Animation Source Forums

Yeah, I don't normally do this. And I did a search and found nothing of any previous like topics, so forgive me if this sort of thing has already passed through your head once. XD

Okay. First off, I've taken a look at the Shout Boxes Ban List. Here me on this: I will not be giving out names, and I won't be telling people how so-and-so got banned, and how long they're banned for (I discourage other mods from doing so as well.). As much as as I know you all would love to take a peek at the list yourself, I've already taken the liberty of running a poll on all the offenses. Before I start my rant, I would like for you to see...

OFFENSE COUNT, 01.25.07
Multi-Accounts: (One person who operates under two or more screen names and/or two or more IP addresses)
Tally: 23
Flaming: (Rude comments to either an entire group of members or a specific group; insulting)
Tally: 22
Sexual: (Showing off of revealing/nude pics, and inappropriate ["horny"] messages and/or RPs)
Tally: 8
Cursing: (Do you really need an explanation?)
Tally: 11
Spamming: (Repeatedly posting useless messages/questions after being told several times to stop)
Tally: 23
Impersonation: (A user who operates in the same screen name and/or IP Address as a previous member, and claiming to be them)
Tally: 7
Miscelaneous: (Hacking accounts, spreading rumors, mate-talking)
Tally: 4

[/end survey]

Count the tallies, and you can see how many people are banned for these seven simple things they find too hard NOT to follow. As you can see, most are notorious for spamming, flaming, and multiple accounts. You think we can just ban them, and forget about them? HEAVENS, NO!! Please understand that when a mod bans someone, it's their job to give a warning, and make it perfectly clear why they were banned, and for how long. Of course, explaining this to them is no easy task, and quite a few of the mods are being harassed for what they were hired to do...

,,,and so begins my rant. Whenever you see a green name, go up to it and ask if that person's ever had to deal with a difficult member. Chances are, they have. Quite a few of us are getting inboxes brimming to its fullest with spams and flames from the banned and their friends DEMANDING to be freed. Now, I ask you: Is this fair? The rules are set, and there is not a single member on this site that can't go up and read them. If you break these rules, the mods interfere, and decide the necessary action. That's our job; it's what we do. If you're ever banned, don't suck up to the mods, don't ask us to be unbanned, and certainly don't demand by flaming. Lay back and enjoy your time off; there are other ways to make friends and chat. Sure, some things are up for debate, but can anyone not do so in an orderly, civilized fasion?

And no, pointing fingers won't get you out of trouble; in fact, it'll probably get you in a deeper hole. If fights break lose, then BOTH SIDES suffer the consequences.

You think it's just the shout box mods? Hahaha!! No way. Fanart mods, Questions mods, Fanfic mods, Articles mods, the works!! EVERYONE has to put up with these people, and you can't do anything to get rid of every single one of them. So in conclusion, I ask that you kindly remember that all the mods are doing nothing short of their best, and -- like you -- they are human and sometimes make mistakes. Please try to be curteous when you catch yourself in a pickle...who knows, we may be able to extend ban times -- but we can also reduce them.

Tell me what's on your mind. If something like this has ever happened to you, please feel free to share!!

I understand what you're getting at.
When I was banned I tried to act calm and courteous when talking to the mods about it....frankly, I think we should be nicer to the mods, they don't get payed for their jobs and they do it to make BS a better place (they do it for us, the normal members). I understand that somethings that the mods do may anger some people, but if it angers you, then I reccommend you don't yell at them and all that stuff. You should try and talk to them respectfully (hey it may work). Just because you disagree with someone doesn't mean you can't treat them with respect.

I really like that TikTac. Yah it's sad I mean the mods are just here to help us and they get a bunch of crap for just doing their job.

Yah i've met people on here you just cant stand and you wish a mod was around to see what they say. Eh you get through it and anyway they end up doing something to get banned so no big.

Well, sadly I admit I have sent one PM to Steet asking him to unban one of my friends on the site. I did it nicely and asked, I did NOT demand anything. I regreted doing that a few weeks later, I realized that it was simply more trouble for Steet. At least now I know that it isn't worth it. Now, I try my best to stay out of Steet and the moderators way.

I agree to that my brotha

You know, I really wish it was that easy. But, unfortunately, although they claim to have read the rules, they still strive to flame people and curse, even though they know that there's a huge risk that they could be banned. Why do they do it? No one knows. Maybe they do it for attention. Maybe they just want to make themselves look bolder and more courageous than everyone else. But, let me tell you something. Telling the mods they suck or cursing out everyone in sight isn't courageous. It makes you look stupid. Really, really stupid. Yet so many people do it anyway. The banned box couldn't be more full.

Sure, I've had to put up with countless people like this. By now, I'm used to it, but yeah, it still gets on my nerves. It makes me think about why these people act like this, even when they've been banned before. They should know the risks. They should know that if they keep this up, they're going to be sent to banland. Yet, so surprisingly, they do it anyway.

I agree with most of whats already been said, but it's not only the mods they flame. When I got banned, I was having a nice conversation with a couple of the mods about pie (lol) and one member came on (I wont say who) swearing at the mods for them to unban her and swearing at me for talking. I think that most people should know by now, especially if it's not their first time getting banned, that IF they break a rule, they get banned for it. Swearing and screaming at mods wont get you unbanned faster, just sit back and take your punishment and before you know it, you'll be unbanned. (Most likely)

(BTW, that's quite a bit of people banned for talking about sex, that's disgusting..)

I've been in the mod business for a long time (not here) so I totally hear where you are coming from, and TikTak is right, it is all going down hill but you know that is what happens with sites like these when you get hundreds of members. I tell you when some of the boards I either started or helped start got quieter I was in a sad way quite releaved.. when this board came a long and more people spent time on it I thought great, someone else can worry about it all now!

You know what? I'm FED UP with hearing that. Especially when it always come from the same people. Because it's totally wrong, and you all know it. It's like you repeat saying this only to convince yourself that it's the truth.

I didn't mind to hear this before, when there were some troubles on the site some months ago, but it's not the case anymore.
There have never been so many visitors on the site. I see interesting topics or messages everyday, there have never been so many good fanfics and fanarts sent on the site...
The list of banned people keep growing, yes. Stolen fanarts keep coming in. But in proportion, it's a minority. And it's very logical, the more visitors there are on the site, the more trouble makers there will be. Of course you won't see trouble makers on an empty site. But then, you won't have anyone to talk to on an empty site.

I love this : a mod make a topic to claim that people should stop blaming the mods, and then someone immediately make an attack to the mods.


Well, it shouldn't happen now, because banned people can no longer talk together there. We did that because many tried to get banned only to talk with their little banned friends.

About the rant : the main problem is that there is a lot of "little" visitors on the site, which come here only to "play". Their whole attitude is to play, and they LIKE offensing people, making multiple accounts, copying art etc...They like to see how far they can go before reaching the limits. I suspect most of them to know the rules, but still don't respect them - otherwise there wouldn't be any good explanation to say why they keep breaking the rules after beeing banned and unbanned many times.
Not all of them are like this, thankfully...But they are the worst.

And, I believe the only solution to change this is to educate them. Although it's certainly not the job of a webmaster...

Tell these kids not to do something, and that's exactly what they will do. It's a bit like that.

Yes, her posts were blocked but I could see them for a brief moment before they dissapeared.

I agree with you for the rest, and it's obvious that those members are either trying to be "cool" or just trying to make the mods mad, I watch the shout box alot and they DO get 3 warnings, a majority of them continue to do whatever their getting warned for, I think they like being banned.

I think I've done everything I could to make people fear to be banned, but it seems it doesn't work. Most of the time, the visitors who fear to be banned are the most innocent ones...The trouble makers don't care. Although there's really nothing funny to be in the banned box. It's a bit like jail, except it's virtual. If you have suggestions to improve this, tell me.

I dont know if you can improve this, I saw some where you said you would have to look into if banned people can make accounts.

It seems when you no longer fear the ultamate punishment innocent people have no controle over you. You cant scare them because I'd bet they do these things knowing they will get banned. I dont know if you can but banning IP addresses is the best answer.

I know there are some people who think that getting into so much trouble is "fun". As stated, they ONLY do it to piss other people off. You will always have thoe kinds of people, and there's nothing you can do to get rid of every one of them. They are the ones who don't care, and quite frankly, I don't either. Heck...If it'll make them shut up, I'd be more than happy to ban them!!

However, this rant isn't directed to those people. If they want to blow their time talking to themselves on the banned box, they can be my guest. I'm talking to the people that do care. Those who are truly sorry for the things they've done, and actually learn from their mistakes. Believe me, we appreciate simple things like that very much.

In the essence, the good very much outweighs the bad. Everything can't be perfect, or it'd be...scary. XD

I must admit, when I see a fight, I lay back a little. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I'm kinda hoping these people can solve it themselves. And very rarely does it happen without a mod's intervention. People will always be watching, so it's not like anyone can get away with anything...

Appreciate the posts, everyone!!