When someone knows all of the facts involved in a decision, then they can pass judgement on it.
Hal was TEMPORARILY banned after I asked him twice to call a truce with Shorty. I looked over the jabs between Hal and Shorty and in my opinion, they were both in the wrong. So I asked them both for a truce. (So that I wouldn't have to ban anyone and have this whole thing erupt) Shorty accepted my request, while Hal ignored the request and then went on to continue bashing Shorty and the price he was asking for something. Another note went to Hal saying that a truce had to be called betwen he and Shorty. That request was answered with a public message from Hal on the site saying how he was wronged. No reply to me however. So, he received a TEMPORARY ban. Funny that I received an email from Hal almost immediately after he was banned. Had he sent an email after one of the two PMs I sent him, then we would only be discussing DM right now.
No one asked me if Hal was banned for good. They just assumed that he was and ran with that wrong bit of information. He received a one week ban just like DM got a month or so ago.
DM is a completely different story. I don't care whether he was egged on or not. If he has that little control over his emotions, then this is not the place for him. He has been asked over and over to back off with the vulgarities and attacks on other users. These requests have not just come from me. They have also come from others on the forums. He ignored each and every request and continued to basically do as he pleased whenever he pleased. He finally did it one too many times and got the ban that he deserved.
I see many people claiming that there is some special group of users that are protected. There are no such users. When ANY user does something that I think is out of line, they will get a note saying so. Usually I get a "OK, I will back off. I am sorry" reply. (Shorty, Marissa, etc) Sometimes I get no reply so another PM goes out. Sometimes I get a "You are an idiot and I just can't control myself. That is the way I am. Deal with it" reply. So, I dealt with it.
I find it interesting how everyone seems to know best how to run a site like this. I signed on to run a billiards website. Not babysit a bunch of so called adults who want to turn this into grade school recess. I have said it before and I will say it again. Attitude like what I have seen from DM has killed other sites and I will not let that happen here. This is "the premier message board for the pool community" and I intend for it to stay that way.
If someone wants to start up another forum where anyone can do whatever they want, then more power to them. I with them luck as they will need it.
As for emailing my sponsors, it isn't too hard to find their email addresses. I am sure people like Kevin Trudeau and Matchroom Sport will be very interested in knowing that Drivermaker was banned from here. I am sure I will have a long talk with each them where they ask me my reasoning and slap my wrists.
Mike
The only thing that carrys any weight is the popularity of the site, which seems to be fine at this point, although pool related posts are down imo. It will be interesting to see how the next few months shake out ... even though I am not a cue-trader I'll be sure to follow the buy-sell area where this latest blow-up originated.
