Second chances

[Cyrus]

It's that time of the year again... and it's at least as good a time as any to reflect on both the good, and the bad; to think about how we can do better in the future; and also to... forgive. Regarding that last one, we've decided that for a limited time, we will be considering unbanning users previously banned for plagiarism.

This is not a blanket amnesty. We take plagiarism very seriously. Not just any banned account will be unbanned, not all sanctions will be lifted, and we'll be watching the unbanned users like hawks.

Here are the requirements:

• You must have been banned already for an extended period of time, at least 6 months.
• You must point to at least 1 really good, constructive post you've made.
• A ban on wearing a signature will be added, equal to at least 2 years minus however long you were banned.

How to apply:
If you already registered an account to post in Meta for a ban appeal then simply reply to this thread.
If you didn't register another account send an email to this address: amnesty_2023_7ecwa@bitcointalk.org

Example info to include:

Code:

Username:
Constructive post:

We will post all of the unbanned users in this thread. Hopefully in the future we'll look back on this as proof of the value of forgiveness and second chances. (Otherwise, maybe we'll look back on this as a reason not to do it again in the future.)

Enjoy the Holidays and Happy 2024 everyone!

Edit: We've received 17 requests by email so far.

Here are the unbanned users as of yet:

• kokoska
• Eugenar
• Merit.s

[1714479546]

1714479546

[1714479546]

1714479546

[philipma1957]

nice.  my compliments to the person that made this plan come into being.

[Hatchy]

It looks like a good idea, I don't know if should be asking this, @Cyrus since I'm still a low ranked member,

but my question is this: "If the initial punishment for being banned was to never create a new account and to leave the forum completely, and if creating a new account is considered ban evasion, how do you plan to communicate this message to banned accounts falling into these categories?" I'm aware that some banned users try to appeal by creating new accounts, although not all of these accounts are unbanned.

What I'm wondering is if this means that banned users are still using the forum with new accounts because that seems to be the only way they can receive this message and request to have their old account unbanned.

[tranthidung]

This change gives people who committed plagiarism and got a permanent ban, a third chance, not a second chance.

Why is it a third chance?

• Second chance was introduced in 2018, 2019.
• Many people who were banned with plagiarism failed with their attempts to appeal for their ban
  
  • [BAN APPEAL]UPDATE: Total table + Ban status (Need feedback from Global mods)

Second chances can be given and you can argue that the punishment is harsh, but at the moment the rules are pretty clear that if you're caught plagiarising then it's a permaban. Once we start making exceptions for people it just opens up a huge can of worms and then everyone else who's had a ban will come out of the woodwork and complain it's not fair to them and people who are banned in the future will use this case as an example why they should be given another chance.

PM theymos or cyrus and make your case to them and maybe they will remove it. I'm not against second chances but there needs to be some consistency so it's fair to all. Hopefully signature bans could be issued in cases like this instead and people can keep their accounts, but at the moment I just wish people would stop plagiarising content so these bans aren't even needed in the first place and it's truly a sad state of affairs that they are.

There's been no policy change. redsn0w wasn't permanently banned due to several factors which made me think that permabanning him would be a net negative for the forum. Nobody is banned strictly because of "the rules"; it's always handled case-by-case, but almost always, plagiarists deserve to be permabanned.

If you think that a ban should be ended, make your case in a new topic from a "good for the forum as a whole" perspective.

I'm aware that some banned users try to appeal by creating new accounts, although not all of these accounts are unbanned.

Because they don't deserve with a second chance so their appeals were refused.

What I'm wondering is if this means that banned users are still using the forum with new accounts because that seems to be the only way they can receive this message and request to have their old account unbanned.  

If they have alts, they can see this thread with their alts and will try to make grave jumpers from their banned accounts.

[Cyrus]

What I'm wondering is if this means that banned users are still using the forum with new accounts because that seems to be the only way they can receive this message and request to have their old account unbanned.

There are/were sufficient cases where the banned users either bump their appeals, send us PMs from time to time, talk off-forum to other members about their forum account, etc. There are several legit ways banned users could find out about this thread. However, I suggest people circumventing their ban through another account to try and come clean about everything.

This change gives people who committed plagiarism and got a permanent ban, a third chance, not a second chance.

Not really. That would imply being pardoned and repeating the offense. The possibility of appealing a ban from the "good for the forum as a whole" perspective did indeed already exist - IIRC signature bans were added in support of this back then.
This thread acknowledges the possibility of an appeal and also provides a more clear guideline, all wrapped in a Holiday spirit fashion.

[philipma1957]

It looks like a good idea, I don't know if should be asking this, @Cyrus since I'm still a low ranked member,

but my question is this: "If the initial punishment for being banned was to never create a new account and to leave the forum completely, and if creating a new account is considered ban evasion, how do you plan to communicate this message to banned accounts falling into these categories?" I'm aware that some banned users try to appeal by creating new accounts, although not all of these accounts are unbanned.

What I'm wondering is if this means that banned users are still using the forum with new accounts because that seems to be the only way they can receive this message and request to have their old account unbanned.

You can still read the forum without an account.  Not an issue.

[Zaguru12]

but my question is this: "If the initial punishment for being banned was to never create a new account and to leave the forum completely, and if creating a new account is considered ban evasion, how do you plan to communicate this message to banned accounts falling into these categories?" I'm aware that some banned users try to appeal by creating new accounts, although not all of these accounts are unbanned.

Creating an alt account or say new account isn’t considered ban evasion except you begin to use that created account as a regular member and you get caught. Alt accounts created after ban is just to make ban appeal and continually bump the thread outside that is ban evasion, so basically those with that alts can still read this message if they are still coming online and I think this leniency is actually meant for them not for those have left here permanently

Or who knows if this is even communicated to them via the email that sent them their ban message, as that’s the other media for communication between the user and the admin of the forum. But overall there is no need to worry about those that have left totally. This is for persistent people trying to get back there account and I think they might see the message but hopefully before this festive grace elapses

[nutildah]

I know this gesture is made out of goodwill, and you're a better man than I for offering such reconciliation, but there's a bunch of people I hope don't read this  

I'm referring to all the scheming, conniving, alt-accounting, merit-groveling weasels that are anything but honest and only here to extract as much wealth from as many different sig campaigns and bounties as they can get themselves into.

I'm guessing most of those who take this offer won't last a year before they find themselves banned again -- they are cheaters at heart and can't help themselves.

Yeah so its potentially dumb of me to bump this, but not really, because I'm sure it would have been bumped anyway.

Seasons Greetings everyone! 🎄

[Rikafip]

Because they don't deserve with a second chance so their appeals were refused.

Or maybe because it was extremely hard to get ban removed due plagiarism back in those days, even for the simplest case of one plagiarized sentence.

I'm referring to all the scheming, conniving, alt-accounting, merit-groveling weasels that are anything but honest and only here to extract as much wealth from as many different sig campaigns and bounties as they can get themselves into.

I think that many of those won't even get ban lifted due simple reason that they won't be able to submit one very good constructive post.


I like the intiative and I think it should have been practiced years ago. But, better late than never.

[Majestic-milf]

 This act reminds me of the pardon granted by the government of my country to prisoners who do not have any hopes of their cases being heard or who have been sentenced for life to gain freedom. I just hope this pardon doesn't get misused though because where you've got the good, there's gonna be the bad but since this is a limited offer, I guess those who have had their accounts banned take this opportunity.

Happy holidays, fam.

[Jessie2121]

Hope this second chance won't cause much damage on the forum. Good idea OP but I feel some don't deserve it at all because out of a 100 persons that are victims we only have 2-5 persons who can boldly say they have changed for good. Well let's see if it will help bring out the good behavior in them since we're in the festive season anything can happen for sure.

[SamReomo]

It's that time of the year again... and it's at least as good a time as any to reflect on both the good, and the bad; to think about how we can do better in the future; and also to... forgive. Regarding that last one, we've decided that for a limited time, we will be considering unbanning users previously banned for plagiarism.

I think this post is going to help a lot of users who were banned because they were either arrogant or were not sure what they were doing. I believe that everyone deserves a second chance and here they're lucky to get that second chance. There were some users who were banned for plagiarism but a few of them were guilty for their mistake and they were begging to get unbanned to they may get another chance to use the forum.

I know that it's not an easy task to unban the users who broke the rules of the forum but I'm pretty happy to see that our administrative stuff shows empathy towards those members and I believe that such chance will help them to fix their mistakes and they will never do any kind of plagiarized posts anymore.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

• A ban on wearing a signature will be added, equal to at least 2 years minus however long you were banned.

<snip>
Enjoy the Holidays and Happy 2024 everyone!

Ah hah hah hah hahahaha.....Merry Effin' holidays to all of the banned members who want to come back to the forum so badly that they'd be active whilst not renting out their signature space.  I suppose if someone has been banned for over 2 years, they'll go for it but I'm not sure about others.  

This is quite generous, Cyrus.  Let us hope said generosity doesn't backfire and spray shit all over this fine forum.

Hope this second chance won't cause much damage on the forum. Good idea OP but I feel some don't deserve it at all because out of a 100 persons that are victims we only have 2-5 persons who can boldly say they have changed for good.

Yeah, you got that right.  I've seen a lot of ban appeal threads, and frankly I wouldn't give 99% of them a second chance, as those threads consist of:

1. Lies
2. Excuses
3. Begging
4. Rationalizing
5. Blaming others
6. Raging against the mods
7. Assholes who have zillions of accounts that are already banned.

[Despairo]

Merry Effin' holidays to all of the banned members who want to come back to the forum so badly that they'd be active whilst not renting out their signature space.

I can agree if @Cyrus only give second chances for them to able post in this forum, but both of the avatar and signature are permanently banned. With a new rule, alt accounts from the permanently banned avatar and signature will be considered as ban evasion, also forbidden to post in bounty, service, games & rounds section.

Let see how long they would be active and their contribution in this forum.

[philipma1957]

• A ban on wearing a signature will be added, equal to at least 2 years minus however long you were banned.

<snip>
Enjoy the Holidays and Happy 2024 everyone!

Ah hah hah hah hahahaha.....Merry Effin' holidays to all of the banned members who want to come back to the forum so badly that they'd be active whilst not renting out their signature space.  I suppose if someone has been banned for over 2 years, they'll go for it but I'm not sure about others.  

This is quite generous, Cyrus.  Let us hope said generosity doesn't backfire and spray shit all over this fine forum.

Hope this second chance won't cause much damage on the forum. Good idea OP but I feel some don't deserve it at all because out of a 100 persons that are victims we only have 2-5 persons who can boldly say they have changed for good.

Yeah, you got that right.  I've seen a lot of ban appeal threads, and frankly I wouldn't give 99% of them a second chance, as those threads consist of:

1. Lies
2. Excuses
3. Begging
4. Rationalizing
5. Blaming others
6. Raging against the mods
7. Assholes who have zillions of accounts that are already banned.

I wonder if they will bother to come back now that mixer sigs are to be banned.

19 days left.

There are at least 8 active mixer campaigns to be taken away. So that was a good about of coin given away that no longer will be here.

[lovesmayfamilis]

I know this gesture is made out of goodwill, and you're a better man than I for offering such reconciliation, but there's a bunch of people I hope don't read this  

I'm referring to all the scheming, conniving, alt-accounting, merit-groveling weasels that are anything but honest and only here to extract as much wealth from as many different sig campaigns and bounties as they can get themselves into.

I'm guessing most of those who take this offer won't last a year before they find themselves banned again -- they are cheaters at heart and can't help themselves.

Yeah so its potentially dumb of me to bump this, but not really, because I'm sure it would have been bumped anyway.

Seasons Greetings everyone! 🎄

I think that a ban on wearing a signature will cool down scammers, and those people who were banned for an accidental or innocent mistake will return here. There were many of them in 2019. If they are still devoted to the forum and have not created an alternative account, then surely their posts will be able to warm the heart of the admin and get a second chance.

[nutildah]

I think that a ban on wearing a signature will cool down scammers, and those people who were banned for an accidental or innocent mistake will return here. There were many of them in 2019. If they are still devoted to the forum and have not created an alternative account, then surely their posts will be able to warm the heart of the admin and get a second chance.

That's true, I forgot about the Great Plagiarist Extinction of 2019. There are a handful of helpful users who got caught up in that, their forum careers extinguished by a bot. They may have only plagiarized once or twice, and hey everybody makes mistakes and has moments of weakness. But I emphasize this was only a handful of the hundreds of accounts that were banned by the Plagiabot.

How do you feel about the idea of statutes of limitations on plagiarism cases? I think punishing somebody for a one-off offense done years ago (talking like 3 or more years ago) is a bit too stringent and the current plagiabot running around is a bit out of hand, leading to the banning of people for a mistake committed in 2014. Maybe the query or the rule should be tightened a bit. Just my opinion.

[LoyceV]

We will post all of the unbanned users in this thread. Hopefully in the future we'll look back on this as proof of the value of forgiveness and second chances. (Otherwise, maybe we'll look back on this as a reason not to do it again in the future.)

Let's have a poll once the list is complete:

• Who gets banned again first?
• How many of the pardoned users get banned again in 2024?
• Who doesn't get banned again in 2024?

I don't have high hopes for most banned users. Still, some may improve and become contributing users again.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

There are at least 8 active mixer campaigns to be taken away. So that was a good about of coin given away that no longer will be here.

Yeah man, I haven't been paying attention to what other kinds of sig campaigns are going on, and I've got sigs and avatars on ignore so I don't see who's advertising what.  I'd imagine that when the new year rolls around there's going to be a mad scramble of members trying to get into campaigns.  That might be a good thing, as it would allow campaign managers to choose the cream of the crop instead of having to settle for mediocre posters (or worse) just to fill up the rosters.

In any case, I'm very glad Cyrus included a signature ban as a requirement for getting a second chance.  That ought to weed out quite a few members who just came here to get paid and not only didn't read the rules but broke one or more of them.  Should be interesting.

[SamReomo]

I don't have high hopes for most banned users. Still, some may improve and become contributing users again.

Let's see what they will do once they get unbanned. I think that most of the banned users who get unbanned will improve themselves and they will refrain from plagiarism. I'm pretty sure that some weak hand members may still use plagiarized content or maybe AI generated content but most of them will improve themselves. I think that most of the members have already got their lesson and they won't repeat the mistakes that they have done in past.

I'm very glad Cyrus included a signature ban as a requirement for getting a second chance.  That ought to weed out quite a few members who just came here to get paid and not only didn't read the rules but broke one or more of them.  Should be interesting.

Yeah, that signature ban is more than enough to show them that even after getting unbanned their act wasn't forgotten and if they repeat that they will not only lose their second chance but they will never get any chances ever. Showing empathy towards those banned members is a good step but it's a good strategy to impose ban on signature campaign for sometime as that will always remind them that they were doing wrong by breaking the rules of the forum.