*BANNED*

[TiGgEr]

So I would like to address something that has me somewhat bothered, I saw it happening to my predecessor as admin Daniel (and would you believe it still happens to him?) And now I am beginning to see it happen to myself, so in defence of us both and the moderators, here is the issue.

There have been a number of people past and present that say way to openly and freely the word "banned�, "you'll get banned for that" or "I better stop before I get banned" kind of thing, but in the serious context, not joking. There is over 30 year’s accumulated experience between Daniel and I and we know how to tell the difference. But why is this a problem? Well if you haven't really done anything to deserve being banned, it implies we are assholes who like to ban people for little to no reason, so before I continue let me explain in my opinion what the 3 different types of bans are.

1. The Quick Ban! These happen on the fly, they usually happen to people who come in swearing and insulting us, advertising pornography or other websites they should not, they are removed as quickly as possible, in most cases instantly and they are very random, 3 can happen on one day, and then we might be good for three weeks with no occurrences.

2. The Time out Ban! These usually happen to regular or newer members trying to integrate, they usually happen in the instance of a discussion getting out of hand, a difference of opinion, testing the rules and/or insulting other members. They are usually temporary, lasting 24 hours in most cases, long enough for the people in question to calm down and put it behind them. These are issued at Admin or Moderator discretion and best judgement, usually a last resort to dissolve a problem.

3. The Permanent Ban! These seldom happen. They are reserved for the most grievous repeat offenders or those who despite much patience, warning & opportunity can simply not integrate into the room. Allowing room for error and correction I think I could say in the 18 years of disabilities-r-us barely 30 people have ever made the permanent ban list, so that's not even 2 a year on average, this is how seldom they happen! And I would like to emphasise that mostly they only happen in extreme circumstances, of course there have been a few exceptions.

So back to my point, I am a volunteer, as is/was Daniel before me, so are the moderators, so when people start throwing verbal stones, it is hurtful, demonising, and also fear mongering when it happens in front of new people. I try very hard to be a reasonable guy, if there is a problem, I will try to talk it out with you, not always, I don't have to, but that's the thing, in most cases I will try. In almost every permanent ban case, chances have been given by e-mail when the person in question has agreed to alter their behaviour or apologise, usually more than once, and/or they have been allowed back in. So again when the word is thrown around loosely, it is misrepresentative of our actions and policies, it feels like you are calling us/me/Daniel/the moderators assholes and I don't think we deserve it!

I knew when I took on the role of admin I would be the target of people's discontent, I have to make the hard decisions, I can understand when people have bad feelings towards me if I have had to have words with them, I can accept that. But I'm not talking about those occasions, so please be clear, I'm talking about the occasions when you have done nothing or very little, or somebody else has done nothing or very little and people start throwing the word banned out there freely, sometimes even in our presence, and again, we know when you're joking and not.

So it all boils down to this, disabilities-r-us is free to you! Everybody who is trying to make disabilities-r-us a safe and welcoming place is a volunteer. So please do not throw these words out there which imply we are assholes unjustifiably! Please think before you accuse us of doing something which outweighs the circumstances occurring like we are tyrants who will remove people for the slightest reasons or our own pleasure for we always have the room's best interest at heart even if you cannot see that!

Thank you

[anna]

Personally I have never thought of you or Daniel or any of the other volunteer moderators as and I quote "assholes"
I respect you all in watching that this chat room remains safe with no one here for any length of time to harm us verbally. Actually I have see some chatters really out of line for weeks  and the moderators spend their own time talking this over with them until there is resolvement. Had I been a mod I would have banned them for 24 hours after reading them for a few weeks....guess that's why I am not a moderator. Now we all know exactly what banning entails.

[raddad]

The proof of the latitude given is the fact that I myself have gotten a wee bit over the edge at times and I've not been banned, while on another chat platform I managed to get a 48hr ban every time I arrived and I hadn't hardly said anything at all.  That place has rules two pages long.

[Cactus Jack]

Tigger, don't take it so seriously.  I also moderate a few sites, and I know that it takes having a thick skin.  I use that comment on occasion myself, both in humor and realistically as I have encountered mods in other areas that would ban just because you mis-spelt something.  One would do it just because he could.
I know you're not like that.  But that's the track record I and I'm sure others have found with mods.  So it's in humor, but also with the understanding that it could happen.

[Tawney]

Hi all , I just wanted to pop in for a minute and this called to me.  I have not been around for over a month and really am not back yet but wanted to make sure that I thank all of our people for keeping our room open and safe ...it will be the safe place to which I will soon return.  Thank you and hugs and love to u all.  I miss you all but have kept to myself for the time being to work thru some stuff.  See you soon...Happy Easter! Love, Tawney