What exactly would be the point of explaining to someone why you banned them? They're banned. Gone. As far as they're concerned, the why is irrelevant, because, after all, what are they gonna do about it if they don't like the reason? It's not like Halx has a committee ready to override his decisions. Knowing the why won't change the outcome.
As for getting banned for one instance of being overly harsh. . . I call total BS on that. I've been overly harsh in posts before, and the most I've ever gotten was a comment that I went too far and a request to edit the post. No mentions of banning, and I've never seen the "banned screen." And the moderator in question was very polite about it when they talked to me as well. Hardly the nazi stormtrooper some of you guys are making them out to be.
Of course, when a moderator talks to me about something, I don't come back with "well fuuuuuck you! Ever heard of the first amendment? I have the RIGHT to say whatever I want on here blah blah blah you suck blah blah."
I know from adminning my own sites that some users are wont to do this. If you were an admin, and someone told you to piss off after you nicely asked them to stop their behavior, wouldn't YOU ban 'em? I sure did on my systems. Me not being an asshole about it when the staff talks to me has probably gone a fairly long way toward me not getting banned.
I also don't tend to make posts solely for the purpose of bashing the board or its staff. Not that I have anything to bash them about, but if I did, and I made such posts, I really wouldn't be surprised to get banned. I'd deserve it.
I'm seeing a growing problem on here that I've seen in online forums / chat sites before. People get too damned wrapped up in this place. It starts becoming an integral part of their life, and in many cases their identity. Then, when they see something happen that they don't like, they flip out. They decide to take this big ol' stand, as though they're thinking an injustice has happened, and "JUSTICE will prevail if I only stand up for what I believe is right!"
Only trouble is, there's no such thing as an injustice on here. This is Halx's playground. It's his world, and it gets structured and run according to what he wants. In short, justice is whatever Halx says it is.
What we have to realize is that this is an online community that we all obviously like for one reason or another (and no, not just porn). If Halx changes rules, and that makes the community one that you no longer like, then you are free to leave. Quietly. No one's forcing you to stay here, and I'm sure you could get the email addresses of the people you really like talking to, and keep in touch with them without visiting the TFP. This would have an advantage for the disenchanted user - he wouldn't have to deal with what he thinks is an intolerable message board - and to the rest of us - we wouldn't have to watch the soap opera that results when someone gets banned for going apeshit about a perceived injustice.
We have to realize that this is a fun place, and it's a place where a lot of interesting conversations can be held, but at it's core, it's a VIRTUAL community. Too many people are treating it like it's their real life, when it should be treated as a fun diversion from their real life. If you approach message forums / chat systems with that attitude, you'd be surprised how much more enjoyment you get out of them. In short, chill out. It's only the internet
