Banning people just so they can't call out commenters is ridiculous

I honestly want to know why certain users—myself included—are forced to tolerate all this "horrendous" behavior, yet instead of getting an actual ban or a penalty, I just get targeted? It feels like they’re just looking for any excuse to pick on me, whether it's through specific threads or by attacking my character.
Take this situation, for example.

Eric Gray2 said:Just report posts using the little triangle icon:

crimsoncanyon2, I’ve already warned you on several different threads. It isn't just you—your username is practically synonymous with these kinds of ad hominem attacks. If I catch you jumping down anyone else's throat again, you're looking at a three-day ban. I've already wiped dozens of your posts lately, and I'm done being patient. You can throw as many LOLs or smirking emojis as you want, but this PDF isn't your personal playground—these kind of jokes and antics aren't allowed, not for you and not for anyone else.

And of course, the post where another user was actually clarifying that I don't leave bitterness in my wake—trying to imply I'm actually a positive presence for the readers here—just vanished. Deleted at light speed.
Is this some kind of vendetta against me or what?
Look, if someone is going to be lectured or punished, there should be actual evidence left behind to justify it. Instead, they just wipe out a "sporadic" post and then try to paint me as some keyboard villain who's supposedly harassing poor, helpless users with everything I write...

Based on how the mods are commenting, it makes it look like I'm mocking people with illnesses or personal struggles—when in reality, most of the time I'm trying to help them or providing links to articles where they can find solutions for themselves.

crimsoncanyon2 said:I honestly want to know why certain users—myself included—are forced to tolerate all this "horrendous" behavior, yet instead of getting an actual ban or a penalty, I just get targeted? It feels like they’re just looking for any excuse to pick on me, whether it's through specific threads or by attacking my character.
Take this situation, for example.

And of course, the post where another user was actually clarifying that I don't leave bitterness in my wake—trying to imply I'm actually a positive presence for the readers here—just vanished. Deleted at light speed.
Is this some kind of vendetta against me or what?
Look, if someone is going to be lectured or punished, there should be actual evidence left behind to justify it. Instead, they just wipe out a "sporadic" post and then try to paint me as some keyboard villain who's supposedly harassing poor, helpless users with everything I write...

Based on how the mods are commenting, it makes it look like I'm mocking people with illnesses or personal struggles—when in reality, most of the time I'm trying to help them or providing links to articles where they can find solutions for themselves.

Look, this is a direct warning aimed right at you. Before we got to this point, you were actually flagged across several different posts for trolling and jumping down people's throats—and honestly, a few members actually reached out to complain about how you were behaving.

Take this specific scenario, for instance.
So, I just had to deal with this post where another user basically tried to paint me as some kind of emotional wrecking ball—implying that I somehow leave other people here traumatized—while simultaneously acting like I’m this legendary, vanished figure who was wiped off the face of the forum at lightning speed despite being a supposedly "beloved" staple of the community.

That’s just not true. The post sat there for quite a while—just like my response to it did. In my reply, I actually made a point to ask that we stop dragging this topic into sections where it doesn't belong. If people really want to debate my moderation style, fine—but if they're more interested in defending those inflammatory users who think they can say whatever they want because they're supposedly being "constructive," then they should take that energy over to the General Discussion boards instead. Even on the more sensitive threads, like Psychology, it feels like people expect us to just look the other way when someone gets aggressive under the guise of being helpful. They need to move those arguments elsewhere.

I’ve already mentioned that I don't want to be walking a tightrope with double standards here—specifically when it comes to policing trolling or "jokes" that target people personally. Even if someone tries to mask their jabs as being "diagnostic" or "therapeutic" in nature, it doesn't change the fact that it's still targeting an individual. My goal isn't to protect the person doing the poking; it's to protect the people who are actually being targeted by those attacks. For them, that kind of "humor" isn't funny at all—it’s just personal, and it's definitely not something they find entertaining.

Is this some kind of dig at me, or what?

Not really.

Look, if you’re going to call someone out or try to hand out some kind of punishment, you really ought to back it up with actual evidence—show the receipts, right? It just doesn't sit right with me when someone deletes a single, random post and then immediately tries to paint that person as some kind of digital villain or a keyboard warrior. You can't just scrub the context away and act like you've caught a criminal.

Look, my philosophy is pretty straightforward—when things get heated in a debate, people tend to say stuff they wouldn't normally say if they were thinking clearly. You end up with people breaking the rules and then immediately regretting it once the adrenaline wears off. Because of that, I don't jump straight to handing out bans. Instead, I usually just wipe the offending post and leave a warning—it’s more about de-escalating the situation than being punitive. But, if someone can't keep their cool and the aggression keeps building, then yeah, I'll issue the formal ban. It’s really just about keeping the peace.

Lately, it feels like your username has become a constant fixture in these kinds of blowups—you’re always popping up in debates with different people across just about every topic. Because of that, this warning is being directed specifically at you. It honestly seems to me like you rarely ever come back to the forum with a cooler head after your posts have been scrubbed—or even after a ban—with any actual intention of actually following the rules.

With the way these moderator comments are coming down, it honestly looks like I’m just sitting here mocking people who are struggling or dealing with actual health issues—which couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, my whole intention is usually to lend a hand or share helpful links to articles where people can find their own solutions and get some clarity.

You’re spreading falsehoods here. You know perfectly well that the mods and admins can see everything that gets deleted—so trying to spin this narrative is just a massive miss on your part.

Honestly, I couldn't care less about what your intentions are when you're provoking other users, nor do I care if it benefits them in the long run; at the end of the day, it's a violation of the forum rules. We tend to be lenient with minor infractions from time to time—of course—but once things spiral out of control or become someone's specific *modus operandi*, I am personally prepared to take much more drastic measures to maintain order. That’s why I’m being direct about the threat of an outright ban for repeated behavior.

I also find that your posts—the ones where you dissect the personalities of other members—aren't any more constructive than the posts from users who are actually trying to help without resorting to insults or ad hominem attacks.

And look, even though there are certain sub-forums that are moderated more lightly, and even though there seems to be a whole faction of users arguing for relaxed rules for "those who contribute significantly"—if that's how you want to put it—I firmly believe the rules have to apply equally to everyone. This particular Psychology section is one of our more sensitive areas, and there is simply no room for the kind of statements I've been seeing in your recent posts.

Could you clarify what exactly your grievance is?

Are you upset because you weren't banned? Or maybe because someone's argument with a moderator was removed—which is standard procedure anyway? It was deleted just an hour ago, even though it was posted yesterday at 10:30 PM. I get the urge for a little drama, but let’s stick to the facts...

Eric Gray2 said:Look, this is a direct warning aimed right at you. Before we got to this point, you were actually flagged across several different posts for trolling and jumping down people's throats—and honestly, a few members actually reached out to complain about how you were behaving.

Take this specific scenario, for instance.
So, I just had to deal with this post where another user basically tried to paint me as some kind of emotional wrecking ball—implying that I somehow leave other people here traumatized—while simultaneously acting like I’m this legendary, vanished figure who was wiped off the face of the forum at lightning speed despite being a supposedly "beloved" staple of the community.

That’s just not true. The post sat there for quite a while—just like my response to it did. In my reply, I actually made a point to ask that we stop dragging this topic into sections where it doesn't belong. If people really want to debate my moderation style, fine—but if they're more interested in defending those inflammatory users who think they can say whatever they want because they're supposedly being "constructive," then they should take that energy over to the General Discussion boards instead. Even on the more sensitive threads, like Psychology, it feels like people expect us to just look the other way when someone gets aggressive under the guise of being helpful. They need to move those arguments elsewhere.

I’ve already mentioned that I don't want to be walking a tightrope with double standards here—specifically when it comes to policing trolling or "jokes" that target people personally. Even if someone tries to mask their jabs as being "diagnostic" or "therapeutic" in nature, it doesn't change the fact that it's still targeting an individual. My goal isn't to protect the person doing the poking; it's to protect the people who are actually being targeted by those attacks. For them, that kind of "humor" isn't funny at all—it’s just personal, and it's definitely not something they find entertaining.

Is this some kind of dig at me, or what?

Not really.

Look, if you’re going to call someone out or try to hand out some kind of punishment, you really ought to back it up with actual evidence—show the receipts, right? It just doesn't sit right with me when someone deletes a single, random post and then immediately tries to paint that person as some kind of digital villain or a keyboard warrior. You can't just scrub the context away and act like you've caught a criminal.

Look, my philosophy is pretty straightforward—when things get heated in a debate, people tend to say stuff they wouldn't normally say if they were thinking clearly. You end up with people breaking the rules and then immediately regretting it once the adrenaline wears off. Because of that, I don't jump straight to handing out bans. Instead, I usually just wipe the offending post and leave a warning—it’s more about de-escalating the situation than being punitive. But, if someone can't keep their cool and the aggression keeps building, then yeah, I'll issue the formal ban. It’s really just about keeping the peace.

Lately, it feels like your username has become a constant fixture in these kinds of blowups—you’re always popping up in debates with different people across just about every topic. Because of that, this warning is being directed specifically at you. It honestly seems to me like you rarely ever come back to the forum with a cooler head after your posts have been scrubbed—or even after a ban—with any actual intention of actually following the rules.

With the way these moderator comments are coming down, it honestly looks like I’m just sitting here mocking people who are struggling or dealing with actual health issues—which couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, my whole intention is usually to lend a hand or share helpful links to articles where people can find their own solutions and get some clarity.

You’re spreading falsehoods here. You know perfectly well that the mods and admins can see everything that gets deleted—so trying to spin this narrative is just a massive miss on your part.

Honestly, I couldn't care less about what your intentions are when you're provoking other users, nor do I care if it benefits them in the long run; at the end of the day, it's a violation of the forum rules. We tend to be lenient with minor infractions from time to time—of course—but once things spiral out of control or become someone's specific *modus operandi*, I am personally prepared to take much more drastic measures to maintain order. That’s why I’m being direct about the threat of an outright ban for repeated behavior.

I also find that your posts—the ones where you dissect the personalities of other members—aren't any more constructive than the posts from users who are actually trying to help without resorting to insults or ad hominem attacks.

And look, even though there are certain sub-forums that are moderated more lightly, and even though there seems to be a whole faction of users arguing for relaxed rules for "those who contribute significantly"—if that's how you want to put it—I firmly believe the rules have to apply equally to everyone. This particular Psychology section is one of our more sensitive areas, and there is simply no room for the kind of statements I've been seeing in your recent posts.

I’m not even going to waste my breath trying to argue—since you basically have to win any debate just because you hold a moderator position—
but if you were actually being honest about the whole "picking fights" and "complaints" thing, you wouldn't be using that little exclamation mark icon to signal to people which posts they should avoid if they don't want to feel bullied—which is what you're implying. People would figure it out themselves anyway, though they won't, because most of those posts were probably taken with a grain of salt and seen as lighthearted or humorous, just like Noelle Page wrote before you "wisely" deleted her post...

Eric Gray2 said:Look, this is a direct warning aimed right at you. Before we got to this point, you were actually flagged across several different posts for trolling and jumping down people's throats—and honestly, a few members actually reached out to complain about how you were behaving.

Take this specific scenario, for instance.
So, I just had to deal with this post where another user basically tried to paint me as some kind of emotional wrecking ball—implying that I somehow leave other people here traumatized—while simultaneously acting like I’m this legendary, vanished figure who was wiped off the face of the forum at lightning speed despite being a supposedly "beloved" staple of the community.

That’s just not true. The post sat there for quite a while—just like my response to it did. In my reply, I actually made a point to ask that we stop dragging this topic into sections where it doesn't belong. If people really want to debate my moderation style, fine—but if they're more interested in defending those inflammatory users who think they can say whatever they want because they're supposedly being "constructive," then they should take that energy over to the General Discussion boards instead. Even on the more sensitive threads, like Psychology, it feels like people expect us to just look the other way when someone gets aggressive under the guise of being helpful. They need to move those arguments elsewhere.

I’ve already mentioned that I don't want to be walking a tightrope with double standards here—specifically when it comes to policing trolling or "jokes" that target people personally. Even if someone tries to mask their jabs as being "diagnostic" or "therapeutic" in nature, it doesn't change the fact that it's still targeting an individual. My goal isn't to protect the person doing the poking; it's to protect the people who are actually being targeted by those attacks. For them, that kind of "humor" isn't funny at all—it’s just personal, and it's definitely not something they find entertaining.

Is this some kind of dig at me, or what?

Not really.

Look, if you’re going to call someone out or try to hand out some kind of punishment, you really ought to back it up with actual evidence—show the receipts, right? It just doesn't sit right with me when someone deletes a single, random post and then immediately tries to paint that person as some kind of digital villain or a keyboard warrior. You can't just scrub the context away and act like you've caught a criminal.

Look, my philosophy is pretty straightforward—when things get heated in a debate, people tend to say stuff they wouldn't normally say if they were thinking clearly. You end up with people breaking the rules and then immediately regretting it once the adrenaline wears off. Because of that, I don't jump straight to handing out bans. Instead, I usually just wipe the offending post and leave a warning—it’s more about de-escalating the situation than being punitive. But, if someone can't keep their cool and the aggression keeps building, then yeah, I'll issue the formal ban. It’s really just about keeping the peace.

Lately, it feels like your username has become a constant fixture in these kinds of blowups—you’re always popping up in debates with different people across just about every topic. Because of that, this warning is being directed specifically at you. It honestly seems to me like you rarely ever come back to the forum with a cooler head after your posts have been scrubbed—or even after a ban—with any actual intention of actually following the rules.

With the way these moderator comments are coming down, it honestly looks like I’m just sitting here mocking people who are struggling or dealing with actual health issues—which couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, my whole intention is usually to lend a hand or share helpful links to articles where people can find their own solutions and get some clarity.

You’re spreading falsehoods here. You know perfectly well that the mods and admins can see everything that gets deleted—so trying to spin this narrative is just a massive miss on your part.

Honestly, I couldn't care less about what your intentions are when you're provoking other users, nor do I care if it benefits them in the long run; at the end of the day, it's a violation of the forum rules. We tend to be lenient with minor infractions from time to time—of course—but once things spiral out of control or become someone's specific *modus operandi*, I am personally prepared to take much more drastic measures to maintain order. That’s why I’m being direct about the threat of an outright ban for repeated behavior.

I also find that your posts—the ones where you dissect the personalities of other members—aren't any more constructive than the posts from users who are actually trying to help without resorting to insults or ad hominem attacks.

And look, even though there are certain sub-forums that are moderated more lightly, and even though there seems to be a whole faction of users arguing for relaxed rules for "those who contribute significantly"—if that's how you want to put it—I firmly believe the rules have to apply equally to everyone. This particular Psychology section is one of our more sensitive areas, and there is simply no room for the kind of statements I've been seeing in your recent posts.

And why would I care about spinning anything?
What am I, Barack Obama? 🤣

Eric Gray2 said:Look, this is a direct warning aimed right at you. Before we got to this point, you were actually flagged across several different posts for trolling and jumping down people's throats—and honestly, a few members actually reached out to complain about how you were behaving.

Take this specific scenario, for instance.
So, I just had to deal with this post where another user basically tried to paint me as some kind of emotional wrecking ball—implying that I somehow leave other people here traumatized—while simultaneously acting like I’m this legendary, vanished figure who was wiped off the face of the forum at lightning speed despite being a supposedly "beloved" staple of the community.

That’s just not true. The post sat there for quite a while—just like my response to it did. In my reply, I actually made a point to ask that we stop dragging this topic into sections where it doesn't belong. If people really want to debate my moderation style, fine—but if they're more interested in defending those inflammatory users who think they can say whatever they want because they're supposedly being "constructive," then they should take that energy over to the General Discussion boards instead. Even on the more sensitive threads, like Psychology, it feels like people expect us to just look the other way when someone gets aggressive under the guise of being helpful. They need to move those arguments elsewhere.

I’ve already mentioned that I don't want to be walking a tightrope with double standards here—specifically when it comes to policing trolling or "jokes" that target people personally. Even if someone tries to mask their jabs as being "diagnostic" or "therapeutic" in nature, it doesn't change the fact that it's still targeting an individual. My goal isn't to protect the person doing the poking; it's to protect the people who are actually being targeted by those attacks. For them, that kind of "humor" isn't funny at all—it’s just personal, and it's definitely not something they find entertaining.

Is this some kind of dig at me, or what?

Not really.

Look, if you’re going to call someone out or try to hand out some kind of punishment, you really ought to back it up with actual evidence—show the receipts, right? It just doesn't sit right with me when someone deletes a single, random post and then immediately tries to paint that person as some kind of digital villain or a keyboard warrior. You can't just scrub the context away and act like you've caught a criminal.

Look, my philosophy is pretty straightforward—when things get heated in a debate, people tend to say stuff they wouldn't normally say if they were thinking clearly. You end up with people breaking the rules and then immediately regretting it once the adrenaline wears off. Because of that, I don't jump straight to handing out bans. Instead, I usually just wipe the offending post and leave a warning—it’s more about de-escalating the situation than being punitive. But, if someone can't keep their cool and the aggression keeps building, then yeah, I'll issue the formal ban. It’s really just about keeping the peace.

Lately, it feels like your username has become a constant fixture in these kinds of blowups—you’re always popping up in debates with different people across just about every topic. Because of that, this warning is being directed specifically at you. It honestly seems to me like you rarely ever come back to the forum with a cooler head after your posts have been scrubbed—or even after a ban—with any actual intention of actually following the rules.

With the way these moderator comments are coming down, it honestly looks like I’m just sitting here mocking people who are struggling or dealing with actual health issues—which couldn't be further from the truth. In reality, my whole intention is usually to lend a hand or share helpful links to articles where people can find their own solutions and get some clarity.

You’re spreading falsehoods here. You know perfectly well that the mods and admins can see everything that gets deleted—so trying to spin this narrative is just a massive miss on your part.

Honestly, I couldn't care less about what your intentions are when you're provoking other users, nor do I care if it benefits them in the long run; at the end of the day, it's a violation of the forum rules. We tend to be lenient with minor infractions from time to time—of course—but once things spiral out of control or become someone's specific *modus operandi*, I am personally prepared to take much more drastic measures to maintain order. That’s why I’m being direct about the threat of an outright ban for repeated behavior.

I also find that your posts—the ones where you dissect the personalities of other members—aren't any more constructive than the posts from users who are actually trying to help without resorting to insults or ad hominem attacks.

And look, even though there are certain sub-forums that are moderated more lightly, and even though there seems to be a whole faction of users arguing for relaxed rules for "those who contribute significantly"—if that's how you want to put it—I firmly believe the rules have to apply equally to everyone. This particular Psychology section is one of our more sensitive areas, and there is simply no room for the kind of statements I've been seeing in your recent posts.

Damn, so does that mean I'm "contributing significantly"? 😁 🤣

Fine, I'll watch my step from now on. 🙂

crimsoncanyon2 said:I’m not even going to waste my breath trying to argue—since you basically have to win any debate just because you hold a moderator position—
but if you were actually being honest about the whole "picking fights" and "complaints" thing, you wouldn't be using that little exclamation mark icon to signal to people which posts they should avoid if they don't want to feel bullied—which is what you're implying. People would figure it out themselves anyway, though they won't, because most of those posts were probably taken with a grain of salt and seen as lighthearted or humorous, just like Noelle Page wrote before you "wisely" deleted her post...

And why would I care about spinning anything?
What am I, Barack Obama? 🤣

Damn, so does that mean I'm "contributing significantly"? 😁 🤣

Fine, I'll watch my step from now on. 🙂

Again, that's just not true. That little icon was put there as a simple reminder for the user—whose post was deleted for being off-topic—that they shouldn't be commenting on moderation or how the mods are handling things within a thread that isn't meant for that kind of discussion.

Looking at how everyone is reacting to your comments—whether it’s through formal reports or just the general vibe in the threads—I have to say I disagree with your take that your posts come across as positive or humorous. I get it, it’s nice to have a group of people who side with you and don't mind when you turn a debate into a personal attack, but honestly, that’s just not how a subforum like Psychology can function effectively.