Announcing Forum Bans

[Shawn Gossman]

I've seen some forums announce forum bans.

Basically, when a member gets banned, a thread is made explaining that "so and so" was banned for "such and such."

How do you feel about this practice?

If you agree with it or do it, why do you do it? Explain why if you don't agree with it!

 

[Cpvr]

Honestly, I don’t think forum bans should be announced; it should be a private matter between the owner and staff members. Ban announcements shouldn’t be made public.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Honestly, I don’t think forum bans should be announced; it should be a private matter between the owner and staff members. Ban announcements shouldn’t be made public.

I agree with you on that.

I've been a lot of the Big Boards announce bans, though. People usually react or make fun. I think that just makes the banned want to get revenge even more.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

I agree with you on that.

I've been a lot of the Big Boards announce bans, though. People usually react or make fun. I think that just makes the banned want to get revenge even more.

Yeah and tempts these banned members to return with new accounts to reply esp if they disagree and that would cause a scene and create even more work for staff

 

[JoelR]

As a general rule of thumb, I agree that private matters should be kept, well, private.

However, I've also been in situations where there is more to the situation, and shuffling things under the carpet can actually lead more questions. It's important that each community leader evaluates each situation on its merits. For example, the ban might be an unprecedented step for the community outside of normal community guidelines, which deserves a public explanation. One of the great strengths of communities is transparency and being willing to openly talk about your values and what it means to be a part of the community especially over difficult matters like a ban.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

As a general rule of thumb, I agree that private matters should be kept, well, private.

However, I've also been in situations where there is more to the situation, and shuffling things under the carpet can actually lead more questions. It's important that each community leader evaluates each situation on its merits. For example, the ban might be an unprecedented step for the community outside of normal community guidelines, which deserves a public explanation. One of the great strengths of communities is transparency and being willing to openly talk about your values and what it means to be a part of the community especially over difficult matters like a ban.

I think it’s important if you’re banning a member for behaviour over at another forum but of course this should only be done in egregious cases e.g. sexual harassment, severe bullying, doxxing, scamming members, playing mind games that causes another member severe mental distress, violence towards members IRL which may make members feel unsafe etc and there must be clear evidence not hearsay; such actions should not be taken just for general trolling or spamming - of course a forum owner has the right to take such actions to protect the community but you want to be seen as professional, you shouldn’t be punishing members for outside actions out of vengeance - rather such actions should only be taken if this is the only way to protect the harmony and safety and wellbeing of the community. I know @Shawn Gossman can relate to this given his other posts round forums - while you don’t want a sex offender on your forum, you don’t want to ban a potential contributor for mild trolling elsewhere as that can damage your reputation as a “fair” admin

There’s a certain level of trust that is essential in a forum community imo to ensure a safe and harmonious community

 

[Bawse]

I don't announce when I banned a member on my forum. However if that member was banned for scamming members, I might make an announcement.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

I don't announce when I banned a member on my forum. However if that member was banned for scamming members, I might make an announcement.

- on the one hand we should respect member privacy. On the other hand, announcements avoid menber speculation especially if the member is popular. Avoids accusations of biases

 

[Shawn Gossman]

I think it’s important if you’re banning a member for behaviour over at another forum but of course this should only be done in egregious cases e.g. sexual harassment, severe bullying, doxxing, scamming members, playing mind games that causes another member severe mental distress, violence towards members IRL which may make members feel unsafe etc and there must be clear evidence not hearsay; such actions should not be taken just for general trolling or spamming - of course a forum owner has the right to take such actions to protect the community but you want to be seen as professional, you shouldn’t be punishing members for outside actions out of vengeance - rather such actions should only be taken if this is the only way to protect the harmony and safety and wellbeing of the community. I know @Shawn Gossman can relate to this given his other posts round forums - while you don’t want a sex offender on your forum, you don’t want to ban a potential contributor for mild trolling elsewhere as that can damage your reputation as a “fair” admin

There’s a certain level of trust that is essential in a forum community imo to ensure a safe and harmonious community

Yeah, the sex offender guy was banned for the safety of my members, many being minors under the age of 18.

I didn't appreciate him withholding that. It was definitely in the best interests of the forum, even though he was a nice guy and contributed a lot.

That whole incident caused a lot of problems. After that, I wanted all staff to share their real names so that I could check them out. That was a bad move. A few resigned. I ultimately knew it was a bad idea, and I did it purely out of being upset by the offender.

Now, I would do things differently. Would I still ban a registered sex offender from the forum? I would. I feel someone who committed such a heinous act to do that to a minor should not be allowed on forums where minors could be present. But how would I know a member is that? I wouldn't unless proof was determined and that member admitted to it like the one I banned long ago.

I only ban it for certain reasons, such as spam, causing toxic environments on the forum, abusing anyone on or off the forum, illegal things, and stuff like that.

As for announcing it, I don't practice that.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

Yeah, the sex offender guy was banned for the safety of my members, many being minors under the age of 18.

I didn't appreciate him withholding that. It was definitely in the best interests of the forum, even though he was a nice guy and contributed a lot.

That whole incident caused a lot of problems. After that, I wanted all staff to share their real names so that I could check them out. That was a bad move. A few resigned. I ultimately knew it was a bad idea, and I did it purely out of being upset by the offender.

Now, I would do things differently. Would I still ban a registered sex offender from the forum? I would. I feel someone who committed such a heinous act to do that to a minor should not be allowed on forums where minors could be present. But how would I know a member is that? I wouldn't unless proof was determined and that member admitted to it like the one I banned long ago.

I only ban it for certain reasons, such as spam, causing toxic environments on the forum, abusing anyone on or off the forum, illegal things, and stuff like that.

As for announcing it, I don't practice that.

What is “it”?

You said ban it lol

 

[~ True Legend ~]

Yeah, the sex offender guy was banned for the safety of my members, many being minors under the age of 18.

I didn't appreciate him withholding that. It was definitely in the best interests of the forum, even though he was a nice guy and contributed a lot.

That whole incident caused a lot of problems. After that, I wanted all staff to share their real names so that I could check them out. That was a bad move. A few resigned. I ultimately knew it was a bad idea, and I did it purely out of being upset by the offender.

Now, I would do things differently. Would I still ban a registered sex offender from the forum? I would. I feel someone who committed such a heinous act to do that to a minor should not be allowed on forums where minors could be present. But how would I know a member is that? I wouldn't unless proof was determined and that member admitted to it like the one I banned long ago.

I only ban it for certain reasons, such as spam, causing toxic environments on the forum, abusing anyone on or off the forum, illegal things, and stuff like that.

As for announcing it, I don't practice that.

As for banning the sex offenders, besides most importantly, the legal and ethical duties of protecting minors from such people, I don't think adults would feel comfortable being a part of a community where tit requires co-existing with the "rolling bad apples". Upholding the integrity of the forum includes having standards about the sort of people you allow into your community, and knowingly allowing such egregious perpetrators into your community is likely to damage reputation. Reputation, integrity and standards are paramount to the success of a community. The last thing you want is your community being bad-mouthed - word spreads quickly. There are some people you just don't want to take the risk to associate yourself with - it's reality.

Let's use the analogy that people have been fired from their jobs for their involvement in riots with violence towards police officers.