Unfair Bans

[MisterBobbyPin]

How do you handle unfair bans? I usually just either lower the ban length or unban the person. What do you think?

 

[joelr]

I think the better question is, why was the person unfairly banned to begin with?

Can you improve the consistency of your moderation policies? Improve the consistency of negative "points" for the infraction? What moderator made the unfair ban and do they have a history of inconsistent bans?

Fixing a ban is easy. But improving your escalation and suspension policies is better.

 

[Cory]

It wasn't a ban at the time, but a restriction from a specific forum on the ZetaBoards Support forum from a member of staff many particularly despised. All I did was tell the user they will be able to use the CSS3 method in the foreseeable future and I was restricted from the general support forums for that. The staff member that restricted me sent me a particularly snobby, unprofessional PM about the ordeal. I complained to the upper staff management, but nothing was done about it because I think most people were intimidated by her. In the long run after that, I made many mistakes along the way to get what would probably be considered my revenge.

 

[Reverie]

I would wonder what was the antecedent of getting banned unfairly. Why is it considered unfair. Has this member previously had several issues, and then the smallest infringement they were banned?

If a mod just went on a banning spree for no reason, then I would analyze if something was going on with the moderator with power to do this. This would include a warning to the moderator that did it. If there really was nothing that caused for this ban I would unban them. If something caused it, but it was deemed 'unfair' by the member, I would discuss why they were banned in the first place. Just because one thought it was unfair, doesn't mean it was unfair. I would consider their behavior and actions and may lessen the ban. Most of my bans that were not 100% banned forever were only 24-48 hour bans.

 

[ClicketyKat]

I was recently banned on a site I signed up and had posted a few times with some graphic tips in response to threads that asked questions. I had put my site's link in my profile account (where it's supposed to go) and I think that's why I got banned. I think because I have a promotion forum that they thought I was there to spam. I don't really know for sure and I don't plan to return there again.

 

[Ravenfreak]

I would question why the member was banned in the first place. What rules did they break? If there was another staff member on the forum, I'd ask them if they banned someone to see their side and get a better understanding.

 

[Arantor]

I'm sure every ban ever issued 'felt right in the moment' to the person doing the banning even if in hindsight it was the wrong approach or the wrong tool for the job. Not everyone sees the world the same way and not everyone is equally reasonable about things.