Will I be the next to be banned from this forum?
 

Both a4z and Darth Vader have been banned forever, which I regret. If this trend continues, I will consider banning myself.

I do not know why a4z was banned or why you think you could be banned, but a big THANK YOU for banning Darth_Vader. This guy was insufferable. I started posting in this forum again because this is the official Slackware help forum. After his first three posts I put Darth_Vader on my ignore list. He was just cluttering up my thread with non-constructive "advice". So I am grateful for the ban.

Again, my appreciation for the ban is solely focused on Darth_Vader.

Both of them have been in my ignore list for a long time.
I thought that the forum was quiet.

While Darth could be annoying, over the years he did provide some worthwhile information. IMHO, some people need to learn how to ignore what they don't find useful and move on.

I disagree with the banning of Darth Vader. a4z I agree with, he was seriously rude to some people and was more of a hindrance to positive working practice than an asset.

Darth was a troll but he also could be helpful. I know he upset Eric quite a lot, but Eric can deal with it. Every forum has its difficult types, forums are a form of social media after all. In spite of that, I don't think that creating a sterile inoffensive environment is the way forward. I don't believe Darth's posts were damaging, and banning someone for being controversial ushers in a lockdown on free speech. a4z's behaviour was inappropriate, however, and when I first joined the Slackware forum he was the first person I noticed who was troublesome. I remember thinking back then that I was surprised he was allowed here.

Didier, I hope you stay on, but whether you are banned or not is surely up to you. From a personal point of view I hope you stay because you have been massively helpful, especially to me. As an example, the forum can take a look at this topic to see how you helped me out of a very difficult spot and encouraged me to learn Slackware-related skills which I still remember and use. That is the very essence and key string of forum participation.

EDIT: In spite of my above, this post does give some insight into Patrick's feelings about Darth.

duplicate.

Earlier this year I was banned for a month, for "Inappropriate Language" (in response to Vader). In that month, I learned something that maybe the LQ Staff didn't intend -- that the drama in this place isn't important.

Just ask questions and give answers.

Maybe share an opinion occasionally, but maybe it's counter-productive to keep pushing the same opinion again and again (which is what Vader and a4z had in common).

I'm certainly not going to quit this place in solidarity with those two people. IMO their posting style never seemed to show much empathy for the rest of us.

It does say on each profile page to contact LQ if either wants their posting privileges returned. So forever could be just a short time of reflection.

I get that darth and a4z were annoying at times but banning them was not necessary. Anytime I went online when I was younger ('90s kid) it was quite common to see forums and mailing lists with foul language and insults. Critical comments or flaming were quite common to see. It was part of the hacker culture I grew up with. At least within the circles I ran in online and in real life it was normal to see this sort of behavior. Sure, at times it can be upsetting. I always tried to remember that if I was being criticized or flamed, it meant that what I was posting/doing meant enough for someone to take notice. Most people forget that not every post on public fora is negative but it's what most people pay attention to the most. You know, that whole thing called controversy and all...

There has definitely been a major shift in online culture and it is no longer acceptable to be a troll or to make less constructive comments on any given topic. So we end up with a "sterile inoffensive environment" as Lysander describes it. I personally think this is hurting the natural flow of raw, accurate information within online communities-especially on LQ. Moderators need to ease up on the reins A LOT.

While darth and a4z could be disruptive (or whatever expressive descriptive language you want to use) they also provided a lot of valuable, accurate information. I never felt the need to put either of them on my ignore list. Sure some of what they posted was upsetting but they also posted very comical replies too. However, I don't think I would refer to either of them as trolls.

Going forward we all need to take ourselves less seriously and not get so pissed just because of some text on a computer screeen... I agree with 55020. Take the information you find valuable and leave the rest. Give the knowledge you think is applicable and move on.

That would be a major loss. Stick around!

Both of them had many opportunities and requests to to stop abusing others in this forum which they did not heed, this forum is better without their constant negativity. You do not share their detrimental posting habits so there is really no need for you to fall on their swords too...

I'm genuinely surprised at Darth's banning. Maybe there's a new, overly enthusiastic moderator on the beat?

Looking at Darth's stats, I see 1378 "good" ratings of his posts. It's a shame that such a useful contributor is banned forever. I found him very amusing too but maybe his humour wasn't well understood.

chris

Well, it's high time I plonked this forum :thumbsdown:

Don't know the people, but the mods obviously didn't ban them just for fun! ;)

If they get complaints, they are duty bound to act accordingly - this isn't Facebook/Twitter/WhatEver - this is a Linux Forum, whose sole purpose is to help those that need it to use & progress their knowledge. :)

I think that 1378 is the number of times he has rated others' posts. He has a 'rep' of 1226 which means just under 45% of his posts were considered helpful [actually, 1125 posts rated, since posts can be rated multiple times, so 41% is a more accurate figure]. That not a massive ratio given his post count, to be honest. I certainly agree that his humour wasn't well understood though, and I appreciate the curve ball he threw into one thread about vampires.