Why Are New Members Disappearing from PF?

[tionis]

I've noticed that many new members are being banned for no apparent reason. One day they are posting and the next time I see them there is a slash across their username. Could some one please explain what is going on here? Are these past banned member trying to get back in? Socks? Hackers? I mean, I've read some of their posts and nothing seem controversial or anything. Just yesterday, one of these ''disappeared'' characters replied to one of my posts and today he's gone. Sorry for asking an uncomfortable question

 

[Vanadium 50]

I've noticed that many new members are being banned for no apparent reason

A. The Mentors don't have to justify their decisions to you.
B. Messages that violate PF Rules are routinely moved out of view. Of course you don't see what causes the ban.

 

[DrClaude]

I've noticed that many new members are being banned for no apparent reason. One day they are posting and the next time I see them there is a slash across their username. Could some one please explain what is going on here? Are these past banned member trying to get back in? Socks? Hackers? I mean, I've read some of their posts and nothing seem controversial or anything. Just yesterday, one of these ''disappeared'' characters replied to one of my posts and today he's gone. Sorry for asking an uncomfortable question

You're not the only one asking that question. There are other recent threads on the subject. I'll try to summarize the situation.

First, in the rules you will find

Disciplinary Action:
A member may be issued either a notice or an infraction if deemed warranted by an admin or mentor (usually from guideline noncompliance). Infractions range from 1 to 10 "points", depending on the severity of the violation; notices carry no points. If a member accrues 8 or more infraction points, he or she will be automatically banned from Physics Forums for a period of 10 days. If a member receives any infraction after having returned from a temporary ban, that member will then be banned permanently. Obvious, incorrigible spamming or trouble making will be met with a permanent ban.

So it is possible that someone will come back at a later time.

Also, as @Vanadium 50 posted while I was writing this, the content leading to infractions is most often deleted, so one can't know why a certain member has been banned.

 

[Bystander]

content leading to infractions is most often deleted, so it [insert]that[/insert] one can't know why a certain memeber has been banned.

 

[Borek]

many new members

Really that many? Sure, it happens now and then, but I don't feel like there is a surge of bans.

 

[DrClaude]

@Bystander: need a badge?

By the way, you missed my misspelling of member

 

[Bystander]

missed my misspelling of member

Didn't miss it --- figured you'd been chastised enough.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

If I go missing know it is aliens!

 

[tionis]

If I go missing know it is aliens!

 

[jtbell]

If I go missing know it is aliens!

Or black helicopters...

 

[Psinter]

If I go missing know it is aliens!

I'm not saying it was aliens... but it was aliens.

 

[Ibix]

Or black helicopters...

I thought Greg controlled the PF black helicopter fleet.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I thought Greg controlled the PF black helicopter fleet.

*brings collar mic to mouth* "@Ibix knows too much, bring him in, over"

 

[Ibix]

*brings collar mic to mouth* "@Ibix knows too much, bring him in, over"

I can see it now - an army of elite scientists in flak jackets with PHD stencilled on the back, rappelling down massless inextensible strings...

 

[Drakkith]

I can see it now - an army of elite scientists in flak jackets with PHD stencilled on the back, rappelling down massless inextensible strings...

Unfortunately an undergrad made a mistake and used the wrong units, so the "ropes" are 1/10th as long as they should be.

 

[Bystander]

the "ropes" are 1/10th as long as they should be.

Better than the order of magnitude in the other direction.

 

[Ibix]

Unfortunately an undergrad made a mistake and used the wrong units, so the "ropes" are 1/10th as long as they should be.

You can probably work around that, as long as they didn't end up frictionless as well.