Banned/Restricted Members

[Matthew Schenker]

Good Morning,
Most forums have a place where they list banned members.  Until now, I have not done this.

However, a few people (for example, Bob Swenson, Rick Christopherson, and Mirko) have claimed that they are banned from the Festool Owners Group.  Some of these people actually check into the FOG, then within minutes post in other places about being banned!  As of this writing, these people are not banned, and have never been banned.  (In other forums, indeed, these individuals would have been banned for some of the stuff they have posted, so maybe the point here is that they expect to be banned.)

I have created a member category, called "Restricted," which allows members to continue posting and using the forum, but with the following limitations: they cannot send PMs, cannot view the FOG member list, cannot delete or edit their posts, and cannot upload attachments.  They can continue to use the forum normally in all other ways.

This is done because specific privileges have been abused.  The "Restricted" category is a way of being as fair as possible, while still having consequences.  Being placed in "Restricted" is a sort of warning.  Anyone in this category can be banned without notice.

Originally, I had included a listing of all banned and restricted members.  However, several people complained about being listed.  Therefore, I have removed the list.

Instead of using a list, you can find out who has been "Restricted" because that designation will appear under the member's name in forum posts.  Likewise, you can see who has been banned by looking at that member's profile.

Thanks,
Matthew

 

[Michael Kellough]

Imagine my surprise at not finding my name on this list!!

I was publicly banned about a month ago.

A couple of weeks ago I clicked on the FOG bookmark in my browser and was surprised to find that I had full access to this forum. But, I'd only been reading for ten minutes or so when the "Sorry Michael Kellough you are banned" screen blocked my attempt to switch to another thread.

After just seeing the new Banned list without my name on it I tried logging on just now and my password didn't work, a problem many of the people who eventually formed another forum also experienced. So, I am even more surprised that the automatic process of creating a new password worked in my case.

??????

 

[nickao]

Boy I missed a lot.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I've been looking around and while I'm no longer banned I am resticted in several ways. I can't see the Member List so I can't easilly find Mike Ckrist's Porch Rail post.

And, I can't edit my posts so I can't remove those smileys frownies in my post above. I didn't put them there. Do they automatically occur if you type in several question marks? I only meant to express puzzlement at being un-banned, not that I'm angry about it.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I've been looking around and while I'm no longer banned I am resticted in several ways. I can't see the Member List so I can't easilly find Mike Ckrist's Porch Rail post.

Can't fix the spelling of Mike's name and can't use the Search feature either.

Oh well, no such problems at the other place.....

 

[Daviddubya]

...And, I can't edit my posts so I can't remove those smileys frownies in my post above. I didn't put them there. Do they automatically occur if you type in several question marks? I only meant to express puzzlement at being un-banned, not that I'm angry about it.

Here's what happens if you type three consecutive question marks;

???

And here's a quote from Matthew's signature:

"If you experience problems logging in or using the forum, send me a message, and please do not assume it is anything but a technical glitch."

 

[nickao]

8)

Try to type an 8 with a ) following and you get this 8)

Drove me nuts when I was writing up a list of ten things.

 

[bonesbr549]

I'm confused, if your a TF moderator that's a reson to be banned? Or is it making inappropriate statements or violation of the rules? 

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Imagine my surprise at not finding my name on this list!!

I was publicly banned about a month ago.

Ah, more nonsense!

Yes, Michael, I did ban you on August 8 (click here).  On August 9, less than 24 hours later, I lifted the ban because I realized you might have been an innocent victim of what we might call "The Fighting."

You will recall that I wrote you this e-mail:

Subject: FOG Status
From: mschenker@comcast.net
Date: 8/9/2008 6:48 PM
To: michael.kellough@gmail.com

Michael,
I'm sorry you got caught in the ridiculous battle the TF people started.  I understand that you are not a major player in that forum, and I
probably should not have placed you in the same category as those people.

However, there has been far too much open hostility towards me lately on the forum, and that has to stop.  I'm going to lift the ban on your account,
if you will promise to work with me on getting the FOG back on track.

You and I have never had issues until very recently, and I have always respected your work and contributions.  Will you promise to stop attacking me,
and try to help get the forum back on a positive track?  I'm asking this as a favor.

Thanks,
Matthew

It's interesting that you have signed into the forum several times these past couple of weeks, all while you were supposedly banned.  How can that be?  The same goes for Bob Swenson, who is swirling up a storm about being banned, and yet he has been checking in and reading the posts here almost daily!  How do you explain the ability to sign into a forum where you say you have been banned?

The methodology of the other forum is becoming clearer each day.  There are three coordinated efforts:
1. Directly attack the administrator of the FOG for how the forum is managed, slipping in suggestions that such things don't occur in the other forum
2. Raise what appears to be innocent attempts to understand the rules of this forum, always managing to mention the other forum
3. Raise false claims of being banned, either publicly or by stealth through the PM system

I can apply one of these three conditions to 99.9% of all the problems we have experienced in this forum recently.

Matthew

 

[Matthew Schenker]

I'm confused, if your a TF moderator that's a reson to be banned? Or is it making inappropriate statements or violation of the rules? 

The two causes seem to occur simultaneously!
Matthew

 

[Rick Christopherson]

The content of this message has been deleted by the Forum Administrator

 

[Rick Christopherson]

The content of this message has been deleted by the Forum Administrator.

 

[bpeters]

By the way, Nickao, I am not permitted to reply to your PM asking about my round table, but thanks for the compliment. Maybe you could send me an email.

Hey I dont give a f__k how cool an engineer you claim to be, just shut the f__k up and get back to posting stuff that matters and that applies to all of you babies that have run away to the other forum balling your eyes out. Just give your noses a good blow and move on. If you can't drop it then stay the f__k away, we all want our forum back.

Matthew,

you have my blessing to ban anyone or delete any of the post from those sniffling little children that blowing smoke up your arse. Just do it if you feel it necessary, no need to give us an explanation, most of us see whats going on and trust you to get the forum back on track.

 

[nickao]

Even as mad as I have ever been I never left a post like that. Chill out and stop with the swearing. My 6th grader is right next to me and if you think he does not know what that means you are mistaken. Blocking out a few letters does NOT give you the right to swear.

To me this is the type posts that need deleting, blatant swearing even if you are right is totally wrong. And maybe you should post a little more or do you only use swear words.

 

[Matthew Schenker]

By the way, Nickao, I am not permitted to reply to your PM asking about my round table, but thanks for the compliment. Maybe you could send me an email.

I considered deleting your recent post, right along with the previous one.  But leaving it intact is actually more effective in this case since it makes clear that your claims of being banned are nonsense.  Likewise, your claims of not being able to access the PM system.

Like the others, I have seen your name appear in the forum logs several times in recent weeks.  Can you explain how you were able to check into a forum where you were banned?  Seems the TF people have access to some nifty technical trick, since many of them regularly signed in on days they were supposedly banned!

From now on, when you or others post these kinds of things, I'll just re-state the three-pronged approach of the other forum:
1. Directly attack the administrator of the FOG for how the forum is managed, slipping in suggestions that such things don't occur in the other forum
2. Raise what appears to be innocent attempts to understand the rules of this forum, always managing to mention the other forum
3. Raise false claims of being banned, either publicly or by stealth through the PM system

Thanks,
Matthew

 

[Mike_Chrest]

Matthew,
  I think you should consider an amnesty for the "other forum" moderators. People here know they are plugging their forum and that lessens the impact. If they attack you or this forum delete the post.

  People should be free to belong to other forums with out fear of being kicked out of this one.

  Please do not let Festering Tool or Your Carpenter Friend back in ;D

Mike

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Matthew,
  I think you should consider an amnesty for the "other forum" moderators. People here know they are plugging their forum and that lessens the impact. If they attack you or this forum delete the post.

  People should be free to belong to other forums with out fear of being kicked out of this one.

  Please do not let Festering Tool or Your Carpenter Friend back in ;D

Good suggestion.  I was already thinking of doing that.  You're right.  Now that their methods have been fully exposed, it is unlikely that they would pull the same antics.
Plus, I always took pride in having a very short ban list!
I'll do it now,
Matthew

 

[Mike_Chrest]

Thanks. ;D

 

[Rick Christopherson]

A portion of this message has been deleted by the Forum Administrator.  Below is what remains of the original text posted by Rick Christopherson.

P.S. I believe I may have been mistaken about not being able to respond to the PM. At this point I cannot remember if the reply button was active or not. It is not really that important, and I wasn't stating that as a "dig". I simply assumed that my account was in a limited status, and I didn't want Nick to think I was blowing him off. I apologize if you took that statement the wrong way.

 

[Brice Burrell]

The content of this message has been deleted by the Forum Administrator.