Hi Everyone, I am new to the site and am surprised at the number of 'banned' members in the posts that I have perused so far. It's a bit off-putting... Makes me wonder about free-speech around here, what's the skinny?
They deserved it. The site is fair. Just don't inflame people on purpose, insult people on purpose or ignore repeated warnings to cease the two former points. And try to follow the rules. They're simple and reasonable. Most bans are temporary anyway.
Also, don't create sock puppet accounts, and if you've been banned before (or are on a temp ban) don't try creating another account to get around it.
Hi there - I'm one of the new moderators on the forum (although I'm a long-term member) and I can totally support what both @Selbbin and @Laurin Kelly have said. Some of what gets people banned happens off-threads, such as the sock-puppet issues and the spammers. Nearly ALL bans are pre-warned, in that the person involved gets formal warning, and/or has amassed a fair number of warning points before they reach the upper limit. In other words, we warn the individuals that their behaviour isn't acceptable, and they either pay no attention and/or keep pushing the envelope. Threats or telling the mods to 'eff off' in one form or another WILL result in a ban. This is a writer's forum, and we try really hard not to allow it to turn into something else. There are threads here (in the Debate Room) which allow give and take on contentious (usually unrelated to writing) subjects. Nobody gets a ban because of politics or their political stance, if that's what you're worried about. It's all about mode of engagement. Name calling and insults and negative personalisation ('you are this,' 'you are that,' 'so what you're really saying is' etc) will produce a formal warning if and when we find these instances. Formal warnings that get ignored or rejected will result in some form of a ban, sooner or later. I like to use this idea as illustration. The forum is like being invited to somebody's home. The owner of the home (our forum) sets the house Rules Forum Rules and folks who come here are expected to respect these rules or they will be asked to leave. Nobody is keeping members here if they don't like the rules. But while they are here, members are expected to follow the rules. The forum owner has deputised the moderators to interpret and apply the rules on his behalf. What we try to create in this home is a pleasant environment where people can discuss writing issues in peace, get feedback on their own writing in the Workshop, etc, and make friends. Writing can be a lonely business. Knowing there are others out there who understand the issues and blocks and problems and joys of writing is a huge comfort. It's why I joined back in 2013—to be able to 'talk shop' with folks who do what I do—and it's the environment I intend to encourage as a moderator. Anyway, a belated welcome to the forum! I just got up this morning and saw this thread. Anyway, I see you've already begun to participate on other threads. Keep going, and have fun. If you haven't already done so, you might want to check out this thread as well. It's designed for new members. New Member Quick Start. And here are two other threads you might find useful. (There are still a couple of moderators who haven't filled out a bio yet, but this will give you an idea of who we are. ) If you have any further questions or encounter any problems, you are welcome to enter a 'conversation' with myself or one of the other moderators at any time, and we'll be happy to help. https://www.writingforums.org/faq/staff.68/ https://www.writingforums.org/threads/constructive-critiques.20627/ I am closing this thread to further replies, as it's potentially flammable. But thanks for bringing it up and giving us a chance to explain what's going on. It IS off-putting to see a line through somebody's name, and it was a good question to ask. I know it's something I used to wonder about myself, before I became a moderator and learned the 'skinny' ...as you so aptly put it.
