Ban Appeals

[Shawn Gossman]

Have you heard of ban appeals?

This is basically the process of a banned member contacting the forum owner to ask for an appeal to their ban so they can come back to the forum.

Some online communities offer an appeal process, while others do not.

Which are you, and why are you that?

 

[~ True Legend ~]

I suppose as a small forum you don’t necessarily need a policy. There is no one-size-fits-all approach and you may consider things on a case by case basis, at your discretion.

That’s why the Contact Us Link exists

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Personally, if I have banned you, you've been pretty naughty. There is a 99.999% chance I won't look at your appeal.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

Personally, if I have banned you, you've been pretty naughty. There is a 99.999% chance I won't look at your appeal.

Or you’ll have a glance at it and then be like HELL NO, OUT IT GOES IN THE TRASH

I’m talking about scenarios new evidence comes to light

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Or you’ll have a glance at it and then be like HELL NO, OUT IT GOES IN THE TRASH

I’m talking about scenarios new evidence comes to light

Let's have some examples

I like scenarios if you haven't noticed!

 

[~ True Legend ~]

Let's have some examples

I like scenarios if you haven't noticed!

You’re like me - I love hypothetical debates! I think we’d make great friends Shawny Shawn

Hmm okay, let’s say a member x appeared to be provocative and picking fights with a member there. You form a first impression and ban the “troublemaker”. But then you discover that the rudeness was justified, despite the disruption caused on the forum, because the member y had done something unforgivable in the past member x was traumatised by. You feel sympathy for member x who you’d banned - you want to give them a second chance but just request they be civil instead of forming a harsh judgement.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

Or alternatively you form a negative first impression or jump to the conclusion they’re a troll, but you come across this person on other forums who’s proven themselves valuable contributors.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

You’re like me - I love hypothetical debates! I think we’d make great friends Shawny Shawn

Hmm okay, let’s say a member x appeared to be provocative and picking fights with a member there. You form a first impression and ban the “troublemaker”. But then you discover that the rudeness was justified, despite the disruption caused on the forum, because the member y had done something unforgivable in the past member x was traumatised by. You feel sympathy for member x who you’d banned - you want to give them a second chance but just request they be civil instead of forming a harsh judgement.

But in a way, the member who was banned just brought drama and toxicity to my forum, which wasn't deserving.

I'm a "leave your other website drama at the door" sort of person.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

But in a way, the member who was banned just brought drama and toxicity to my forum, which wasn't deserving.

I'm a "leave your other website drama at the door" sort of person.

Sure but maybe you’d give them a second chance but ask them to keep it civil here - let them stay if they offer a sincere apology and agree to your rules, instead of banning. We all need to be offered grace sometimes.

 

[Shawn Gossman]

Sure but maybe you’d give them a second chance but ask them to keep it civil here - let them stay if they offer a sincere apology and agree to your rules, instead of banning. We all need to be offered grace sometimes.

Most of the time I do.

If I see it getting dramatic, I'll send people a PM and tell them what kind of forum I run.

Usually, that ends it.

Aside from spammers, I've only banned one person from here. That was because he joined thinking I would make him a moderator (he is a complete stranger) and then when I said I wasn't looking, he requested his account to be deleted. So, I banned him. I found what he did to be a waste of my time, dramatic, borderline trolling. I feel I made a justified decision over that.

Otherwise, I would had to have played stupid games.