This is just an announcement that the moderation team, administrative team, and ownership have been reviewing bans. We will announce the results of the review on February 15th in accordance with the ownership transfer agreement.
Important Ban Reviews
- Thread starter LordSunhawk
- Start date
Due to the terms of the sales agreement, alterations to the status of bans CANNOT happen until Feb. 15th.
We are already reviewing the bans on a case-by-case basis in preparation for that date.
Battlestar
Member
Seems odd that people need to use the contact form. Either what they did was bannable or it isn’t. If you want them to appeal their actions, it seems a bit late after waiting so long. Maybe put up a list of the remaining people and what they should message?
The Contact Us form can be used by anyone, even people without accounts. If a user is banned, their account loses the ability to interact with the forums and as such they can't appeal in any other way.
Battlestar
Member
But what are they appealing? It has been months since then. You have unbanned people and people who are perms banned but then there is a wierd 3rd group of unknowns. After waiting over a month, one would think there would be a definite decision either way. It is like you want to keep people banned unless they bow down in some way and admit they were wrong. If they were wrong, why not say they are staying banned, if they are not then what is the point of dragging this out? You have created a wierd middle ground with no clear point.
It is more accurate that there are a number of users who will not be unbanned, and if they wish to know why, so that they can either address staff concerns or not they will need to contact us using the form.
I actually think this point should be stressed.
None of our bans were legitimate. We were deliberately singled out and targeted, we were then subject to mockery, slanderous insults and ridicule in public about being martyrs. I don't believe any of us should have to beg to be let back, we should be unbanned and there should be a very public apology for what was done to us. Christ, you can at least argue tit for tat with me in that I fought back. But Mechanicus and co just stayed quiet and got torn to shreds, abused and lied about. Shieldwife and Bacle spoke up and got screwed...People on the staff were smugposting and defaming users left and right.
We were right in our accusations and we're told to be happy with being unbanned...Some of us were called criminals and there has been no apology for that.
How do we know we can trust those bans? Nearly everyone on the staff was obeying an edict to basically destroy the site at all costs. A lot of those bans are suspect and worse, a lot of the trolls are vindicated.
I'm not trying to stir the pot here, but I'm honestly curious. There's going to be a lot of resentment and mistrust going forward. It doesn't help that a lot of you are overly formal and unapproachable. This is the internet, I get this is a business for you but you need to run it like a street corner outfit and not an boutique with 40 stories of office space in Manhattan.
This is the Ghost Busters not Smithkline and French.
aannndd hoolllyy fuck did I just date myself with that bit.
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Battlestar
Member
If they are staying banned, why not list them out? This has already been done. This raises the question what staff concerns there are. If something is bannable bam em. If it isn’t, what is the point? Even if you don’t want to say why, why would you drag this out.
It is like a wounded animal. You either shoot it or take it to the vet. Here you are just poking it with a stick.
Torturing it in front of the rest of its pack is also, probably not a good idea either.
As the Watch Dog said, we respect everybody, even banned users, enough to maintain confidentiality about their situations. If they wish to privately contact us, we will communicate with them... privately.
Those of us who were obviously screwed with were unbanned lickity split. Hell, given the rows I've had with the staff here, I'm going to assume anyone who stayed banned is likely banned for a damn good reason. I do, think it warrants reconsidering because there's at least 9 months of bans on this forum that are suspect.
Granted there's a difference between "There should probably be some kinda mod accountability thing" and "lets summon everyone before a public inquest and get all the dirty laundry out".
Granted there's a difference between "There should probably be some kinda mod accountability thing" and "lets summon everyone before a public inquest and get all the dirty laundry out".
Look, we were, under the terms of the sale, barred from correcting the bans until today. We did so at the first opportunity to do so. All users banned in the Great Purge were restored. Several users whose bans were for other reasons, were not unbanned. There is an avenue open to them to privately communicate with staff about those reasons.
I am not going to air other peoples dirty laundry out in public in an attempt to justify decisions made. I find that to be wholly inappropriate.
Battlestar
Member
In your announcement you are implying they have to beg you to be let back. But in this thread you are indicating it is impossible. Which is it?
Why would you expect people to beg after the former staff was clearly in the wrong?
Why won’t you even list out these people’s names? Or is that also secret?
It seems less like airing dirty laundry. Why? Well you have already called people out like Shipmaster Shane, so clearly that statement of yours doesn’t seem very....in line with things you have already done.
No I get it and I certainly wasn't criticizing you for only doing something today. It would be absurd position to go "well why didn't you breach your contract" even if the other person wouldn't sue you for it, its a phenomenally dumb and unethical thing to do. It was more "Some of us were called criminals" and lied about in public by the staff and we never got closure for it.
Right and my main point and I think @Battlestar as well was that it sounded like "everyone not brought back on the first day" had to come to you on their knees.
I took issue with that because I assumed, there was a bigger workload than there was and you just did got the first ones within reach. Not "Okay, we got everyone before sunset, now all that's left were the real jerks" which...is a horse of a different color and I get why you said that now.
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Battlestar
Member
Ban Evasion, Sock Puppetry - Permanent Forum-Wide Ban
Here is a list of people banned in the critical community update.
LifeisTiresome
Still banned, unknown.
Shipmaster Sane
Still banned, annouced sock.
PeliusAnar
Still banned, unknown.
TheTruth
Still banned, unknown.
MechanicusMelancholis
Unbanned.
StormEagle
Unbanned.
You claim the bans happening at the same time we’re part of the Great Purge. Two of these people were unbanned, another you announced why they are staying banned. Yet three are unknown, despite being part of the Great Purge.
It is clear you don’t mind announcing why people are banned, due to announcing Shipmaster Sane. So why keep things a secret? Even then why not reannounce that said people are still perms banned? Since you made it clear above there is no chance of them coming back.
Edit: What is really annoying me is giving people false hope and not being clear after having a month to figure this out.
LifeisTiresome
Still banned, unknown.
Shipmaster Sane
Still banned, annouced sock.
PeliusAnar
Still banned, unknown.
TheTruth
Still banned, unknown.
MechanicusMelancholis
Unbanned.
StormEagle
Unbanned.
You claim the bans happening at the same time we’re part of the Great Purge. Two of these people were unbanned, another you announced why they are staying banned. Yet three are unknown, despite being part of the Great Purge.
It is clear you don’t mind announcing why people are banned, due to announcing Shipmaster Sane. So why keep things a secret? Even then why not reannounce that said people are still perms banned? Since you made it clear above there is no chance of them coming back.
Edit: What is really annoying me is giving people false hope and not being clear after having a month to figure this out.
Interesting enough, @Battlestar appears to be a sockpuppet of a currently banned user engaging in ban evasion. We have multiple IP matches with a banned user, we have identical posting styles as well. The @Battlestar account only joined the site after this user was banned.
In the interests of transparency, therefore, consider this an official announcement that @Battlestar has been banned for ban evasion as a sockpuppet. If this user wishes to appeal they may use the contact us form for the purpose.
In the interests of transparency, therefore, consider this an official announcement that @Battlestar has been banned for ban evasion as a sockpuppet. If this user wishes to appeal they may use the contact us form for the purpose.
Oh for fucks sake
I know. There are IP matches across home, business, and mobile networks between the two accounts, identical posting style (both in terms of general behavior and specific word choices).
A single IP match could be coincidental, the sheer number of IP matches across different networks though?
...but...why?
edit- I won't but jesus...
edit- I won't but jesus...