A good friend of mine has just told me that she was banned.

No warning, no suspension, nothing.

I thought that there were supposed to be warnings or suspensions or something to alert the poster, to give them time to correct their erring ways.

And in fact, I have always told people who wondered that warnings were always given, except to obvious new trolls.

Was I wrong? I gather I was.

So what happened with Dinger?

If you prefer to answer privately, that would be fine.

But I would like to address the issue of warnings and suspensions. I've mentioned a few times that we are no longer giving out warnings and suspensions. In fact, I have come to think that giving out warnings and suspensions, while well-intentioned, has been one of our biggest mistakes (in a long history of mistakes). Because promising people warnings and suspensions has had two unintended consequences:

1) It send the message to people that they can be as rude as they like -- violate our rules and alienate other members -- until they get a warning, at which point they know they can shape up. And...

2) Even when they get a warning they don't shape up anyway. Perhaps because they believe they will keep getting warnings and suspensions indefinitely. So the warnings and suspensions just serve to prolong the inevitable.

As you know, things are tough on DU right now. But I am committed to doing whatever I can to make this community feel like a community again. And part of that means doing what I can to support and encourage those DU members who want to build this community up, instead of those people who want to tear it down. I don't think I should feel obligated to roll out the red carpet for the latter group anymore.

I appreciate it.