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Rename "hellban" to "probation". When on probation, your posts get hidden. If three of your posts get upvoted while on probation, you are restored to normal sta
by freework 14y ago
Rename "hellban" to "probation". When on probation, your posts get hidden. If three of your posts get upvoted while on probation, you are restored to normal status. If three of your posts get downvoted while on probation, you get banned permanently. Those who have "show dead" are like the Hacker News PO squad.
- jtheory 14y agoThe possibility of rescuing hellbanned users is interesting. But "banned permanently" is possible only for usernames, not actual users, and certainly isn't a punishment more severe than hellbanning. A "permanently-banned" user will presumably be notified they've been banned immediately... so instead of wasting time making posts that are hidden, they'll switch IP addresses and grab a new username immediately. And presumably they'll get some posts seen by normal readers before the new username is banned as well, unfortunately.
- bencoder 14y agoI agree. I see thoughtful posts from hellbanned users and wish there was a way to help them restore full posting status. When looking through their post history, it looks like one post that the community didn't like was enough to get them hellbanned and there's no recourse once it happens.
- DanBC 14y agoHellbanned users can create a new account. Sometimes hellbanned users can write a short email to PG, with a link to the post the triggered the hell ban, and ask for an unban. (If it appears to be a mistaken ban.)