hitlers Nuremburg speech seem like a one-liner.
Bob was just venting, but he chose the wrong place to vent.
With every member i would suggest that for every ten great posts they make that there will be one that pushes the limits of the terms and conditions.

I understand that banning has to be a last resort measure as there are so many reasons and possibilties and variables to be taken into account with an individuals personality.

I am rather opinionated in this area because i myself am affected by some of the things i have suggested.
One moment my mind can be filled with theories and posibilities and the next something can annoy me and i can flip quicker than a McDonalds burger.

In deciding who and why to ban i can see why a lengthy discussion would be needed because who knows what kind of genius you could be losing for the sake of insanity.
A member banned on Monday could on Wednesday discover something that would change the world as we know it but keep the information to himself because he had just been banned from the only site that he felt safe posting on.

Its alway a chance and a risk when it comes to banning i suppose, so all we can do is trust the mods, stand up for banned members if we think they should be unbanned and agree with the discisions of the mods if we agree with them.

Anyway enough on this..... back to the skunk works!

[edit on 18-7-2008 by full997]

I'm sorry, I just gotta do this ...........

Originally posted by Springer
Considering we have over 140,000 registered members

So then, is that the final tip? That in less than 4K more members then it's time to go? Should I worry about what happens to my points? Will all the members be the same Party affiliations? Please tell me there is no member named G.W.Bush, if so I'de like to convert now please. BUT, since a sign has been given, and "the hour" closer known, does that mean it really is bad to be part of the raptured because it's supposed to be unknown, that it, in of itself, is the master conspiracy? Should I get banned so I am NOT a part of the 144K? I feel so lost now. Sumun' hold me.



We now return you to you regulalry scheduled thread

Misfit [-------- jumpin' on the Sporty to haul-ass away from Springer, lolol

[edit on 18/7/08 by Misfit]

Hello all, I have a question about banned members. I was searching through the 'members' button, and decided to click on some random names that I found interesting.

The ones who are banned say something like "comments have been disabled" or something to that extent. My profile page does not say that, and I'm assuming everyone else who is not banned is in the same condition.

I guess my question would be, why are banned members profile pages disabled?

Thank you!

reply to post by full997


As FredT said - there's always a lengthy discussion about what action to take when a Member doesn't keep to the Terms and Conditions. Staff don't just randomly push buttons. Let's say Bob has been an exceptional member for 2 years, and he has his little Nazi outburst... What will happen next depends on what exactly Bob said in his Hitler parade. It may just be removed with a "Manners" action, it may be bad enough to warrant a warn. We may notice that it's very much unlike Bob to have such an outburst, so we may just put him on a Post Ban which means he won't be able to post for 72 hours. This will give him more than enough time to cool off and come back as his usual friendly but brilliant Bob.

It has also happened many a time that banned members contact the Admin, apologize for their outburst/naughty actions, promise not to do it again and have their membership reinstated.

Staff are - unlike the popular Urban Legend - not monsters nor members of a secret SS Nazi Party. We are however here to make the whole ATS experience more pleasant, informative, educational and enjoyable for everyone. So if a person is here to make life unpleasant for the YOU and rest of ATS, then he may have to face the Ban Hammer (not to be confused with the Ban Hummer which we use to take care of trolls in rough terrain).

reply to post by Jah is Mighty

It has been the practise of porn spammers (amongst others) to post all kinds of unsavoury images in their profiles before they get banned - thus it's simply easier not to show the comments of banned members than to have staff members waste their time to go and delete each and every image/comment.

Originally posted by Gemwolf
reply to post by full997

 

It has also happened many a time that banned members contact the Admin, apologize for their outburst/naughty actions, promise not to do it again and have their membership reinstated.

you're kidding right?

My mate pised off the wrong woman at the wrong "time of the month" and BANG! he was on his ass lol!

Thank for answering my comments mods, much appreciated.

reply to post by Fathom


Nope,met some of those fellows.
Basicaly, being banned was a kick in the pants they needed, and they apologize, and behave theirselves.
It's about like being banned in the first place though, it's not a "I'm sorry, won't happen again, honest," kinda thing though.

Originally posted by full997
I would suggest that to clarify for some people that a forum is created for the banned members (well if they are banned then ex-members) the states the name of the banned person (username) and both the mod/person who banned them and a little about why they were banned.
It would help to clarify a few things for some new members especially as the terms and conditions on the sign-up page take a while to read let alone to remember when you are in full flow while posting.

Interesting suggestion.