Suggestion Finalized Banning Procedure

[The Chairman]

On January 15, 2003, 7 users were banned from Scubaboard. Most of the moderators and a few of our users were not satisfied with the process, and so we began discussing the hows and whys in the moderator’s forum. Subsequently we even opened up a new forum for our users to be able to express their thoughts and ideas.

In formulating the new process, we wanted to ensure to resolve a few issues germane to the larger issue. These would be communication, fairness, consistency and moderator responsibility. To this end we have come up with the following process:

Temp bans (5 days) can be called for by any moderator and are automatic. This can be in response to any violation of the TOS (moderator’s discretion), harassment of others, flaming others, or trolling. The moderator must send a notice (even though an administrator has to flip the switch) to the affected user’s e-mail and detail why the suspension was initiated. These should be rare and can be conditional.

Perm Bans are considered when the user exceeds 2 suspensions in less than 6 months, openly challenges authority (not just asking a question), threatens anyone in any way, or has blatantly violated the TOS. A perm ban requires 8 moderator’s approvals or a 2/3s majority of the mods voting, which ever is more. A temp ban should be called for first and then perm banning should be discussed for at least 5 days. The mod who initiated the temp ban is in charge of the process. They will also set the time for a vote (at least 5 days) and send the appropriate message if so needed. These should be very rare and can be conditional.

Under no circumstances will Scubaboard moderators or administrators disclose reasons or rationale for any disciplinary action to a third party. We view this as a privacy issue and are committed to protect the privacy of the board's users at all times. While we do respect a user's desire to request a review of the status of their account, we specifically forbid the use of sock puppets (multiple user accounts) or another user's account to make your case. All such requests must be sent to scubaboard@moderninsider.com for consideration. At this point of the process, we will not feel obliged to correspond any further unless we change your status. All moderators and administrators will forward any and all such requests sent to them personally as well.

Perm bans can be re-visited by any mod at any time and only need a simple majority of the mods voting to be rescinded.

As with any “invention” you are never sure how it works until tested. So it was suggested and then decided by the mods to subject the January 15 bans to the new process. 4 of the original 7 had perm bannings initiated and those are being discussed. While we hoped to have 3 of those 4 finalized today, server issues have made that impossible. However, we can report that Cobaltbabe, Raven C and 00Scuba have been subsequently restored to full user status. We welcome them back into the Scubaboard fold, and extend our sincerest thanks to those users who gave us input into this issue.

 

[Walter]

"The poster is currently on the rack and hot irons are being pressed into his flesh as I type."

If anyone else had said that, I'd assume it was humor.

 

[Genesis]

Karl... sometimes it takes time for a moderator to get to it. In this case the post you complained about has been pulled and is in the Commercial Post staging area awaiting payment. The poster is currently on the rack and hot irons are being pressed into his flesh as I type.

I said nowhere that I didn't believe the standards would be applied.

And yes, I know it takes time to get to things.

I was just pointing this out as an example of something that is so far over the line - and hot on the heels of a clear troll (which was also pulled) - that one wonders if there is equality in the rules.

That's all.

 

[The Chairman]

What was pulled? Where?

 

[Uncle Pug]

If anyone else had said that, I'd assume it was humor.

Walter... and if anyone else replied like that I would also assume it was humor.

one wonders if there is equality in the rules.

Karl... as much as humanly possible... seriously.

What was pulled? Where?

Pete... a while back I pulled a post several of us considered as a troll trying to bait chrpai.

 

[Genesis]

What was pulled? Where?

Just before the board went down a clear troll was pulled in the General Discussion area by a well-known DIR-type - it was posted in a Nitrox thread started by a legitimate poster who had just finished his class. The message was pulled and the explanation left in its place was that it was removed due to being a troll.

Today, a very-commercial posting (not in the commercial trip area!) was made to the DIR forum by the same person.

Both were flagarant violations of the TOS, and both posts were removed (the latter, according to Pug, into the "staging area" pending payment for the commercial trip section.)

 

[Uncle Pug]

Karl... have you ever considered the implications of us solving all of your issues?
Think about it... if we eliminated everything you could possibly complain about what would become of you?
Save a few for a rainy day buddy.

 

[Dive Source]

WOW - You go away from scubaboard a couple weeks and the world goes mad.

Glad to see this thread though as a little clarification is probably a good thing.

 

[Walter]

Since neither you nor I have a sense of humor, I'm worried about that poster. I don't mind the rack, but the hot irons could, perhaps, be over the line?

 

[cornfed]

Karl... have you ever considered the implications of us solving all of your issues?
Think about it... if we eliminated everything you could possibly complain about what would become of you?
Save a few for a rainy day buddy.

COKE ALERT!!!

 

[chrpai]

Karl... have you ever considered the implications of us solving all of your issues?
Think about it... if we eliminated everything you could possibly complain about what would become of you?
Save a few for a rainy day buddy.

Pug-

You can dismiss this as Karl being oversensitive, but you know for a FACT that MHK has violated the TOS 3 times recently. That is NOT the first commercial post he's made to the DIR forum, and you know for a fact he was trolling trying to start crap with me. He even apologized for it later.

Karl has a perfectly valid point in showing that a DIR instructor has gotton away with violating the TOS 3 times while others are summarily banned.

The Commerical TOS doesn't say that a violators post will be placed in limbo until payment is recieved. It says:

"Commercial advertising is not allowed on Scuba Board except in those forums expressly designated for such activity. Any commercial post found in a category of a non-commercial nature will be removed and the author’s account may be suspended or revoked permanently. "

It also then goes on to spell out the proper way to order an advertisement at www.scubaboard.com/advertising.php