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.

 

[chrpai]

You actually raise a very interesting point where an innocent third party in the DIR Forum gets beat up by others whoes primary purpose may be to inflame and fight.

Unless you didn't notice a thread was in the new forums while doing a "New Posts" search, I'm not sure how someone could be an innocent third party in the DIR Forum. I do see how someone can be an innocent third party in say the equipment forum when they disagree with say the long hose. It should be everyones right and responsibility to respectfully debate their position and respect the opposing viewpoint.

 

[jonnythan]

Not trying to stir it up but I'm curious. Were the three or four people who were banned recently to start this whole mess (then I think reinstated) given these pre banishment suspensions first ?

Also is there a thread that explains what they did to justify the discipline?

I think you missed the part where they're never ever going to tell anyone why anyone ever gets banned. That's their little secret.

 

[Genesis]

I don't see the point in pulling an entire forum.

However, I do see the point in the moderator(s) empowered to run a given forum NOT being "partisans" in that given area, especially if the forum is in and of itself contentious.

For example, I would not think that having the Leisurepro customer service staff moderating a forum about the wisdom of buying online .vs. at the LDS would be a very wise decision. Nor would it be a wise decision to have a person affiliated (in any way!) with an LDS doing that job. Indeed, only someone with no particular connection to either model of doing business is appropriate to evenly enforce policy in that regard.

The problem with "ipso facto" forums (e.g. DIR - the presumption being that DIR diving is "ok") is that partisans from either point of view make poor moderators at best. If even an appearance of bias exists within the group of moderators who run such a forum, the partisans on whichever side are "represented" will feel that they have license to "bend the rules." And indeed they do - they will (consciously or not!) get more of a "pass" on their behavior than someone who disagrees with that premise.

Now if such a forum is ONLY for people who agree, and no others are welcome, then that's a different matter (e.g. the Quest list.) There, the "feeding frenzy" mode of operation is perfectly fine.

BUT, in a forum which has as part of its "accepted decorum" the questioning of a given premise (and by defintion if a forum seeks to further an art or aim towards greater understanding or knowledge then questioning the premise is necessary to that goal!) such an inherent bias is simply not going to work, any more than it would to have LP moderating a forum on LDS practices in the industry.

 

[grouchyturtle]

Here's the thread I was talking about: http://www.scubaboard.com/t41186.html
In fact at least a few of us here posted in this thread.

You're right. Sometimes an honest question can look like a troll. Did you read the banning process? It takes a majority of voting mods to ban you and that's after a couple of suspensions. In this process there's plenty of oportunity for you to speak for yourself. I don't think you have to worry about being banned because some one mistakenly thinks one of your posts is a troll.

Ok, but there was at least one moderator in that thread, one of the first to reply. Uncle Pug, was the first one to call me a troll, so by the new rules, he could have suspended me, which also by the new rules is on the path to being banned. Which brings us back to the original problem, only the poster knows for sure if they're a troll or not. Of course if they have a history of starting fights, it's pretty obvious they are a troll.

You actually raise a very interesting point where an innocent third party in the DIR Forum gets beat up by others whoes primary purpose may be to inflame and fight.

I'm not even saying that's the case. In the short time I've been diving I've learned one thing: Most divers have opinions about everything related to diving, and anyone who doesn't agree with them is an idiot! Therefore in any forum, when you post something that may be controversial, or has the potential of starting a war, usually at least one person will accuse you of being a troll.

 

[The Chairman]

Grunster,

half of the problem is that trolling has been so wide spread that some are plain "troll shy". We need to work on that as a group as well as individuals. More often than not, a moderator will run things by in the back room before they make any decision. Even if they make a decision, it takes someone with the keys to flip the switch. All of us who now have the keys are pretty cirmcumspect before we go using them. IOW, you can ask me to ban anyone, but you had better have a valid reason for doing so. Bans happened back then, and if you were really a troll you would have been banned... but you weren't so you weren't. Got it?

 

[grouchyturtle]

Ok makes sense.

As it was originally described it sounded as though any mod could instantly suspend you, and people do LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE to throw around that T word.

 

[cornfed]

The problem with ...

Sometimes, Karl, I wonder if you'll ever run out of things to complain about...

 

[Genesis]

Sometimes, Karl, I wonder if you'll ever run out of things to complain about...

If you don't want suggestions, don't ask for them!

 

[cornfed]

If you don't want suggestions, don't ask for them!

I don't remember Pete asking for help deciding who should be in charge of which forum.

 

[The Chairman]

Don't forget to check the announcements kiddies...