Have you had banned members rejoin under new names?

[Cedric]

Have you had banned members rejoin under new names? Dealing with individuals who attempt to circumvent bans by creating new identities can be a persistent challenge for forum administrators. Let's explore this issue together and share our experiences, insights, and strategies for effectively managing reincarnated members.

Banned members attempting to rejoin under new names can disrupt the harmony and integrity of our communities. They may return with different personas, motivations, or intentions, making it crucial for us to be vigilant and proactive in addressing this issue.

One approach to manage reincarnated identities is to have robust moderation and user verification processes in place. Implementing stricter registration and account activation procedures, such as email verification or manual approval, can act as a deterrent for banned members attempting to create new accounts. Additionally, utilizing anti-spam measures and IP monitoring tools can help identify potential duplicate accounts and take appropriate action swiftly.

Xenforo Add ons: Signup abuse detection and blocking 1.13.6 - [021] Multi-account detector 1.7.2
Invision Community plugin: [M.A.D] Multiple Accounts Detector 1.0.5

Another strategy involves closely monitoring user behavior and patterns. Pay attention to posting styles, language usage, and interaction patterns that might resemble those of previously banned members. Use moderation tools that can assist in identifying and flagging suspicious accounts for further investigation. Keeping a watchful eye on new member activity, we can proactively identify and address potential instances of banned members attempting to rejoin.

Communication and transparency play a significant role in managing this issue effectively. Clearly outline your community guidelines and rules, explicitly stating the consequences of ban evasion. Educate your moderators and staff members on the signs and techniques used by reincarnated members. Encourage the community to report any suspicious or concerning activity, empowering them to be active participants in maintaining the forum's integrity.

When a reincarnated member is identified, it's important to handle the situation tactfully and consistently. Reaffirm the reasons for their initial ban and explain the repercussions of their ban evasion. Communicate with the member privately, providing them with an opportunity to explain themselves while firmly reminding them of the forum's expectations and rules. If necessary, take appropriate actions, such as issuing warnings or implementing stricter account controls.

Now, let's open up the discussion.

Have you encountered banned members attempting to rejoin your community under new names? How have you addressed this issue in the past? What strategies, tools, or techniques have you found effective in managing reincarnated identities?

 

[Arantor]

If they come back under a new name and I don't notice whatever it was they were banned for... it speaks to them having figured out not to do whatever they were banned for, and I'm fine with that.

 

[joelr]

Banned members try to rejoin all the time on my community.

Sometimes it's innocent like what Arantor references above where they're a good character. Sometimes, it's a spam actor who is literally bypassing my challenge and answer questions so they can spam me with future bot accounts.

I aggressively use a duplicate account to flag duplicate accounts and aggressively delete. I get so many members in a daily basis, I don't care or need to assess through if a member has "reformed". They screwed up to the point where they were permanently banned.

 

[ClicketyKat]

Yes, I've had banned members return. If they do it within a day or two, they immediately get banned. But what about someone who returns a year later? On Christianity Haven, we want to see repentance, so sometimes we secretly don't let that member know we know it's him...and we allow him to stay as a test to see if he'll commit the same rule violations. There have actually been times where a member has learned from his wrongdoings and returned as a nicer person. We have a few of those who still log into the site and help our community grow. Don't hate the banned because they could become valuable to you later on.

 

[Arantor]

I try to apply the thinking of 'don't ban the *person*, ban the *behaviour*' because it's the behaviour that's the problem, not inherently the person.

 

[Reverie]

I only had a few do this. Upset people who want to create more havoc typically. I did have one who rejoined just so they could message me and were respectful about it - this person did not post until we responded and welcomed them back to try again. Like Kat said, after a year - perhaps it would be worthwhile to give someone that chance.

Typically people rejoin the next day after getting banned though and that's where the havoc I referred to comes. A "Bye to all" message or spamming the community with inappropriate things.

 

[Ravenfreak]

I've never actually had this happen to me before. The best way of dealing with this situation is to ban their IP address, however in this day and age anyone can use a VPN to browse the internet and it can be a bit more difficult to track down if a banned member re-registered under a different name.

 

[Tracy]

No, but I participated in a site with several overgrown children that I asked them to delete my account and they chose to rename it and give it a different avatar. Amazing when you have 30-55 year olds acting like their pre-teens. But to listen to them they are the paradigm of adulthood. Wonder if it might be because they are all fellow members of a particular U.S. cult?

 

[Bluezone777]

In the two cases I actually had to ban somoeone on a board I owned, I gave them nothing to go back to as in they had zero incentive to even want to be back much less make any attempt. The fact I only banned two people on the two boards that ran for a combined total of 4 years makes you wonder just how badly did you have to screw up to get banned by me? lol