Bannings

[PoorOldSpike]

Banter and goodnatured ribbing enhance any forum, that's what I fostered when I was Administrator and Moderator at Timebombers Philosophy Forum a few years ago and the atmosphere was terrific.
My rule was basically "say anything you like providing it doesn't have a nasty spiteful sour-minded cutting edge, or you'll find yourself automatically banished to 'The Box' for 3 months at a time, every time.
(The official phraseology was - "A 3-month suspension of posting privileges")
My attitude was "If they put their head in the noose, i'll warn them just ONCE, then if they do it again i'll happily spring the trap with the farewell words 'Hasta la vista baby, see you in 3 months"..

But amazingly I never had to ban a single soul for the simple reason everybody enjoyed being part of the forum and soaking up its great friendly vibes, great chat, great repartee and banter; the last thing on earth they'd want to risk would be 3 months in a cold lonely box..

PS- Writing in his autobiog "My Early Life", about his time as a young cavalry officer in India, Winston Churchill says how he enjoyed "the keen intellect of the mess", and that's the sort of atmosphere any forum should aim for too, it's not rocket science, just a bunch of decent regular guys chatting among themselves, and I'm sure we all support the Blitz brass in their desire for that..:)