UBB.threads PHP Forum Software Community Forums UBB.threads 7 Version 7 Support Delete Member vs Ban

Another simple question. As the admin of our forum, I am sometimes called up to ban a user. I have two choices: To ban them or to delete the user.

Up to this point, I have always banned them permanently.

What is the difference? Are there different scenarios where one is better than the other.

Thanks.

Say a user makes a large amount of posts and has contributed content to the community, but they cause issues and have to be banned; ban.

Say a user joins and spams the crap out of your forums... Stop forum spam report them then delete them, they're of no use, they never contributed a thing to the community.

So based on that, it seems you would not do a permanent ban on anyone. Just delete them.

On either, can they simply apply again? Maybe using a different IP address?

I'd only do a ban if it was a member who contributed to the community, otherwise I'd delete them and all of their posts...

Nothing is going to stop them from re-registering; they can use a different free email provider to skirt email bans and most isp's don't give people a "forever" static ip address (mine through Comcast are usually about a month tops) or they could use one of the millions of free web based proxies they could go through Google for... if you have a determined user you're ultimately screwed.

Thanks. But when you say ban, how long? We have many options. Seems you wouldn't do a permanent ban then.

I rarely ever set a time based ban, it's usually forever or until one grovels and apologizes for whatever infraction occurred...

So, sorry, I am confused.

If they helped the community, they get a permanent ban.

If they didn't help the community (both did bad things), they get a deletion of their account.

Aren't they both the same? A permanent kicking out?

Going to watch Homeland. I will check you out in a few. Thanks, as usual, for your help.

PS If I ever forget to say thank you, I meant to.

If they were contributors, and had credibility, I would simply ban them. That way, all of their posts aren't "anonymous."

I rarely delete anyone. Spammers usually get caught quickly, and their posts are moved to the trash. They get banned. I might or might not delete them. Sometimes it is easier to keep track of them if they aren't deleted.

Gotcha. What is weird is that we are getting a LOT of spammers. They either get caught at the point of entry or in the newest members box. They seem to be bots or something. They have usernames and display names that are:

qoeyre874he

We used to only get one per month. I don't know if this had anything to do with the breach that occurred four months ago.

Exactly

Bert,
What you have to remember is, It is your site.
Ban,Delete it is up to you.

Thanks Ruben,

That's a good philosophy. I just didn't know what the difference was.

Well as a good faith policy.
Neither is good.
Sooner or later you will have a good member that was banned or deleted in error.
So all you can do is "do your best"