Still More Questions About Banned Members

Originally posted by Kryties
No offence mate, but you're not making a terribly good impression for a comeback.

Just accept whatever happened, make a plan not to do it again and enjoy your return to this website.

Nonsense. These are all perfectly relevant inquiries.

Originally posted by Majic
Ins And Outs

Originally posted by Bleak
Regardless, is it safe to out myself now?

This wouldn't be the place for that. As mentioned, we don't publicly discuss banned accounts, and most certainly won't do so here.

However, you're welcome to click here and let us know which account you would like to have reinstated, if you like.

Bear in mind that we do routinely review the circumstances under which bans were applied, and can see everything that led to the ban in black and white. But honesty and contrition go a long way.

Also, if you would prefer to just go forward with this account, I doubt anyone will try to stop you. We're not the vindictive type, and if you're willing to honor the terms & conditions, that's all we ask.

It's not even proper for someone to divulge their former screen name? Okay.

As for reinstating accounts - holy hell, you can do that!?!?!?!?

Mod note: Let's please respect his privacy. Thanks. -- Majic

The Lazarus Effect

Originally posted by Bleak
As for reinstating accounts - holy hell, you can do that!?!?!?!?

Yes. Yes we can. We have scary powers.

However, we don't usually do that without a good reason.

reply to post by Crakeur


Are there only two users that have been allowed back? Obviously the op was one. I guess I am number two.

The OP and myself are very recent allowances, which I was grateful for btw. Is ATS becoming less strict, or were we the first to cool our heels and apologize in a constructive way? Thanks for your time...

reply to post by adraves


I've been post banned a few times in my earlier days here on ATS. I know what I did wrong, after conversing with various admin, and made a promise not to do those things again - hence why I am still a contributing member here 3 years later.

reply to post by adraves


We've seen many members return to the boards after having been banned.
Rarely are second or even third+ chances disallowed.

... adherence to the Terms & Conditions agreed to is all that's required of any member ...

Originally posted by Crakeur
we don't allow our members to discuss banned members in the forums because it always leads to drama.

Since we have two banned members posting again, I think the other questions you asked, regarding allowing banned members to come back, are answered.

The truth is, we don't like banning members. When we do, it's usually for a multitude of reasons, rarely one infraction (posting porn and hoaxing being the only real single instance issues that result in bannings).

I had a six year account banned because I blocked ads from appearing on the website.

You guys are a joke

reply to post by Kryties


I vaguely remember that happening. I threw a temper tantrum, used a lot of U2U's, and posted on my profile wall like crazy. I knew what I did wrong too, I just couldn't take a breath and walk away at the time. I should have. It would have saved moderators and myself a lot of stress.

That is something to think about though. Temporary bans that force the user to walk away for awhile...with a screen that says somethings like "Ok, people. Move along. There's nothing to see here. Come back in XX:XX:XX amount of time."

Getting The Banned Back Together

reply to post by Kryties

We've also had "permabanned" members reinstated who "go, and sin no more" and are still with us. Also, we will, on occasion, discover a new member who was previously banned. As long as they aren't bothering anyone, we don't tend to bother them.

There are some "ban on sight" cases, but people have to really, really work hard to earn that distinction. For some folks, the medium is the message, so to speak.

Nobody's perfect, we all make mistakes (including mods) and everybody has a bad hair day now and then. Unless it'a a big deal, we try not to make a big deal out of it.

Which brings us to the bottom line: this is a discussion board, not the Spanish Inquisition. The goal is to promote civil discussion, not punish people or get revenge.

As long as we can talk about stuff without people being jerks, it's all good.





P.S. We also have cases where people, no matter what, will never accept that they did something wrong, accuse us of banning them because of their opinions on the issues or otherwise assume they were banned for reasons they were not. The classic case is to respond to a "one-liner" warning with a stream of profane invective and ultimately threats. That doesn't usually turn out so well, since threats of any kind can result in immediate account termination. Of course, we'll be accused of banning for a "one-liner" in such cases. Just another day on the ATS staff.

Originally posted by Majic
and everybody has a bad hair day now and then.

reply to post by Crakeur

we don't allow our members to discuss banned members in the forums because it always leads to drama.

yeah because all the discussions about conspiracy theories, political views, religion. hillary clinton is a reptile, UFO's, bigfoot, numerlogy, predictions, nibiru, 911, etc never causes any drama.

Come on man, you gotta have a better excuse than that.

reply to post by liquidsmoke206


Here's a better one. Its nobody's business but the person who got banned, and the ATS T&C.

Originally posted by neformore
reply to post by liquidsmoke206

 

Here's a better one. Its nobody's business but the person who got banned, and the ATS T&C.

Because of ATS' commitment to members privacy.

This forum does have some rules but rules are needed or there would be chaos. They are not strict as say the WOW forums where calling someone Jewish will result in a perma ban or where they delete threads just for PR reasons. ATS is not Reddit. I think ATS does a great job handling their forums in a balanced way, this is my opinion however.

reply to post by Crakeur


I disagree with you. While I love ATS, and consider most of the mods, and a couple of the Amigos as my "friend", I still feel a duty to truth.

Protoplasmic Traveller was banned over a singular instance. Not only that, the instance he was banned over was dubious at best as it all stemmed from a mismanagement of comprehension from a member of the ATS staff.

Having said that, I am sure this post will be deleted or the whole thread 404'd.

reply to post by neformore


Exactly!

It's not really fair to have a bunch of members discussing someone else's account, while that someone else cannot post on their on behalf.

Besides, what purpose can discussing someone else's account serve? Should we allow it just to satisfy someone's morbid curiousity? I don't think so.

reply to post by bigfatfurrytexan


What would possibly lead you to believe such a thing?

While we cannot discuss any particular member's account, hypothetically, someone with a prolific contribution would have had to have dozens and dozens, perhaps 100's of interactions and discussions and opportunities to reverse the course before being banned. In all of that back and forth, they would have to escalate the issue to the stratosphere before being banned.

Why would you assume people you call your friends could be so illogical and uncaring? You are simply wrong and ill-informed.

reply to post by getreadyalready


i am only recounting what i witnessed.

And i have friends that do things i disagree with a lot. It is not a prerequisite of friendship to be in lockstep. I still love you. LOL.

But I was a participant in the thread, and saw how what he said was misinterpreted, and then run with afterwards.

reply to post by bigfatfurrytexan


and have you seen the entire discussion that went back and forth between him and the staff? have you seen the history of issues that the staff had with the member?

it's easy to say we do things with a heavy hand when you aren't seeing the entire picture.

reply to post by Crakeur


LOL, but you cannot say that when it is not my choice to not see the entire picture.

I'm sorry, Crakeur...that just sounded like the POTUS coming out and telling me that it is a matter of national security to waterboard people. "If you knew what the information we are getting was...but we can't tell you."

Or Nancy Pelosi telling us "You have to pass the bill to see what is in the bill".

Regardless, no. I haven't seen the behind the scenes whole affair. Only what happened in that one thread. But i now have a perception, as do other members. And that is a very real problem for ATS.

Do what you want with that info. I will still happily be a member, as the benefits are great for me.

FWIW, since this is a territory we shouldn't be talking about, I will pipe down now.