Will a high post count lead to being kicked off PhysicsForums?

[Frabjous]

It always surprises me when I see a person with a large number of posts with a line through their name. Are their general indicators for a person that is going to go bad?

 

[Ivan Seeking]

It always surprises me when I see a person with a large number of posts with a line through their name. Are their general indicators for a person that is going to go bad?

When they change their major to engineering?

 

[anorlunda]

When they change their major to engineering?

Ouch !

Engineers used to say "When they change their major to industrial distribution."

 

[anorlunda]

It always surprises me when I see a person with a large number of posts with a line through their name. Are their general indicators for a person that is going to go bad?

It is surprising and it is sad. We all change with time.

If PF had been around 140 years ago, what do you think might have happened to Nikola Tesla?

 

[BillTre]

If he were around today, he might join the band AC/DC.

 

[Frabjous]

If PF had been around 140 years ago, what do you think might have happened to Nikola Tesla?

I guess he would have been kicked off quickly. PF is clearly not for some personalities, which makes the demise of prolific posters interesting.

 

[Vanadium 50]

When they change their major to engineering?

Where would we be without the oompa-loompas of science? Where the noble, semi-skilled laborers execute the vision of those who think and dream?

 

[Melbourne Guy]

...with a line through their name.

Aha, I wondered what that meant, thanks. Maybe their avatar should be replaced with a little tombstone as a stark warning about the perils of oompa-loompa-ism on PF.

 

[Office_Shredder]

Sometimes members ask for their accounts to be suspended, if they want to quit and not be tempted to rejoin.

 

[Frabjous]

Sometimes members ask for their accounts to be suspended, if they want to quit and not be tempted to rejoin.

Those names turn black and linkless.

 

[berkeman]

It always surprises me when I see a person with a large number of posts with a line through their name. Are their general indicators for a person that is going to go bad?

Generally you will not see the problematic posts that led to the ban (temporary, or 2nd temporary or permanent) since they are deleted fairly quickly by the Mentors. It's hard for you all to know what has happened to cause the ban. When in doubt (or concern), please feel free to PM a Mentor that you trust and ask about it. If there are no privacy issues involved, we can try to let you know more about what happened.

When they change their major to engineering?

Ouch +1

 

[Frabjous]

Generally you will not see the problematic posts that led to the ban (temporary, or 2nd temporary or permanent) since they are deleted fairly quickly by the Mentors. It's hard for you all to know what has happened to cause the ban. When in doubt (or concern), please feel free to PM a Mentor that you trust and ask about it. If there are no privacy issues involved, we can try to let you know more about what happened.

My question is more general. Are the mentors surprised when this happens or do they see it coming for these prolific posters? What is the ratio of surprising to not-surprising banned prolific posters?

 

[berkeman]

My question is more general. Are the mentors surprised when this happens or do they see it coming for these prolific posters? What is the ratio of surprising to not-surprising banned prolific posters?

Hmm, that's a harder question. We honesly agonize over problematic posters that we think have good potential here. There have been fairly heated Mentor debates over some users, but in the end we need to reach a consensus to take actions.

With most problematic users, their behavior is fairly obvious from the beginning (even if you don't see it because of the deleted posts). With some users, we try fairly hard to help them get past the problematic behaviours, and sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. I'll limit my comments to that for right now. Well, I'll add that dealing with problematic real savants is even more difficult. Sigh

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Where would we be without the oompa-loompas of science? Where the noble, semi-skilled laborers execute the vision of those who think and dream?

I don't know, Sheldon. And I never say that!

 

[Bystander]

we try fairly hard to help them get past the problematic behaviours, and sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.

+1

 

[anorlunda]

I guess he would have been kicked off quickly.

No. Not quickly. I think you missed my point.

Tesla started off as a prolific and brilliant engineer. He could have been a star on PF. But then Tesla changed. He went off the rails on junk science stuff. If he was banned it would be with great reluctance because of his good history. My point is that happens to some people in real life; good at first but turn bad later.

 

[mfb]

I don't have statistics, but if we are talking about 1000 or more posts then the users asking to be banned might be more common than regular bans. Both are rare. Problematic users who can't change their posting behavior rarely make it to that point.

Those names turn black and linkless.

That's a deletion of the account, which is another option.

 

[pinball1970]

Hmm, that's a harder question. We honesly agonize over problematic posters that we think have good potential here. There have been fairly heated Mentor debates over some users, but in the end we need to reach a consensus to take actions.

With most problematic users, their behavior is fairly obvious from the beginning (even if you don't see it because of the deleted posts). With some users, we try fairly hard to help them get past the problematic behaviours, and sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't. I'll limit my comments to that for right now. Well, I'll add that dealing with problematic real savants is even more difficult. Sigh

Some new users don't appreciate how important the rules are and get offended when they are pointed out. Personal theories a big one and unverified references another.
A new user would not see that as much of an issue as obvious inappropriate language/behaviour on other sites.
Re very smart posters...
A straight A student first year of A levels completed and two out of his three subject teachers are pushing for Oxbridge entrance. 17, hormones and ego running wild.
Joins pf because he has some thoughts on the origins of the universe after reading Krauss 'a universe from nothing.' Speed reads pf rules and runs into cosmology section.
Phinds is about. Vanadium 50 has ran out of coffee, tetchy.
He posts...
The horror...

 

[russ_watters]

When they change their major to engineering?

Where would we be without the oompa-loompas of science? Where the noble, semi-skilled laborers execute the vision of those who think and dream?

It's fine, if the physicists are mean to us we can always just not hire/fund them.

 

[russ_watters]

It is surprising and it is sad. We all change with time.

If PF had been around 140 years ago, what do you think might have happened to Nikola Tesla?

I'm not so sure. It's my impression that the Cult of Tesla isn't well in phase with Tesla's actual work.

 

[Dr.D]

PF is clearly not for some personalities, which makes the demise of prolific posters interesting.

I would not say "interesting" so much as "tragic." We have lost some of our best contributors due to the action of the Mentors.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Somehow that sounds like "The professor flunked me."