Discussion about the Suspension List
Quote: DocI expect it is going to get tedious to keep suspending people who just sign up with multiple user names and continue their poor behavior.
I was Admin on a an SF board some years back. The commercial forum software had a feature that allowed you to suspend and/or ban users by handle and by I.P. address. That took care of most sock puppets.
I also had to approve new users before they were allowed to post. I caught some that way, too. But it slows down posting and, sometimes, discourages new posters when you just take too long to grant them access.
Quote: EvenBobMy question is, why are you doing all this work? If I had a successful forum like this, I'd rule it like a dictator. I'd ban people I didn't like without even telling them, I'd just cancel their accounts. If they don't like it, so what. This isn't a democracy, its a privately owned entity. Like I've said before, I've been on forums since '92 and its not worth the grief to give every jerk an even break. Life it too short, who cares if they don't like it. Go someplace else and be a jerk, you're GONE from here.. I've seen decent forums ruined by the trolls and the owner pulling his hair out. Always remember, its fun to be the King, you can make people disappear. Poof!
You're one of many to say that. Maybe you're a faster learner than me, but day by day I'm getting closer to your position. I've often wondered if I were a real king, how would I rule? I'd like to think I would be a nice king, who loved his minions, and was quick to give the benefit of the doubt when discipline was in order. Imagine Mr. Rogers as king.
However, maybe such a king would lose respect and control. Maybe what we need here is a Saddam Hussein kind of toughness. An idea worth thinking about for 2011.
Quote: WizardYou're one of many to say that. Maybe you're a faster learner than me, but day by day I'm getting closer to your position.
I'm a slow learner, in fact. I've just been on lots of forums, thats all. What you'll find is it will get worse, not better. And you'll question why you started the damn thing at all. An example to look at is the forum John Patrick runs. He suffers no fools, ever. He deletes accounts right and left and just keeps the people he likes and who get along with each other. Is he disliked for this? You bet, but those who dislike him are bottom feeding, hate filled trolls, who cares what they think. I don't agree with JP on a lot of things, but he runs a tight ship of a forum. IMO, a forum needs to run like a Military School, play by the rules or you're out. No excuses, no coddling, no second chances. Bye bye, so long, adios...
Quote: WizardI'd like to think I would be a nice king, who loved his minions.
Does this mean I'm a minion?
Quote: EvenBobMy question is, why are you doing all this work? If I had a successful forum like this, I'd rule it like a dictator. I'd ban people I didn't like without even telling them, I'd just cancel their accounts. If they don't like it, so what. This isn't a democracy, its a privately owned entity. Like I've said before, I've been on forums since '92 and its not worth the grief to give every jerk an even break. Life it too short, who cares if they don't like it. Go someplace else and be a jerk, you're GONE from here.. I've seen decent forums ruined by the trolls and the owner pulling his hair out. Always remember, its fun to be the King, you can make people disappear. Poof!
I agree 100%. Instead of all those long-winded, far-fetched, whiny face-saving attempts by mkl in the other thread, time and bandwidth could have been saved.
Quote: WizardI've often wondered if I were a real king, how would I rule? I'd like to think I would be a nice king, who loved his minions, and was quick to give the benefit of the doubt when discipline was in order.
I thought kings have subjects while super-villains have minions ;)
When I ran the SF board I did so with a heavy hand. It worked for a while, but in the end I became more than a little bit of a tyrant. Later I worked out some rules and tried to stick by them, but by then it was too late and the board was dead.
If it helps any, here they are:
Suspend anyone for:
Spamming
Advocating illegal activities (including posting instructions to crack software licenses)
Seriously Disrupting the board
Making racist/sexist/homophobic/and overall bigoted statements (except when done by way of an example to illustrate a point).
Ban anyone for:
Repeating any of the above a set number of times (usually three)
Ban spam-bots on sight. Spam-bots will eat fora alive.
A feature I've seen used, which can work well, is to set up a trashcan area. The idea is that hijacked threads and threads with disruptive flame wars get moved there, so other users can safely ignore them. Further posting may or may not be permitted once a thread is moved there.
If you leave the original thread in its pre-hijacking or pre-flame war shape, it often revives for a while.
Quote: JerryLoganI agree 100%.
Too late for toadying, Jerry. You're neck is on the block and executioner is waiting for call from the governor, which probably won't come.
Quote: Doc
I expect it is going to get tedious to keep suspending people who just sign up with multiple user names and continue their poor behavior.
Well, suspending and banning should definitely take less time for the Wizard than a new sign up, or something is wrong with the system.
It should be explained why sign up is a little tedious to prospective new users, if that needs to be done on sign up pages.
EDIT...what I mean is, signing up should be more tedious for a new user than a minute or so. And not easy to use an auto-fill.
What about the afterlife? Are their souls also banned? LOL!
(I'm still thinking about that 'purchase a soul' thread...)
But seriously, there is no reason to be kind and/or provide a "benefit of the doubt". Those of us that behave, do so naturally, and automatically get your benevolence. Those that do not play nice, should get what they deserve.
