MarAzul, I think you are basically correct in most situations, a nudge is enough to defuse the situation. I totally believe that these mods (not true on every site) really try to be fair and not overly restrictive or forceful with their decisions. As evidenced, in the 6 years I have been at this site, I think fewer that 5 people have been banned. Actually only three I can think of, BenDavis who had violent outbursts and actually asked to be banned, That Woman poster, I forget her name, but she was warned over and over and over and over and wouldn't stop attacking, even though she was often provoked, and lastly papag. 3-5 posters is less than 1 ban per year, not a sign of some internet gestapo. I am glad that they help you (and me) save face, and keep this place a fun place to post. I wish nothing bad for papag, and as I said, I suspect he will comeback with a pseudonym. You and I very often disagree, but that's actually why I like talking to you, and why I liked papag for the most part. But not the attacking, especially attacking people and their families. That crosses the line.
I am saying he had a plethora of smart ass comments which could escalate issues when he had them with equally stubborn people. Someone like me, MM etc never back down so those conflicts tend to get heavily moderated. Against other weak willed or mature users PapaG would drop a few insults and they would back down.
From my memory Mixum BenDavis Blazer Fanatic PDXKass PapaG I feel like I'm forgetting someone. Obviously there was a bunch of Timbertrolls that were nuked, but I don't count them.
The Sly that you describe is a facade. I have seen the list of posters who have crossed him, and when he finally snaps the only warning you will get is the muzzle flash in the distance
It does suck that this is such a sausage fest. To my knowledge, Blazer Fanatic, PDXKass, crandc and Blazer4life are the only women who have posted on this board and two of them were banned and one I haven't seen in ages. All 4 were very Blazer knowledgeable (well Kass was iffy), It would be nice to somehow get some more women posters in this place without being attacked.
There is the point people keep missing (ignoring?). This isn't the first time the forum has been through this. Less draconian measures have been tried - repeatedly. All they accomplished was to cause PapaG to escalate. If told not to drive 70 in a 55 zone, he would floor it and do 120. His behavior suggests he was intentionally baiting the mods into responding.
If someone posts child porn I'm sending their IP address to the FBI. If it's a local IP address I will also be sending it to their closest law enforcement agency.
PDXKass was never banned. She left very pissed off because I edited an insult in one of her posts. Mixum also had two other accounts that were banned.
