I totally agree with of the intention, certainly...
The methods, not so much.
The Escapist claims to be a community promoting games etc. Key word - community. By the very definition of community, it's designed to pull the group together.
A rule like the above simply has no place in modern society. Only in primitive, medieval times did communities practice actions like shunning and exile. This was necessary, as times were hard and a non-conformist could get the whole community dead etc.
Times changed. People grew up. Shunning etc. went away.
Even some criminal records expire these days, and I'd consider that way more serious than an inappropriate comment on an internet forum (oh teh horrorz!). After all... dangerous driving is clearly less evil and depraved than an inappropriate comment on an internet forum. Right?
And ad-blockers on the same scale as pedophilia?? Not to be pedantic here, but there's clearly something wrong when an ad-blocker is listed in the same breath as the vile obscenity that is pedophilia!
And criminal acts inside the US only?? Wait, what? So it's fine to promote criminal activity as long as you do it outside the US?? I'm so confused.....
I've always considered myself fairly uptight, and I know (and have had it pointed out on these very forums more than once!) that I can be more than a little intolerant... but even I understand the virtue of forgiveness and understanding.
As noted previously... 8 strikes is plenty warning. But if you're in a community for years (the way the Escapist is meant to be) they can eventually add up. Surely the most appropriate response is a time-delayed reduction. After all, if you clock up 8 strikes over 10 years, with 15000 posts, surely you're a much more positive influence on the community than somebody who clocks up 8 strikes in 2 weeks with 20 posts. Person A should still be around, Person B should be history. Would seem like common sense to me.
I really think we should push back on this one. The Escapist doesn't exist without us, the participants, and this is one time I think we should stand up and be counted!