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Vbblogger · 10-14-2007, 08:42 AM

How long would you wait before banning a long time member if he suddenly turns into a trouble maker due to disagreements with moderators on the forum ? If he continues to divide the community would you still let him stay considering he has contributed to the community in the past ?

**Pompidou** · 10-14-2007, 02:35 PM

Unless the longtime member is the site owner/head administrator, all members are created equal. One of the forums I go to is run by mob rule. It isn't pleasant. People respect fairness, so ban the long time members under the same criteria you'd ban a newbie. If the punishments you've designated are fair, the member deserved it. I can't imagine yours or any forum bans on the first offense. It's not the last straw that gets you banned; it's all the offenses before it. Also, if you do ban a long time member, it'll play a large part in dispelling any myths of favoritism amongst your members. I can't think of any forum I go to, barring technical oriented forums like this one, where there isn't the perception of a "Good Old Boys" club of the original elite, who are above the law. This isn't good. People will be less likely to cause trouble if they know you'll even ban your elite - that noone is above the law at your forums.

Trev · 10-14-2007, 07:20 PM

I have seen this plenty of times, longtime members (many of which used to be or were mods or s-mods) suddenly change and disagree with how the site is run and breaks the rules constantly, and then asks to get banned. Seen it many times.

Forumer · 10-14-2007, 07:29 PM

I would be scared to ban a longtime member, because if he has been there for a long time, it would mean he has friends there. And they would probably leave if he were to leave. Maybe a temp ban if it were extreme.

Buddy · 10-14-2007, 07:36 PM

I don't understand how a long time member can just suddenly change, unless you did a sudden change to the forums he didn't like. If a longtime member suddenly turns into a bad egg, it sounds fishy to me.

Ace15 · 10-14-2007, 10:32 PM

I think a temp ban should be your first option. Show him you're not scared, and that you will take action if he continues with his behaviour. It may also make him realize the trouble he's stirring. If he continues, then you have no other option but to ban him.

permalink · 10-14-2007, 10:49 PM

I am with Ace on this one. If it's disagreements with mods who you believe are doing the right thing ,then I'd first warn him and even after that if he doesn't become a positive contributor to the forum ,I won't hesitate to ban him for a short duration. As Pompidou pointed out , this will send a message to all old and new members that there's no scope of favoritism.

crazyqueen · 10-15-2007, 11:43 AM

I would try to talk with the person, not debate, but just talk and explain to them why action needs to be taken. If they can not act like an adult for what they are doing wrong, their gone - I don't take kindly to people walking all over myself or other members of my team. They know the rules, and need to abide by them just like anyone else. Maybe that makes me cold hearted, but everyones got an opinion just like everyones got an a.......

10-14-2007, 08:42 AM	#1 (permalink)
User Profile Vbblogger Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Age: 25 Posts: 33 Total Points: 612 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	Banning a long time member How long would you wait before banning a long time member if he suddenly turns into a trouble maker due to disagreements with moderators on the forum ? If he continues to divide the community would you still let him stay considering he has contributed to the community in the past ?

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10-14-2007, 02:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
User Profile Pompidou FH Customer Join Date: Apr 2007 Age: 29 Posts: 11 Total Points: 491 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	Unless the longtime member is the site owner/head administrator, all members are created equal. One of the forums I go to is run by mob rule. It isn't pleasant. People respect fairness, so ban the long time members under the same criteria you'd ban a newbie. If the punishments you've designated are fair, the member deserved it. I can't imagine yours or any forum bans on the first offense. It's not the last straw that gets you banned; it's all the offenses before it. Also, if you do ban a long time member, it'll play a large part in dispelling any myths of favoritism amongst your members. I can't think of any forum I go to, barring technical oriented forums like this one, where there isn't the perception of a "Good Old Boys" club of the original elite, who are above the law. This isn't good. People will be less likely to cause trouble if they know you'll even ban your elite - that noone is above the law at your forums.

10-14-2007, 07:20 PM	#3 (permalink)
User Profile Trev Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Age: 19 Posts: 38 Total Points: 725 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	I have seen this plenty of times, longtime members (many of which used to be or were mods or s-mods) suddenly change and disagree with how the site is run and breaks the rules constantly, and then asks to get banned. Seen it many times.

10-14-2007, 07:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
User Profile Forumer Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Age: 23 Posts: 14 Total Points: 386 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	I would be scared to ban a longtime member, because if he has been there for a long time, it would mean he has friends there. And they would probably leave if he were to leave. Maybe a temp ban if it were extreme.

10-14-2007, 07:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
User Profile Buddy Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Age: 34 Posts: 14 Total Points: 333 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	I don't understand how a long time member can just suddenly change, unless you did a sudden change to the forums he didn't like. If a longtime member suddenly turns into a bad egg, it sounds fishy to me.

10-14-2007, 10:32 PM	#6 (permalink)
User Profile Ace15 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 25 Total Points: 575 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	I think a temp ban should be your first option. Show him you're not scared, and that you will take action if he continues with his behaviour. It may also make him realize the trouble he's stirring. If he continues, then you have no other option but to ban him.

10-14-2007, 10:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
User Profile Demo Posts: n/a Total Points: 0 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	I am with Ace on this one. If it's disagreements with mods who you believe are doing the right thing ,then I'd first warn him and even after that if he doesn't become a positive contributor to the forum ,I won't hesitate to ban him for a short duration. As Pompidou pointed out , this will send a message to all old and new members that there's no scope of favoritism.

10-15-2007, 11:43 AM	#8 (permalink)
User Profile crazyqueen Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Age: 27 Posts: 25 Total Points: 420 Donate My Zoints Profile My Photos: (0)	I would try to talk with the person, not debate, but just talk and explain to them why action needs to be taken. If they can not act like an adult for what they are doing wrong, their gone - I don't take kindly to people walking all over myself or other members of my team. They know the rules, and need to abide by them just like anyone else. Maybe that makes me cold hearted, but everyones got an opinion just like everyones got an a.......