Here you are...

[JLC]

I'd like to set the record straight about something before public or private speculation gets carried away.

Andrew (CeraDigital) was banned due to Infraction points earned. He did NOT earn infractions from this thread (except for two points for cursing). We let him speak his mind in this thread and will leave his words here for anyone to read and make their own minds up about the fairness or unfairness of the staff.

But Andrew was not content with that. He also created a new signature for himself that the staff felt was an intentional effort to undermine our authority and credibility to run this site properly. I sent him a PRIVATE message letting him know that while we will allow a certain amount of public discussion and questions, he had gone too far with that signature and would earn serious infraction points if he chose to leave it up.

He chose to leave it up. He earned the infractions. And continued to leave it up...and earned more infractions. At which point, he suggested that we simply make the ban a permanent one (rather than the 30-day temporary ban 100 points usually earns) and that he would be sure to smear us on some forum review program he is participating on.

That is the end of the story.

[Kenchap]

This thread isn't locked? WoW!

[DutchHerp]

Banned for speaking his opinion, or so it seems, maybe a little aggressively.

Yeah.

Awesome.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Banned for speaking his opinion, or so it seems, maybe a little aggressively.

Yeah.

Awesome.

Really? is that some kind of accusation or simply your lack of comprehension of the previous post made by Judy?.

[frankykeno]

Banned for speaking his opinion, or so it seems, maybe a little aggressively.

Yeah.

Awesome.

You know Matt you've been around here long enough to know we don't ban people willy nilly for having opinions, disagreeing with staff, etc. We have a lot of members with strong opinions and that's just fine. How they express those opinions and whether the choice they make is contrary to the Terms of Service that they agreed to when they joined, is another matter all together.

Thanks for giving the staff so little credit for making those decisions with the best interest of this whole site in mind.

[DutchHerp]

Well well, are we not entitled to our own opinion?

[blackcrystal22]

Well well, are we not entitled to our own opinion?

If your opinion is insulting, rude, or trollish, then no your not entitled to state it. You can keep it in your mind.

I think when people talk about 'opinions' they're just using it as an excuse. You can turn anything you say into an opinion, even if it's the most insulting, rude, and crazy thing you say to someone. All anyone ever says is, "well, it's my opinion".

Gets us nowhere, and neither did this thread.

[Sasquatch Art]

Hehe Irony

You know as much as you didn't like his signature, it was his Opinion.

And he gets Banned for it... his opinion.

Just seems like a "few" people got upset about what someone thought about them... and they pressed the "red button." Sounds kinda childish.. If you don't like someones opinion embrace it and either share yours or walk away.

Don't just make the "bad man" go away.

[blackcrystal22]

If someone came screaming they were racist, sexist, or homophobic that would also be an opinion.

However, an opinion can also break the TOS. Just as any phrase, remark, or statement could.

[stratus_020202]

You guys are being rediculous. They already stated that it wasn't all points from this thread, only 2 for cursing (fair enough it seems to me).

Do you even know what the sig said? If not then I would probably check yourself. There are rules here just like everywhere else. If they are not followed, people get banned.

It seems to me you guys have problems letting things go. If you don't like the site, go and make your own.