Because without positive ID, we don't know until he posts? Because, as corny as it sounds, we're supposed to be better than he is?

Our standard is stricter - and there are too many cheap little stunts that a dedicated asshole could use to abuse this tolerance. Under certain circumstances the burden of proof is upon the person attempting to register. That's not so onerous.

Plus, as noted, it's moot since the emails aren't valid.

Just on a purely administrative note, we don't allow people to sign un with the name "FUCKERS", do we?

John, you MUST let me tag this.

People don't always respond to my posts, and I've been here a while.

So anyway, did I mention I'd had lunch with Angus? It was cool.

I guess I'm naive. Because I'm baffled at why someone who doesn't like us is so desperate to post here.

But then I never understood sock-puppets or cheating in fandom fic awards either. ::shrugs::

Anybody may tag anything I say at any time, for future reference.

BTW, I'm on board with the community's final decision. My popping up here is like the Senator standing at the podium and addressing an empty chamber, just so his speech will appear in the Congressional Record. It doesn't matter if anyone listens--but many thanks to all of you who gave me a thoughtful hearing--I just want it to have been said.

Connie, for what it's worth, I'm always glad to hear your thoughts.

Connie, I'm glad you're posting from your gut about a sense of fair play, second chances and inclusiveness. I want that POV here.

Still, I'm glad we're taking quick action on this. I had a great online community utterly destroyed by a poster who was given all kinds of leeway until the damage was undoable. A lot of of us have seen that happen. We built our own island so it wouldn't have to happen again.

Hey everyone! Lively on here tonight. I'm SUPPOSED to be asleep but the boy just came in and I've been reading and got a little wired. I just wanted to say:

Nou, please do NOT feel bad, not even a little bit, that I came in and read the discussion surrounding me/my posts. Sure, it was disconcerting and, admitted, I actually cried a couple of tears about it because you're all so great and I really like this place. (I will, of course, disavow all knowledge of this action at any future date/time).

I'd much rather know that there's some concern about my behaviour and be allowed to address it in a straightforward manner than wonder why everyone is looking at me funnily, or typing around me, or whatever the board-posting equivalent would be. I was given the opportunity to find out there was a concern, to address that concern and to be welcomed by some people I've come to admire. That's worth a huge amount to me.

So, thanks are due you all, not guilt.

(a quiet word in private if this is entirely too sappy/gushy would be much appreciated)

Our standard is stricter - and there are too many cheap little stunts that a dedicated asshole could use to abuse this tolerance.

Yep. The death of a thousand little cuts.

Imagine that I turn into a foam-spewing rabid idiot. I get bounced.

I re-register as Michelle T. You say, oh, that can't be her, she hates when people spell her name wrong, and you let me on. I spew more hate and venom and post like crazy till I get stomped. Even just being on the board for five minutes, I can spread bad mojo pretty far.

Then I get stomped again, and I re-register as Misha. Lather, repeat, rinse.

By the third or fourth time, everyone's on edge, wondering when I'm going to re-register and start making everyone's life uncomfortable. I'm causing just as much bad feeling as I did before I was suspended, maybe more, AND I feel like I'm outwitting you, so what was the effect of the punishment? Positive reinforcement for me, the rabid idiot.

Nice is nice. But if you make it the sole operating principle for community standards, you lose.