Ban History?

Hugh Hefner

There have been a few times when I've come across a user who I had my doubts about and wanted to know if what they posted was to be taken seriously or if they were just making crap up to be a nuisance. This brings me to my suggestion....

A "Ban History" box in everyone's profile.


It's pretty self-explanatory. It would be a box (or perhaps just another heading in the Additional Information box) which would give a list of the user's past bans (if any) from whatever forums along with a bit of detail (e.g. date of ban, length). Something like this:....


Location:
Earth.
Interests:
Stuff.
Occupation:
Life form.
Bans:
6/10/2003 - After Hours - 3 Weeks
4/3/2004 - Feedback - 2 Weeks
7/7/2005 - Personal Issues - Permanent
10/10/2005 - Site Ban - 3 Weeks


You get the idea.


The date is useful because you can tell if the person is still acting the muppet or if they haven't sinned in a while (and so are probably on the straight and narrow now); the specific forum is useful for obvious reasons; the length is useful because you can gauge how bad the offence was.
I thought perhaps the name of the mod/Smod/Cmod/Admin who banned the person might be good also (so that you could put the ban in context of how you yourself view that mod's workings) but maybe it's not necessary. Also it's good to keep things simple.


Aside from being a gauge of character it could have 3 other uses (that I can think of right now):...

1. In the case of divilment, to help mods in deciding whether a user is a repeat offender or is a first timer (and so should perhaps only be given a slap on the wrist and a stern warning).

2. To discourage rule breaking as nobody would want a "black spot", so to speak, on their user profile.

3. To lower the amount of, "Why was I banned from the ________ forum?!" threads by letting people know how long their ban is and who to contact for information (i.e. the mod who did the banning).


As an extra feature the info. could hyperlink to the post/thread which caused the user to receive the ban in question. Like how the list of a mods controlled forums all hyperlink to those forums.



It's all a bit like putting tax evaders' names in the paper, only with more practical uses than punitive ones. Opinions?

WizZard

No, I don't like the idea.

I think it's actually quite a good idea.

Although there are arguments in opposition to it that i can see too.
Such as the "second chance" thing.

Should I hold something against you that you have done in the past but never intend to do again? eg. honest mistakes

It might be better to limit this functionality to Mods, or even SMods? Those to whom it may make a difference.

Draupnir

Kinda sounds like Nazi type Jew Branding to me.

As such, its perfect for Boards and should be monitored by Ecksor!


Seriously, I think its a bad idea. Why would it matter if someone acts the maggot now and again. Its only a discussion forum so relax. If the muppetry is enough to get a site ban then fair enough, they are gone. Otherwise once the ban is over, the banned person is the same as every user again.

Hugh Hefner

No, I don't like the idea.

WizZard wrote:

Should I hold something against you that you have done in the past but never intend to do again? eg. honest mistakes

Well, if it was an honest mistake then after a while it'll have been a fair time ago and so people won't think you're still a muppet. Also it would of course be up to the individual user whether or not to put any importance on the user's record. Also the hyperlinking function would be good for that e.g. you see someone with a permanent ban from the Games forum and when you click to see what happened you find that the guy didn't realise you couldn't ask about warezzzzzzz, so you disregard the honest mistake.

It might be better to limit this functionality to Mods, or even SMods? Those to whom it may make a difference.

Well if that's what's necessary to make it happen then fair enough but I think the more the merrier, heh.

RuggieBear

WizZard wrote:

It might be better to limit this functionality to Mods, or even SMods? Those to whom it may make a difference.

what makes you think we don't already have this function....

Shabadu

Why don't you write the code for it and then ask if it's a great idea?

Hugh Hefner

No, I don't like the idea.

Well, I'll try, but if my code somehow EXPLODES THE INTERNET it's not my fault.

I was thinking of a kind of system where when a mod bans a user they have to enter in the appropriate details (i.e. date, duration) which would then be put in the user's profile and would automatically hyperlink to the post that the mod clicked on in order to ban the user.

ecksor

I think it's a good idea. It's a nice combination of two things I've wanted to do but never really figured out a nice way of doing them. Now that you mention it like that I think we could probably implement it in such a way that doesn't "brand" people in their profile but does keep a decent record for instances where it might be useful.

simu

Yup, it could be handy if mods could see it for people who post in their forums. But I really don't like the idea of "branding" - it could lead to ridiculous trends like people boasting about and trying to lengthen their ban lists. (Hey - look how people went crazy with rep)!

Hobbes

Yea it shouldn't be public at all except to the person who owns the profile and the cmods+admins.

If you think someone is a muppet you should ask in the mod forum as people keep track there.

Btw there is a history log in each forum. When you unban someone they stay visible in the forum mask.

amp

No, I don't like the idea.

I heartly give this product and/or service the amp seal of approval. Congratulations!

azezil

I think its a silly idea, I've been banned from 2 forums, Games cause amp didn't like me, but i was acting like a twat so fair enough and Feedback for replying to a thread "reply here and get banned" heh. So in some instances yes it might be useful but i'm very much against branding people, a lot of people are muppets when they first join but calm down after a while.

Soggy cabbage of approval, withheld.


//edit

Hobbes wrote:

Yea it shouldn't be public at all except to the person who owns the profile and the cmods+admins.


If you think someone is a muppet you should ask in the mod forum as people keep track there.

Btw there is a history log in each forum. When you unban someone they stay visible in the forum mask.

yeah thats fair enough!

Sparky

crap i meant to say yes,

Talliesin

The more negative aspects of it could be dealt with with a sort of statute of limitiations, if bans more than a year old got wiped then someone who's copped on a bit wouldn't be unfairly labelled.

Hugh Hefner

No, I don't like the idea.

azezil wrote:

I think its a silly idea, I've been banned from 2 forums, Games cause amp didn't like me, but i was acting like a twat so fair enough and Feedback for replying to a thread "reply here and get banned" heh . So in some instances yes it might be useful but i'm very much against branding people, a lot of people are muppets when they first join but calm down after a while.

Well first off I don't think it would be made retro-active so at the beginning all would have a clean slate (though I'm not the one who would be setting it up so...).

I'm honestly not sure what people mean by "branding." The profile would only be a true representation of the user's past actions. You make a good point though in that one of your bans was, "for replying to a thread "reply here and get banned" heh." This would be the reason for the hotlinking, so that people could get a clear picture of your offences. In your case that ban is forgettable.

Talliesin wrote:

The more negative aspects of it could be dealt with with a sort of statute of limitiations, if bans more than a year old got wiped then someone who's copped on a bit wouldn't be unfairly labelled.

I like the way you think.

WizZard

No, I don't like the idea.

OT: Who broke amp?

Chong

No, I don't like the idea.

I agree gets my seal of approval.

Stompbox

It's a solid idea.

nesf

No, I don't like the idea.

Could be useful.

I don't see how it's branding though. Getting a temp ban happens to most people tbh.

AndyWarhol

It's kinda like having a criminal record.

Could we have a probation of offenders act so that persons who may have slipped in the heat of the moment aren't branded for the rest of their boards.ie lives?

aidan_walsh

AndyWarhol wrote:

It's kinda like having a criminal record.

Could we have a probation of offenders act so that persons who may have slipped in the heat of the moment aren't branded for the rest of their boards.ie lives?

Heh...

Diarmsquid

No, I don't like the idea.

I think it's a great idea, if you add in Talliesin's bit.
I got banned for a week from the JC forum a while back, but I'm a good boy now, so if it was cleared regularly it be good.

AndyWarhol

aidan_walsh wrote:

Heh...

Ok, for the record I'm banned from:

- Politics (for calling hairyheretic a heretic)
- TCD (for being vehemently opposed to the TCDSU's liberal agenda [mods are directly involved with this plague of an organisation that purports to being representative of the views of TCD students when in fact most students have more important things to be worrying about than Coca-Cola bans and 'shag week'])

CuLT

AndyWarhol wrote:

'shag week'

*perks up*

steveland?

CuLT wrote:

*perks up*

Sexual health something something...

We have that in DCU too CuLT...

CuLT

steveland? wrote:

Sexual health something something...

We have that in DCU too CuLT...

Oh yes, I forgot

billy the squid

No, I don't like the idea.

AndyWarhol wrote:

Ok, for the record I'm banned from:

- Politics (for calling hairyheretic a heretic)
- TCD (for being vehemently opposed to the TCDSU's liberal agenda [mods are directly involved with this plague of an organisation that purports to being representative of the views of TCD students when in fact most students have more important things to be worrying about than Coca-Cola bans and 'shag week'])

the students voted for the ban on coca cola i thought. TCD is not the only college doing it so the majority of students do care about it.

coca cola is rank anyway.

anyway back on topic

I approve of the idea if it can be done.

AARRRGH

I think this is a bad idea.

Boards.ie is already very serious/strict.

Making it more "ooooh he was banned previously" will just totally stifle (sp?) people being themselves. It'll just make it more conformist (not a good thing.)

CuLT

dublindude wrote:

I think this is a bad idea.

Boards.ie is already very serious/strict.

Making it more "ooooh he was banned previously" will just totally stifle (sp?) people being themselves. It'll just make it more conformist (not a good thing.)

Yes, because conforming is always a bad thing

AARRRGH

CuLT wrote:

Yes, because conforming is always a bad thing

Yes, it is when it starts getting out of hand. A ban history will turn an already strict website into a totally strict website. This is not how "conversations" flow.

I like Boards.ie, but making it stricter is not the way to go.

And stop trying to be a smartass. What was your point anyway?

CuLT

dublindude wrote:

What was your point anyway?

That your "conformism is bad" point was either arrogant or just stupid.

seamus

No, I don't like the idea.

dublindude wrote:

Making it more "ooooh he was banned previously" will just totally stifle (sp?) people being themselves.

How so?

stevenmu

I'm not sure how usefull it'd be for moderating, I prefer to think that a post(s) is either ban worthy or not based on it's own merits alone, maybe more usefull for smods/admins when deciding about site bans though.

It could have good entertainment value though, some of the funniest threads on boards are to do with bannings and people moaning about them.

I think people who are worried about the stigma of having a boards 'criminial record' take boards and the internet far too seriously.

Jonny Arson

^ the stigma that will be attached to an effective ''boards criminal record'' WILL only have consequences such as if a user looks up the history of another user and sees that the have got (insert number) of bans, they know they can use this history to wind people up and cause further confrontations on the site. This can also apply to a number of mods who simply can use this to their advantage with users who they simply don't like and want off the site.

People who have criminal records in everyday life don't go around with a list of their crimes around their neck. This ''ban history'' should not come into effect at all IMO.

CuLT

People who have criminal records in everyday life don't go around with a list of their crimes around their neck. This ''ban history'' should not come into effect at all IMO.

No, but the worst ones have tags around their ankles.

seamus

No, I don't like the idea.

stevenmu wrote:

I'm not sure how usefull it'd be for moderating, I prefer to think that a post(s) is either ban worthy or not based on it's own merits alone, maybe more usefull for smods/admins when deciding about site bans though.

It could have good entertainment value though, some of the funniest threads on boards are to do with bannings and people moaning about them.

I think people who are worried about the stigma of having a boards 'criminial record' take boards and the internet far too seriously.

The way I could see this tool working:

The information is not world-readable (stigma is removed).
A Moderator can see previous bans from forums he/she moderates.
A Cat Mod. can see previous bans from forums in his/her category.
Smod, Admin, and the user themselves can see all previous bans from all forums.

There's no need for everyone to see every ban. This would be a useful ban tracking tool for mods - on the busy forums, you quickly lose track of who has and hasn't been banned.
For Smods and Admin - Personally, I would find it extremely handy when faced with someone who seems to be acting the tosser, but I'm not sure if they're deserving of a site ban. If I could check to see that this guy has managed to get banned from 5 separate forums in the last 24 hours, it puts my mind at rest for banning him, saves me from having to trawl through his posts, and is also fairer on "excitable" newbies who may act the tosser, but aren't really causing any intentional irritation.

If a mod added in a comment with a ban as well, it could help on the FS forums. A worried buyer/seller could contact a Mod or Smod, who could then check to see if they've been previously banned for acting the tosser in the FS section. It's not as useful as a feedback tool, but...

Gone West

No, I don't like the idea.

I'd like to see this idea implemented.
But I disagree with seamus on one point:
(Obligatory disagreement )

I think all mods should be able to see all users previous bans(say in the last 6 months or year).
When someone posts a thread which is pure crap/spam, and youre faced with the choice of banning him or not. I find I give the benifet of the doubt and simply delete the thread. However, the same people have since come up on the radar as being banned from other forums, etc.
Had I known that they were repeat spammers/muppets I would have banned them.

My point is that there would be no 'public branding' of users, if only moderaters could see their ban history. This would be purely used as a moderating tool.

Although I'm not sure if this is relatively easily implementable, or even possible to code into the site.

Lemming

No, I don't like the idea.

stevenmu wrote:

I'm not sure how usefull it'd be for moderating, I prefer to think that a post(s) is either ban worthy or not based on it's own merits alone, maybe more usefull for smods/admins when deciding about site bans though.

For the Shop forums, this idea would be a very handy asset to have.

stevenmu

seamus wrote:

The way I could see this tool working:

The information is not world-readable (stigma is removed).
A Moderator can see previous bans from forums he/she moderates.
A Cat Mod. can see previous bans from forums in his/her category.
Smod, Admin, and the user themselves can see all previous bans from all forums.
...

I guess the forum I mod is quiet enough that I can easily keep track of people myself, the same wouldn't be true of busier forums.

CuLT

It's certainly possible; I doubt it would even be too complex to code either.

for($forum_id=1; $forum_id<$total_forums; $forum_id++){
if($user_status==banned_at_some_point){
$ban_info+=banned_at_some_point;
}
}
echo $ban_info;


...or something.

amp

No, I don't like the idea.

dublindude wrote:

Yes, it is when it starts getting out of hand. A ban history will turn an already strict website into a totally strict website. This is not how "conversations" flow.

I like Boards.ie, but making it stricter is not the way to go.

And stop trying to be a smartass. What was your point anyway?

What's your point? That by logging how many times a moron got stupid we are some how going to infringe on the liberty of the common user? Puhlease.

I think it should be public too. That way people can identify the stupid ones quicker. Stupidity is not a right, especially not here.

BuffyBot

I think it's a good idea, but it should be restricted to mods and above.

ecksor

dublindude wrote:

I like Boards.ie, but making it stricter is not the way to go.

boards.ie isn't perfect and we don't make perfect decisions about how to run it. Mistakes and errors of judgement have been known to happen. Somehow or another people do actually still like it and keep coming back to post though. There is no doubt in my mind that this is very much to do with the systems of crowd control we have in place and those systems must adapt as we grow.

stevenmu

Wasn't it suggested recently that people be automatically informed via pm of bans. I'd imagine Both systems could be tied in nicely together. i.e. a mod bans a users entering a reason, a p.m. is sent to the user explaining who, where, why etc and the ban get added to their list automatically too.




(I should probably get some kind of award for stating the obvious here)

1

stevenmu wrote:

Wasn't it suggested recently that people be automatically informed via pm of bans. I'd imagine Both systems could be tied in nicely together. i.e. a mod bans a users entering a reason, a p.m. is sent to the user explaining who, where, why etc and the ban get added to their list automatically too.




(I should probably get some kind of award for stating the obvious here)

Automation is the future.

it would be cool citing all the bans.

Then to top it of there could be a graph thing added were seasonal behaviour trends and what not could be analysed to help decided whether or not to ban some one for breaking a charters ot the sites rules.

Or people could just ban people for breaking a charter or site rules.

hmm I think I have missed something....

Hugh Hefner

No, I don't like the idea.

1 wrote:

Then to top it of there could be a graph thing added were seasonal behaviour trends and what not could be analysed...

A nerd's wet dream. Let's make it happen.

Cake Fiend

Why would anyone who's not going to go and get themselves banned have a problem with this?

nesf

No, I don't like the idea.

1 wrote:

Then to top it of there could be a graph thing added were seasonal behaviour trends and what not could be analysed to help decided whether or not to ban some one for breaking a charters ot the sites rules.

You sir are an amateur at data analysis.

Pfft.

As if a single graph could accurately display muppet behaviour patterns!!

RuggieBear

Sico wrote:

Why would anyone who's not going to go and get themselves banned have a problem with this?

Isn't that the argument that government's use when trying to introduce identity cards and other big brother style measures


I'd like to see it introduced but that's coz i'm a nosey ****er and i'd love to see how many times a person has been banned and the reasons for it.

1

RuggieBear wrote:

Isn't that the argument that government's use when trying to introduce identity cards and other big brother style measures


I'd like to see it introduced but that's coz i'm a nosey ****er and i'd love to see how many times a person has been banned and the reasons for it.

Better make is a nice big text box for some folk then.

RuggieBear

1 wrote:

Better make is a nice big text box for some folk then.

merc T?