Automatic un-ban

jimmycrackcorm

I did a search for this but found nothing, but I'm surprised it hasn't been asked before. If someone recieves a ban for a specified length of time, why is there no automatic un-ban? Why have to pm a mod to get it lifted?

Cron anyone?

ecksor

For site bans there's a facility to do this. For forum bans, there's actually no provision in vbulletin at all for moderators to ban from their own forums, they need to use a really dirty hack that I put together. A cron job could conceivably do it, but either we need to hack up the database to include this information or we need to give the mods access to cron jobs.

Esel

Simple answer then. Site ban only. Problem solved, knuckles well and truly rapped. The fcukers won't get out of line the next time so quickly.

Maybe limit mod powers to shortish bans though, unless a longer or perm ban has been approved by the real bosses.

Time Magazine

esel wrote:

Maybe limit mod powers to shortish bans though, unless a longer or perm ban has been approved by the real bosses.

No fecking way tbh.

Gordon

esel wrote:

Maybe limit mod powers to shortish bans though, unless a longer or perm ban has been approved by the real bosses.

You want the mods to have access to cron jobs then?

/edit, ah you want mods to be able to siteban, my mistake. Bad idea imo - ban someone from the whole site when they just deserve it on a forum is like swatting flies with a comedy Acme hammer.

hot fuss

So how does one get un-banned? I was banned from a forum about two months ago and have pm'd two separate moderators and haven't heard a whistle..

Talliesin

If you've heard absolutely nothing, then start a thread on it in the Help Desk forum.

As for the suggestion of giving hundreds of people the ability to site ban. I don't think that's a good idea.

Peter Collins

esel wrote:

The fcukers won't get out of line the next time so quickly.

Don't you have better things to get upset about?

Tar.Aldarion

Yes, like me getting him banned from adverts for acting the tool.

I am against this. Sometimes I do not set a length of a ban and the users behaviour sets it for them.

Karl Hungus

Gordon wrote:

You want the mods to have access to cron jobs then?

What's a cron job and why's it so bad for mods to have access to them?

Tar.Aldarion

http://www.unixgeeks.org/security/newbie/unix/cron-1.html
sysadmin commands.
I just use it to forward my mail.

RuggieBear

http://www.aota.net/Script_Installation_Tips/cronhelp.php3

jimmycrackcorm

I'd have thought it would have been easy enough to run a SQL query via chron each night to unflag anyone who has been banned for a certain length of time. Surely when there is a mechanism to thread ban it wouldn't be too much hassle to enter and store a ban length.

Mind you given that boards can't do an online DB backup, I'd imagine the mods are using punch cards to set bans.;)

Terry

ecksor wrote:

For site bans there's a facility to do this. For forum bans, there's actually no provision in vbulletin at all for moderators to ban from their own forums, they need to use a really dirty hack that I put together. A cron job could conceivably do it, but either we need to hack up the database to include this information or we need to give the mods access to cron jobs.

Someone asked me about this earlier today.
I hadn't seen this thread.
That's a handy bit of information to know if it comes up again.

Sully

Doesnt vBulletin have big resource sites like Invision Power Board does? Surley there is a mod out there to do this..

ecksor

jimmycrackcorm wrote:

I'd have thought it would have been easy enough to run a SQL query via chron each night

It is.

to unflag anyone who has been banned for a certain length of time. Surely when there is a mechanism to thread ban it wouldn't be too much hassle to enter and store a ban length.

I don't know why you're basically repeating my vague description in your own vague words unless you just like saying 'cron' a lot.

This suggestion, along with other possible mod ban features, has been made before. I dislike making these kinds of hacks mostly due to change management problems and in this case it is unclear if the mods want it anyway.

oscarBravo

Personally, I don't. If someone has done something to warrant a ban, I don't think it's unfair to put the onus on them to remind me when it's up.

Tar.Aldarion

I really like saying cron.