Poll: Being happy about bans.

[SwimmingRock]

Hey guys,

So maybe I'm not supposed to post this, but I don't think it contradicts any of the actual rules and I couldn't find it with the Search function (went back to June 2009). Here goes nothing.

Earlier today, I realized somebody had been permanently banned from the Escapist. It was someone I used to occasionally recognize by avatar. I won't say who or why, because I don't want this thread to turn into a hate-thread or flaming and it's not really important. What does matter is that I had started recognizing that avatar, because the posts that accompanied it frequently made me think:"My God, what an a-hole."

Now, I'm not saying that I'm perfect or necessarily better than anyone who's been banned. Hell, I'm only at 0 warnings because I've gotten away with things I probably shouldn't have on two occasions. But I realized I was a little glad that person had been banned. Once I realized that, I felt terrible. Like a bad person.

So I was wondering if this has happened to other people. It doesn't need to be on the Escapist specifically or even a forum.

TL;DR: Have you ever been glad someone got banned and how did you feel about that?

Captcha: "let it be" Even the Captcha is telling me not to post this? Or is it just a Beatles reference?

 

[Xenowolf]

Sometimes, people have to be banned for a good reason. It's as simple as that. I wouldn't feel bad for being glad that a murderer was sent to prison.

 

[TimeLord]

Well, most of the people who post here enough to really make a name for themselves will just come back and make a new account when they are banned, so no, not really.

At which point they are caught by the Tech Team for ban jumping.

 

[SwimmingRock]

Sometimes, people have to be banned for a good reason. It's as simple as that.

See, this makes perfect sense. I can't think of any way to argue against it. Still, I feel like I shouldn't have been happy somebody else got banned. It's just one of those times where logic and emotion don't go together. Which is actually why I made the thread. I may not have been clear in my OP, but the quandary was whether that contradiction was something other people encountered when someone else gets banned. Knowing/thinking they deserved it and still feeling bad.

Then again, I'm a softie, so maybe the problem is me. Thanks for posting what may be considered the 'obvious, logical response' early on, though.

 

[JoJo]

You shouldn't feel bad about about seeing someone banned if they really are a dick, there have been a number of times on this site when I've been pleased to see that a particularly aggressive or annoying poster has been forced out. Going with what SmashLovesTitanQuest said though, it's not hard to get around a ban with dynamic IP addresses or a proxy and so I suspect there are a number of banned users who have returned under new names, but of course since revealing that would lead to another ban we'll never find out how many or who they are.

 

[Esotera]

A thread with a load of warnings/suspensions/bans is generally hilarious to read because two people tend to get really emotionally involved in the argument. It's also really fun going back to threads that are about a year old & seeing who's been banned for what. But I've got to say that the majority of times I see someone banned, it's indifference. Ocassionally I'll be disappointed they're gone because they made the forum a fun place, and the converse is also true sometimes.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

Sometimes I feel bad, if they were known for making immensely entertaining if insane threads. Other times, if they were acting like a jackass, then boot them out the door and move on.

 

[Scarim Coral]

I have no sympathy to those who get banned especially when that member was pretty much a douche to begin with.
If they did wanted to stay on here than they should had change his/ her attitude when he/ she had gotten the first few warnings.
Ok granted there had been one or two times I was surpised when a member got banned but I simply have not seen his or her ban meter before the proper banned.

 

[Something Amyss]

I'm not sure I've ever felt "good" as such. Relieved, sometimes, but not happy per se.

 

[Brandon237]

Some people make me think "damn, I don't think they deserved that", but recently there was one that left me laughing my ass off when I saw they were banned. They really had it coming. And it is a forum ban, not a death-sentence, so I don't feel that pang of guilt ^.^

 

[CrazyBlaze]

Yes. I feel happy. Usually because that person is a major troll and the things they say are usually just to get people upset. So when they go bye bye, I don't feel sorry for them.

 

[Kross]

Well, most of the people who post here enough to really make a name for themselves will just come back and make a new account when they are banned, so no, not really.

At which point they are caught by the Tech Team for ban jumping.

I always wondered, do you use the traditional ban method or some fancy DNS you-cant-do-shit ban? Because apparently you can jump bans by just restarting your router on a lot of sites. Is the Escapist different?

We usually start with disabling the account's posting privileges. If we find the person trying to ban dodge, then we upgrade the artillery to scorch out their corner of the Internet. A similar technique is used in IRC channels - nick ban, and then up to IP or other forms of network bans if they try to get clever.

 

[Redlin5_v1legacy]

There have been a few bans I've really been glad to see happen but a few that I was sad to see come to pass. Those I regret are usually the old, clever and funny members who die the death by a thousand small mod actions. I can understand that the patience of the staff can only be tried so much but I still regret them.

 

[Suicidejim]

I enjoy a bit of schadenfreude now and then. Besides, some people do deserve it, and I won't weep to see them leave. There are rules in place in the forums, and they must be abided by. There are plenty of chances given before you get banned for good.

 

[Dr. Pepper Unlimited]

Sure, yeah. There have been plenty of times when someone was banned that made me happy. This forum, like all others, has its fair share of annoying asshats.

 

[Dejawesp]

I am not intimidated by people stating opinions nor am I so insecure that I need anyone's opinion silenced because they disagree with me. A flamboyant debater who gets a little emotional is not something offensive. What is offensive is an otherwise reasonable person who feels that another person must not be heard because they disagree with them.


If someone is banned for insulting me. That is something that would offend me because it means that somewhere a moderator assumes that this person must be silenced for my "safety" As if I am so fragile that I must be protected from words.

 

[Sassafrass]

Yeah, although not because they've been banned.

It just shuts up the people going "Oh, I wonder if *Insert user name here* will post here." and stops them acting like smug assholes.

 

[requisitename]

I've been happy to see a couple of them and didn't feel at all bad about it afterward. People who try to be upsetting to the greatest possible number of other posters (trolls) deserve it.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

Almost always.

For whatever reason, I mostly find the bannings amusing.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Sometimes they can't come quick enough.

I'm not naming names, but I bet you can guess who I'm thinking of.