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.

 

[The Chairman]

As someone who has been villified on re.scuba for standing up to cyber bullies here, I have no reason to go there. That others enjoy that flavor of the internet does not bother me in the least. However, most "reputations" are earned. Thats just as true here as anywhere else. Bad "raps" just don't happen by themselves.

 

[hnladue]

Bad "raps" just don't happen by themselves.

Then how do you explain Little Bow wow and Emiem (or however you spell it) Of course them there's Vanilla Ice.......

 

[OneBrightGator]

"Ask not what Scuba Board can do for you, rather ask what you can do for Scuba Board."

Hmmm... well what about SeaJay? He's done the most of anyone to get people from all over the board out diving, which, after all, is what ScubaBoard is about right? He did alot for ScubaBoard and what did ScubaBoard do for him?

Ben

 

[fgray1]

I think you all need to step back and take a look.
I have and I got to tell you what I saw in myself was sad.
I started to think this was important (it ain't)
Use the board for what it was designed for. Sharing info, making dive buddies, setting up trips. Those that think the board is so important that they can't do without it you need to take a good look at your life. If there's something missing you ain't going to find it here.
Just a humble mans opinion.
Fred

 

[The Chairman]

Very, very inciteful Fred.

 

[grouchyturtle]

So now you can be banned for trolling? Well who the hell decides what is a troll and what is a legitimate question? It's pretty obvious, when someone is making many of those other violations, but what some people perceive as trolling sometimes isn't. Post just about anything in a DIR vs. none DIR thread you're bound to have at least one person accuse you.

Just look at my post from a while back about the cost of DIR config vs. non-DIR. I was looking at the $$$ I've spent on this sport since I started, and really just questioning something I had seen posted in other threads.

Immediately I was pounced on by by every response and called a troll. Maybe they should all be banned for flaming me? Wait a minute there were a few mods in there too (I'm sure they can't be banned?), so I guess should have been banned for asking a legitimate question. And then another user for actually defending me probably should have been banned too!

 

[grouchyturtle]

Oh yeah and is my new signature line considered trolling?

 

[JohnF]

Oh yeah and is my new signature line considered trolling?

That's just promotion. 8)

JohnF

 

[JohnF]

As someone who has been villified on re.scuba for standing up to cyber bullies here, I have no reason to go there. That others enjoy that flavor of the internet does not bother me in the least. However, most "reputations" are earned. Thats just as true here as anywhere else. Bad "raps" just don't happen by themselves.

I think you'll find that the "bad raps" for rec.scuba tend to be mostly in the minds of those who didn't like the heat there, but I agree, rec.scuba sure isn't for everyone. My point was that despite the occasional battered ego, rec.scuba is still a viable dive forum. On a positive note we seldom have meaningful discussions about propriety there as there's no set of rules to follow. It's a free for all and somehow or other most of us survive it.

JohnF

 

[chrpai]

Oh yeah and is my new signature line considered trolling?

No, but I would say the sexual reference violates the family nature of the TOS.