[Resolved] Banned from Racquet Sports Forum

The relevant background to this is that the "Racquet Sports" forum had no moderator for a long period

Recently (early 2022) one of the most frequent posters in the forum became the only moderator there

Also of relevant background this person and I would have had some definite differing opinions on aspects of tennis during this unmoderated period

So last week I was banned from the the tennis forum

I will note that no other poster was publicly called out for any warning but in my case it was always marked out with sometimes extensive notes.

This despite the moderator telling me that other warnings were issued to another poster(s) (some now boards-site-banned trolls were active at points)

Finally there was another declaration on my banning.

So that is not consistent behaviour in dealing with things.

Here are the warnings that I received as I feel that it's important to look at that as that can be the only basis for the ban

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119316951/#Comment_119316951

for mentioning that a poster didn't know who the world n0.1 women's player was. now this was a jibe but I have seen a lot worse go without any mention on most forums.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119282681#Comment_119282681

In the context of replying to the previous poster's comment about the player (Kyrgios) ("he is emotionally extremely immature. " - other poster said)

in referring to this being emotionally underdeveloped I used the phrase "mental issue or retardation" . this post was pretty measured in the use of this (not in the pejorative case which is associated with a related noun) and in context if you read the previous post but nevertheless a warning.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119284097/#Comment_119284097

finally a particular recently registered poster to boards (of June 2022) had been what I would describe as goading and baiting me for a week or more, directly replying to my posts calling me "dumb" and other terms 

(e.g. https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119500449/#Comment_119500449 )

I did not reply directly to the poster but he always did to continue it

this is easily viewable by looking back over previous page or 2 and is clear

here I was banned

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119520066/#Comment_119520066

it's fairly clear what sort of provocation that poster likes to indulge as I noticed him on recent 10 page (still ongoing) that you will see in the thread here in the last couple of days.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119535408/#Comment_119535408

as a contrast I would point out that the moderator(s) in this forum actually moderating (or attempting to) this on multiple occasions as opposed to being "selective"

including removing parts of this posters posts even though multiple posters there have called out person as a troll

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119542037/#Comment_119542037

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119543647/#Comment_119543647

now my issues would be

1. inconsistent treatment - special public marking out of warnings given but not to others who allegedly received warning.

why would it be especially important to mark things out in my case and not others?

2. I don't think that some or all of those incidents would have resulted in warnings on other forums - perhaps a comment from the moderator in some cases - e.g. the context of the mental issues point 

( I could note that the moderator themselves has used choice terms in regards to the same player )

or indeed the comment about not knowing who the world number 1 was. this is not a serious attack on a poster.

also the last warning was in the context of a certain "type" of poster continually goading and it while a lot of sarcasm was used was not directly pejorative. in other forums a moderator might have commented about this ongoing discussion in relation to both parties beforehand (as shown in other forums above)

3. normally a moderator of a forum is not one of the most frequent posters and not there is not usually only 1 moderator

in this case this moderator I very definitely feel had a definite aim to "get me out" and the manner of the warnings and selective treatment reflect that in my opinion so I don't think that it's valid.

the timing of this just before one of the 4 biggest tournaments of the year seems beyond coincidental also

I've been a long-time member of boards, usefully contributing for example in forums like the Laptops forum as providing advice there and not having the same opinion as someone is part of the site.

Is boards going to be an effectively "personal forum" site as if this was the case here across the site I don't think it would work.

in the case of there being only 1 moderator and the situation that I have described I feel that objective review should be important

4. also a ban in this case no term was given which is unusual on boards

@Beasty

It had been suggested to me that the forum moderator be contacted first and they were - I asked about why I was banned and the relevant part of the response was as follows (as it's said in guidelines here to show that) and @Beasty suggested that @awec is the first port of call.

"I think we both know you've been given a lot of leeway on here over the years, and have been exceedingly lucky to have never faced a ban before.

So that's where I stand on the matter. If you want to discuss it with @awec (the category moderator) then feel free to do so, but please note I will be providing him with a full chronology of your behaviour on here to date if need be."

Again, it's the actual warnings and actual timeframe of a forum being moderated and supposed infractions that is in question here, not some other time - and that's why I have detailed those above.

awec

I will review this.

awec

Hi @glasso ,

I have looked into this.

You left out the part where you were abusive to the moderator in PM.

Ban (6 months) upheld.

You may ask for an admin review if you wish to take this further.

awec.

@Beasty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119548143#Comment_119548143

I said "miserable git" -in a pm, not on a public forum, with no expletives or stronger terms used.

how strong is that?

this was in my last message after questioning the ban and not receiving a valid answer.

I was rightly angry at the selective targeting behaviour that I consider very much abusive to be honest and believe that I've shown here in my explanation above.

if that is the actual basis for the decision there then I would like to request an admin review from the appropriate mod, preferably a senior mod like @Beasty or similar and to actually address the points I made here.

awec

Sure thing, an admin will be along to review at some stage.

Beasty

To be clear being abusive via PM normally results in a siteban

In this case I will not issue that siteban but, OP, you should consider yourself lucky this is only a 6 month forum ban

Ban upheld

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119596511#Comment_119596511

Oh I've seen the light

Request made to datarequests@boards.ie a few days ago