Banned Users and Deletions

CRussel · 10-07-2011, 04:31 PM

Can I ask why it is necessary to delete messages from banned users when the actual message in the thread is not in any way inflamatory or otherwise creating issues? It just makes it annoying for those of us following the thread.

I do understand that you've been dealing with a bit of an issue. And I sympathize, truly I do. I've done my time as a sysop/wizop/moderator on more than one forum/newsgroup/board. But not all posts by the offending parties are actually an issue, and IMNSHO it would be perfectly fine to let them stay in those places where they aren't creating an issue.

By all means, yank their posts from the threads where they are being jerks, etc. I have no problem with that.

HarryT · 10-07-2011, 04:41 PM

It's simply a matter of available moderator resources. We really don't have the time to look at every post and ask "is this an on-topic post?". We use a generic "ban this user and delete all their posts" feature of the board. It's really meant for handling spam, but it's also useful for dealing with the sort of morons who think is "funny" to create multiple "sockpuppets" when they've been banned from MR.

CRussel · 10-07-2011, 04:51 PM

Fair enough, Harry. Though perhaps the board itself needs an easy inbetween option. "Delete this post and ban the user".

I agree about the morons. And suggest some judicious IP address blocking might be in order? Not that such things are by any means foolproof. But often are sufficient to allow someone to calm down and think about actually behaving like a constructive member of the forum.

HarryT · 10-07-2011, 04:55 PM

No, you're right - IP blocks are good, and we do use them for persistant irritants. They have the benefit that when we block IPs at the server they can't see MR at all, let alone try to join it. It just makes the entire site vanish for that person.

CRussel · 10-07-2011, 05:06 PM

BTW, off-topic for this thread. How's The Return of Sherlock Holmes coming? I'm thinking I'm about ready to read some more Sherlock, and sort of waiting for your sig to change.

HarryT · 10-07-2011, 05:09 PM

I'm about half way through it, but I'm not going to upload another version until I've done the other two books of short stories, too: "His Last Bow", and "Case-book".

kacir · 10-07-2011, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

No, you're right - IP blocks are good, and we do use them for persistant irritants. They have the benefit that when we block IPs at the server they can't see MR at all, let alone try to join it. It just makes the entire site vanish for that person.

This is very scary option.
Many users are on [relatively] big networks behind NAT routers and you might block more than one person by blocking an IP.

Besides, if I was a really persistent troublemaker I would have learned to use proxy servers. When you block such IP you might block other users that use the same proxy for legitimate reasons.

HarryT · 10-07-2011, 05:17 PM

Don't worry - we're well aware of all that.

5thWiggle · 10-07-2011, 08:28 PM

Ah, so that's what happened to that thread. I thought there was a glitch in the Matrix.

Hamlet53 · 10-09-2011, 12:27 PM

It does not surprise me that it is possible to delete all posts by any individual user, a single SQL statement should do. It just surprises me that that is something that this board chooses to do. It occurs to me then that this could also be done by request? If a user wishes to have their entire history on the board deleted a board moderator could comply? Of course that would not rid the board of instances where other users have quoted the individual, but the same applies in this particular case.

HarryT · 10-09-2011, 01:10 PM

To clarify; if a user gets banned, their posts will not get deleted (unless they were banned for spamming). However, if they then create a "sockpuppet" to try to rejoin, then that sockpuppet's posts WILL get deleted. Once you're banned, you have no more "voice" on MR.

Billi · 10-09-2011, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryT

Once you're banned, you have no more "voice" on MR.

Is this so definitely? And if yes, has it to be so definitely? Couldn't you/we show forgiveness and generosity after a certain amount of time, after a year or half a year or so?

Nate the great · 10-09-2011, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billi

Is this so definitely? And if yes, has it to be so definitely? Couldn't you/we show forgiveness and generosity after a certain amount of time, after a year or half a year or so?

There's no need. We already let people come back from temporary bans, and most everyone who gets a permanent ban was first given a temporary ban.

Billi · 10-09-2011, 05:37 PM

Yes, I've seen the "suspended" for a temporary ban in some cases.

But I was referring especially to the permanent ban. My thinking is somewhere along these lines: if you commit a crime in real life and get caught then you have to serve a sentence but after a certain amount of time you can start anew. But here in this virtual life you won't get the chance to start anew after a ban of a year or so, will you?!

Sil_liS · 10-09-2011, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billi

But here in this virtual life you won't get the chance to start anew after a ban of a year or so, will you?!

Maybe you could have some kind of probation system. With rules like: you can only post once every 4 hours.

10-07-2011, 04:31 PM	#1
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,159 Karma: 79742714 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), Fire HD 8	Banned Users and Deletions Can I ask why it is necessary to delete messages from banned users when the actual message in the thread is not in any way inflamatory or otherwise creating issues? It just makes it annoying for those of us following the thread. I do understand that you've been dealing with a bit of an issue. And I sympathize, truly I do. I've done my time as a sysop/wizop/moderator on more than one forum/newsgroup/board. But not all posts by the offending parties are actually an issue, and IMNSHO it would be perfectly fine to let them stay in those places where they aren't creating an issue. By all means, yank their posts from the threads where they are being jerks, etc. I have no problem with that.

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10-07-2011, 04:41 PM	#2
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	It's simply a matter of available moderator resources. We really don't have the time to look at every post and ask "is this an on-topic post?". We use a generic "ban this user and delete all their posts" feature of the board. It's really meant for handling spam, but it's also useful for dealing with the sort of morons who think is "funny" to create multiple "sockpuppets" when they've been banned from MR.

10-07-2011, 04:51 PM	#3
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,159 Karma: 79742714 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), Fire HD 8	Fair enough, Harry. Though perhaps the board itself needs an easy inbetween option. "Delete this post and ban the user". I agree about the morons. And suggest some judicious IP address blocking might be in order? Not that such things are by any means foolproof. But often are sufficient to allow someone to calm down and think about actually behaving like a constructive member of the forum.

10-07-2011, 04:55 PM	#4
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	No, you're right - IP blocks are good, and we do use them for persistant irritants. They have the benefit that when we block IPs at the server they can't see MR at all, let alone try to join it. It just makes the entire site vanish for that person.

10-07-2011, 05:06 PM	#5
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,159 Karma: 79742714 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), Fire HD 8	BTW, off-topic for this thread. How's The Return of Sherlock Holmes coming? I'm thinking I'm about ready to read some more Sherlock, and sort of waiting for your sig to change.

10-07-2011, 05:09 PM	#6
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	I'm about half way through it, but I'm not going to upload another version until I've done the other two books of short stories, too: "His Last Bow", and "Case-book".

10-07-2011, 05:17 PM	#8
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	Don't worry - we're well aware of all that.

10-07-2011, 08:28 PM	#9
5thWiggle Benevolent Evil Lord Posts: 1,704 Karma: 48339466 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Evil Canada (We all have goatees!) Device: Galaxy Note 8.0, Galaxy Note, iPad Mini, PocketEdge(retired)	Ah, so that's what happened to that thread. I thought there was a glitch in the Matrix.

10-09-2011, 12:27 PM	#10
Hamlet53 Nameless Being	It does not surprise me that it is possible to delete all posts by any individual user, a single SQL statement should do. It just surprises me that that is something that this board chooses to do. It occurs to me then that this could also be done by request? If a user wishes to have their entire history on the board deleted a board moderator could comply? Of course that would not rid the board of instances where other users have quoted the individual, but the same applies in this particular case.

10-09-2011, 01:10 PM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,544 Karma: 93383043 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	To clarify; if a user gets banned, their posts will not get deleted (unless they were banned for spamming). However, if they then create a "sockpuppet" to try to rejoin, then that sockpuppet's posts WILL get deleted. Once you're banned, you have no more "voice" on MR.

10-09-2011, 05:37 PM	#14
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	Yes, I've seen the "suspended" for a temporary ban in some cases. But I was referring especially to the permanent ban. My thinking is somewhere along these lines: if you commit a crime in real life and get caught then you have to serve a sentence but after a certain amount of time you can start anew. But here in this virtual life you won't get the chance to start anew after a ban of a year or so, will you?!