What is going on here?

[question everything]

Revoltion_Now started a thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph... but now it is gone. Here is what s/he wrote:

This is my new account, but wasn't my first. I had an account titled "Stop_the_War" and was a frequent poster here. I loved DU and it was my refuge, I had more than 2000 posts. But then something happened, I was tombstoned, and for an unknown reason. You see, I was one of the most liberal people here, pro-gay marriage, pro-environment, anti-war, pro-choice, etc. But yet I was tombstoned, I suspected it was because I had kicked my own thread too many times (it was a thread to start a Barbara Boxer '08 group). Somebody asked about me being tombstoned and Skinner said "We don't usually tell why people are banned", well that was my only way of knowing why, since they never answered my emails asking "why?!". I sent them 25 emails about it, never got an answer. I'm not going to be angry about this, but it really made me sad, because I haven't been on DU for two months now because of this.

But I'm finally back!

* * *

I was replying and got a message that that page does not exit.. The only way I access it was by backing.. and when I try to reply I am getting a window where I am replying to... nothing.

Please tell me that DU has not turned into the Twilight Zone.. I am using a Mac so no viruses..

[SmokingJacket]

1. Banned people aren't supposed to come back.

Plus, the topic is taboo.

I'll be surprised if this post ever makes it onto the board, in fact! Because this will be locked or deleted...

[salin]

2. quick answer before this is locked

for as long as I can remember, DU has automatically banned someone who comes back (sockpuppet) with a different name, after having been banned. The only exception is if the problem has been resolved between the admin and the poster.

To come back and then publically announce that you were banned - sort of is an invitation to be banned again.

To come back and criticize the mods/admin (a du nono per the rules) in the thread as is done with the comments per teh emails - is a way to get a thread locked, or deleted.

Nothing new. Just someone not thinking when posting that thread in the first place.

[question everything]

9. Thank you

what bothered me was that the poster, apparently never got an adequate reply of why s/he was banned.

Adding this to another thread from a week or so ago of someone who wanted a post deleted and one has to wonder about the adequate response of the owner and... whether - since so many of us contribute - how much is this forum is Skinner's to do as he pleases and how much "democracy" is there in Democratic Underground.

[Shrubhater]

3. That goes back to this quote:

"A punishment should only be given if the convict knows why."

Shrubhater (1991-

That means that it's pointless to punish a person if the person doesn't know why he/she is being punished.

[MGKrebs]

4. It's not pointless to the 'victims'.

Besides, I believe topics about the management are not to be dealt with publicly like that.

[Shrubhater]

6. Define 'victoms'

:shrug: :shrug:

[Deja Q]

8. And then the victim has to be defined.

Just a generalization, the case here is obvious.

[johnaries]

10. tombstoning isn't necessarily "punishment", it's the removal of a

disruptive influence. If they were being disruptive it doesn't matter if they know why they were tombstoned, what matters is that the rest of us who obey the rules can continue to enjoy free and open discourse without being disrupted.

In society, someone who is unaware of the difference between right and wrong is not considered to be accountable for their actions and thus have a legal defense against standard punishment. However, if they are a threat to society or themselves then they must be "committed" to a secured facility to protect society. It is not punishment, although the person may feel they are being punished.

Nothing is ever black and white.

[oblivious]

11. Yeah, "disruptive influence" is really grey.

I appreciate the policy because it seems to work, but I would personally be incapable of determining how it ought to be implemented.

I could never be a mod.

[sweetheart]

5. I remember Revolution_Now and Stop_the_War

I wish him/her the best of luck and i wish the administration took a
very compassionate line on amnesty for past transgressions.

Rather than banning permanently, it might be a good idea to ban for a
time period, like 6 months or so... as good hearted people are worth
having here... and i don't care a fig what someone's past is... they
are friends here.

[HereSince1628]

7. My advice is use the "CONTACT US" at the bottom of the homepage

you can contact the administrators and explain your situation.

I know that a least one prominent DU'er got tombstoned by mistake for what sounds like a similar reason.

Good Luck.

[OneBlueSky]

12. hi, question everything . . .

your screen name pretty much sums up my life philosophy . . . :)

drop me an e-mail when you get a chance . . . [e-mail] . . .

cheers . . .