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.

 

[OneBrightGator]

Don't flatter yourself Ben. Pete isn't making money off of you being here.

I don't remember saying anything about myself in particular, and what you say is mostly true, I don't buy anything from the people who advertise here (for no other reason then I don't need what they have to offer or the buying power to purchase it), but I am one of the users he counts when telling his advertisers how much traffic he has.

Ben

 

[cornfed]

Huh, imagine for a second, that thread. Top 3 to be banned from Scubaboard...

Best make it a poll otherwise it wouldn't be accurate!

 

[detroit diver]

Best make it a poll otherwise it wouldn't be accurate!

How many can we fit in the poll?

 

[XJae]

have any of you read orwells 1984?
i suggest you re/read it.

actually, theres an open song in the music trivia thread.
i suggest you all figure it out and listen to it.
its a much better vision of the future.

maybe some of you will finally see the light.

 

[LUBOLD8431]

Ok, we have another contender for the poll!!!

 

[scubasean]

Well maybe the *rest* of us can agree on a top 3.

But think how boring it would be around here.

LOL

Indeed...

 

[cornfed]

have any of you read orwells 1984?
i suggest you re/read it.
<snip>
maybe some of you will finally see the light.

Sorry, I read it a long time ago... can you enlighten me?

 

[JohnF]

We may not pay to be here, but you are making money off the fact that we are here. We do have a say, who hears what we have to say is up to you.

I imagine SB as a very large room, and a few the lights are getting turned off and things are happening in the shadows. I don't want to leave, I like the vast majority of the room, but I'm not sure if I like what's going on in the shadows and I sure as hell don't want the light above my head to go out.

Ben

It seems to me that some folks have got this whole thing ass about face. We're talking in cynical self-serving terms about what we should be entitled to expect from the SB operators as we demand more input into the operation. And some folks obviously feel it's their right to be able to use the forum as a grandstand to spout their own views on diving and commerce regardless of how annoying it is to the vast majority.

For those who want dissension and conflict, rec.scuba is great. But a seldom acknowledged fact is that not everyone likes rec.scuba because they get totally smoked over there. There's no mods to cry foul to, and mama ain't gonna pat you on your little head and say "They're such meanies.". She's gonna say "Don't let the door slam yer ass on yer way out, sonny." and for those who can stand the heat and noise, rec.scuba can be fun and informative. I've made some great friends in real life from that NG.

The more important fact is that we are owed nothing from rec.scuba as we're here on sufferance. To paraphrase Mr. Kennedy "Ask not what Scuba Board can do for you, rather ask what you can do for Scuba Board." and if you don't like what it's doing for you and aren't prepared to do anything for it, then resign yerself to lurk mode, or just go away. SB is an excellent forum for rec divers, and petty grievances and personal agendae serve only to muddy up the waters for those willing to accept it for what it is.

Respectfully
JohnF

 

[detroit diver]

John,

Great post.

Except for "rec.scuba can be fun and informative." Only if you ravish being a clay pidgeon. And informative? Well, maybe about hunting, politics, Michael Jackson, but not about scuba.

It seems to me that some folks have got this whole thing ass about face. We're talking in cynical self-serving terms about what we should be entitled to expect from the SB operators as we demand more input into the operation. And some folks obviously feel it's their right to be able to use the forum as a grandstand to spout their own views on diving and commerce regardless of how annoying it is to the vast majority.

For those who want dissension and conflict, rec.scuba is great. But a seldom acknowledged fact is that not everyone likes rec.scuba because they get totally smoked over there. There's no mods to cry foul to, and mama ain't gonna pat you on your little head and say "They're such meanies.". She's gonna say "Don't let the door slam yer ass on yer way out, sonny." and for those who can stand the heat and noise, rec.scuba can be fun and informative. I've made some great friends in real life from that NG.

The more important fact is that we are owed nothing from rec.scuba as we're here on sufferance. To paraphrase Mr. Kennedy "Ask not what Scuba Board can do for you, rather ask what you can do for Scuba Board." and if you don't like what it's doing for you and aren't prepared to do anything for it, then resign yerself to lurk mode, or just go away. SB is an excellent forum for rec divers, and petty grievances and personal agendae serve only to muddy up the waters for those willing to accept it for what it is.

Respectfully
JohnF

 

[JohnF]

John,

Great post.

Except for "rec.scuba can be fun and informative." And informative?

Despite the signal to noise ratio, yes, highly informative. Along with more than I ever wanted to know about American politics, guns and welfare, I learned a lot about dive related stuff, like DIR for instance. For some reason it seems to come as a surprise to many that many rec.scubans are pretty darned knowledgeable about DIR. I learned a bunch from the likes of MHK(Cali), Udo R. & Cliff Beshers (NYC) & Scott Koplin (PNW) about DIR. On the Stroke side guys like Mike Gray (Fla) & bullshark (Fla) et al have been very helpful. Then there are the many who hover in between the two camps but offer up a wealth of useful advice and information. Those are folks like Lee Bell (DIR-L from Fla), Popeye (Team 3 from Tennessee), Randy Millak (Hyperbaric chamber stuff from Canada), Al Wells (Cave country), Geo Morris (ex-Fla tekky), Brian Wagner (Ohio Sonic Cannon Operator), Luann Lee (Ohio Quarry Commando) and so on. I've left too many names out but you get the idea. Seems to me I remember Dave Dalton (Atlantic coast) & Jim Wyatt (Fla Keys) offering up a few things on occasion.

Admittedly the dive-related stuff has been scarce of late but the expertise and knowledge is still there and available for those who take the time to harvest it. Rec.scuba gets a bad rap from those who haven't had the patience to hang in. I've made some great real life friendships there, and always have excellent dive guides ready to show me around and even put me up for a night in almost every diveable part of the USA. Under all the sturm und drang some of these characters are the best damned divers most of us will ever see, DIR or no.

JohnF