Comments on: Creepy Banned User Guy (or Girl) is a Part of the Community Administrator’s Life

By: Selina

Selina — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:34:21 +0000

Omg you got me all scared now, and that Jacque’s story is even creepier. 18 months? How long can someone hate anyway, what is wrong with people…urgh

By: The Ethics of “Forum Users from Hell” (or “Walk With Me as I Contemplate an Idea”) » ManagingCommunities.com

Sun, 08 Aug 2010 18:35:15 +0000

[...] vulgar, rude or otherwise very disrespectful. For example, the Stalin, Hitler, gestapo stuff, creepy banned users, people who call you names or make snide remarks about what they view is your background or place [...]

By: OK, You Win! You’re the Biggest Troll! Here’s Your Sign - ManagingCommunities.com

Mon, 13 Jul 2009 13:28:05 +0000

[...] it comes to banned users, know when to stop responding. If they want to be the biggest troll, what can you do? If that’s what someone wants to be, [...]

By: marc lohan

marc lohan — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:04:32 +0000

i am not agree with you.it should not there..

By: Patrick

Patrick — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:21:08 +0000

Thanks for the comments, Steve and Jacque. I appreciate your thoughts. :)

E-mail filters are a good idea, but really… it doesn’t bother me and I don’t mess around with filters too much, anyway. I probably should. :)

The guidelines of the community are tied to the goals of the community. Banning is a part of life if your community is relatively active and you have meaningful guidelines that are evenly enforced and that have meaning.

Using “weighty” words makes sense. Do you have an example of what you mean, in practice, Steve?

Jacque, that’s a nice one. lol. :)

Thanks,

Patrick

By: Jacque

Jacque — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:21:14 +0000

I had one and she would send me links to another online community that was talking bad about us and say things like “See, everybody hates you!” I really wanted to say “So then why are you so upset that I banned you?” But of course I thanked her for the info and told her that I would have no more communication with her. She actually continued sending the emails every week or so for about 18 months. Personally, I wish I had that kind of time on my hands.

I will admit that I once welcomed someone to ‘banned camp’. But I agree, that you need to remain professional, decide if it’s an actual threat or someone with too much time on their hands and go on. It’s not worth your time and energy to argue with someone. If they were wrong and you banned them, that’s pretty much it.

By: Steve Magruder

Steve Magruder — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:26:31 +0000

If somebody was contacting me way past the point of reason in a case like your description, I would just quietly filter out their e-mails at the server level so my beautiful mind won’t even have to deal with them. It’s a gentle “talk to the hand”. :)

I’d also wonder if maybe if my rules were so strict that it’s leading to banning so many people. The only people I’ve banned were outright spammers. Everyone else I’ve been able to deal with, without banning, so far. Maybe it’s that some discussion boards attract people so ridiculous that banning is the only answer?

I’ve discovered over time that how a forum is constructed will determine whether people can think they can join and cause trouble. A couple of things that I think help with this is to use some “weighty” words in the board’s name and description so that those who like to normally get out of hand *know* the discussion board is a serious endeavor. In short, do anything you can to make it clear that the board’s design and purpose excludes frivolousness. After that, of course, have reasonable rules for discourse (but note that most people really don’t read the rules).